Bathroom Design Ideas

When considering bathroom furniture a very important question arises, and that is regarding storage space. The bathroom is usually the smallest room of the house, but it is naturally the one that needs the most storage. The need for a bathroom cabinet becomes apparent, with a myriad of choice available catering for all tastes and requirements. Selecting the correct bathroom cabinet is important, since the decision will impact on all future storage needs.

Linens such as towels, toiletries like shampoo and soap all need a place to be kept while not in use, and medicines are traditionally kept in the bathroom too. Medicine cabinets come in all shapes and sizes from standard box-like units to fancy corner units, and some have mirrors on the front.

The amount of space available in the bathroom could determine the type of storage allowed. Wall cupboards do not take up any floor space at all, so are ideal for very small bathrooms, and some wall units are available with towel rails underneath. There are also bathroom cabinets that fit under the basin, known as vanity units, which are perfect for keeping toiletries in.

Space saver units are tall cupboards that fit over the toilet, with the storage space above the Geberit cistern; some of these types of bathroom cabinets have additional small shelves at floor level to store smaller items. Corner fitting bathroom cabinets are an ideal place to store linens when space is at a premium, and they also serve a useful function in the room.

Styles and colours of each of these bathroom cabinets vary, making them suitable for any household decor. Anything from old style traditional bathrooms to modern minimalistic bathrooms, whether small or large, there is a bathroom cabinet to suit all tastes and requirements.

One of the best things about electric underfloor heating is that the systems can be installed in a variety of applications and areas, regardless of how big or small the installation area might be. In addition, because most of the underfloor heating systems are mixtures of wires, cables and mesh mats, they can be customised to fit virtually any room dimensions. So even if your bathroom or kitchen has pre-existing fitted appliances, such as a bathtub and toilet or other obstruction, the underfloor heating kit can be cut to fit.

One of the important things to keep in mind when measuring for your electric under floor heating mat is that you should always keep the edges of the mat at least 10 inches from any exterior wall or appliance. In other words, there should be a 10-inch minimum gap around the toilet in a bathroom application, as well as at least 10 inches from all walls and exterior points, such as a doorway or bath.

It is also vitally important to avoid thermally blocking the heated areas as this could result in areas of localised heat build-up. This might not only damage the underfloor heating kit itself, but could also damage the underfloor heating thermostat, as well as the tile or other flooring material put in place on top of the underfloor heating mat. Double check all your measurements to make absolutely sure that they are correct prior to ordering your underfloor heating kit.

Of all of the changes you will make during a bathroom remodel, new mixer taps will have the most impact. At both the basin and in the shower, they also serve as little works of art thanks to the modern designs available today.

When choosing your new mixer taps, consider where you might be going with other hardware, as well. You will want your mixer taps, shower accessories, towel radiators and other fixtures to all complement each other.

Someone with a modern sense of style will appreciate the Cubik mixer taps from victoriaplumb.com. These cube-like basin mixer taps in smooth, polished chrome come in a regular height and a high rise version. There are also matching shower mixer taps.

Those who have a home that is a mix of period and contemporary will be drawn to the Alexa basin mixer taps. They have the traditional cross-head handles but the polished chrome finish and sleek lines give them a more modern look. Also at victoriaplumb.com, there are matching fixtures for the bath and/or shower, plus for the bidet.

The Hampshire mixer taps at victoriaplumb.com are for those who appreciate timeless elegance. Their porcelain caps feature an “H” and a “C” and turn easily to adjust the temperature mix. These mixer taps also have coordinating bath and/or shower, plus bidet, fixtures.

It’s always a good idea purchase your shower mixer taps at the same time that you upgrade your basin mixer taps. That way, everything will match and you won’t have to pay the plumber twice to visit.

Do you love to go to the spa, to sit in the steam room for half an hour or so, then rinse off with a warm shower? It’s the ultimate in relaxation. Why not bring that luxury into your own home with a steam shower? Many are opting for steam showers instead of the traditional showers, when they undertake a bathroom remodel. Here are two of the more popular steam showers currently available, so that you can decide whether a steam shower will be a part of your new bathroom.

