Bathroom Design Ideas

When it comes to insuring the contents of your home, most insurance companies offer two types of coverage:  “new for old” and “cost of repair”.

New for old

New for old policies, also known as “replacement as new” coverage, typically cover most of your household items apart from clothing and linens. If something is lost or stolen, once the excess is met, the insurance will cover the full cost of replacing that item.

Cost of repair

Cost of repair policies, also known as indemnity policies pay to replace or repair your lost/stolen/damaged possession(s) with an appropriate deduction made for wear, tear, and depreciation of the item. While indemnity policies tend to have smaller premiums than new for old, they still generally carry an excess that must be met before the insurance “kicks in”.

Exclusions

Almost every home insurance content policy includes exclusions and limits. These are typically applied to the value of certain things, like artwork, ornaments, jewellery, or other items of more value.

Inflation

Most insurers link your insurance sum to inflation, so that it increases accordingly. However, it is wise to check before you commit to a policy.

Contents insurance and sub-letting your home/flat

It is imperative that if you decide sub-let your home that you tell your contents insurance company, because letting will probably render your policy null and void. The reason is because sub-letting increases the risk of claim and therefore, changes the extenuating conditions of your original policy. You will need to discuss options with your contents provider.

When choosing to remodel or update a current bathroom area, often people consider removing the bath completely and putting a shower enclosure in its place. The advantages of having both a separate shower enclosure and a bath are obvious, but what if there is only room for one or the other?

Shower enclosures take up less room than a bath, this helps when space inside the bathroom is at a premium. Showers are also cheaper to run than baths as less hot water is used per wash. This could be of help to those who are living within a tight budget each month. It is also the reason why those on a water meter often choose showers over baths.

The additional floor space gained by having a shower enclosure as opposed to a bath means that bathroom furniture, such as bathroom cabinets, could be used as extra storage space. A free standing bathroom cabinet is perfect in smaller bathrooms as it can be moved whenever needed to best utilize the area available.

Compared to taking a bath, a shower enclosure stays warmer longer, as the hot water fills the shower enclosure with steam and the space stays hot until the water is turned off. With a bath the water is cooling down immediately, and often a top up of more hot water is needed before the bathing has ended.

Shower enclosures can be as simple or as stylish as required; there are various designs to suit all styles of house and decor. Again, for those on a budget, plain square shower trays and regular shower doors can be bought cheaply from most DIY stores and are relatively simple to fit.

Electric underfloor heating is becoming very popular as energy rates rise. The reason is simple: heat rises, too. Underfloor heating is much more efficient than the forced-air heating more commonly used in today’s homes. Rather than a radiator or electric baseboard which heats the air, and the air then heats the objects in the home (from furniture to humans), an underfloor system heats the floor, which radiantly heats the objects and the air.  This produces a smoother, gentler heat than that of the forced-air variety.
 
The laws of physics tell us that heat always flows toward cold.  If you are seated on an object that is colder than your body, you will lose your heat to that object until the two of you reach equilibrium. With electric underfloor heating, the floor and the furniture are heated slowly and gently, and when you sit in the furniture you don’t lose any heat.  Most people report feeling warmer in a room heated radiantly than in a room heated to the same temperature via more conventional methods.  In fact, people who use radiant heating often lower their thermostats a few degrees and feel just as warm as those using conventional heating methods at higher temperatures.
 
Electric underfloor heating is very easy to install during either new construction or a remodel.  Because the flexible mats with thin electrical wires in them are so light and portable, nearly any homeowner can undertake this project with fantastic results.  Programmable thermostats increase energy savings, turning the system off when you’re not home and turning it on shortly before you arrive.
 
Underfloor heating is enjoying a quiet revolution, and if you’re considering new construction or a remodel, it should be an option you seriously consider for a heating system.

