No matter what size your bathroom is, if it is well designed then every day it will be a joy to use.
So what are the key elements that make a bathroom well done and yet highly functional?
Here are our ten easy steps to get you on the road to a fabulous, functional and yet relaxing bathroom.
1.
Perfect PositioningOne of the most important aspects to a well planned bathroom is the placement of key items such as the WC, basin unit and bath or shower (or both). Constraints from the positioning of the soil pipe must be taken into account, but it is always preferable not to have your WC as the first thing you set eyes on when you enter!
2.
Super Storage - choose a
basin unit with drawers underneath giving you more options, and if you have the room consider a matching or mirrored cupboard. Can you ever have enough storage? Are you are super minimalistic? Or are you a clutter junkie and have vast collections of bathing / shower products, shaving gear, beauty products, toothbrush (usually electric nowadays) ... and the list goes on.
Drawer organisers are virtually essential in any well planned bathroom, and can make such a difference to finding your things quickly.
In the family bathroom you need to allow for
plenty of
bathroom storage.
3.
Accessories - think of them while you are planning your bathroom, it's always more expensive to have someone come back to the house and put these in.
You will need the 4 essentials that we include in any bathroom design;
Soak DispenserToilet Brush
Toilet Roll Holder
Towel rail / ring
Don’t forget to think about hooks - these are essential for hanging your clothes or dressing gown on. If you have not chosen a mirror cabinet with an electric point for either a shaver or more commonly nowadays, an electric toothbrush, you will need a mug for your toothbrush and toothpaste.
4.
Towel Warmer - not only useful for hanging towels on, but provides
warmth in the bathroom and means your towels can be toasty warm at any time of the year. There is huge range of different
shapes, sizes and colours to choose from, your only limitations are your imagination - or your budget!
5.
Underfloor HeatingWe always recommend this as it means an end to all those freezing floors when you step out of the bath or shower.
It is essential if you have a shower - particularly a walk-in shower or wet room as it speedily dries the floor area. If you have cats you will find this is where they will spend their time!
6.
ShelvingAlways useful when built in to the shower area, and we make a design feature of it with clever use of mosaics.
7.
Use space wiselyThis is where a
fully trained bathroom designer can really help, they can come up with ideas you never even think of, ensuring that every bit of space is used to it's fullest potential.
8.
Ease of UseWith so many stunning bathroom products now available it can be easy to get overwhelmed by it all and forget that you need a practical, functional room that fits all your requirements. A bathroom is not something that you think of replacing every year, it is a major expenditure that usually has a minimum lifespan of 10 years. So it is important to get it right and this really where it is worth taking the advice of your
local friendly bathroom showroom with knowledgeable staff that can give you specialist design and technical advice.
9.
TilingUnless you have an existing wooden floor that you want to keep you should plan to tile the floor, any wall area where a shower is, around the bath - at least to allow for splashes - and a splash-back for the basin.
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| Fully tiled bathroom with walk-in shower and bath |
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| Fully tiled shower room |
We find in a contemporary bathroom our clients prefer to fully tile, and for traditional bathrooms there are tiles that look like wooden flooring which are very popular.
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| Porcelain wood effect tiles from Piemme on display in the Soak in Style Showroom |
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| Wood effect flooring, mosaic shower area and built in shelf |
10.
Tanking the Floor We always recommend this tanking the floor as a belt and braces action, and regard it as essential when installing a wet room.
