How to Choose Fixtures: The 3-Step Guide to Perfect Renovation
When you walk into a newly renovated room, what catches your eye? It might be the sparkle of a chandelier or the sleek line of a modern faucet. These items are the "jewelry" of the home. But they're more than just decoration; they are the high-touch, hard-working components that define how you experience your space.
Welcome to the world of fixtures!
Choosing them can feel like a high-stakes scavenger hunt. You’re not just picking a sink; you’re picking the sink you'll use every single day. How do you ensure your choices are beautiful, practical, and create the exact feeling you’re dreaming of?
This guide will walk you through our design-first approach, breaking down your choices into three simple categories: Functionality, Aesthetic, and Ambiance.
First Off, What Exactly Are Home Fixtures?
In the design and construction world, a fixture is any object that is "fixed" to a location, either permanently or semi-permanently.
Think of it this way: if you turned your house upside down, the fixtures are the things that wouldn't fall out. This includes the obvious:
Lighting: Chandeliers, pendant lights, wall sconces, pot lights.
Plumbing: Faucets, showerheads, sinks, toilets, and bathtubs.
Accessories: Towel bars, toilet paper holders, and cabinet hardware (pulls and knobs).
But it also includes the most significant fixtures that create the room's foundation:
Vanities, Custom Cabinets & Millwork: These are the largest and often most important fixtures in a room, defining its layout, storage, and primary style.
Mirrors: Especially wired, backlit, or medicine-cabinet-style mirrors.
These elements work together to tell your home's story. The key is to make sure they're all speaking the same language.
We post moodboard inspirations on Mondays, click the photo to check out on our Instagram highlights!
The Selection Trinity: How to Prioritize Your Choices
We advise clients to approach fixtures in a specific order:
Functionality: How do you use the space?
Aesthetic: How do you want it to look?
Ambiance: How do you want it to feel?
A stunning Victorian-style faucet (Aesthetic) that is too short to fit a pot under (Functionality) in your busy kitchen will only lead to frustration. Functionality always comes first. The magic happens when functionality and aesthetic combine perfectly to create your desired ambiance.
Step 1: Lead with Functionality (The "How")
Before you fall in love with a look, get practical. How does this room need to perform for you and your family, day in and day out?
Functionality can be simple (a faucet that turns on) or high-tech (a faucet that turns on when you wave your hand). Consider the "upgrades" that will genuinely improve your day:
In the Bathroom: Would an LED anti-fog mirror make your morning routine smoother? Would a smart toilet with a heated seat and bidet feel like a daily luxury? How about a waterfall showerhead with multiple spray settings to melt stress away?
In the Kitchen: Is a touchless faucet a must-have for messy cooking? Would a pot-filler over the stove simplify tasks?
In Any Room (Millwork): This is where custom cabinetry shines. A functional fixture isn't just a gadget; it's a pull-out spice rack that keeps you organized, a custom vanity with built-in dividers for cosmetics, or library shelving with an integrated rolling ladder.
If high-tech isn't your priority, your functional choice is simply to select fixtures that are high-quality, durable, and reliable.
Custom Cabinet Garbage Bin System
Step 2: Define Your Aesthetic (The "Look")
Now for the fun part. With your functional needs locked in, you can hunt for fixtures that fit your visual style. Your key considerations are colour, shape, material, and style.
What's Your Theme? It helps to have a "north star." Are you aiming for Modern (clean lines, high-contrast), Victorian (ornate details, warm metals), Organic (natural materials, soft shapes), or Japandi (minimalist, warm, and functional)? Make a list of themes you love.
What's Your Colour Story? We recommend picking a "star player" for your colour theme. For example, if your star is a bold, deep green vanity, your fixtures might be the supporting cast—perhaps in a soft, brushed brass or matte black to either pop or blend. Do you want your fixtures to contrast (like black handles on white cabinets) or blend (like chrome faucets on a grey vanity)?