Finding and purchasing home insurance has become easier because of specialised web sites set up for consumers.  Some of these websites specialise in insurance products, and others compare all types of financial products.  But while comparing buildings insurance or contents insurance via these websites is convenient, as with all other types of comparison shopping, always use more than one website.

Also, have the requirements for your insurance written down so you request exactly the same thing on each website.  For example, if you’re looking for contents insurance to a value of £10,000, make sure you use that same request each time.  Otherwise, your cost estimates will not be valid.

Most of these websites accept advertising money from companies.  While it may not make the site completely unbiased, the advertisers often agree to offer special terms, even temporarily, to help “drive” people to the comparison website.  You may see offers of 12 months cover for the price of 9 months, or discounts for the first 6 months or year of cover.

But each company may not offer the same savings on each website, so it pays to shop around, even amongst comparison websites.  And don’t forget savings to which you may be entitled as a student, over-50, or member of a professional organisation.  Sometimes these will be available via comparison websites, but often they aren’t.  So don’t stop at the comparison website. Use it as your base for even greater savings. 

Contact the insurance companies in which you’re interested, give them the quote from the comparison website, and ask which discounts you’re eligible for based on your status as a student, etc.  You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that you can add a discount on top of the quoted rate.

If you want to make more out of your bathroom than it being just a basic functional washroom, then there are a few luxurious shower accessories and associated bathroom accessories, that you should consider adding.

There is nothing like a long soak in the bath, but resting your head on the bathtub itself can be uncomfortable for anything more than a few minutes.  Why not add a bath pillow? It is one of a range of bathroom accessories designed for comfort and are perfect for helping you to relax after a difficult day.  They range from a basic inflatable version, to a more user friendly option that will inflate at the touch of a button.  Also available is a remote control version that can massage your neck and shoulders while you relax.

For those who have young children, a kneeler is a good option.  This fits over the side of the bath and provides a comfortable pad for kneeling on the floor.  Handy pockets will hold bottles of shampoo within easy reach, and it can take some of the stress out of bathing children.  

Staying organised in your bathroom is important and there are a range of bath and shower caddies which can help you to do just that.  Ensure you find one that has enough space in for all your toiletries and that will sit within easy reach.  There are some styles which clip on to the shower pole, that are designed for a shelf or window sill, or some bath trays which will run across the bath itself. 

The most common bath is the acrylic one with a panel down one side, but  an increasing variety of shapes are becoming available and corner baths, circular ones, curved and free standing baths are now becoming very popular.

Most modern baths are made from plastic acrylic material which makes them relatively inexpensive but still very strong and easy to maintain. The main difference is that an acrylic bath is light and so it is easier to install and it retains the heat better than metal baths. Anyone who has previously used an old metal based bath will soon feel the difference in the bath water temperature. It stays hot longer.

When choosing an acrylic bath shape make sure that you have ample room in your bathroom to site the bath and install all the pipes and other fittings. The arrangement of the holes on the bath for taps is also important and it is vital to make sure that the recommended tap system for the particular bath will suit your water supply.  Make a note of the capacity of the chosen bath and ensure that your hot water tank can supply enough hot water to fill it to a suitable level.   For example, a brand new corner bath which only gets three inches of water in the bottom before the tap runs cold can be a big disappointment.

If you are unsure about the capacity of your hot water system, or have difficulty in imaging just how high the water level would be in the new bath, ask an expert for advice.

When looking for a heating system for the bathroom, underfloor heating is ideal. The room will be warm without being hot, and when you get out of either the bath or shower the floor will be warm to the touch. Any towels or mats that you put down to stand on will be warm and any spills will quickly dry up.

The bathroom is an ideal place to use underfloor heating; it is suitable for use under tiled or laminate flooring as well as wooden floors, all of which can be found in bathrooms. Underfloor heating is perfectly safe in bathrooms even when using electric underfloor heating systems. As long as the heating system has been properly fitted, even if there is a flood in the bathroom e.g., if someone were to leave a tap running, there would still be no risk and the heating unit would remain perfectly safe.

