Bathroom Design Ideas

In very many houses the bathroom is indeed quite small with larger space having been allocated to living and eating than has been awarded to functional activities; so for many householders, space is certainly at a premium in the bathroom.

However, this does not mean that you cannot still enjoy a full range of facilities.  There are some spaces saving tips which will help you to make the most out of the space you do have available.

First of all if space is very tight, then you should look at installing a close coupled toilet since this will save you space in terms of how far the toilet projects into the room.

Next, it is also possible to buy baths which are slightly shorter than normal, but still an adequate length (unless you are exceptionally tall).  These are often narrower as well, so allowing you to get that extra bit of space next to, or at the end of, the bath.

Consider installing a shower over your bath and then fitting a bath / shower screen to make sure that the water is contained.

Fit a countertop wash hand basin and, if space is really tight, then consider installing the wash hand basin in the corner.  Storage space can then be created underneath the basin, enabling you to completely maximise your space.

Finally, consider fitting a towel rail over your radiator or have a heated towel rail adjacent to the toilet.  Therefore, you can have all the luxury of a modern bathroom even in the tiniest of spaces.

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 you are trying to sell your home, it is common practice to ‘dress’ the house, so that it appeals to as many people as possible and nowhere is this more relevant than in your bathroom. A house that is on the market needs to be as neutral and uncluttered as possible and the bathroom is often a place where bits and pieces can accumulate without you even noticing. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is hide away all the bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shaving equipment and make-up. People will want to come into your bathroom and imagine how it will look with their own items in there.

Next, you need to ensure that the bathroom is clean, not just every day tidy, but absolutely bright and sparklingly clean. If your bathroom is extremely clean you send out a signal that you have cared for the home and that it has been well looked after, so enticing the prospective buyer to look on it in a more favourable light.

If you do have any very decorative items or objects that make a very bold statement, then they should be removed and put into storage until your house is sold. They will simply draw the eye of the viewer and, whilst they may love it, on the other hand they may find it completely unappealing. So err on the side of caution and be very conservative, then when the house is sold, you can re-apply your design flair to your new bathroom.

Fitting a bathroom cabinet seems quite easy. You buy a cabinet; if it is self-assembly then you take it home, fit all the bits together and then fix it to the wall. What else is there to it?

In fact there are some considerations that you need to take into account. First, is the cabinet replacing an existing one, in which case you will already have the holes that held the wall plugs and screws that supported it. It is unlikely that these will be suitable for the replacement cabinet, so you may well have to drill new ones. If you do, be sure to block up the old ones first.

If you do have to make new holes, will you have to drill through tiles, which can be tricky? If you are very nervous about drilling through tiles, can the cabinet be located elsewhere, where you can avoid the tiles?

Next, consider the height the cabinet should be on the wall. If there are two or more of you in the home, what is the ideal height for all of you and do you want to make sure the children can’t get into the cabinet? Before you even pick-up a drill, you all need to agree at what height the cabinet should be.

Finally, cut no corners when it comes to fitting the wall plugs etc. The cabinet needs to be supported, because it may look and feel quite lightweight when it is empty, but once on the wall and filled with all sorts of bits and pieces, it may become a lot heavier. If it doesn’t have the correct support it will simply work loose and fall from the wall.

The beauty of a countertop wash hand basin is that it can be fitted into a space that is very constrained and so are ideal for the smaller bathroom, but similarly will also look elegant yet modern, in a larger area.  They can also be fitted onto a vanity unit, which gives you adequate storage space underneath, whilst not detracting from the chic feel of the basin.

Countertops also hide any plumbing, so the basin looks more freestanding than if it were fitted in the traditional style.

Most basins are available in white, although some manufacturers also make Old English white basins, which are off white / cream in colour. Continental manufacturers also produce some coloured versions, ranging from a creamy toned ‘stone’ to one in a deep, grey-black graphite colour, so the choice is quite limitless.

The countertop basin is also well suited to having a very stylish lever and central tap fitted, to emphasise its modern appeal, but with the lever tap actually accentuating the style of the basin, thereby creating a finished look which is very chic, but coordinated and smart.

Like many design solutions which are available today, the countertop basin can also be installed in a dual setting, where you have adjacent basins, which can be used at the same time.  These often come complete with customised vanity units, which can be as modern or as traditional as you wish and can create a very unique feel to the basins and the bathroom as a whole.