Bathroom Design Ideas

If low hot water pressure is a major concern in your home, you might consider the purchase and installation of an electric shower.  This affordable and easy-to-use system eliminates the demand on your hot water tank for stored, heated water.  Instead, your showers can be hot for as long as you like, as often as needed.

The electric shower draws on the cold water feed and heats the water for immediate use in the shower. It is the perfect way to combat low hot water pressure issues or manage heated water for shower enclosures for two people, with two showerheads.  Not only will your water get hot and stay hot for as long as needed, but pre-set controls allow you to keep the temperature exactly where you like it.

Installing an electric shower is also a very simple process, and many consider the do-it-yourself route.  A licensed electrician should be consulted to manage the electrical component of this handy shower accessory, but other tasks can be done on your own.  To install the electric shower, you will need a 15 mm connection to the rising main for water, access to an electrical source, and copper pipes and valves to make the connection to the water source.

Electric showers are compact and space-efficient.  They are relatively inexpensive and can be installed quickly and easily.  For so little effort, the tremendous benefits make an electric shower a must-have for your home shower cubicle.

Designer radiators give you a great opportunity to bring some style into your bathroom. Let’s face it, a normal radiator isn’t the most attractive item in any room and the typical radiator housing isn’t really suitable for use in a bathroom. The only exception would be where you have a big bathroom and steam has the chance to evaporate quickly.

The downside with designer radiators is that they can be quite expensive. Some represent greater bargains than others, but there is no doubt you need to spend some time shopping around to find the best bargains on designer radiators.

The easiest way to begin is to search online, because you have instant access to all kinds of suppliers and websites such as UK Bathrooms who  have a wide range of designer radiators. Since designer radiators vary widely in style between suppliers, you can expect to find lots of different styles in the course of your search.  Ensure you check all the websites you come across and think about what kind of style of designer radiator you would ideally like to have.

For example, do you want a retro style of designer radiator or would something more modern be better suited to your bathroom? Once you have a good idea of the style you want, you can look for designer radiators that fit into the price range you have in mind. You should be prepared to spend a bit more on a designer radiator, but you may be surprised at how cheaply you can buy them if you have a good look around.

The shower tray is an important component of a standing shower enclosure since it prevents water from escaping and damaging the other items in your bathroom.  It is important that the shower tray you select and install fits well with your choice of shower cubicle. Poor fitting shower trays can lead to leakage and water damage.

Fortunately, shower trays are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and dimensions.  This shower accessory can also be customized to fit oddly shaped shower enclosures. Many plumbing experts recommend choosing a unit made of acrylic with a heavy weight stone-cast resin for the best performance.

To be sure your shower tray properly fits, and is properly installed, it is recommended that you consult a trained contractor or plumbing professional before installing it yourself.  For this reason, always fit the shower tray before purchasing the shower enclosure.  This might save you money and grief later down the road.

Don’t cut monetary corners in your purchase of a shower tray; quality is an important factor in such a key buying decision.  There are ways to lessen expenses while doing your next bathroom renovation, but purchasing a poor quality shower tray can cause more financial problems down the road. 

Once you’ve made your choice, a proper sealant is needed to secure the shower tray properly.  It should be watertight and extend all around the shower tray.  An improper installation can lead to water damage in the flooring and underneath tiles and other fixtures in your bathroom.

The latest trend in bathroom designs is walk-in shower cubicles. They are designed to enhance a small space, expand a larger area or provide extra accessibility for the disabled.

A walk-in shower cubicle is not a traditional form of a shower stall, but rather an enclosed area in the bathroom, generally made of tempered glass and customized for small bathrooms. An individual walks in near the shower spray area, and there is no need for anyone to step up over a shower stall sill or step down into a bathtub. This makes it an ideal option for those who have difficulties with a normal shower set-up.

For additional safety, handrails and stools can be utilized while a person is in the “wet” area of the shower. Most walk-in shower cubicles are designed with a drying area away from the shower spray. The walk-in shower cubicle is designed with either a wet floor or a wet tray technique. Both are similar, with drains in strategic places to forestall water accumulation. A wet floor is a more expensive method than a wet tray because of the installation requirements.

Newer models of the walk-in cubicle may feature sliding glass doors on any or all sides. This creates an illusion of deep dimension, offering a shower area that appears wider in proportion.

Walk-in shower cubicles blend appealingly with any décor or design in the bathroom. It is extremely easy to find walk-in shower cubicles, so know your measurements and budget requirements. UK Bathrooms has a great range of walk-in showers and can help you choose the right one to suit your bathrrom.

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.

Fitting a bathroom, taking out the old fixtures and installing new ones, is a common DIY project. Like fitting a kitchen, building a conservatory, or laying underfloor heating, fitting a bathroom can dramatically enhance the value of a property. It is a set project with limited parameters, which helps in clarifying the initial plan and its subsequent implementation.

The first step in fitting a bathroom is to draft a plan. Measure the space carefully, so that new fixtures will fit comfortably in the space. Work out the cost of the new fixtures to be installed, and consider bringing in professional help for certain plumbing or electrical installation jobs.

Removing the existing bathroom fixtures, including the tiles, bathroom furniture, decorations and paintwork, is often the speediest part of the job. Ensure, however, that none of the underlying walls, plumbing or electrical points are damaged in the process. Depending on the condition of the fixtures, they could be sold on the second-hand market, so make sure they are cleaned and carefully stored.

Removing bathroom tiles can be a relatively messy job, so this may be best left till last. Using a hammer and sharp utensils to hack away at the tiles may be fastest method, but again be methodical and careful.

Fitting the new bathroom can follow, once the cleared space is cleaned and prepared. Ensure that all the pieces of bathroom furniture go well together in terms of look, colour and size, and that they are suitable for what is often a damp environment.

Bathroom mirrors are perhaps the most important bathroom accessories, and luckily they come in all shapes and sizes, so you are able to choose the right one to go with your existing décor. 

Putting a mirror in the right place in the bathroom will help to make the room look larger, brighter and adds a finishing touch to your room.  There are mirrors for all budgets, ranging from the basic plastic or wooden framed free-standing mirror for a window sill or shelf to the more high-tech versions with in-built gadgetry such as lights, clocks and anti-fogging technology.
 
Choosing a bathroom mirror with an in-built light has a number of advantages, particularly if your room does not get a lot of natural light.  When shaving or applying make-up then the face is often shaded if relying on an overhead light, but a lighted mirror will illuminate the face directly. 

Small spaces needn’t omit a mirror, there are those which can fit neatly onto a narrow piece of wall space or a mirror on an extending bracket which can be attached to the wall and pulled out when required may also be an option. 

One problem that most people have with a bathroom mirror is the need to wipe steam from it after every bath or shower.  Choosing a mirror with anti-fogging technology can help to reduce this problem, as it will not easily mist and can be used when the room is full of steam.

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.

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.