Are you in the process of installing a new bathroom? Or are you just at the planning stage? Planning to redesign and install a new bathroom is no easy task and is something that shouldn’t be rushed in to. Have you decided on a budget? Have you considered the style? All of these elements need to be decided before you purchase anything. But if you have a limited budget, where do you invest your money?
There are lots of ways that you can save cash on your new bathroom renovation, one of which is to do the work yourself. By cutting out the tradesmen, you can save yourself a pretty penny, which you can then spend on your bathroom’s more significant elements. But where should you be investing your money, and where can you grab a bargain? We’ll help you figure out your starting point and find out who’s the best Kohler toilet for you.
In this article, we’re going to review the following Kohler toilets:
- Kohler K-3889-0 Highline Comfort Height
- KOHLER K-3837-0 Devonshire Comfort Height Two-Piece
- KOHLER K-3950-0 Tresham Comfort Height Two-Piece Elongated
- Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa Comfort Height Elongated
- Kohler K-3589-0 Cimarron Comfort Height Elongated
Table of Contents
Where to Invest Your Money When Updating Your Bathroom
If your budget is really tight, then you might need to make a decision as to where exactly you are going to invest and where you can save. Here we have gone through 4 different areas where you can invest your budget wisely and get maximum bang for your bucks.
Bath
Possibly the biggest item in your bathroom, the bathtub. It will be the first thing that guests look at as they walk into your bathroom and the main focus of the whole room. You are NOT going to want to scrimp on this! But what do you need to look for in a new bathtub? Well, for starters, you will want to go for a design that is fitting with the rest of the bathroom. You can buy some considerable period roll-top baths and iron effect stand-alone bathtubs, which will have a high impact on the room. However, these will come with a hefty price tag.
If modern, sleek lines are your thing, then you will be able to pick up an attractive bathtub and not pay out a fortune for it. Look at the discount sections in your local hardware stores, check out online auction sites, and scout around for sales so that you can pick up a bargain. Modern bathroom suites are much more readily available and, therefore, cheaper.
Shower
Believe it or not, you can save a fortune by being a bit cash savvy when it comes to replacing your shower. Many people think that they need to install a whole new shower unit and that they will need to pay out for a plumber to do this for them. However, you can actually get around this cost (and upheaval) by only replacing the shower head.
You can buy shower heads that are fixed, handheld, provide different spray functions, save water, and even some that can increase the water pressure in your shower. Not only will replacing the shower head save you money on a plumber, but it will also save you money on your water bill too. The newer models of shower head have water-saving capabilities, which means that you will be able to gain a stunning-looking shower and benefit from the technology within it.
Tiles
If your bathroom suite is in good condition and you just want to update the room itself, then you could try replacing the tiles. You’d be surprised at how much of an impact a new set of tiles will make, and this is a job that will only take a day or two, depending on the size of your bathroom. The best part is that you don’t need to pay someone else to do the job, you can easily tile a bathroom yourself. You will need to make sure that you invest correctly in the right tools and adhesive, but these costs are cheaper than hiring someone else, and you can use them again for your next bathroom renovation!
If you do decide to replace your tiles, then take a look at online sites and wholesale sites to get a good discount. If you are fortunate enough to have several bathrooms, then you can buy in larger bulk and get a better discount if you don’t have several bathrooms to renovate then why not buy in bulk with a friend or two. Bigger buying power means more significant discounts! End of line tiles are also usually discounted, but they may not have enough of one design. In this instance, get creative! Have one design as a backsplash and contrasting design to offset it.
Toilet
Lastly, if you want to invest your money wisely in your new bathroom, then we recommend putting a good chunk of money aside for the toilet. Let’s face it. It’s the most used item in your bathroom and the main piece that you DO NOT want to scrimp on quality. Buying a cheap toilet will end up in a much larger bill that you weren’t expecting, and it’s just not worth the risk. For thorough guidance on how to choose the right toilet for your bathroom take a look at our guide here.
Other things to look out for when you are buying a toilet are what type of flush it has. Often people will go for a single flush toilet because they are the most common. However, a dual flush toilet (one which allows you to use less or more water depending on what you need to flush away) will save you a lot of money on your water bill in the long run. They are just as easy to install as a single flush toilet and still come in a wide variety of designs. If you want a toilet that is super simple to install, then why not look at a one-piece toilet? They are molded in one unit, so all you need to do is bolt it to the floor, attach the water inlet, and attach the waste outlet. Want to know how to install a one-piece toilet? Watch this!
The Best Kohler Toilet
As we have said, we believe that the majority of your bathroom budget should be spent on your toilet. So here, we have found 5 of the best Kohler Toilets and compared each of them.
Kohler Highline Comfort Toilet
The Kohler Highline Comfort Toilet is a great toilet not just because it saves water and functions well, but because it has a higher seating position to standard toilets. The Kohler has a 17 – 19 inch (depending on the size of the toilet seat) floor to leg distance, which makes the position more comfortable, especially for adults. This, combined with the efficient flush system, creates a great all-round toilet.
