Bathroom Design Ideas

Renovating the bathroom is a project many people embark upon after deciding that they have become unhappy with their current bathroom. Depending on the size of the bathroom and the intended scale of the renovation, such a process can be either simple of very complicated, but there are some tips and general guidelines to take into account to ensure that the project will not get out of control and become too overwhelming, regardless of its size.

The first step is to decide precisely what in the bathroom requires alteration, and why. For instance, is the size of the bathroom a problem (too small?) or is it just that the style and general décor is looking rather out of date? Perhaps some of the bathroom is damaged, or there is not enough natural light coming into the room. Determining precisely what changes need to be made and why can make the whole process of bathroom renovation considerably less complicated, and possibly even less expensive in the long run.

Sometimes the renovation need only be purely decorative – giving the walls a fresh lick of paint, changing the wallpaper, or simply adding a few new bathroom accessories and replacing dated items of bathroom furniture. Sometimes the project can be so complex (particularly if the size of the bathroom needs to be increased, which would entail the knocking down of walls and the like) that the services of a professional contractor would most likely need to be engaged. On other occasions, the bathroom size problem can be solved far more easily by replacing cumbersome bathroom cabinets with far slinkier sink vanities.

Bathroom renovation can be simple or complicated – but knowing precisely what changes are required and how to go about implementing them before commencing the project, can make it proceed in a considerably smoother fashion.

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.

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.

Storage is essential in a bathroom but it can be a problem in a small room. The easiest way to provide storage for all those little bits and pieces like makeup, razors, tubes and bottles that tend to get left laying around is to fit a bathroom cabinet or vanity unit.

A modern vanity unit will also give an instant update and modern look to the bathroom. These come in a number of different materials from melamine coated chipboard at the bottom end of the scale right up to natural wood and even glass, porcelain and steel. There is something to match most bathroom decors. Designs and shapes vary and suitable sizes for most bathrooms can be bought.  Basins can be sunk down into the top of the units, or stand up above them, or even hang on the wall.

Apart from providing useful bathroom storage, a vanity unit can also be used to conceal pipes below the sink, giving a sleek and modern look to the bathroom. If you prefer antique style, these units can also be bought in antique effect wood of various types and colours with marble, ceramic, or even granite top surfaces. For the larger bathroom, installing a double vanity unit which has two separate sinks and much more counter space on top is the height of luxury. No more waiting for the bathroom sink to be free and more space to keep cosmetics, shampoos, etc in two cupboards underneath. It also helps to keep the bathroom tidy so that things can be found quickly.

Contemporary bathroom wall accessories are rapidly becoming as trendy as ‘must have’ kitchenware.

It is of crucial importance to always have a coherent view of what the bathroom will look like as a whole. Buying one expensive item and finding it clashes with another is to be avoided, whenever possible.

For example, towel racks, once a merely functional part of the bathroom, now come in a multitude of styles far removed from a simple heated metal bar. Indeed, at the top end of the market, towel racks may even incorporate mirrors and shelves. Select one that best blends in with your other fixtures.

Similarly, the old bathroom mirror, tacked up on the wall above the sink, is a thing of the past. Experiment with full-length mirrors or one made up of several smaller ones. Surround it with lights or choose a groovy frame.

Heaters are another case in point. Instead of hiding it away in a corner or burying it next to a vanity unit, why not mount it on the wall? As most now feature built-in timers, imagine how luxurious it will make the bathroom on a cold winter’s morning.

Lighting is another accessory fast becoming stylish. Forget the traditional centrally mounted ceiling lamp. Festoon the bath with hanging lights or install an elegant metal rod with multi-directional lamps.

Finally, if your bathroom is one of the smaller rooms of the house, how about mounting an extra cabinet on the wall? It will greatly increase space for bathrobes and towels and keep the rest of the area free to relax in.

Refurbishing a bathroom can be an expensive affair. A new bath or shower unit can set a house owner back a considerable amount of money, but even if you cannot afford a total overhaul of your existing bathroom, replacing an old and lifeless vanity unit can do wonders to even the most jaded of bathrooms and not cost the earth.

There are as many different vanity units on the market as there are bathroom sinks. It is therefore of crucial importance that you have a clear idea of which of the many types will best fit into your existing bathroom.

Although this is true of many of the other accessories in your bathroom, the vanity unit deserves especial care, because of the composite nature of the fixture. In general the unit consists of taps, a washbasin and mirror. These all need to fit into the overall layout of your bathroom.

Also, choose a size that will be suitable. Although storage space is, of course, the main reason why vanity units are chosen in the first place, there is no point in buying one that is too large. This will only defeat the entire object of the exercise, an uncluttered bathroom.

For those who need a great deal of storage space and have the room to do so, a traditional cabinet style should prove sufficient. Conversely, someone with more limited requirements may find the pedestal style more than adequate for their needs.

