Bathroom Design Ideas

Traditionally, bathrooms have often been decorated with lots of blue, or even just touches of the colour, to reflect the bathing regime and water. Alternatively, they have been white, which resulted in a very cold and clinical feel. Now, however, contemporary bathrooms can be decorated in any hue and the range of colour schemes available is almost limitless, although black may still not be the best option.

Whichever colour you choose, try to pick something that is not too quirky or individual, since this is likely to date very quickly and can become a real problem if you ever want to sell your house. So, whilst starfish, mermaids and appliqué unicorns may look great for the first six months, they can soon take on a quite tired air that quickly dates and looks rather unfashionable. 

It is far better to stick to mainly neutral colours, creams, beiges, whites or even slightly shaded colours with hues of blue, green or just a gentle shade of pink, but nothing too strong. Vibrant colours, if you can’t live without them, can be introduced in your accessories, but should not be on the walls. If they are, then the whole room becomes dominated by the colour and you almost lose the bathroom suite. It is also far from relaxing to be lying in the bath, surrounded by bright red walls, which can be more than slightly oppressive. 

The bathroom should be a place where peace and tranquillity is afforded and gentle colours will do this very well. A colour scheme such as this will also help show off the accessories and bathroom suite to their best advantage.

Tiled walls are a very popular choice for the bathroom, since they can help repel water, are easy to clean and with a fantastic range available it is really easy to attain a very stylish look. You can have a professional do the work, but it is also possible to do it yourself.

Before you start the tiling, make sure that your walls are flat and clean and that there are no little bumps of plaster or dampness.

The main thing to bear in mind when tiling a bathroom is that you must use a tile adhesive which is waterproof, otherwise the humid and damp conditions will mean that your tiles might soon drop off. You should also be sure to use a waterproof grout between them, so that they are fully protected.

Due to the number of pipes and fittings you have to cut around, bathrooms can be fiddly to tile. The best way to do this is simply by trial and error, using a good quality tile cutter to cut your tiles so that there is a perfect fit. It is always best to allow some extra tiles in case some of them break, are damaged, or you make a wrong cut. Just be patient, hold the faith and you will find that with a little practice you will be able to cut the tiles to fit around the most awkward pipes.

When you grout, be sure to omit the gap between the bath and the tiles or the shower tray and the tiles. For this you need a special silicon sealant, which is widely available in DIY stores.

Tiles come in many different materials, including marble, granite or slate, but the most common types are ceramic, porcelain, quarry, terracotta, natural stone or even vinyl.

Ceramic tiles are either glazed or unglazed. They are made from clay, which has been shaped and then fired in a kiln. Tiles that are glazed have a protective barrier that prevents them from being scratched or stained, while unglazed tiles lack this layer, but are still quite durable.

Porcelain tiles can either be used on walls or floors and are very hard wearing. 

Quarry tiles are usually used on floors and are very traditional. Although unglazed they are very long lasting.

Mosaic tiles are generally used as wall tiles, are very small and usually come in sheet form. They can be very effective in terms of making a design statement, but they can also be quite expensive.

Terracotta tiles are basically just a type of ceramic tile that is unglazed. It is a floor tile that will have to be sealed before use to prevent water permeating through.

At the top end of the market are natural stone tiles, such as marble or slate, which have been quarried from the earth and are usually quite expensive. They can make a fabulous impact in terms of design, so if you can afford them, they are a good option to consider.

Vinyl floor tiles are cheaper than other types and do not have quite the same quality as the others, but for those on a tight budget, they can offer a very cost effective floor surface.