Bathroom Design Ideas

There is one thing most bathrooms have in common, clutter.  The hairdryer on the sink, clothing draped on towel rails and radiators and toothbrushes abandoned on any convenient flat surface.  This clutter makes bathrooms uninviting, a feeling that can easily be eliminated by installing bathroom cabinets.

It is best to consider how the room is going to be used before purchasing your new bathroom cabinets.  The biggest reason for this is that most cabinets on display in your local home improvement store all serve exactly the same function, they just have different finishes.  If it is not going to work for you in oak, with a marble sink top, it will not work for you in maple with a granite top, either. 

Bathrooms are not normally thought of as requiring storage space, but they actually hold a lot of items.  Soap, towels, deodorants, shaving equipment, oral hygiene equipment and as the parents of most teenage girls will know, bathrooms also serve as beauty parlours, makeup counters and fitting rooms, thanks to the lighting and mirrors.  When you have an ill-functioning bathroom cabinet, you will inevitably spend hours of your life temporarily moving displaced and homeless items or will just give up and leave them where they are.

When you are shopping for bathroom cabinets, be aware that a cabinet is a cabinet.  Keeping that thought in your head, wander along to the kitchen showroom at your DIY store and you will find the possibilities become much wider.  You can maximise your space by installing floor-to-ceiling cabinets, which are commonly used in kitchens and will make a great home for all of those things we cannot live without in the bathroom.

The bathroom is a functional space that sees high traffic and, as such, is likely to be an area that is frequented by visitors to a home at some point or another.  For this reason it is important that a bathrooms décor accurately reflects the personality of the home and homeowners – with all design choices carefully thought out to give the best possible impression to those who come calling.

Arguable the most important feature of any bathroom that will be open to those visiting a home is the bathroom mirror.

The bathroom mirror cannot avoid being looked at.  People visit the bathroom with the express intention of checking their reflection and retouching their hair or make up, so it is impossible to disguise a poor design choice in this area, as people will be looking at your selection every time they visit the bathroom.

When considering the design of bathroom mirrors for your home there are a number of factors that need to be taken into account – from size and shape to framing and thickness.

For traditional homes a mirror in a wooden or even gilded frame can make a great choice, while unframed mirrors with a bevelled or engraved edge can be a nice idea in rooms with a number of other eye catching features.

Novelty mirrors with moulded frames representing everything from nautical themes to starry skies can be a great addition to a themed bathroom, while for those who need to save on space a mirror fronted bathroom cabinet can be a good idea.

When choosing window blinds for your bathroom it is a good idea to have a colour scheme in place before deciding on the type of blind you wish to purchase.  Plain blinds with raised patterns help to create a 3D effect and are a good way of contrasting one colour with another or to draw more attention to small details that can still be seen from a distance  in order to add more interest to an otherwise understated design.

Stripes and lines help to create an angular feel that works particularly well with polished chrome and metallic taps on bathroom suites.  Bold dark colours such as blues and reds can turn a very large bathroom into a more cosy and inviting space.  When complemented with suitable bathroom blinds, it really does emphasise the walls and bathroom flooring you choose to purchase.

If you are intending to transform your bathroom into a light, fresh space, you will find that using pale beiges and creams really opens up the available space and also makes the room appear much larger and works just as effectively even with the smallest of bathrooms.  If your colour scheme is beige and you feel the need to warm the room’s decor slightly, why not choose your bathroom blind in a shade of chocolate brown or deep cherry wine?  This will add an element of contrast to the bathroom without needing to worry if the rest of your decor will match, as creams and beiges blend well with virtually any bathroom blind you can buy. 

The floor of the shower is referred to in the bathroom industry as a shower tray, and is also sometimes known as a shower base, shower pan and even a shower receptor.  Shower trays come in two basic types – hand tiled shower trays, and what are known as prefabricated shower trays. 

Hand tiled shower trays are, as is implied by their name, shower trays which are tiled literally by hand.  Prefabricated shower trays, on the other hand, are constructed from hard acrylic polymer, which is one of the most durable polymers and is thus ideal for being used in shower cubicles.  Another factor which makes this hard acrylic polymer particularly good for making prefabricated shower trays is that it can be effectively moulded into any size or shape a shower cubicle requires, and will also come in most any colour the homeowner could require.  Thus whatever style or design of bathroom the homeowner wishes to have, a prefabricated shower tray will most likely be able to accommodate it.  

Prefabricated shower trays are by far the most used and popular, both in the United Kingdom and abroad, being available in almost every country throughout the entire world.  Another key aspect which makes prefabricated shower trays so popular among consumers is the sheer ease with which they can be installed; they come complete with drainage holes which can be easily rearranged to suit almost any bathroom or shower design, and are in most cases far more cost effective than hand tiled shower trays that a craftsperson needs to create by hand. 

Tiling can be a relatively simple process with practice, allowing for large areas of blank wall to be covered quickly.  However, most rooms will include features that need to be tiled around such as windows, doors, kitchen cookers, or sinks and baths.  Whilst these will have been considered when marking out the area, it is also important to take the time to fix tiles carefully around these objects.  This will ensure that the completed look is professional and without imperfection.

Always fix any whole tiles around features first as, with more surface area; they will adhere to the wall with more ease.  Particularly when tiling areas above windows and basins, where gravity will attempt to dislodge tiles, using a small wooden batten to keep everything is in place is advisable.  Tiling down towards lips and ridges, leave narrow cut tiles until last, ensuring that all other tiles in the area are dry.  These latter tiles can then be put in place, using previously existing tiles to grip them in place by simply using masking tape.

By tiling around features in stages, you can ensure that each set of tiles offers additional support and stability for the ones coming below.  Through careful marking, measurement and forethought you can ensure that tile fixing comes off with ease.  In addition, by taking extra care around existing features, you can make sure that your tiling project is successful and professional.

