How to Set Up a Coordinated Birillo Bathroom Set
By ALESSI UK: Italian Design Home Accessories, Kitchenware & Gifts | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: How-to Guides
Follow a simple step-by-step plan to combine Birillo soap dispenser, tissue box and wastepaper bin into one calm, coordinated bathroom setup.
Quick answer
Start with the Birillo soap dispenser as your anchor piece, then add the tissue box and wastepaper bin in the same finish and rectangular profile. Place all three within easy reach of the sink so the set reads as one deliberate group rather than scattered objects.
Why the Birillo family works as a coordinated set
The Birillo range is designed by Piero Lissoni around a minimal rectangular shape with rounded edges, so pieces from the family share a visual language even when they do different jobs. That makes coordination easier than mixing unrelated accessories: you are repeating one design idea, not forcing a theme.
The trade-off is restraint. Because the shapes are so simple, finish and placement matter more than ornament. A single mismatched colour or a cluttered arrangement will stand out. Keep the set tight and let the material and edges do the work.
What to check before you commit to a finish
The soap dispenser is available in silver or white, while the wastepaper bin is made of thick PMMA thermoplastic and the tissue box is also PMMA. If you want a uniform look, decide the dispenser finish first because it is the piece most often touched and most visible at the sink.
The catalog does not list every finish for every piece, so confirm the options for the bin and tissue box before ordering. If a matching finish is not available, treat the dispenser as the accent and keep the other two neutral.
Step-by-step: build your coordinated Birillo setup
- 1. Clear and measure the sink zone: Empty the area around the sink and measure the usable depth of your vanity or shelf. The tissue box is 8 cm high, so check that it will not crowd the mirror or tap. Common mistake: buying accessories before checking clearance, then finding the bin or box does not fit. Keep a 5 cm gap between pieces so the set looks intentional, not packed.
- 2. Choose the soap dispenser finish: Pick silver or white for the Birillo soap dispenser based on your tap finish and wall colour. Silver suits chrome or brushed metal fixtures; white blends with pale tiles and painted walls. Common mistake: choosing a finish that matches the room but clashes with the other Birillo pieces you plan to add. If you cannot match all three pieces, make the dispenser the only accent and keep the rest neutral.
- 3. Place the tissue box within arm's reach: Set the tissue box on the vanity or a shelf no more than an arm's length from the sink, with the opening facing the user. Its compact 8 cm height keeps it below eye level. Common mistake: putting it behind the tap or too far from the basin, so it becomes a decoration rather than a usable item. Test the position by sitting or standing where you normally use the sink.
- 4. Position the wastepaper bin on the floor: Place the Birillo wastepaper bin beside the vanity, on the side closest to the door or the hand you use least. Leave enough floor clearance to step past it. Common mistake: tucking the bin directly under the sink where it is kicked or hidden behind a cabinet door. Check that the bin does not block a drawer or cabinet door from opening fully.
- 5. Review the group from the doorway: Step back to the bathroom door and look at the three pieces together. They should read as one set: same rectangular language, similar finish, and even spacing. Common mistake: judging only from close up, where individual pieces look fine but the group feels scattered. If one piece looks out of place, move it rather than adding more accessories.
The Birillo pieces at a glance
- Birillo: Liquid soap dispenser in thermoplastic resin, available in silver or white, designed by Piero Lissoni. Choose this finish first because it sets the tone for the rest of the set and is the piece guests use most.
Birillo - Birillo: Tissue box made from PMMA with compact dimensions of 8 cm (3ΒΌ inches) in height. Its low profile fits neatly on a narrow shelf or vanity without blocking the mirror line.
Birillo - Birillo: Bathroom wastepaper bin made of thick PMMA thermoplastic with a rectangular shape and rounded edges. The sturdy material and simple shape make it a practical floor piece that still matches the sink-side accessories.
