You might be building a new home, or fixing up the one you have. If you're like most folks, the toilet probably does not rate very high on your list of priorities. Still, the toilet is a key piece of a comfortable, modern, well-functioning home. Following a few easy steps can assist you in the choosing the perfect toilet. Despite what you may think, there are more types of toilets available than you can imagine.

Step by step now, let's examine:

1). The toilet bowl's shape: You can choose an elongated shape or a round one. The round shape is appropriate if your bathroom space is limited. The larger elongated front is more comfortable and sanitary, since there is less drip on the toilet.

2). The size of the toilet: You need to consider how long, wide and high the toilet is. Make sure you measure the space available for the toilet to ensure a comfortable fit. Don't forget about the rough-in space - the distance of the bowl's center to the finished wall - as this too will determine the toilet's maximum size.

3). How large is your toilet trapway?: This is the end of the toilet where waste and water leave. The minimum standard allows waste with a diameter of 1 ? inches to pass through. The larger the trapway, the less likely clogging will be.

4). The flushing system: US water conservation laws dictate that toilets must have a 1.6 gallon tank. However, you do still have some choices. The siphon created by the weight of the water pushes through the waste and empties the bowl in gravity fed toilets. For a little extra flushing help, pressure assisted toilets use compressed air in the toilet tank. When flushing, the pressurized air pushes the water more strongly into the bowl, resulting in a better flush. Some drawbacks of pressure toilets are the higher price, increased noise and more complicated repairs.

5). One or two piece toilets: For the budget minded, toilets consisting of the two separate pieces of toilet bowl and tank are appropriate. There are up to six parts in a one piece toilet that seamlessy make it up. This is a more elegant style that is cleaned more easily and requires less space but also has a higher price tag.

6). Maintenance features: Many better toilet designs include features to easily maintain them. From the inventive minds at Japan's Toto comes the easy to clean SanaGloss ceramic glaze which hinders buildup of mold and bacteria. EasyClean is a feature found on many American Standard toilets. The designers at Kohler have come up with an insulated liner that prevents moisture from condensation on the toilet tank's outside.

7). How the toilet looks: While a toilet needs to work well, it also needs to look good in your bathroom. Luckily, there are many choices available for styles, colors and sizes. This can come at a price - for instance, non-white toilets tend to be more expensive. One approach you may to consider is to choose a toilet that is part of a bathroom suite, thus ensuring that are the fixtures are in harmony.

8). What else?: High end toilets may come with heated seats, warm air drying systems and built-in bidets, such as the Toto Washlets. Kohler makes the Comfort Height toilet with a higher seat for easier sitting and standing.

There, now you have 8 steps to finding the toilet that is right for you and your loved ones!