Bathroom Design Guide
The first step is to plan the design; As with kitchens, your local vendor will execute a computer-generated plan based on the dimensions of the room and your particular requirements.
If you stick with the same design, carefully measure your bathroom suite before you go shopping for a replacement so you know the new items will fit.
Reinstallation and wiring will add to the cost, so if possible stick with existing service points, although this may be unavoidable if you want to change the position of the bathroom.
First decide on the right place for the bath and / or shower. If your toilet is in your bathroom, decide where it will go and then place the sink.
With the fixtures planned, you can figure out how to use the remaining space, which in modern bathrooms can be quite limited. Some form of storage is required, be it cabinets or shelves, preferably both, for toiletries, cleaning supplies, toilet paper rolls, and children’s bath toys. If your bathroom is spacious, you can also store clean towels and your laundry basket there.
Choosing the bathtub and sink can be a time-consuming task. Even if you don’t opt for something like an indoor hot tub or hot tub, bathrooms come in all shapes and sizes – standard oblong, roll-top, corner, curved, wider at one end than the other, and colors. Unless you desperately crave a particular color, it’s best to stick with white. It’s clean-looking, harmless, and will match whatever color you decide to use for paint and furniture.
Faucets also come in an astonishing variety of styles – choose a design that complements your bathroom.
Before making your final decision on the bathroom suite, it helps to check your plans with your plumber to see if there are any potential drawbacks with the designs you have chosen.
Even if your window has frosted glass, make sure you have a curtain or blind with a ‘blackout’ coating unless you want neighbors or passersby to look at your silhouette bathing, washing or worse.
When it comes to decorating, remember to use, or specify, if someone else is doing the work, grout that is steam and water resistant. Likewise, choose paint and wallpaper that resist heat and steam – look through ever-expanding ranges of kitchens and bathrooms.
Pale colors brighten a small bathroom, especially one without natural light, but color is fun to experiment with. And a large mirror on one wall, especially on the wall opposite the window, will help make a small bathroom look and feel much larger and lighter.
Floor coverings also come in all kinds of materials and colors, but avoid rugs that are impractical and unsanitary in a bathroom. Vinyl, cork tile, or linoleum are good choices – warm underfoot and easy to clean. However, if the surface you choose is shiny, always use a non-slip washable mat for added safety.
If you are installing a shower, either as a separate feature or above the tub, do your research on the different types before deciding which one to choose. If you have high water pressure, you can opt for a heated shower that connects directly to your heating system and keeps the water temperature even.
An electric shower system heats the water and is used mainly over the bathtub. Power showers will give you the best showering experience, even if you have low water pressure.
Look for a non-slip surface in both the bathtub and the shower. Check with your plumber that the drain can absorb the amount of water your shower produces; an overflowing shower tray can cause serious problems.
Above all, the main thing to remember when redesigning your bathroom is to choose a design that suits your lifestyle.