Bathroom Design Ideas

Wash hand basins are no longer about somewhere just to wash your hands; they now make a statement about you, about your taste and about how you like to live.

Recent design innovations have seen enormous changes being made to the traditional, slightly curved, wash hand basin. Now you have the option of curved, angular, square, dual or even asymmetric basins. So which do you choose?

Obviously personal taste comes into it, but there are some design considerations as well. If you have very small children, then don’t plump for the latest Italian geometric styles, with corners so sharp that they look as if they could be used for cutting.  Instead, you should opt for something that is curved and which will obviously still inflict a knock if a little head bangs against it, but which will do less damage than a seriously sharp corner. However, if you don’t have children, or the little ones are past the age where they seem to constantly bang into any sharp edges, then these styles will be worth considering, especially if you like modern, urban design. 

You should also think about the other rooms in your home. If it is a real shrine to the past and you simply adore old-fashioned styles of décor and furniture, then you won’t want your bathroom to be too much at odds with this. So remember not to think about your bathroom in isolation, for whilst it is perfectly acceptable to have contrast, creating too much of a clash will result in ‘dissonance’, which is basically disharmony!

A bathroom obviously needs to be cleaned regularly, both for hygiene purposes and to make sure that it is kept at its best for as long as possible. However, there are some things you need to think about before you simply pour on cleaning agents and get the scrubbing brush out.

It is essential to check that any cleaning product you have bought will actually be safe to use on the type of bath, wash hand basin and toilet that you own. This may sound somewhat over cautious, but some chemicals are quite strong and may work well on one particular type of bath, but not be so good for another. For example, a cleaner can be safely used on an acrylic bath, but if it is applied to a cast iron bath it may actually take off the enamel.

Taps can be damaged by some types of cleaning products, particularly if they are gold effect, since the surface may react badly to any bleaching agent. Frequently the damage does not become visibly apparent for some time and by then it may be too late to rectify the situation easily.

Try to make sure that you use the minimum amount of chemicals on your bath and wash hand basin, as this will help retain their original surfaces for as long as possible.  However, for obvious reasons, it is likely that you will want to ensure that you do keep the toilet as germ free as possible and most have been designed to withstand chemical onslaughts, it is the bath and wash hand basin which can be very sensitive.

A shower timer serves a dual purpose. First of all, it limits the length of time you are in the shower, usually to three minutes. This restricts the volume of water you consume, which in turn helps to keep your energy bills down and assists with the conservation of natural resources.

Timers are also a good way of giving a gentle reminder to those who would rather spend time languishing in the shower, than being ready for work on time. So, as long as you are self disciplined enough to get out of the shower when it goes off, you won’t run as late as you might otherwise do.

The timers are specially designed to withstand the damp and humid conditions of the shower and should therefore last for a number of years. Some people find it easier to locate the unit just outside the shower, especially if they tend to lose track of time. That way, rather than just switching it off, you have to physically step out of the shower in order to reset it.

Because they do not like to waste time, water or energy, there are many people who use the timer when having a shower at any time of the day and not just in the morning, when they are concerned about the possibility of being late for work.

So if you want to do your bit for the planet, as well as ensure that you keep to time in the morning, then a shower timer may just be the gadget you are looking for.

Fitting a bath mat inside your bath or shower, to prevent you from slipping, may not seem very appealing to anyone who is concerned with their bathroom looking very chic and stylish. Yet the humble bath mat has evolved in terms of design and now you can have something that is stylish, but with the slip resistant qualities afforded by the traditional bath mat.

Due to the combination of water and soap, the floor of your bath or shower can very easily become slippery, but the risk is increased if you also use sensual oils or luxurious bath/shower products. It is always better to be safe than sorry, since any knock or fall can be quite dangerous, particularly in the confined space of a bath or shower.

To avoid these potentially dangerous situations, you can now fit an anti slip bathmat with suction grips that will keep it stuck to the floor and which will prevent you from slipping. Mats are available in frosted glass style, with little ‘bubbles’ blown in or wooden type slat ‘bath ducks’ that look extremely stylish in a very modern, minimalist bathroom. In a more traditional bathroom, it would perhaps, be more appropriate to fit the older style of bath mat, perhaps a clear mat or something quite plain.

Whichever style you choose, you can then add another, matching mat, for you to stand on when you get out of the bath or shower, so once again, you have a look that is harmonious and exudes understated chic.

A low flow showerhead is quite a recent invention, but it is growing in popularity as we all become more aware of both saving the planet, in terms of reducing energy consumption, and reducing the amount of water we use.

A low flow showerhead reduces the volume of water that is consumed and this means a saving in both heating costs and water use. Some people shy away from this type of showerhead, because they think that they will end up with a shower that just trickles, rather than providing a proper jet of water.

This is not the case, since the low flow head will not reduce the pressure of your water, so your shower will still pack a real punch. Most traditional showerheads will deliver water at between five and eight gallons per minute, but the low flow model still has the same water pressure, which it delivers at between two or three gallons per minute. If you are a family of four, then these savings really start to add up.

As with everything, there are some models that are better than others. You may, for example, choose one that has a pause button, which means that you can stop the flow while you apply your shampoo etc, thus giving you real control over the volume of water you use. If you do decide to buy a low flow showerhead, then make sure that you buy one that will suit your own particular requirements and aim for a model in the middle of the price range, so that you aren’t compromising on quality.

The choice of whether to have curtains or opt for blinds really depends on your personal tastes, as well as budget. It may be possible to buy curtains more cheaply than blinds, but they can be affected by the damp conditions in the bathroom. Blinds are usually more expensive, but they may last longer. They are also particularly at home in very contemporary or modern bathrooms, whereas older, more period bathrooms will suit a set of curtains.

