Toilets

Toilet buying guide

The Blue Space supplies toilets to renovators, plumbers and builders from Australia's leading brands, such as Caroma, Bao Bath, Fienza, Lafeme, St George, Studio Bagno and Turner Hastings.

A toilet only works well if it matches the plumbing installed, which is why the trap type, set-out measurement and water inlet position matter more at the selection stage than the styling of the pan itself. Getting these three details right first avoids the most common (and most expensive) replacement mistake.

What is a set out?

Set-out is the measurement from the finished wall to the centre of the waste pipe. If the waste pipe exits through the floor behind the toilet, the toilet is on an S-trap; if it exits through the wall, it's a P-trap.

To measure set-out, check where the current toilet's waste connects and measure from the finished wall (not the skirting or old tiling) to the centre of that waste point. Most Australian bathrooms use a set-out of 90mm, 120mm or 150mm. Most of the toilet suites in this collection include an adjustable S-trap connector, which covers a range of set-outs rather than locking the toilet to one exact measurement, giving some flexibility if the set-out sits between the standard figures.

If it isn't clear whether an existing toilet is on an S-trap or P-trap, or the set-out measurement is uncertain, a photo of the current installation along with the measurement sent to The Blue Space's team will confirm which suites will fit.

How do I know what toilet to choose?

Three factors decide which toilet suite will actually work in a given bathroom, before style or brand come into it:

• Trap type and set-out confirm S-trap or P-trap, and measure the set-out, since this determines which toilet suites are physically compatible with the existing plumbing
• Water inlet position back-entry inlets sit concealed inside the cistern for a tidier finish (great for new builds and full bathroom renovations), while bottom-entry inlets connect from the side or below and are easier to access for future maintenance; If you're replacing an existing toilet, the new toilet needs to match wherever the water supply already comes in
• Flush and water rating dual flush is standard across this collection, and every toilet stocked carries a WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme) rating, typically 4.5 litres for a full flush and 3 litres for a half flush, which meets Australian water-efficiency requirements and keeps ongoing water costs down

Once the plumbing requirements are settled, the remaining decisions come down to comfort and day-to-day use: a soft-close seat, the right pan height for the household, and a rimless bowl for easier cleaning. These are the details worth asking about directly, since they vary between suites even within the same trap type and set-out.

Why should I consider a rimless toilet?

A rimless toilet is a pan design without the enclosed rim found around the inside edge of a traditional toilet bowl. That enclosed rim, on a standard pan, hides a channel that directs flush water around the bowl, but it also traps waste and residue out of easy reach of a toilet brush.

A rimless bowl instead uses a direct flush pattern that washes the entire inside surface of the pan without that hidden channel, making it faster to clean thoroughly and reducing the buildup that leads to odour over time. Rimless design is now standard across most new toilet suites in this collection, including Caroma and Bao Bath's ranges.

Choosing between toilet types

• Behind the wall toilets have a cistern hidden inside the wall cavity, with only the pan and a flush button visible, giving a cleaner, more streamlined finish than a standard close coupled suite - View behind the wall toilets
• Wall faced close coupled toilets have the cistern sitting directly on the back of the pan, forming one connected unit. This is the most common and often the most affordable configuration, and it's straightforward to replace like-for-like without changing wall plumbing - View all faced toilets
• Connector/Linked toilets separate the cistern and pan slightly, joined by a short connector piece, which can suit specific space constraints or styling preferences - View connector toilets
• Smart toilets and bidets add integrated features such as heated seats, warm water washing and automatic lids. These typically need a nearby power point in addition to the standard water supply, which is worth confirming during the planning stage of a renovation rather than after the toilet has arrived - View smart toilets

Completing the bathroom

A toilet is rarely the only fixture being replaced in a bathroom renovation. The Blue Space's Toilet Roll Holders and Invisi Toilet Buttons collections are worth reviewing alongside a new toilet suite, since flush button style is chosen separately from the toilet itself on many concealed cistern models.

For the rest of the room, Tiles, Bathroom Vanities and Tapware collections round out a full bathroom renovation, and are worth confirming early if a behind-the-wall toilet is being considered, since that installation type affects the surrounding wall finish.