When it comes to buying bathroom blinds, the main things to consider are privacy and the wet condition of the room. A lot of privacy is required in the bathroom for obvious reasons. The room also usually has a lot of water and steam. Humid and steamy conditions offer a good chance for mildew to form on the surfaces of the blinds.

When looking for bathroom blinds, consider the aforementioned factors if you want longer lasting materials. For this reason, bathroom blinds must be made from material that is resistant to moisture and humidity.

Vinyl is an excellent material for bathroom blinds. This is because it is resistant to moisture and can be cleaned easily if it gets dirty or stained. When well taken care of, it can last long and will serve you for a long time. Moreover, it is cheap and widely available.

Vinyl blinds come in different forms including rollers, shutter, venetian or vertical blinds. Most people prefer venetian blinds as they are very attractive and allow light to enter and free movement of air in the bathroom. The blinds can be tilted up or down depending on the amount of light the user wants in the room. Aluminium blinds can also work well as bathroom blinds. Aluminium does not corrode or rust and is also easy to clean.

When selecting bathroom blinds, keep in mind that they will be frequently exposed to humid conditions. Thus, they should be made of a material that is not affected by moisture.

Replacing an old bath, or fitting your first one, can transform a bathroom from a purely functional space into a relaxing one.  Many baths are aesthetically pleasing in their own right and can thereby enhance the value of your property.  A well-fitted bath that blends harmoniously into the overall look and feel of the bathroom is a great attraction for potential buyers or, if you have no plans to move, can make you feel better about where you live.

Preparing the Installation
Start by measuring the bathroom and planning the area where you want to place the new bath.  If the bath installation is part of a wider bathroom DIY project, you should consider the space to be taken up by any other fittings and fixtures.

Secondly, ensure you have a water supply to the bathroom; if you have bought an old property, it may have been out of use for some time.  You may find it more practical to place the bath in an area of the bathroom where the water supply has already been fitted, rather than redirect it elsewhere.

Fitting the Bath
Connect the water supply to the bath securely and without leaks.  You can use mastic filler or another suitable insulator to stop leaks from the water connection points, as well as around the plug hole.  Checking for leaks is done by switching on the taps, filling the bath fully and letting the water go into the overflow.

If you are building a new bathroom for your home or even simply remodelling an old one, one question that is inevitably going to result is that of the bathroom floor design. Most people are going to choose a design that is both hygienic and easy to maintain in a good condition, so it is fortunate that there are several affordable options which fulfil both criteria quite admirably.

The most popular kind of bathroom flooring is of course bathroom tiles. The most common forms of bathroom tiles are ceramic tiles which make the floor both even and firm beneath the feet, with the added advantage of being very easy to clean and also maintaining a glossy and fresh appearance for many years after their actual installation.

Installing ceramic tiles into your bathroom will involve a considerable degree of effort – since the floor has to be grouted and the tiles set – but the end result is guaranteed to impress and satisfy. The next most popular form of bathroom tiles are laminated tiles. As with ceramic tiles, laminated tiles create an even floor that is easy to maintain and keep clean and is also generally water tight. They are relatively cheap to buy and unlike the ceramic type, also very easy to install since the majority of available laminated tiles come with adhesive backing to begin with, making the installation process fast and simple. There are other kinds of bathroom floor design – such as marble and wood – but tiles are by far the most popular option in use today.

An important aspect of a good bathroom layout is the style of cabinet you choose. Bathroom cabinets are essential for storing all those items that would otherwise lead to a messy and complicated bathroom. If you want a minimal appearance and a nice clean look to your bathroom, you will need to assess your requirements for bathroom cabinets very carefully.

Firs, take a look at what you have in your bathroom; do you struggle to find space in your existing bathroom cabinets to put everything away? Alternatively, are you happy with the layout and just want some brand new bathroom cabinets to complete your new bathroom look?

Another point to consider is whether you want floor-standing cabinets or wall mounted ones. In the case of the floor standing units, they can either be attached to the wall, so they cannot be moved or fitted with castors. In the case of the latter you have the advantage of being able to move them and change the look of your bathroom, at least to a small degree. Of course it all depends on what you want to achieve with your bathroom, some may prefer fixed cabinets, as they do tend to look rather more attractive than freestanding ones.

Think about the style and what will fit in with the existing look of the room. As far as bathroom cabinets for the walls are concerned, you need to consider whether you want mirrored fronts or plain. If you are short of wall space for mirrors, this could be a good option.

Baby boomers are unlike any other previous generation of senior citizens. They are far more active and physical in their everyday lifestyle, while planning to “age in place” as they retire. Fortunately the aids now available for use in bathrooms are very well designed and easily fitted.

A curb-less shower enclosure beautifully bridges the gap between luxury and necessity. A stationary water tower with shower heads strategically located up and down the tower make it easy for people using a mobility device or that need assistance.

Adjustable or easily moveable bathroom cabinets are an advantage to senior citizens that are aging gracefully. These versatile shelving and vanity choices can be adapted to make access easy, even from a low down wheelchair position.

Most modern homes allow for the easy installation of grab bars or fold-out arms for use later in life, for assistance in maintaining independent movement in the bathroom.

A new toilet on the market is one that is made at the same height as a kitchen or dining room chair, alleviating excessive bending for average height adults. Other bathroom accessories made for older users include gooseneck bathroom taps, low-lever handles, non-slip surfaces and the use of contrasting colours to help with depth perception and failing eyesight.

With 74 percent of all people over the age of 50 now remaining in their homes for the rest of their lives, it is clear there is a need for a functionally designed bathroom that will age as gracefully as its owner and let them live their life in style.