Below you will find an extensive variety of useful hints & tips to help you when designing your bathroom.
Design and Layout Tips
Include sufficient space for everything including the doors, windows and sloping roofs.
Allow space for standing and sitting, getting in and out of the bath or shower, etc.
Purchase items that are of the same size and shape if you wish to replace the existing dated suite with something new but not wish to change the layout of the bathroom.
Space-saving ideas can be created with bathroom mirrors or glass shelving.
False ceilings – a major problem with many small bathrooms, washrooms and was is that the ceiling is often too high concerning the walls. This can leave you feeling boxed in. With correct lighting and clever decoration, it can alter the room enabling it to feel inviting. A slatted false ceiling with appropriate lighting will enhance your bathroom.
Replacing fixtures – your suite may be fine, but a change to the taps and cistern handle may give your bathroom a new lease of life, along with a general decoration.
Storage – your family bathroom can accumulate a large amount of clutter. Whether wishing to store cleaning materials, medicines, children’s bathroom toys or toiletries, there are various options available to you. A medicine cabinet that can be locked is an ideal storage item for these childfree items, whilst a bathroom vanity cabinet can hide many of the bathroom toiletries.
Ventilation – in the majority of bathrooms, we have windows, which allow for natural ventilation, however where there is no ventilation we need to install an extractor fan.
Do you have the right extractor fan for the size of your room? This can be achieved by calculating the volume of the room by multiplying its height by its width by its length. Multiply this figure by the number of air changes needed in an hour (20 for bathroom, 15 for WC) and buy a fan capable of providing the required flow rate.
Consider adaptations for the disabled – fitting grab rails to walls and fixtures will make bathrooms safer for disabled persons wishing to stay in the comfort of their own home. Ensure the floor is safe – slip-free. Reposition accessories such as mirrors, towel rails, etc so that they can be reached from a wheelchair. Add grab rails close to the toilet. Bath chairs and shower chairs are available; alternatively, you may wish to make a hinged slatted seat that can be fixed to the shower wall.
Bathroom Products
Where is the best place to purchase your new bathroom suite – consider the local DIY stores along with specialist outlets which will have many suites on the view that will give ideas on layout, style, color schemes, etc.
What materials do you want – enameled cast iron bath, glass bath, plastic bath, acrylic bath, if plastic – there is much thickness of baths available – which is right for your family? Consider weight, use, etc.
Sinks come in many sizes and styles – do you want a vanity unit, pedestal or wall hung or en-suite.
Consider corner sinks, corner showers, corner baths as they can often save space.
Are you considering a bidet? Ensure you purchase the right toilet for your waste outlet – as there are many different styles of the waste outlet from the toilet ie horizontal, S-trap, P-trap, etc.
Bathroom Furniture
Space-saving ideas can be created with bathroom mirrors or glass shelving. Maximize the use of wasted space by using fitted bathroom furniture.
Storage – your family bathroom can accumulate a large amount of clutter. Whether wishing to store cleaning materials, medicines, children’s bathroom toys or toiletries, there are various options available to you. Bathroom furniture can be adapted to suit all your needs. A medicine cabinet that can be locked is an ideal storage item for these childfree items, whilst a bathroom vanity cabinet can hide many of the bathroom toiletries.
Decoration & Accessories
Choose neutral colors for decorations if you regularly update your bathroom color scheme (ie walls, flooring and decoration).
Tiling a bathroom can create a clean and tidy environment, which is easily maintained. There are many different approaches you can take to tiling your bathroom, from simple measures of splashbacks against the bath, sink, and shower, to part or full tiles. There are wide ranges of tile sizes and designs, along with a variety of colored grout that can add a different feel to the total look of your bathroom.
It is important when tiling a bathroom to ensure the tiles are fixed to the wall using the correct grouting adhesive
Do not tile on papered surfaces – tile directly on clean, dry plaster.
Run pointed stick or pen top along the joints to indent the grout consistently.
For safety reasons remember to use either a pull cord light switch, or have the switch outside the bathroom.
What accessories do you wish to fix against the wall or tiles – soap dish, medicine cabinet, toothbrush holder, towel rail, etc?
Plumbing
- Ensure sufficient space for pipework to follow the natural flow of water.
- Consider where you are to position a radiator or heated towel rail.
- Are you planning to change the route of the toilet soil pipe?
- Box in unsightly pipes behind a bathroom cabinet.