Bathroom Design Ideas

Bathroom and shower accessories come in all shapes and sizes in the modern age. From toilet roll holders to towel racks to towel rails, shower shelves, soap dishes, tumblers, toilet brushes and robe hooks, bathrooms have more accessories than one would think possible for just one single room in the house.

Even the humble toilet roll holder comes in a minimum of around five different types made from various materials. With wood, ceramic and stainless steel being the most popular.  The first type of design is the kind that is simply a piece of wire mounted horizontally on a hinge that hangs from either the toilet door or wall. This meaning that the roll actually still touches the door or wall and thus enabling the user to use the friction from that connection to tear off a slice or two of the tissues.

A more modern incarnation of the same basic principle includes a curled flat shield that covers the roll, to avoid actually requiring the touching of the roll itself. Then there are the kinds that are either horizontal or vertical that are recessed into the actual wall.

Toilet roll holders are also available as a separate pole on an unattached base, which can be particularly useful in households with members who are right or left handed. Then there is there horizontal axle that is actually positioned on that separate pole with its unattached base.

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.

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.

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. 

Choosing the proper hardware for your shower door can make the difference between a bathroom that meets your needs, and one that leads to frustration or costly repairs.  The following simple guide will help you determine the kind of hardware you need for your shower doors.

The most important and varied hardware category is hinges.  Depending on the type of shower enclosure (or shower cubicle) and the shower doors you have installed, you’ll want to select hinges that compliment your existing features.  There are generally three main types of shower door hinge:  glass to glass, back plate, and pony mount and it essential to obtain one suitable for the same range of shower cubicles or enclosures.  Consult your local home improvement store or a reputable contractor to advise you on the hinges that are appropriate for your shower enclosure.

A threshold is essential for keeping water inside the shower enclosure and off your bathroom floor.  Most types are rather inexpensive and easy to replace.

Full glass shower enclosures usually require panel support, a set of bars that hold the glass to the bathroom wall.

Not to be overlooked are shower door pulls or handles.  These come in a variety of styles and sizes to compliment your decor; some are drilled directly into the glass while others can be mounted on the door frame.

If your shower door slides along a track, it likely has rollers that make it glide smoothly open and closed.  Found on the top and bottom of the door frame, rollers are very inexpensive and easy to replace if defective.

There are a number of bathroom accessories and shower accessories that can have a drastic effect on your bathroom’s style making it a more glamorous place. Some bathrooms, due to their smaller-than-average room size, require more creative thinking to make them fashionable. But all it takes is one idea to get the creative juices flowing and with the number of potential themes the possibilities are limitless.

One thing to do before you undertake this process is to set a budget limit and time limit for the completion of the project. This will help you stay on track and make sure you complete the project so that it doesn’t become an ongoing, endless endeavour.

You can alter the entire atmosphere of your bathroom with just a few changes. In line with your new theme, coordinate your bathroom furniture, shower curtain, towels, bathroom rugs and other bathroom and shower accessories. If they all complement each other and your theme you will get that new glamorous look you crave.

Another way to help improve your bathroom’s style is changing your shower cubicle to a new shower enclosure. There are many shapes, sizes and styles of shower enclosures that add a more modern look to your bathroom with the bonus feature that they are easier to clean.

Other ways to accessorise your bathroom include adding a live, thriving plant or changing out your light covers or fixtures. Adding lamps or lights around the bathroom mirror can help throw more light around the room and brighten things up.

The right bathroom mirror can make a small bathroom look roomier, and a selection of mirrors or even mirrored bathroom tiles along a wall can appear to double the size of the room. When choosing a bathroom mirror it is wise to measure the space available on the wall where the mirror is to be placed. This helps to judge what sort of mirror would be suitable.  Limited space may mean having to choose a bathroom cabinet with a mirrored door.

Mirrors are the must-have bathroom accessory, and they come in different styles to match any home decor. If the bathroom accessories are wooden, then a mirror framed in the same type of wood, even if not part of the accessory set will compliment the look. Wooden accessories, furniture, and frames help to make the bathroom feel warmer.