While it is only a single flush system, the 1.28 gallon per flush cistern provides enough water to flush away any waste effectively. The canister flush works by increasing the pressure of the water as it flushes so that small and large blockages alike can be pushed through the system easily. This classically designed toilet will look good in all bathrooms and will work very effectively too.
- Water-saving
- Pressure assist flush
- Higher seating position
- Tricky to install
- Not suitable for families
Kohler Devonshire Comfort Two Piece Toilet
Do you live in a period property and want to retain the features that your home holds? This is no surprise, and you’ll be pleased to know that you can even fit a period bathroom! The Kohler Devonshire Comfort Toilet has a Victorian look with a beveled cistern and a pillar style base. The Devonshire comes in a variety of colors, including black, grey, and biscuit, but if you want to appreciate it for the period design fully, then you will want to consider white. The height of the base is, as with the Kohler Highline, slightly higher than other toilets.
The cistern itself provides you with a single flush system of 1.28 gallons of water per flush and uses a Class Five accelerator to help increase the pressure within the cistern. The bowl is glazed with a specially formulated antimicrobial glaze that prevents germs from clinging on and growing. This also reduces the stains and smells that you might otherwise associate with a toilet. Overall if you want a toilet to fit into your niche designed bathroom then the Devonshire is a great item to have.
- Period design
- Higher than average seating position
- Pressurised flush
- Water-saving
- Water Sense Certified
- Pre-installed tank bolts which cannot be adjusted
- The two-piece system can be trickier to install
Kohler Tresham Comfort Height Two Piece Toilet
This robust boxy designed toilet is another classic from Kohler. The Tresham is a sharp-edged design that, while looking bulky, is actually quite lightweight to install. The two-piece construction means you can install the cistern and the bowl separately, which makes it easier to maneuver and get into the right position. As with the other comfort models, the Tresham is slightly higher than the others. You might want to think about the longevity of this seat height and ensure that it is suitable for your current (or future) family. This toilet is available in 6 different colors: white, grey, black, cashmere, biscuit, and almond. It will fit into literally any color scheme you choose!
The flush system is only a single flush, but it uses only 1.28 gallons of water per flush, making it far more economical than its traditional counterparts. In fact, the Kohler Tresham is Water SenseCertified because of its environmental credentials. The canister flush increases the water pressure, and the glazed bowl helps reduce any friction as the water passes.
- Water Sense Certified
- Canister flush adds more flush pressure
- Glazed bowl reduces marks and satins
- Available in a variety of colors
- Doesn’t come with seat
- Not always suitable for families
Kohler Santa Rosa Toilet
Short on space but don’t want to compromise on quality? The Kohler Santa Rosa is a great one-piece toilet that doesn’t take up a huge amount of space but will still do the job. This lightweight and small in design toilet will fit into any small guest bathroom or en-suite. Available in 7 different colors, you’ll be spoilt for choice as to which one you are going to install. Speaking of installation, this toilet is easy to fit and straightforward thanks to the handy videos and instruction manual that come with it.
The flush system uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush and uses siphoned technology to swirl the water around the bowl. A point to remember is that while this toilet is smaller in dimensions, this may affect the installation process, and you might need to move some of the existing pipes. Make sure that you measure your space before you invest in this toilet so that you don’t make an expensive error.
- Water Sense Certified
- Available in 7 different colors
- Compact design
- Watch out for installation issues
- Doesn’t always come with a toilet seat
Kohler Cimarron Toilet
If you are after a toilet that is all about the flush, then the Cimarron is the one for you. Not only does it have a larger amount of water through each flush (at 1.6 gallons of water per flush, you might want to check that this toilet is available in your State), but it also has an Aqua Piston flush system to increase the pressure. The water is then pushed around the entire bowl with such force that it pushes all the waste away and reduces the risk of any blockages.
Available in 7 different colors, this toilet is a fetching design with a chrome-plated handle. The seat is not always supplied with this toilet, so check beforehand, and then you can judge whether it is a good price or not. While the elongated bowl is attractive, the imprints of the waste pipes can create hard to clean areas, so be mindful of the additional upkeep this toilet will need.
- Aqua Piston flush system
- Available in a variety of colors
- Classic design
- 1.6 gallons per flush cistern not available in all states
- Toilet seat sometimes not included (check before buying)
Conclusion
These are the 5 best Kohler toilets available one the market today. But which one will you choose? Will it be the compact and sleek Kohler Santa Rosa Toilet? Or will you go for the more grown-up Kohler Highline Comfort Toilet? For us, the best Kohler has to be the Kohler Tresham Comfort Height Two Piece Toilet. We just love the boxy design and the efficient flush system! Why not take a further look at the Kohler range today and see which models tick the right boxes for your bathroom?