Schneider cabinets come in ten lines, each unique and stylish, each durable and fashionable. Unrivalled in design and quality, Schneider bathroom cabinets use only the finest materials to make some of the world’s finest woodwork.

The Graceline employs a florescent backlit, brushed aluminium housing and mirrored, hinged front doors. This creates a clean, square look. The Hipline follows this same essential design; but instead of a backlight, these bathroom cabinets have a cylindrical, top-mounted halogen lamp.

The Hipline and Quadraline also include shelving units with three glass shelves and a tall aluminium spine.

Those who don’t want their bathroom cabinet to have its own light source might find the Schneider Lowline series matches their needs. These one and two-hinged door models utilize clean lines and come in both vertical and horizontal orientations. Schneider also makes a line of illuminated and unlit bathroom mirrors which, like the Lowline, come in horizontally and vertically-oriented rectangles and squares.

The Peakline has a lit or unlit mirrored front and single sliding aluminium doors while the Prideline, Quadraline, Ronline, Splashline and Wanga lines all employ the basic Schneider look established by the Graceline and Lowline models but add elegantly creative lighting solutions. The Peakline offers both wide fluorescent and compact halogen options, the Prideline wide overhanging options, and the Quadraline single hinge, overhanging bulb options.

Finally, the Schneider Ronline offers a diverse sampling of lighting fixtures, resting atop the basic Schneider bathroom cabinet design, while the Splashline and Wangaline offer various creative re-renderings of the same.

Inda bathrooms are the height of sophistication in terms of bathroom design and it is no coincidence that they are based in Milan, Italy. This city is well known for being one of the fashion ‘hot spots’ of Europe and Inda bring fashion to the bathroom, in quite a serious way!

The Inda Bathrooms style concept is very swish, yet modern. This is not about a clinical white bathroom this is about colours, use of space and modern living in the 21st century. Their products have an air of the future about them, with very angular and sharp lines, nestling alongside rounded, curved wash hand basins. The result is a blend of the two styles, with one setting off the other. This concept makes their designs almost unique and certainly worthy of consideration.

For those with young children, some of the products may not be entirely suitable, due to the sharp edges on some of the basin counters/vanity units, but for everyone else, they are a real style statement.

These products are also quite cutting edge in terms of design, so if you like heritage pieces and a charming or quaint bathroom, then this is probably a range that you will not find too interesting. For anyone who likes a timeless style, expressing individuality and an endorsement of modern life, particularly in the urban setting, this really is a quality range, which will last a lifetime. Since you will probably love your new bathroom suite so much, you may well want to keep it for a lifetime.

Sharing a bathroom with family members or housemates can be difficult. If you have a large bathroom, then installing more than one sink is a good idea; so that people do not have to wait to use the sink for quick and simple tasks such as washing their hands or brushing their teeth.

If you need to decorate the bathroom there can be disagreements about colour schemes and furniture if you are sharing with someone else. The best solution is to settle on colours that suit everyone and if new bathroom furniture needs to be added, make sure that everyone contributes towards the cost so that you do not have to spend as much yourself.

Sharing a bathroom can also be frustrating if you have people using products that you have purchased for yourself. The best option is to buy double bathroom cabinets and give a section to each person or buy one cabinet each. If you do not feel comfortable with having your products stored in the bathroom, then there are a variety of wash bags and cosmetics bags to choose from. These are available from a variety of stores for around £5.00 and are ideal for keeping your bathroom products private.

It is also important to keep your bathroom hygienic. Since there is more than one person using the bath, shower, sink and toilet, you will need to make sure that you clean each one after you have used it. It is always a good idea to share cleaning tasks so that one person does not end up having to do all the work. 

Every bathroom needs one or two cabinets for storing items such as hair products, medicine and shavers etc. There are many different types of cabinets, such as vanity cabinets and cabinets for storing linen. If you want your cabinets to match other areas of your bathroom, then you can buy vanity sets. These usually consist of a sink and a selection of cabinets with a mirror. They may be a little expensive, but they will help you to achieve a stylish look for your bathroom.

If you have a lot of bathroom items, then it may be a good idea to choose more than one cabinet for your bathroom. Double bath vanities offer lots of storage space and are ideal for large bathrooms. These bath vanities also have space for more than one sink, which make them ideal for bathrooms with lots of users. They are also ideal for keeping your bathroom products organised, such as storing hair products in one section and make-up in another section.

If you are looking for a cabinet specifically for medicine, then are single and double cabinets available. Some medicine cabinets come with locks, which are ideal if you have children and wish to prevent them from having easy access to the cabinet for safety reasons. It also helps you to keep your medicine out of view for when visitors use your bathroom.

If you do not wish to have your cabinets fixed to the wall, then there is a selection of floor cabinets to choose from. These are useful as you can store items on top of the cabinet as well as inside it.