8 High-Value Bathroom Upgrades You Need Now
When you're renovating a bathroom, every rupee counts – here are nine things worth splashing out on, say the experts
Georgia Madden
28 March 2021
If you’re redoing your bathroom, chances are your budget isn’t endless and you need to think carefully about where to spend and where to save. So which upgrades are worth the extra expense and will make a significant difference to the look and functionality of the space? It’s a question we asked three bathroom experts. Here’s what they said.
Giulianna del Popolo, principal designer at GDP Interior Design, says:
1. A skylight
Adding a skylight is one of the most effective upgrades you can make to a bathroom. Having natural light streaming in from overhead creates a serene, spa-like atmosphere. It also means you can do away with having a window, which gives you more scope with shower placement.
There are many options available, from solar-powered and electrically operable skylights to ones with tinted glass in various sizes and finishes. What you choose will depend on your roof type and budget.
1. A skylight
Adding a skylight is one of the most effective upgrades you can make to a bathroom. Having natural light streaming in from overhead creates a serene, spa-like atmosphere. It also means you can do away with having a window, which gives you more scope with shower placement.
There are many options available, from solar-powered and electrically operable skylights to ones with tinted glass in various sizes and finishes. What you choose will depend on your roof type and budget.
For a new build, plan the skylight early so it’s factored into the roof shape and orientation. If you’re renovating, you’ll need a builder to assess for obstructions in the roof space before you can commit.
Also be aware that having constant sun streaming into a bathroom can make it uncomfortably hot, depending on the room’s size and orientation. If this is the case in your bathroom, be sure to invest in some motorised blinds to cut the glare.
Also be aware that having constant sun streaming into a bathroom can make it uncomfortably hot, depending on the room’s size and orientation. If this is the case in your bathroom, be sure to invest in some motorised blinds to cut the glare.
2. Integrated power points
If you have chargeable shavers or electrical toothbrushes or if you plan on using or charging any electrical devices in the bathroom, consider installing power points inside cabinets or drawers to avoid benchtop clutter and messy, dangling power cords.
Power docks aren’t just for custom vanities – you’ll find them in some off-the-shelf vanities too. Just be sure to tell your electrician early on that you want power points integrated into your vanity or drawers so he or she can plan for them.
Is this the year you upgrade your bathroom? Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
If you have chargeable shavers or electrical toothbrushes or if you plan on using or charging any electrical devices in the bathroom, consider installing power points inside cabinets or drawers to avoid benchtop clutter and messy, dangling power cords.
Power docks aren’t just for custom vanities – you’ll find them in some off-the-shelf vanities too. Just be sure to tell your electrician early on that you want power points integrated into your vanity or drawers so he or she can plan for them.
Is this the year you upgrade your bathroom? Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
3. A mirror cabinet
Upgrading from a regular mirror to a mirrored cabinet will help keep your benchtop clear; it’s the perfect spot to house all those small creams, tubes and bottles at a convenient eye level.
Mirrored cabinets do not need to be expensive and can either be partially recessed into the wall or surface-mounted. Just be aware that your choice of installation will affect your lighting options for around the mirror.
Upgrading from a regular mirror to a mirrored cabinet will help keep your benchtop clear; it’s the perfect spot to house all those small creams, tubes and bottles at a convenient eye level.
Mirrored cabinets do not need to be expensive and can either be partially recessed into the wall or surface-mounted. Just be aware that your choice of installation will affect your lighting options for around the mirror.
4. Exhaust fan
Problems with air circulation will bring down even the loveliest of bathrooms. Ensure that you specify an exhaust fan within the design to remove excess moisture and odours, and help prohibit the formation of mould in your bathroom.
Make sure the exhaust is positioned above the shower, which is the source of most moisture in your bathroom. If your layout does not allow for this, position the exhaust elsewhere in the room and choose a model with more power.
If you’re concerned about noise, check the labelling and choose an exhaust fan with a lower decibel rating.
Browse more images of stunning Indian bathrooms on Houzz
Problems with air circulation will bring down even the loveliest of bathrooms. Ensure that you specify an exhaust fan within the design to remove excess moisture and odours, and help prohibit the formation of mould in your bathroom.
Make sure the exhaust is positioned above the shower, which is the source of most moisture in your bathroom. If your layout does not allow for this, position the exhaust elsewhere in the room and choose a model with more power.
If you’re concerned about noise, check the labelling and choose an exhaust fan with a lower decibel rating.
Browse more images of stunning Indian bathrooms on Houzz
5. Custom joinery
Custom joinery is probably my favourite upgrade as it adds so much to a bathroom.
Often clients will start off thinking they will buy something off the shelf. However, you can never achieve the perfect fit, look and functionality this way. I always encourage clients to spend a little more for custom joinery so they can achieve an outcome that is completely tailored to their bathroom and their individual needs.
Custom joinery can add to the overall costs. And again, it needs to be decided upon in the planning stage of your build or renovation to allow for space planning.
Custom joinery is probably my favourite upgrade as it adds so much to a bathroom.
Often clients will start off thinking they will buy something off the shelf. However, you can never achieve the perfect fit, look and functionality this way. I always encourage clients to spend a little more for custom joinery so they can achieve an outcome that is completely tailored to their bathroom and their individual needs.
Custom joinery can add to the overall costs. And again, it needs to be decided upon in the planning stage of your build or renovation to allow for space planning.
6. A stone or solid-surface bath
For more tactility and a better-quality finish, move away from porcelain basins and baths and opt for stone or solid surface materials instead.
In this bathroom, we used the cast Kado Lussi solid-surface bath and basin.
Be aware that these materials need to be cared for, making them better-suited to an ensuite rather than a family bathroom.
For more tactility and a better-quality finish, move away from porcelain basins and baths and opt for stone or solid surface materials instead.
In this bathroom, we used the cast Kado Lussi solid-surface bath and basin.
Be aware that these materials need to be cared for, making them better-suited to an ensuite rather than a family bathroom.
Ashleigh Teune, interior designer at Smarter Bathrooms+, says:
7. Drawer storage
Upgrading your vanity from a style with doors to one with drawers is worth the extra outlay as it gives you far more functional storage.
Drawers are also easier to clean as you don’t have to reach awkwardly into the back of cupboards.
7. Drawer storage
Upgrading your vanity from a style with doors to one with drawers is worth the extra outlay as it gives you far more functional storage.
Drawers are also easier to clean as you don’t have to reach awkwardly into the back of cupboards.
8. A shower niche
Dispense with the shower shelf and opt for a niche instead – it provides a neat, practical spot to store shampoos and soap, and it won’t encroach on your standing space in the shower. Plus, a niche creates a far more sophisticated and streamlined look.
Dispense with the shower shelf and opt for a niche instead – it provides a neat, practical spot to store shampoos and soap, and it won’t encroach on your standing space in the shower. Plus, a niche creates a far more sophisticated and streamlined look.
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Major learning for me …hate that I had a built in bench put in the shower ! A teak bench has way more flexibility!
@gladdygirl I'm so happy we went with a teak bench. Not only is it more flexible, but it adds an element of warmth to a typically cold-feeling space! My shower is large enough that I can throw my towel onto the bench before I step in and it doesn't get wet. It's delicious not having to open the shower door to reach for a towel on cold days!
Our new bathroom in ny is almost exactly what I want again. I will video for you.