Canstar Blue’s review of bathroom accessories has seen Caroma, Dorf, IKEA and Mondella compared and rated on durability, design & appearance, variety, value for money and overall satisfaction.
See our <a href=”/faq/#faq-methodology” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Ratings Methodology</a>.
Caroma floated to the top of Canstar Blue’s inaugural bathroom accessories ratings, with five-star reviews for durability, design & appearance, variety and overall satisfaction.
Whether you’re completely renovating your bathroom or just giving it a little facelift, accessories like towel racks, shelving and soap dishes can make or break your bathroom’s aesthetics, as well as your budget. But don’t fret, we’re here to help.
To help you narrow down which brands or retailers are worth checking out, Canstar Blue has surveyed more than 700 Aussie consumers who purchased new bathroom accessories for their home in the last three years. Respondents reviewed and rated their product(s) and brands on durability, design & appearance, variety, value for money and overall satisfaction. Brands which received the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are compared in our report.
In our inaugural review, Caroma was rated best for bathroom accessories by overall satisfaction and in majority of categories surveyed.
Here are the best brands/retailers for bathroom accessories in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s inaugural review:
Caroma topped our ratings for bathroom accessories, earning five-star reviews for overall customer satisfaction, durability, design & appearance and variety. IKEA rated best for value for money, while Mondella also received full marks for design & appearance.
Read on for more information on the brands/retailers featured in this report.
Caroma is a subsidiary of GWA Bathrooms & Kitchens. The Aussie-owned brand lays claim to having manufactured the world’s first dual flush toilet, having been in the bathroom business for over 78 years. It offers a wide range of toilet suites, plumbing fittings, baths, showers, basins and accessories for both domestic and commercial buildings. Caroma’s line-up includes the Artisan collection with contemporary minimalist designs, Vogue (inspired by modern Australia), LiveWell which offers functional designs and the Classic collection which is the most popular and affordable range. Prices for the Classic collection start from $80 for a classic cross basin outlet (185mm) and reach up to $600 for a classic 1500 island bath (pictured).
Another subsidiary of GWA Bathrooms & Kitchens, Dorf’s offering is slightly more exclusive and includes mixer and standard taps, showers, outlets and various bathroom accessories. Collections available include Kanso, Enigma, Epic (with sculptured and European soft-edged curved designs), Viridian (clean lines and smooth surfaces), Kip and Villa (made from solid brass and finished in chrome or gunmetal grey). Prices for the Enigma range start from $47 for a robe hook and go up to $470 for a sink mixer (pictured).
Besides Swedish meatballs and flatpack furniture, IKEA also offers a selection of functional bathroom accessories including towel holders, shower caddies, soap dispensers and dishes, toothbrush holders and various other bathroom accessory sets and tapware. IKEA’s line-up includes Scandinavian, classic and contemporary styles – all very affordably priced. Prices for bathroom shelves start from just $19.99 (pictured) and towel racks start from $12.99.
Mondella has grouped its product offering into seven colour-coded design collections to make it easier to find the exact look you want for your bathroom. This includes the Rococo line (square flair), Rumba (modern minimalist), Resonance (timeless styles), Concerto (edgy), Cadenza (curvy chic), Signature (statement pieces) and Maestro (classic styles). The Rococo collection offers bathroom fittings with distinctive edges, including chrome frame shower screens from $520 (pictured).
Our survey found a third of respondents (33%) purchased new bathroom accessories to update the style of their old bathroom, while a fifth (23%) did so as part of a bigger renovation. While smaller accessories like soap dishes and vanity sets can be replaced every few months, larger bathroom fixtures like mirrors, taps and sinks should last you a few good years. Our research found the most common bathroom accessories purchased were:
Aussies who took part in our survey spent an average of $289 on new bathroom accessories, with majority going instore to buy their hardware (72%) instead of online (15%). Ultimately, your overall spending will depend on your bathroom style, including the types of finishes and materials you want to incorporate, the size of the fixtures you need (i.e. sinks, bath tubs etc.) and of course, your budget. However, you can save big bucks by shopping around, keeping an eye out for sneaky discounts during sale periods and asking retailers to price match when possible.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Lead, Megan Birot. She’s an expert on household appliances, health & beauty products, as well as all things grocery and shopping. When she’s not writing up our research-based ratings reports, Megan spends her time helping consumers make better purchase decisions, whether it’s at the supermarket, other retailers, or online, highlighting the best deals and flagging anything you need to be aware of.
Picture credits: Retailer websites.
Canstar Blue surveyed 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased new bathroom accessories for their home in the last three years (note: this may include towel rails, toilet roll holders, robe hooks, shower shelves, etc.) – in this case, 707 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
