Toilet Seats

The Ultimate Toilet Seat Buying Guide

When upgrading or installing a new bathroom, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying the baths, showers and basins and forget about the WC. After the basin and the shower, the toilet is the most used item, and you should, therefore, pay attention to it. 

Made up of a seat and a lid, the toilet seat is arguably the most essential part of the toilet since it is where you sit when handling your business. Your bathroom experience will, therefore, be significantly influenced by the choice you make.

You would be surprised how varied your options are when shopping for toilet seats. This guide will equip you will all the information you need to make a decision you will not live to hate. 

Types of Toilet Seat

Basically, there are two main type toilet types in the market based on shape; the elongated and the round toilet seat. 

Elongated Toilet Seats – These features an oval shape and a seat that is slightly longer than the traditional one. Even though they are slightly costlier, many users are willing to make that trade-off since they are considered more comfortable. They measure 18.5 inches and come in a variety of makes, colours and finishes.

Round Toilet Seats – This is the most common toilet seat type, featuring a round and shorter shape. This seat costs a little less, takes up less space since it measures only 16.5 inches. 

The type of toilet seat based on the shape will, in most cases, be predetermined for you. To determine the correct one, measure out your toilet bowl from the bolt holes to the front of the bowl. Brands such as Burlington, Geberit and Vitra come as a package to eliminate the worry of getting it wrong. 

Important Factors to Consider When Buying a Toilet Seat

Once you have determined the ideal shape for your toilet bowl, below are other factors that will help pick out the right toilet seat from our wide catalogue. 

The Comfort Levels

Comfort is relative, and you should, therefore, know the dimensions by which you measure yours. Some factors that will help you decide include the shape of the toilet seat, the material which will determine the temperature, the ergonomic design to make it easier to sit on, and their durability. 

The Material

For the material, there is a wide range from which to choose. The most common seats are plastic ones which are affordable, easy to clean and come in a variety of colours and features. Burlington feature seats in Matt White, Dark Olive, and Gloss Black among many more. 

Wooden seats are the second most common ones. Although a bit costlier than plastic seats, they are liked for their comfort since they do not get so cold even during winters. 

Other materials include vinyl, brass, stainless steel and even ceramic. 

Other Features

While the shape and the material will help you narrow down your choice to several hundred seat types, these features will help you pick out the ‘one’ that suits you most.

Soft Close

This is a feature that is becoming more popular as it eliminates the annoying slamming of the lid and makes the toilet easier to clean. It will also be safer for younger users who will not have their little fingers trapped and even injured. This can be very handy is you have night-goers who would otherwise disturb everyone’s sleep. 

Nightlight

Some toilet seats are equipped with a nightlight which makes finding the toilet easy even where there is no light. This can be helpful if you want to use the bathroom in the dead of night without having to turn on the lights on everyone.

Quick Release

A quick-release toilet seat is easy to remove and fix back. This especially makes it easy to clean since the spots around the seats become more accessible. 

Soft Padding

A soft padded seat will have a warmer and more comfortable surface to sit on. They can greatly increase your bathroom experience and also reduce the amount of noise.

Heated Seat

Heated seats solve that uncomfortable cold you will experience when using a regular seat early in the morning. The seat keeps you warm and cosy and will be of great help during the long winter months. 

You should, therefore, find a seat that combines the right features for your comfort. For instance, the Vitra Sento WC seat comes with a round shape, white colour, and soft-close features. 

The Geberit iCon seat features round, elongated, and the unique square design to add a touch of elegance to your bathroom.

With this guide, you can browse through our website and find the best seat for you from our extensive catalogue.