There are a lot of TV shows, magazines, and books on interior decorating and design. Because of sponsorship concerns, far too few of them discuss integral features, such as sinks and tubs. When they do focus on these things, they usually discuss only one brand, the one sponsoring the program. Over the years, the average person spends an awful lot of time in his bathroom, and the "guest" bathroom is the one room in the house almost every visitor is sure to see, so the design and decor in these rooms is important. Choosing the right style and design of the utilities goes a long way in this regard.

All modern homes include plumbing utilities as a matter of course, yet when it comes to interior decorating, two approaches dominate: either design around your plumbing fixtures or completely ignore them. The first approach relies on expensive, high-end countertops, basins, and faucets, which are often referred to as "functional art," to provide the style the rest of the decor is meant to accentuate. The dependence on these objects' appearance, as well as the cost, obviously limits decorating options. There is more freedom when the fixtures play no part in the decorating scheme, but it isn't as if the fixtures will go unnoticed by those using them. A pleasant medium which incorporates the plumbing's design without being overly reliant on it is preferred.

First and foremost, the utilities must serve their purpose. While attractive bathroom sinks are a nice feature, don't purchase one that doesn't fulfill the family's needs just because it looks nice. Space is another factor to consider. There are two types of bathroom sinks: the free-standing pedestal and those designed to be incorporated into a countertop. While countertops require more room, they also provide storage space. Kitchen sinks usually have one centralized faucet, while bathroom sinks may have one or two taps. Check the bathroom's faucets, as not all will be compatible.

In bathrooms with tubs and/or showers, the basins and faucets need to be congruent, but they do not have to match exactly. Many companies sell entire bathroom sets, which include matching basins and faucets for the tub and sink. Often, these package deals will be cheaper than purchasing the units separately, but mixing and matching styles and colors is one way to affect an interesting, overall design. Since it's going to be hard to tell how everything looks together until it is installed, choose carefully; uninstalling and reinstalling plumbing features is a lot harder than repainting a wall or changing a light fixture, not to mention more expensive.

The plumbing features and fixtures are an important part of the bathroom decor and design. Expensive top-shelf designs are often central to the theme and everything else is meant to accent and draw attention to them. Less attractive styles draw less attention, but should still be integrated into the décor, because everyone who uses the bathroom is going to notice them.