Bathroom Design Ideas

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.

Reference is often made to minimalist bathrooms, which are frequently highlighted as being contemporary or ultra modern. But what is a minimalist bathroom? It is a design concept that is based around simplicity and being true to form. For example, pipe work may be exposed rather than being hidden by ornaments or vases. The whole bathroom will also be very crisp and not cluttered by anything that will either detract from the form of the room, or undermine its purpose.

The emphasis might be on very angular corners, with a very rectangular bath, which features quite sharp corners. This is the form of the bath; it is rectangular and it is for bathing. Therefore the minimalist ethos has been achieved. 

It is possible, within a minimalist bathroom, to have some accoutrements, but these have to perform some duty or have a role, not simply be there to decorate, since decoration detracts from form and function. Shelves are ‘allowed’, but only with clean and crisp lines and with the ability to perform a function. Clutter and trinkets are obviously not in keeping with this design philosophy.

Minimalism is very much a modern concept that has really evolved since the 1960’s and looks as if it will be with us for some time to come, since it becomes more popular with each passing year. It is also viewed as providing a very calm space for people, since there is little to detract the eye, just a feeling of calm and quiet and simplicity.

A designer bathroom is something that many people aspire to, since the opulence and sheer style that such a room possesses is truly remarkable and may give you the feeling of being transported into another world. Yet even importing your very own specified designer bathroom from abroad, or having it custom made to fit your specific needs by employing the designer yourself, may cause you some unexpected headaches.

Usually your designer bathroom will be installed perfectly and will look great, which is after all its purpose. To reduce the possibility of problems if things go wrong be careful, when making the initial purchase, that you have some kind of redress should your bath spring a leak, or the bidet stop working. It is true that purchasing a designer bathroom means that you are buying quality items, but they too can go wrong. The likelihood of this happening many be less than if you buy a very cheap bathroom, but remember that nothing is perfect, so don’t leave anything to chance.

You also need to establish whether you can obtain replacement parts if something does fail. When asking this, you should also check where the products are manufactured, since many items sold as designer are actually made in China and exported to Europe. From there they arrive in the UK, still under the guise of being Italian or French, ‘designer’ products. If you are importing a bathroom, you should also make sure that it is clear whose responsibility it is if anything is damaged during transportation.

Otherwise, just enjoy your beautiful new bathroom.

The days when bathrooms for the disabled were clinical and sterile environments have long since gone and now they can be as funky and stylish as any standard ones, whilst still affording easy access.

The most challenging problem, from the point of view of bathing, is obviously a profound physical disability, where the user may require a hoist to get into and out of the bath. A bath fitted with a seat that rises and lowers, to facilitate easy access and egress, might offer another solution. Whilst these features will assist the disabled person, able-bodied people living in the house may find them to be utilitarian and uninviting rather than luxurious and welcoming.

The answer may be to have a standard bath, which is free standing, but deep enough to accommodate a hoist, or even a whirlpool bath for hydrotherapy. Either option will accommodate the disabled person, whilst also allowing able-bodied users the opportunity to bathe in a conventional and attractive environment. 

The day-to-day bathing requirements for a disabled person can also be satisfied by installing a shower fitted with a level entrance point and perhaps ramped drainage. This can be a standard shower unit, with just some slight modifications to the plumbing.

In order to allow a wheelchair user easy access, wash hand basins will need to have sufficient knee room under them.

With some careful thought and planning, a bathroom for use by both the disabled and able-bodied can be successfully installed without it having to cost a fortune.

There are basically three different types of towel rails, heated, free standing and towel rings or hooks.

Heated towel rails obviously require a power source to heat them and are ideal for larger bathrooms, which can accommodate a large, luxurious rail. Heated rails are available in a range to suit every style of bathroom from period to contemporary.

Non-heated towel rails are usually freestanding, although it is possible to buy a single rail that can then be fitted adjacent to a radiator or near the bath. Freestanding towel rails also offer the flexibility of being portable, so you can move them to wherever you choose. This option also avoids having to drill holes in tiles or walls to fix them, as would be the case with wall mounted rails. These products are available in a wide variety of styles, so both traditional and modern rails are easy to source.

Towel rings may be fitted next to the basin, so that you can easily find a towel after you have washed your face. Rings can also be fitted near a bath, but tend to complement a more traditional rail and their sole use is really only advisable in very small bathrooms. It is customary to have a towel ring or rings to supplement a single towel rail, so that you can get the best of both worlds.

No matter what the size of either your bathroom, or your budget, you will undoubtedly find a towel rail that suits your personal requirements.

