Top 12 Tips on Choosing a Bathroom
Top 12 Tips on Choosing a Bathroom
Whether you’re planning a practical family bathroom, en-suite, wet room, cabinets, storage area or full-on home spa and personal sanctuary, here are some tips on where to start with your bathroom refurbishment. Planning your bathroom is the most important stage when refurbishing a room. Knowing how much space you have available is extremely important and can determine the things you can and cannot buy for your room. You will be amazed at what a change you’ll see in your dull bathroom. There are so many choices on the market for bathroom sinks and so many things to think about. Here are Top 12 Tips on choosing a bathroom
1. Furnishing your new bathroom
Whether fitting yourself or using a specialist, you’ll need to decide what will go into your new bathroom.
Many people use their existing bathroom as a template but start with a blank canvas to create a space that enhances your lifestyle. Don’t forget bathroom storage space for towels, toilet rolls and toiletries. It’s worth working this into the original design to ensure you can fit everything in. For ideas and mood boards, Pinterest is a great tool and most designers now have an account so you can work for the mood board between you.
2. Lighting
Lighting can be a key detail, with basics starting at downlighting and ranging to back-lighting mirrors and lit feature walls. A split-face tile with concealed downlighting can make a breathtaking feature. You can even add a TV or flush-mounted speakers to listen to your music wirelessly if you want to make a statement!
3. Home Spa
If you really want to splash out, how about a home spa? If you’re a real water baby then why not add a mini home spa? A simple sauna can start at around £5,000 plus and gives your home that luxury feel. Next, you’ll need to decide on wall coverings. You can go the standard ceramic route or splash out on natural stone.
4. How long will it take?
When it comes to practicalities it is important to consider what constitutes a realistic time-frame. Bathrooms can take between one and three weeks to complete.
5. What kind of style would you like?
You’re spoiled for choice here since bathroom furniture and bathroom suites come in a whole range of design ideas. You could go ‘period’ style for instance with a roll top stand alone bath and Victorian taps. This would also work for a shabby chic or country-style look. Then there are minimalist bathroom furniture ranges and suites with rimless WCs and a built-in bidet or, if you’re looking for a bit of colour in the smallest room in your home, think statement-furniture. There is a never-ending variety to bathroom furniture now and you can find a statement piece to create a wow factor no matter how big or small your bathroom space is!
6. Shower Size?
Most of us are big fans of the power shower (which works well with low water pressure) but these days there’s also digital showers and shower towers with jets (you can buy pumps to boost the water pressure). Showerheads come in all shapes and sizes and can produce an eco-friendly soft rain effect as well as that of a torrential downpour (a twin-jet showerhead) Some are even equipped with ‘smart’ lighting. If you need to boost your water pressure to allow you a more luxurious shower then our fantastic range of shower pumps will provide you with the ideal solution.
7. Space
If you’re a bit pushed for space then consider wall-hung furniture and suites. These leave plenty of storage space underneath and actually make the bathroom appear larger because your eye can roam around the walls more freely. Wall Hung vanity units are a perfect solution as they provide you that extra storage so you can keep your bathroom essentials tidied away. It’s also possible to purchase corner shaped washbasin vanities and even toilets saving lots of standing room. Both wall hung and corner shaped units are perfect for en-suites and cloakroom bathrooms they create the illusion of more space due to more floor being visible.
There are plenty of clever combined bath/showers around these days which offer the option of a bath and a shower without taking up too much room in your bathroom. Shower baths have increased in popularity as they let those of you with a smaller bathroom have the pleasure of both a bath and a shower option. Shower enclosures come in such a selection of shapes they’ll fit into most bathrooms and many have easy-clean glass panelling as well as a variety of ‘smart’ functions such as lighting and music speakers.
8. Bath Size
Freestanding baths tend to be larger than your typical acrylic wall-sided versions but a bath doesn’t have to be on its own to be luxurious. Whirlpool baths can fit into most modern bathrooms for a home hydrotherapy treat, corner baths are excellent for smaller rooms and double-ended baths means luxuriating without the inconvenience of taps. There is a vast range of baths to choose both in terms of size and style.
9. Taps
Again, tap designs have come on leaps and bounds within the past decade or so. Most washbasin taps these days are monobloc mixers (which are reliant on high water pressure). These are more space-saving than the traditional two pillar taps. Then again, you could be a bit different and opt for wall mounted taps. Or how about sensor taps which come on after detecting movement? Some LED taps will even light up with the colour indicating the temperature of the water.
10. Choose Your Material
The most common bathroom sink is made of white porcelain, with other colours available at a premium price. Ready-made or custom solid surface materials can be moulded into both counter and sink to fit your space. Enamelled cast iron sinks can be coloured to fit any décor, are very durable, and resist chipping. Glass, stone, and metals can be shaped and moulded to any size and shape, and to create drama in a bathroom. Wood sinks are the newest and most expensive choice available.
11. Underfloor heating
Underfloor heating in bathrooms is becoming increasingly popular. Column radiators are both functional and striking design-wise, often becoming the focus of a bathroom while heated towel rails are another sought after and frequently spotted sight in many bathrooms these days. Choosing the perfect heating for your bathroom can be an important decision as a luxury bathroom can’t be enjoyed if it is cold and unwelcoming.
12. Fancy Stuff
We live in modern society and technology is designed to make life easier for us so why not use it? Many cabinets these days come with easy-closing drawers and doors, toilet seats have soft-closing lids and there are those sensor-operated illuminated mirrors and taps we mentioned earlier. And that’s just the start. You will be amazed at the technology on offer across our range of bathroom accessories in today bathroom stores. So check them out!
Stuff You’ll Need in The Bathroom
It’s easy to forget even the simplest of things when you’re balancing priorities of your move. This is a checklist of some bath and kitchen essentials for your first apartment:
Bathroom Checklist:
- Over the door towel hook (if preferred)
- Mini garbage can
- Garbage can liners
- Tissues
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrush holder
- Toilet brush
- Toilet plunger
- Shower curtain
- Shower rings
- Shower liner
- Towels (hand towels, bath towels)
- Bath mat
- Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, shaving cream, razor, etc.)
- Air freshener
- Over the door towel hook (if preferred)
- Mini garbage can
- Garbage can liners
- Soap (hand soap and bathing soap)
Take your time to plan it out thoroughly beforehand. Careful planning means you will reap the rewards later.