The Malindi Steam Shower – Available in single and double cabins, this steam shower features a steam generator and multiple water showers. There is an adjustable handset shower head, four massage jets, plus a rain shower built into the roof. It has a seat – or two if you choose the double cabin – for relaxing, and you can also enjoy the remote control digital AM/FM radio included. There is even a mirror for shaving, because everyone knows shaving in the shower delivers the best results.

The Svedbergs Cube Steam Shower – This luxury steam shower was inspired by the oriental steam bath. It has a steam generator and adjustable shower, plus a rain shower in the roof. There is a generous seat on which to sit, made of wooden slats for that spa effect. Halogen lights twinkle from above, setting the mood for relaxation. The shower tray on this model is cast marble.

If that vinyl covering on the bathroom or kitchen floor has seen better days, give the room a boost with some gorgeous new floor tiles. Don’t panic – this isn’t major property development; it’s just good old DIY, hardly more taxing than a spot of painting and decorating. No plastering, no building and no architects will be required!

Find the mid-point of the two longest and the two shortest walls and chalk straight lines between them, ensuring that they cross at right angles (tweak the mid-point of one of the walls if they don’t).

Start by tiling loosely along the two lines to check they look OK from the doorway. Nudge the lines again if necessary to make the gaps at the edges at least half a tile width. Tiles should be symmetrically laid around features like French windows or fireplaces, so another line shift may be necessary.

Start along the longest line from the intersection, spreading a square metre of grout at a time and scraping it with the notched trowel. Check that the tiles sit squarely with the other line and gently press them into place, slipping plastic spacers into each corner. Keep going with whole tiles until you’ve almost reached the edges, working out from the centre (use a spirit level to make sure they’re sitting evenly). Leave to dry for 24 hours and cut the edge tiles to size, allowing a further 12 hours for drying. After you’ve sealed the surface (leave 2 hours to dry), grout between the tiles, cleaning the excess with a damp sponge as you go. Finito!

Quite possibly one of the most common places to add underfloor electric heating or water underfloor heating in any house is the bathroom. Bathroom floors, especially if they are tile or natural stone, can become excessively cold during the winter months, and traditional radiator heaters do not do a sufficient job of heating the floors; rather, they simply heat the air, which circulates through the house and helps the people inside feel warm, but do not actually heat the floor itself. The massive advantage of underfloor heating systems is that they transform any type of bathroom floor into a luxurious barefoot experience, creating a warm surface no matter what time of year it is.

Your morning routine is one of the most important parts of your day, and along with eating a healthy breakfast it is vitally important to have a positive outlook on the day ahead to maintain a healthy feeling of well being. Stepping out of the shower onto a freezing cold floor is not only a bit of a shock to the system, but it can seriously crimp the morning routine. Underfloor heating kits allow homeowners to transform their bathroom floors into areas of complete comfort, where ice-cold tiles or wood are nothing more than a distant memory once the DIY underfloor heating project has been completed.

Contrary to what some individuals might think, floor heating is not only exceptionally affordable but it is extremely efficient at not only maintaining a balanced temperature throughout the entire room, but it may also help to reduce your electricity bill.

Let’s face it: If you prefer a powerful shower, then the gravity-fed water systems found in many British homes leave a lot to be desired. These low-pressure systems rely on the height of the water tank to determine water pressure for the home, and the result can be as low as 0.1 bar coming out of your shower head. Many homeowners are installing a shower pump to increase water pressure, and are seeing results up to 3 bar.

A shower pump must be installed by a professional, and he can tell you whether your water system will work with a shower pump. The general requirements for a small home are at least 225 litre cold water storage and a 120 litre cylinder for hot water. Larger homes should have 450 litre capacity for cold water and a 166 litre cylinder.

The shower pump works by pushing water rather than pulling it, and we found three different pump types available at betterbathrooms.com. The PR50D pump delivers 1.5 bar, the BP65D offers 2 bar, and the BP100D turns the water pressure up to 3 bar. It isn’t just a matter of choosing the most powerful pump, though, as a 3 bar pump will deliver 2 bar water pressure in certain settings. Your professional installer can help you determine the correct pump for your needs.

