Game of thrones

Slick, shiny and a little bit luxe, the latest toilets are as much a lust-have as a must-have. Here’s what you need to know before you flush – er, flash the cash

Acacia pan, Reece

Today’s loos aren’t the ugly sister to the Cinderella of the rest of the bathroom; new models are designed to work with the rest of the space for a seamless flow which is especially neat in a small room, where a clash of styles could look over-fussy.

ColorIsvea Soluzione wall-hung pan and Sistema basin, both in Platinum, Paco Jaanson

Dual flush is a statutory requirement for new toilets – they will average around 3.5 litres per flush instead of the 12 litres of old, which works out to a considerable water saving over the year. WELS is the water-efficiency standard in Australia; the more stars, the higher the efficiency. Four stars should be the minimum you aim for.

The wall-hung loo, attached with a strong bracket, takes full advantage of in-wall technology to leave you with just the pan on view, which also makes cleaning around it super easy – no more struggling round the back of the pan with your floorcloth.

The Veil wall-hung pan with heated seat and bidet features, Kohler

Another easy-clean alternative is the back-to-the-wall model; as it sounds, the back of the cistern and pan stand flush against the side wall, with no pipes on view, delivering a neat finish.

When it’s time to shop, try before you buy (up to a point) – you want to be sure that the height works for you and others in your household, so don’t be shy about perching on the pan in the showroom to check the fit. And soft-closing lids are a must.

Lunna Series toilet and bidet, Paco Jaanson

Take a look inside – some of the newest models are rimless, completely avoiding the problem of a grungy, hard-to-clean underside. Others carry the polished ceramic all the way under the rim, so there’s less chance of bacteria clinging to an unfinished surface.

Catalano Sfera rimless wall-hung pan, Rogerseller

All white? Not necessarily. Metallics deliver a whopping hit of glamour, while black can look slick and modern. Beware of bowing to trends too far with a funky colour though – chances are you will tire of it pretty quickly, and avoid stainless steel unless you love it, as it can look uninvitingly institutional.

ColorIsvea Soluzione wall-hung pan in Gold, Paco Jaanson 

Yes – new technology has hit the humble toilet. Fancy a bidet seat that heats up, can spray you with warm water – and dry you as well – and that, in many cases, be retrofitted to your existing loo? Look no further than The Englefield, brilliant bathroom technology from Kohler.