Blinds also help you to adjust lighting levels in the bathroom, which is very important when you want to use it for personal grooming. Roller blinds are very useful if you want to be able to block light out, or your window is an awkward shape.

Curtains can look quite dramatic in a large and grand bathroom, where you might have a very dramatic flow of crisp white linen adorning the windows. This can really help offset some of the starkness that many modern bathroom designs suffer from.

Whichever you choose, you need to make sure that you clean the blinds, roller blinds or curtains on a regular basis, otherwise they may start to attract mould. If that does happen then take swift action and replace them as soon as possible, because when mould gets hold it can spread very quickly.

Also consider privacy issues when choosing the soft furnishings for your windows and make sure that you pick something that is thick enough so that you are not silhouetted against the curtains or blinds when stood in front of them, especially at night.

The bathroom is a place where people often unwind and relax, or even prepare themselves in anticipation of a night of passion. It can be viewed as a room where the senses can either be soothed, calmed or even stimulated and as such it can be a very sensual place.

Traditionally the concept of sensual bathrooms has involved sweetly fragranced candles, rose petals and some soft music. This can be great for the woman, but the man may often find that sharing a bath, whilst being bombarded with sweet fragrances, is not quite so sensual for him.

Why not think about installing some mood lighting in your bathroom, so that you can both relax with the lights turned down low? Non-scented candles can then be used, along with aromatherapy oils to stimulate the sense of smell.

Next, try to have things that appeal to both men and women, such as candles, which are not overly sweet, like ylang ylang. Oil burners with aromatherapy oils, such as bergamot and cedar-wood, are often regarded as aphrodisiacs, but their scent is not too feminine, so they are pleasing to both sexes.

Wooden massagers can often be used to help each other relax, with the wood version being more masculine than a feminine or girlie massager.

Rose petals are fine in moderation, but they can dominate if they are used too liberally. So limit their use, in recognition of the bathroom being for both of you.  All that remains now is for you to simply enjoy your sensual bathroom and each other.

A careful choice of light-pull can look very stylish and help your bathroom co-ordinate perfectly. Light-pulls used to be available in only a very limited number of fairly horrendous styles, usually taking the form of a plastic plug at the end of a piece of string. However, they now come in all shapes, colours and sizes, including rectangular, oval, skittle or egg shaped and even spiral. Given that the range is now so extensive, it makes perfect sense to tie together the whole look of your bathroom by finishing it off with an eye-catching light-pull.

If you have an ultra modern bathroom, with bisque style radiators, angular wash hand basins, bath and very bold taps, then why not finish off the effect by having a really chunky light-pull? 

Light-pulls are also available in a variety of materials, including chrome or chrome effect, glass, ceramic or even wood. The ceramic and wooden light-pulls are more suited to traditional or even period bathrooms, whereas the chrome models are an excellent choice for contemporary and modern ones.

Try to pick out at least one item in the bathroom and then choose a light-pull that is designed in the same style. This will draw the eye from the pull to other items in the room, thus offering a look that is complete and shows a real artistic and co-ordinated flair. For obvious reasons, don’t fit chintzy light-pulls in modern bathrooms, or very modern ones in period bathrooms, or they will simply look incongruous.

Bidets have been on something of a rollercoaster in terms of being fashionable and then not so popular; currently they are most well-liked among people of 50+ years.  This continuing demand means bidets are still available and like all bathroom fittings have evolved and come of age.

Bidets are now available in a variety of shapes and designs with even freestanding bidets are available, allowing them to be fitted in the most modern and stylish of bathrooms.  The traditional, wall mounted bidets are also still plentiful on the market, so the choice is wide and, if you have space, they can add a touch of elegance to any bathroom.

Bidets can also look quite at home in any bathroom which has a continental feel to it, particularly if the bathroom has fittings from Germany, France or Italy.  Somehow, because bidets are more popular on the continent, they complete the look and transform a bathroom into a continental bathing suite.

Many people also like to have a bidet because of the added hygiene it can provide and so they do fulfil a practical role as well.

Bidets are mainly available in white due to the colour’s enduring popularity, but can also be found in other colours, usually neutral shades, to complement any colour scheme you wish to accentuate in your bathroom.  However, before you start importing graphite coloured bidets from the continent, you should bear in mind that any strong colour will dominate the room and this may somewhat affect the value of your home. So, if you are thinking of selling in the next couple of years, make sure you choose a neutral bidet, which is stylish, but inoffensive.

Tiled walls are a very popular choice for the bathroom, since they can help repel water, are easy to clean and with a fantastic range available it is really easy to attain a very stylish look. You can have a professional do the work, but it is also possible to do it yourself.

Before you start the tiling, make sure that your walls are flat and clean and that there are no little bumps of plaster or dampness.

The main thing to bear in mind when tiling a bathroom is that you must use a tile adhesive which is waterproof, otherwise the humid and damp conditions will mean that your tiles might soon drop off. You should also be sure to use a waterproof grout between them, so that they are fully protected.

Due to the number of pipes and fittings you have to cut around, bathrooms can be fiddly to tile. The best way to do this is simply by trial and error, using a good quality tile cutter to cut your tiles so that there is a perfect fit. It is always best to allow some extra tiles in case some of them break, are damaged, or you make a wrong cut. Just be patient, hold the faith and you will find that with a little practice you will be able to cut the tiles to fit around the most awkward pipes.

When you grout, be sure to omit the gap between the bath and the tiles or the shower tray and the tiles. For this you need a special silicon sealant, which is widely available in DIY stores.