Tiles come in many different materials, including marble, granite or slate, but the most common types are ceramic, porcelain, quarry, terracotta, natural stone or even vinyl.

Ceramic tiles are either glazed or unglazed. They are made from clay, which has been shaped and then fired in a kiln. Tiles that are glazed have a protective barrier that prevents them from being scratched or stained, while unglazed tiles lack this layer, but are still quite durable.

Porcelain tiles can either be used on walls or floors and are very hard wearing. 

Quarry tiles are usually used on floors and are very traditional. Although unglazed they are very long lasting.

Mosaic tiles are generally used as wall tiles, are very small and usually come in sheet form. They can be very effective in terms of making a design statement, but they can also be quite expensive.

Terracotta tiles are basically just a type of ceramic tile that is unglazed. It is a floor tile that will have to be sealed before use to prevent water permeating through.

At the top end of the market are natural stone tiles, such as marble or slate, which have been quarried from the earth and are usually quite expensive. They can make a fabulous impact in terms of design, so if you can afford them, they are a good option to consider.

Vinyl floor tiles are cheaper than other types and do not have quite the same quality as the others, but for those on a tight budget, they can offer a very cost effective floor surface.

The choice of a shower curtain or panel is one on which many people are governed by price.  Shower curtains are much cheaper than a panel, with prices starting at less than £5.  This obviously makes them the least expensive option and, if money is tight, a shower curtain is the obvious choice.  One of the major drawbacks of buying a curtain is that they are somehow more awkward to clean and they can need replacing every couple of years, since they can look unsightly if they are kept for many years.  However, they are functional and are particularly affordable; recent innovations have resulted in shower curtains becoming available in a range of different colours, designs and materials some of which can be machine washable.

A shower panel does tend to look more stylish and is a good investment for your home, since it gives a very modern look to a bathroom and they are quite easy to keep clean, looking sparkling and fresh, with a good range of products on the market which you simply spray onto the panel and then leave, alleviating the need to spend ages polishing the panel.

Shower panels or enclosures are, also, not as expensive as you may think and are available for less than £100.  If space is very restricted and you have the shower and bath combined, then a screen is the obvious choice to enhance the appearance and give the bathroom a modern and sleek look.

Bathroom mirrors often serve a multi-purpose role. They obviously help with personal grooming and ensure that you look your best, but they can also act as an accessory that helps to finish off the design of your bathroom and can help reflect light in the room. This light reflection is particularly important if you have a very small bathroom, since careful placing of the mirror will help make the room appear much larger than it actually is.

The main issue to consider, when choosing a mirror, is whether you want a one that is illuminated. An illuminated mirror will be helpful if it is to be used when applying make-up and for men it is useful when shaving!

Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes, but you should always aim to get the biggest that you can afford, both in terms of budget and space available. If you are really stuck for space then you could buy a bathroom cabinet that has a mirror on each door.  The plus side of these cabinets is that the mirror is closer to you because it projects into the room slightly. The downside is that they aren’t such a design statement as some of the architecturally themed mirrors that are available.

In addition to the ‘main’ mirror, it may also be helpful to have portable and freestanding models. These can be used if you need to look at your face in detail and they can be moved round the bathroom to get the best light. Light levels do vary during the day, so this gives you real flexibility and control.

Bathrooms have evolved a great deal and now are subject to the same type of ‘makeovers’ that every other aspect of the home is.  There are also trends and fashions in bathroom design and sometimes it is hard to know if they are just passing fads, or will actually be a sound way of improving your bathroom and bringing it more up to date.

A recent fashion trend for bathrooms has been the introduction of dual wash hand basins, so two people can use a wash hand basin at the same time, great if you both want to clean your teeth at the same time.  However, it is hard to know if this trend will continue or if it is something which will simply date a bathroom in years to come.  If you are considering putting in two basins, make sure that you actually have the room for it; the basins need to give each person adequate space, so that they do not feel they are in a public toilet, crammed up against the next person.

Some continental bathrooms also come with an optional bidet.  Bidets were certainly popular during the 1980s, but now tend to be more prevalent in households where the householders are over 50. This may not be wholly in keeping with a bathroom design attempting to portray urban chic to anyone who comes in!

One trend which does seem to be here to stay is encasing radiator and water pipes, to give a very clean and uncluttered feel to a bathroom.  It is unlikely that this trend will die out given the heat efficiency factor of these casings; so, of all the trends, this is probably the most recommended one, in terms of being contemporary but lasting.