Running a water pump does come with a bit of noise, but considering the alternative – living with weak water pressure coming out of your shower heads or replacing the system at great expense – you won’t mind at all.

Bathroom mixer taps can be fitted to the washbasin, bath, or bidet and choosing the right ones is a lot more difficult than it used to be.

A basin mixer tap combines the hot and cold water taps into one unit.  Mixer taps are operated by moving a lever to the left or the right to adjust the water temperature, they sometimes come with a special pop-up waste which is often referred to as PUW and takes the place of the old fashioned plug.

Some mixer taps require a specific range of water pressure in order to work properly. This is often called bar pressure, with 0.5 up to 1 bar pressure being the minimum for basin mixer taps. The vast majority of homes have around 4 bar of water pressure. 

Sometimes mixer taps are referred to as monobloc mixers and these have just one tap that controls the water temperature depending on which way you turn it.  Three hole basin mixer taps have two separate taps, one each for hot and cold and a central spout.

Basin mixer taps are most popularly made of chrome because of its ability to reflect light in the bathroom, but they can also be bought in rather expensive gold plated designs if you are feeling affluent.  The most important thing is to make sure that the mixer tap you choose matches your bathroom washbasin and the ones used on your bath.

It is not generally a good idea to buy cheap, low quality mixer taps as they tend to look dull and worn very quickly. Good quality mixer taps, professionally fitted, will give many years of wear and will stay looking good.

In many homes, bathroom space is at a premium. Many homeowners are ripping out their bathtubs and installing shower enclosures, to allow for more room to navigate outside of the shower. Shower enclosures need not be an eyesore, though, as many designer options have come on the market in the past few years.

The Premium Nova Shower Enclosure has a curved design and two fixed doors, allowing for an easy in and out. Silver rails frame the clear glass, and coordinating silver hinges add a touch of elegance. This shower enclosure is available in multiple sizes, ranging from 80cm to 120×80cm and 120×90cm.

The Imperial Two-Door Quadrant Shower Enclosure has two sliding doors instead of fixed, and it comes in 80 cm, 90 cm and 100 cm sizes. Its chrome hardware will complement many bathroom decors.

The Sloegrin Shower Enclosure also has two sliding doors, but with magnetic closures, and chrome-finished profiles. It is available in 80cm, 90cm and 100cm.

For those without a corner available in their bathroom, the Exxklusiv D Shaped Shower Enclosure works well against a side wall. Its two satin chrome-finished doors can be opened both inward and outward, and it comes in two sizes: 96×82cm or 110×90cm.

In addition to the standard shower enclosures, many styles are available as offset; one side is longer than the other, allowing for a larger shower area. All of these shower enclosures require shower trays, which are sold separately.

An alternative to installing a bathroom radiator is the installation of underfloor heating. Nowadays, most people have laminate, wooden or tiled bathroom floors and electric underfloor heating is ideal for use under these flooring substances. In actual fact, underfloor heating is becoming an increasingly popular choice as it creates a very comfortable heat which circles the room from the floor up as opposed to conventional radiators which provides heat which rises but then cools as it drops, which can create a draft. In a bathroom you obviously want to feel cosy as you relax in your bath or step out of your shower. Underfloor heating provides a more constant, even heat.

One such underfloor heating system is the Deviheat underfloor heating system, which is ideal for use as a bathroom heating source since it is 100% waterproof. The electrical cables are attached to a mat which is then stuck onto the floor. There are two variations for use beneath concrete and timber floors since these two materials conduct heat at differing rates. It does not matter what size or shape your floor is since these mats can actually be cut to fit.

Underfloor heating is also a rather economical choice since each square metre uses the same electricity as a standard household light bulb. The heat is also regulated by a thermostat which will switch off when the optimum temperature has been achieved.

It is worth noting that this system should only be fitted by a qualified electrician for safety reasons.