Bathroom Design Ideas

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.

Painting your bathroom cabinets may be a way to give your bathroom a really great look for a very low cost, especially if some of your cabinets don’t match. Painting is also an excellent way of achieving a co-ordinated look to the room, without you having to replace all the units.

Before you paint them, remember to check what materials the cabinets are made from.  If they have a surface that is plastic or plastic laminated, then they can’t really be painted, since it won’t stick. If they are wooden, have a wooden veneer or are metal, then you can go ahead and paint them.

Prior to painting, the cabinet will need to be prepped and for this it’s usually easier to take the doors off. Both the doors and the cabinet structure will need to be sanded down, since this will form a surface for the paint to latch onto. Often this is referred to as ‘giving the paint a key’. If there is no key, then there is nothing for the paint to soak into and it will not be very long before it cracks and wears off.

Once you have finished the first coat, wait overnight before applying the second. As tempting as it may be to rush these things, it is actually better to wait a while and allow the first coat to dry thoroughly.

Finally, before you replace the doors, think about replacing the handles, and since these can give your cabinets a fantastic look for only a few pounds, this will really help transform them into up-to-date, modern and very stylish pieces of furniture.

If you are sick and tired of your bathroom and want to give it a makeover, but you don’t have a lot of money to spend, then don’t despair, there are lots of little things you can do to make sure that it looks great, without costing the earth.

Firstly and most importantly, you need to set a budget and stick to it otherwise the whole project can become a nightmare.

Next, prioritise what you would like to do. Do you want to have a new shower and bath, or simply fit new taps and panel to the existing units? You need to carefully assess which parts of the bathroom are the ones which you don’t like and then research how much it will cost to replace them. For example, it is easy to specify ‘new taps’, but then you may find that the ones on your bath are very old. This often means that it may actually be cheaper to replace both the bath and taps. You should also try to think practically, so instead of replacing the bath or shower, could you simply brighten them up by installing a new shower screen or bath panel? Taking this option can make a significant improvement, yet will not cost very much.

Since flooring can often date a room, replacing it can transform the look of a tired bathroom and help make it feel more modern and contemporary. Updating the lighting can also help and is a cost effective way of making quite dramatic improvements.

Non-heated towel rails may not be as luxurious as their heated counterparts, but they are still a very useful addition to any bathroom.

The towel rail actually serves two functions; firstly, it provides towels within easy reach, so that as you come out of the shower or bath you can immediately put your hands on one. Secondly, it enables air to circulate around the towels, with the result that they don’t have to be washed after each use. This is good for the environment, saves wear and tear on your towels and cuts down on the amount of laundry you have to do.

The humble towel rail also has a less obvious function, in that it helps to keep your bathroom looking at its best. A bathroom looks unsightly if there are piles of damp towels simply hanging over the bath. On the other hand, if they are hung over a towel rail then the bathroom will look tidier and more co-ordinated.

Towel rails should complement the look of the bathroom, so if you have a very modern and chic room, complete with chrome fittings, then you may well wish to choose a chrome rail. Alternatively, a more traditional looking towel rail will complement a traditional style bathroom.

The choice of towel rails available, both heated and non-heated, is actually quite diverse, with prices ranging right the way from bargain basement to high-end designer. The only constraints you have, when making your final choice, are what will suit your bathroom and what you can afford.

When trying to decide between fitting a soap dispenser or soap holder in your shower area, why not err on the side of caution and install both? There are times when you may wish to use a traditional bar of soap, but other times when you may want the handy convenience of a soap dispenser. To give you more flexibility, if you find that you aren’t using the soap dispenser, remember you can also dispense shampoo from it; you don’t have to use it only for soap.

Obviously the choice of soap holder and dispenser should complement the type of shower you have and they should blend in with the overall style of your bathroom.

You should have no problem in achieving a co-ordinated look, as the choices available for both the holders and dispensers are actually quite extensive. You can find clear, coloured, square or round dispensers and clear, frosted glass or coloured holders.

Clear dispensers may not look as chic as some of the frosted glass options, but they will allow you to see when the soap is low or needs to be replaced. 

Soap holders are also available in complementing styles and many are fitted with holes on the bottom, which makes cleaning them that little bit easier and helps prevent damp soap simply melting away in the heat.

Both the holder and dispenser should be fitted at a height that is readily accessible, but they should not be placed where you risk knocking your head when standing up after bending down in the shower.