Bathroom Design Ideas

Bathroom cabinets not only help to improve the look of your bathroom, but also provide you with extra storage space. There are a wide variety available to suit all tastes and budgets. By adding cabinets to your bathroom, you can keep your bathroom looking organised and tidy whilst still achieving a modern look.

Cabinets are available in a variety of different designs. If you have a small bathroom and require a cabinet that has plenty to offer without taking up too much space, then a mirrored cabinet is a great choice. Mirrored cabinets provide you with a mirror and extra storage space all in one and the many designs available means that you can seek out something that adds style to your bathroom without taking up too much room. Mirrored corner bathroom cabinets are a particularly ideal choice for those who need something that fits their small bathroom perfectly and provides plenty of style and storage space.

Bathroom cabinets can not only be used for storing bathroom products but also medicine. There are a wide variety of medicine cabinets available that provide just enough space for you to store all your important medicine products. For those looking for something stylish that offers plenty of features, there are medicine cabinets that offer locks and magnetised doors, enabling you to keep your medicine secure.

For extra style and elegance, you may wish to opt for bathroom cabinets that provide lighting. Some cabinets come with small spotlights installed above the mirrored doors, leaving your bathroom looking modern and sophisticated whilst providing you with plenty of convenience.

There is one room in the house that somehow manages look more dingy and dirty than most and that is the bathroom.  Here are a few easy to follow DIY solutions.

If you have a tired old toilet seat that is cracked or slips, it is time for a new one.  Measure the seat from side to side and front to back and go out and buy a new one that matches these dimensions.  When you return, unscrew the wing nuts and remove the old toilet seat.  The wing nuts are located under the seat, close to the back of the toilet.  Unwrap the new toilet seat and screw it tightly into place; problem solved.

Perhaps you have paint peeling in the bathroom, due to the steamy shower.  Scrape off the excess flakes with a putty knife and sand the area a with medium grade sandpaper.  Apply a primer and when it has dried completely, apply two coats of matching paint.  Rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens should be painted with a semi-gloss finish that will help prevent mould, mildew and water damage.

Maybe you are a homeowner plagued by mouldy areas on walls and ceilings.  If so, mix one part bleach to nine parts water and apply to the affected area with a sponge.  Bleach can give off nasty fumes, so you may want to cover your mouth and nose with a protective mask.  If the mould is black or has really taken hold, some elbow grease may be required.  This treatment can be applied every two months in areas where mould has a tendency to return.

There is an inherent challenge in designing a bathroom for children. You want it to be age appropriate and yet not be easily outgrown. So how do you create a space for a child’s clutter, provide for their safety needs and add a touch of whimsy?

Avoid bright colours when planning bathtubs, shower enclosures, or bathroom sink. Start with neutral tones in the bathroom, using a beige or white foundation. The bathroom accessories can be brought in to accent the space with patterns, fan favourites, cartoon characters, or even dinosaurs. Then as the child matures, these accessories can be easily swapped.

Be creative with storage space. Get a hanging shoe bag for toys that can be anchored off the shower pole and out of sight when company arrives. Use a water resistant finish on a wall mounted sweater rack. Mount it sideways and hang children’s artwork from the pegs using knotting cord.
 
Be prepared for the lack of coordination of youngster and the clumsiness of early youth. Have a sturdy step stool that can be tucked away when not in use. Install touchless taps that allow you to control the temperature so there are no nasty surprises from water that is too hot. Use adjustable shower heads in the bathroom cubicle and transition seats for the toilet, which has been equipped with a quiet-close toilet seat. Consider motion sensors that will turn on the lights for the little people in your house.

With careful planning and a sense of fun, you can create a bathroom that will be adequate for the needs of your children, regardless of their age.

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.