One important aspect of choosing underfloor heating is the fact that there is no need to have a radiator in what is often a small room in the home. This means that the positioning of the necessary bathroom furniture is easier and more adaptable. It is also a perfect space saving feature.

Whether you choose to use electric or wet underfloor heating this is an ideal way to heat your bathroom. It is interesting to note that the original underfloor heating was invented by the Romans who used it to heat their baths before it was used to heat the rest of the house.

Very few of us have the luxury of a large bathroom. While we want something fabulous and showcase-worthy, we are restricted by size, shape, and budget. Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of what you have:

• Replace floor-mounted sinks and toilets with wall-mounted ones. More floor space makes a room feel bigger than it is.
• Use mirrors wisely. Placing a mirror opposite a window reflects light and adding things like mirrored cabinets helps give the illusion of more space.
• Choose pale colours for floor and walls.
• Install vertical radiators instead of traditional ones.
• Keep the fixtures small. Shallow basins, small countertops, and slim-line accessories all work towards making your tiny bathroom feel grander than it is.
• Minimise the clutter. Unfortunately, the smaller the space, the more eye-drawing things like multiple shampoo bottles and loads of toiletries are. So keep your things put away and out of sight.
• Combine your shower and bath or get rid of the bath altogether.

Most importantly, don’t give in to the space; make the space work for you! Remember that which might look garish in a large room will often look quite wonderful in a small one. So don’t be afraid to make a statement.

A small bathroom doesn’t have to be a boring bathroom. With a little thought, a little planning, and a little creativity, you can make that small space feel larger and look amazing.

When purchasing home insurance, always ask if the policy you’re considering includes contents insurance.  Home contents insurance is usually a separate policy that covers just the contents of the home – in other words, your furniture, clothing, electronic equipment, books, and all the other things that make your house a home.

If your home has a mortgage, house insurance is mandatory.  However, home contents insurance is likely to be optional, and because of that most people consider going without it.  Also, the cost compared to the value of insured items can seem more expensive than house insurance.  And it is, because the risk of someone utilising contents insurance is greater than using their home insurance. 

Should a break-in occur, any damage to the house (broken window or door) might be below the excess amount you have set, so no claim would be paid.  But through that broken door or window might be carried off most of the contents of your home, and that’s where contents insurance can come in handy.

Home contents insurance typically has an excess, just like home insurance does.  But it’s probably lower, meaning there will be less out of your pocket in the event of a claim.  But besides the strictly financial aspects, remember that contents insurance can reduce the timeframe for replacing ruined or stolen articles from months (while you save up the funds to purchase another computer system or flat-screen TV) to a day or two. 

And since time is money, home contents insurance is a great investment.

Not everyone can afford to remodel their entire bathroom all at once. Most of us pick one item to upgrade at a time. One way to have a maximum impact with minimal expense – in comparison to other purchases you might make during your bathroom remodel – is to replace your existing basin mixer taps with new ones.

There are more mixer tap styles available than any other type of bathroom fixture. Choose mixer taps that will complement your current décor and hardware – towel bathroom radiators, shower accessories – but can also be a focal point of your finished bathroom.

One of the more elegant, modern designs can be seen in the Barcelona mixer. They take their inspiration from the iconic chair designed by Ludwig Miles van der Rohe for the 1929 Barcelona Exposition. Those familiar with the chair will see its smooth lines reflected in these water taps.

Another popular choice are the Blade mixer taps. Their sleek design will work well in a modern, minimalist bathroom. They are cast in solid brass, and are double-dipped in chrome.

The Trinity mixer taps are a modern take on a period design. They are both budget-friendly and grand in design. There is also a version of the Trinity mixer taps for the shower.

If possible, purchase your shower mixer taps from the same line and at the same time that you upgrade your basin mixer taps. It will keep your fixtures from not matching and also save the plumber the extra trip, and you the extra cost.