Frameless mirrors give a minimalist look and will match with any choice of bathroom accessories. Chrome framed mirrors have a modern contemporary feel. Some bathroom mirrors also come with a towel rail underneath, making it two accessories in one.

Bathroom mirrors are available with an anti glare coating, which means that even in the brightest bathroom the image being reflected back looks natural. Some bathroom mirrors also have an anti fog coating, meaning that condensation and steam from a hot bath or shower does not fog up the mirror.

For those with an eclectic taste, mixing and matching styles is easy when it comes to bathroom mirrors, as they are easily removable to be replaced with the latest selection.

Of all of the changes you will make during a bathroom remodel, new mixer taps will have the most impact. At both the basin and in the shower, they also serve as little works of art thanks to the modern designs available today.

When choosing your new mixer taps, consider where you might be going with other hardware, as well. You will want your mixer taps, shower accessories, towel radiators and other fixtures to all complement each other.

Someone with a modern sense of style will appreciate the Cubik mixer taps from victoriaplumb.com. These cube-like basin mixer taps in smooth, polished chrome come in a regular height and a high rise version. There are also matching shower mixer taps.

Those who have a home that is a mix of period and contemporary will be drawn to the Alexa basin mixer taps. They have the traditional cross-head handles but the polished chrome finish and sleek lines give them a more modern look. Also at victoriaplumb.com, there are matching fixtures for the bath and/or shower, plus for the bidet.

The Hampshire mixer taps at victoriaplumb.com are for those who appreciate timeless elegance. Their porcelain caps feature an “H” and a “C” and turn easily to adjust the temperature mix. These mixer taps also have coordinating bath and/or shower, plus bidet, fixtures.

It’s always a good idea purchase your shower mixer taps at the same time that you upgrade your basin mixer taps. That way, everything will match and you won’t have to pay the plumber twice to visit.

Bathroom mixer taps can be fitted to the washbasin, bath, or bidet and choosing the right ones is a lot more difficult than it used to be.

A basin mixer tap combines the hot and cold water taps into one unit.  Mixer taps are operated by moving a lever to the left or the right to adjust the water temperature, they sometimes come with a special pop-up waste which is often referred to as PUW and takes the place of the old fashioned plug.

Some mixer taps require a specific range of water pressure in order to work properly. This is often called bar pressure, with 0.5 up to 1 bar pressure being the minimum for basin mixer taps. The vast majority of homes have around 4 bar of water pressure. 

Sometimes mixer taps are referred to as monobloc mixers and these have just one tap that controls the water temperature depending on which way you turn it.  Three hole basin mixer taps have two separate taps, one each for hot and cold and a central spout.

Basin mixer taps are most popularly made of chrome because of its ability to reflect light in the bathroom, but they can also be bought in rather expensive gold plated designs if you are feeling affluent.  The most important thing is to make sure that the mixer tap you choose matches your bathroom washbasin and the ones used on your bath.

It is not generally a good idea to buy cheap, low quality mixer taps as they tend to look dull and worn very quickly. Good quality mixer taps, professionally fitted, will give many years of wear and will stay looking good.

There are a number of regulations when it comes to installing bathrooms, WC’s and showers, and there may even be others applied locally in particular areas. If you intend to install these things yourself contact your local authority for up to date details.

The main building regulations include a whole list of things including ventilation requirements. A bathroom or WC must have external ventilation and this might be a window that opens, or an extractor fan with a duct that goes outside.

If a house or flat only has one bathroom and the door leads into a bedroom, then the bathroom must have a second door giving access which is not through the bedroom.

These are the main regulations but there are many more regarding water and what may be connected to mains water supplies, or put down wastes into the drain. There are also regulations about power showers and water pressure. These rules can be quite complex and it will often take an expert to decipher them.

Making a mistake with regard to regulations can be expensive in terms of fines and perhaps having to have bathroom suites refitted in order to comply with these restrictions. It often works out much cheaper in the long run to get an expert to fit a new bathroom and to attend to any problem there may be with regulations. It certainly saves a lot of work and expense and unless you are an expert on these matters yourself, it will no doubt save a lot of worry.