A method for washing articles in a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes receiving user input of a user-selected water fill amount for a wash cycle, the user-selected water fill amount being the largest water fill amount available for selection by a user. The method also includes determining a characteristic of a load of the washing machine appliance and determining that an amount of water associated with the user-selected water fill amount is inadequate for the load. In response, the method includes providing the wash chamber of the washing machine appliance with an amount of water greater than an amount associated with the user-selected water fill amount.