What's Your Finish & Shape? Do you prefer polished, shiny finishes or matte, brushed ones? When it comes to shape, picture a scale from 1 (sleek and straight lines) to 5 (contoured and ornate). Where do your preferences fall? These details must be consistent to look intentional.
Step 3: Curate the Ambiance (The "Feel")
Ambiance is the result of your functional and aesthetic choices. It's the overall "vibe" of the room. How do you want to feel when you walk in?
Define the Mood: Are you craving a "spa-like" retreat? "Cozy and warm?" "Luxurious and dramatic?" or "Clean and energizing?"
Consider the Room's Use: The ambiance of a main-floor powder room (often a place for a bold, "wow" moment) will be very different from a primary ensuite (which should feel like a personal sanctuary).
The Power of Lighting: How much natural light does the room get? This will dictate your need for lighting fixtures. You need bright task lighting (at the vanity or over kitchen counters) but warm, dimmable ambient lighting (like a central pendant or sconces) to create the mood.
Warmth & Comfort: Ambiance isn't just visual. It's a plush bath rug underfoot, the scent of a eucalyptus plant, or the visual warmth of a wood-toned vanity.
The Unsung Hero: Storage. Nothing kills a "clean, spa-like" ambiance faster than clutter. Your fixtures—specifically your custom vanity, linen tower, or kitchen cabinets—are the most important tools for keeping a space clutter-free and serene.
Your fixtures should contribute to your desired ambiance, never disrupt it.
Your Fixture-Hunting Checklist
Use these questions as your guide when you start shopping.
Functionality
[ ] What is the primary purpose of this room? (e.g., busy family kitchen, private primary bath, guest powder room).
[ ] What is my biggest "pain point" in my current space that a fixture could solve? (e.g., poor lighting, not enough storage, hard-to-clean faucet).
[ ] Do I want high-tech features (smart-home, touchless) or simple, durable performance?
[ ] For cabinetry: What items do I need to store? Do I need specialized storage (e.g., spice rack, charging drawer, dividers)?
Aesthetic
[ ] What 3-5 words describe my desired style? (e.g., Modern, Warm, Minimalist, Ornate, Organic).
[ ] What is the "star player" colour in this room (e.g., the vanity, a tile, or the wall colour)?
[ ] What fixture finish am I drawn to? (e.g., Matte Black, Brushed Brass, Polished Chrome, Oiled Bronze).
[ ] On a scale of 1 (Sleek/Modern) to 5 (Ornate/Traditional), where do my preferences for shape and lines fall?
Ambiance
[ ] How do I want to feel in this space? (e.g., Relaxed, Energized, Cozy, Luxurious).
[ ] How much natural light does this room get?
[ ] What kind of lighting do I need? (Check all that apply: Task, Ambient, Accent).
[ ] Do I want my lighting to be warm (cozy) or cool (energizing)?
[ ] Do my storage fixtures (cabinets, vanity) have enough space to keep the room clutter-free and protect the ambiance?
Where to Start? With the Foundation.
Choosing the right fixtures can feel like a puzzle, but you don't have to solve it alone.
The most impactful fixtures—your custom cabinets, vanities, and built-in millwork—are the foundation of your room's design. They set the stage for every other choice, from the faucet to the lighting.
At DV Kitchens and Baths, we specialize in creating that foundation. We design and build custom millwork that perfectly balances your specific functional needs with the aesthetic you dream of. We help you build the "bones" of your room, making it easy to choose the "jewelry" that makes it shine.
Ready to build a space that looks beautiful and feels uniquely you?
Definitions
Fixture: A permanent or semi-permanent object affixed to a property, such as a lighting unit, plumbing item, or cabinet.
Millwork: Any wood-based, custom-built element in a home. This includes cabinetry, vanities, built-in shelving, decorative trim, and wall paneling.
Ambiance: The character, mood, or atmosphere of a place.
Task Lighting: Bright, direct light focused on a specific area where a task is performed, such as a vanity mirror or kitchen counter.
Japandi: A popular interior design style that blends the minimalism and functionality of Japanese design with the rustic, cozy warmth of Scandinavian style.