Ask a Designer: Where Do I Start With My Bathroom Redesign?
Whether big or small, renovating a bathroom is labour intensive and changes down the line can be costly, so you need a set-in-stone plan…
When it comes to your bathroom, an interior designer’s role is to tease out your requirements, make you think about the practicalities, and ensure you end up with a place where you can unwind, but also tackle the hectic morning routine.
As well as getting the style right, it’s important to establish exactly where everything will be positioned, and ensure the fittings are correct for your scheme. So it’s also worth consulting a bathroom specialist to help you plan the layout, plus a good plumber who has a wealth of knowledge about all those dull but crucial details, such as water pressure and IP ratings.
Here are 10 points to get you thinking and fire your enthusiasm.
As well as getting the style right, it’s important to establish exactly where everything will be positioned, and ensure the fittings are correct for your scheme. So it’s also worth consulting a bathroom specialist to help you plan the layout, plus a good plumber who has a wealth of knowledge about all those dull but crucial details, such as water pressure and IP ratings.
Here are 10 points to get you thinking and fire your enthusiasm.
Try before you buy
So many people are happy to buy sanitaryware without trying it and, to me, that just seems like absolute madness. Who cares if you look like a ninny – go to the bathroom stores and get in some baths and sit on some loos. Believe me, this is what I do with all my clients and it’s quite an ice breaker!
So many people are happy to buy sanitaryware without trying it and, to me, that just seems like absolute madness. Who cares if you look like a ninny – go to the bathroom stores and get in some baths and sit on some loos. Believe me, this is what I do with all my clients and it’s quite an ice breaker!
Be inspired but plan perfectly
I love this bold use of tiles – it takes me back to my honeymoon in Morocco. But be aware that a layout like this needs careful planning, especially for the waste positions – get those wrong and everything will fall out of line. You need to have this set in concrete at the start of the project, as any changes later on are going to be almost impossible without a great deal of upheaval and mess.
See how to add vibrance with tiles
I love this bold use of tiles – it takes me back to my honeymoon in Morocco. But be aware that a layout like this needs careful planning, especially for the waste positions – get those wrong and everything will fall out of line. You need to have this set in concrete at the start of the project, as any changes later on are going to be almost impossible without a great deal of upheaval and mess.
See how to add vibrance with tiles
Mind the gap
Quite often you’ll have a change in materials where the bathroom meets a landing or bedroom, so you need to think about floor levels at the start of the project. If you don’t have the luxury of doing your whole house, so creating matching floor levels as here, you might need to consider having a wooden chamfer fitted, which you can paint in with the door. This will be nice and smooth on your bare tootsies and blend in with your scheme.
Quite often you’ll have a change in materials where the bathroom meets a landing or bedroom, so you need to think about floor levels at the start of the project. If you don’t have the luxury of doing your whole house, so creating matching floor levels as here, you might need to consider having a wooden chamfer fitted, which you can paint in with the door. This will be nice and smooth on your bare tootsies and blend in with your scheme.
Try a different angle
If you have the space, then it’s really nice to make a feature of your bath and bring it into the room on an angle. It can be a bit dull lying in a bath that’s pressed right along one wall. This is a lovely example of a calm bathing space. I like bathrooms that have as little tiling as possible and feel more like another room in the house (there are lots of moisture-resistant paints on the market). A word of warning, though: wooden floors don’t like a lot of water and can easily stain, so they’re best reserved for grown-up bathrooms.
If you have the space, then it’s really nice to make a feature of your bath and bring it into the room on an angle. It can be a bit dull lying in a bath that’s pressed right along one wall. This is a lovely example of a calm bathing space. I like bathrooms that have as little tiling as possible and feel more like another room in the house (there are lots of moisture-resistant paints on the market). A word of warning, though: wooden floors don’t like a lot of water and can easily stain, so they’re best reserved for grown-up bathrooms.
Play with styles
Investigate fittings that have a more quirky feel. This console is a great example of an interesting vanity unit that will really give guests something to talk about. Patterned wallpaper, opulent mirrors and chandeliers can also transform the mood.
Investigate fittings that have a more quirky feel. This console is a great example of an interesting vanity unit that will really give guests something to talk about. Patterned wallpaper, opulent mirrors and chandeliers can also transform the mood.
Reflect the period of your property
This is my dream bathroom in my dream house – a very simple and elegant freestanding tub that sits beautifully with the stunning sash windows. It’s your designer’s job to be sympathetic to the house and, in this case, the scheme works perfectly. Despite the room’s role, you are still aware of the period of the property.
This is my dream bathroom in my dream house – a very simple and elegant freestanding tub that sits beautifully with the stunning sash windows. It’s your designer’s job to be sympathetic to the house and, in this case, the scheme works perfectly. Despite the room’s role, you are still aware of the period of the property.
Go for a showstopping shower
Shower enclosures can be absolutely stunning when done simply with a piece of glass. Beware, though – if you have someone with broad shoulders, you’ll need to have lots of room, especially if there’s a small return on the glass to keep the water enclosed. Niches in the shower wall are a nice place to put additional lighting, so make sure you plan that in from the start. If you prefer a shower tray, there are some super-shallow designs available now that protect your lovely floor but still give you that open shower wow factor.
Discover 10 ways to add some hotel style to your bathroom
Shower enclosures can be absolutely stunning when done simply with a piece of glass. Beware, though – if you have someone with broad shoulders, you’ll need to have lots of room, especially if there’s a small return on the glass to keep the water enclosed. Niches in the shower wall are a nice place to put additional lighting, so make sure you plan that in from the start. If you prefer a shower tray, there are some super-shallow designs available now that protect your lovely floor but still give you that open shower wow factor.
Discover 10 ways to add some hotel style to your bathroom
Splash on taps
Cheap taps are a false economy. Good bathroom fittings are expensive, and if you aren’t paying a couple of hundred pounds for your taps and valves, then they are too cheap and it will cost you more in the long run. Think about how you use your bathroom before you choose your style. For instance, a rain shower is nice when you’re calmly daydreaming under the flowing water, but if you need to jump in and out in the mornings, you should start thinking of more sensible, less sexy designs.
Cheap taps are a false economy. Good bathroom fittings are expensive, and if you aren’t paying a couple of hundred pounds for your taps and valves, then they are too cheap and it will cost you more in the long run. Think about how you use your bathroom before you choose your style. For instance, a rain shower is nice when you’re calmly daydreaming under the flowing water, but if you need to jump in and out in the mornings, you should start thinking of more sensible, less sexy designs.
Don’t forget the details
Storage is always a big issue in any bathroom – where can you hide the bleach yet also display all your decadent potions? When you’re working with your designer, be honest about how you use your bathroom. If you like to have a big glass of vino in the bath, you’ll need to make sure there’s somewhere to park it. Likewise, if you have a houseful of teenagers, you’ll need somewhere to stash their millions of products!
Are you currently redesigning your bathroom? Let us know how your progress is going in the Comments.
Storage is always a big issue in any bathroom – where can you hide the bleach yet also display all your decadent potions? When you’re working with your designer, be honest about how you use your bathroom. If you like to have a big glass of vino in the bath, you’ll need to make sure there’s somewhere to park it. Likewise, if you have a houseful of teenagers, you’ll need somewhere to stash their millions of products!
Are you currently redesigning your bathroom? Let us know how your progress is going in the Comments.
Looking through samples of materials and fittings is the fun part. Your designer will be able to help you source some beautiful stones and ceramics to pull your bathroom scheme together. I love the use of the same stone here on the walls and floor, which gives the room a cocooned feel. It’s very relaxing following the veins of the tiles around you.