Bathroom Design Ideas

For many people, the idea of relaxing in hot water, surrounded by the scent of flowers and overlooked by luxuriant foliage, is the stuff of dreams. Yet, with a little imagination, you could create a paradise in your very own bathroom garden.

A glass-faced bookcase can often be found, very cheaply, in markets or second-hand shops. Placed against a facing wall, it can be filled with shrubs and cacti and present a miniature vision of a garden.

This is particularly effective it you also use your bath as a shower. The glass door can be slid shut when showering to protect plants from the dangers of excessive steam.

Skylights also greatly benefit plants. Natural light flooding over a carefully potted shrub or plant provides a stunning focal point for any bathroom. Reflecting the arrangement in a bathroom mirror not only creates a marvellous illusion of space, but also gives the impression of being outdoors.

Another idea is to place thick metal rods in the corners of the bathroom. If these are securely bracketed, pots of plants can be hung from hooks and form a very attractive feature. Indeed, if placed horizontally across the width of a bathroom ceiling, the rods can support any number of plants snaking and intertwining between themselves, to give an illusion of bathing in some enchanted grotto.

A visit to any garden centre will provide you with all the advice you need to choose the plants that flourish best in a humid environment. You never know, a dream could quite easily become a reality.

Once you have chosen and installed your new bath, the rest of the bathroom may look as if it could also do with some new fixtures.

If this is the case, your eye will immediately fall on the existing bathroom sink. Ideally, you will want to choose a replacement in the same material as your new bath. This should not be a problem, as sinks come in as wide a range of materials and designs as baths. Whether stone or ceramic, glass or even wood, a reasonably thorough search should uncover exactly what you are looking for.
However, at this point the question of shape may well present itself.

A good rule is to look around your bathroom. Is it contemporary and angular, or rustic and curvaceous?

Square bathroom sinks offer one advantage over oval models; they are almost always set in a vanity unit, allowing for greater surface space. It is here that you arrange the day-to-day items used in the bathroom such as razors and toothbrushes.

They also give the bathroom a cleaner, sharper look. To build on this, you should theme the bathroom accordingly. Towels should be folded and placed on shelves or in a linen box, rather than basket. Colours should be blocked rather than patterned. Even accessories such as soap dishes should be angular.

Perhaps most importantly, choose your taps with care. A curved tap will look out of place in a square sink. A much better idea is to buy chunky taps in chrome or oiled brass.

Refurbishing a bathroom can be an expensive affair. A new bath or shower unit can set a house owner back a considerable amount of money, but even if you cannot afford a total overhaul of your existing bathroom, replacing an old and lifeless vanity unit can do wonders to even the most jaded of bathrooms and not cost the earth.

There are as many different vanity units on the market as there are bathroom sinks. It is therefore of crucial importance that you have a clear idea of which of the many types will best fit into your existing bathroom.

Although this is true of many of the other accessories in your bathroom, the vanity unit deserves especial care, because of the composite nature of the fixture. In general the unit consists of taps, a washbasin and mirror. These all need to fit into the overall layout of your bathroom.

Also, choose a size that will be suitable. Although storage space is, of course, the main reason why vanity units are chosen in the first place, there is no point in buying one that is too large. This will only defeat the entire object of the exercise, an uncluttered bathroom.

For those who need a great deal of storage space and have the room to do so, a traditional cabinet style should prove sufficient. Conversely, someone with more limited requirements may find the pedestal style more than adequate for their needs.

Modern bathroom taps and mixers come in an enormous range of styles, colours, and materials. Most are chrome or porcelain and are manufactured by companies like Bauhaus, Grohe, and Bristan. These companies make some of the most luxurious and highest quality bathroom fixtures in the world. They’re also expertly designed for today’s modern homes.

Bauhaus, certainly one of the more creative bathroom design companies in the world, makes the AIM tap and shelf unit intended to pair with their AIM wall-hung basin. Shaped like a giant tube of lipstick aiming into an ashcan, this tap/shelf/basin combo would certainly make a profoundly original statement in any bathroom. Bauhaus makes a similarly designed bath shower mixer. Mounted on a shelf, the AIM Bath/Shower mixer offers consumers an elegant, simple solution for their bathroom mixer needs.

Grohe has an extensive line of mixers and taps in various shapes and sizes. The Allure collection features a flattened tap with minimal taps. The Aria series is more squat and compact. And the Concetto and Essence taps call out to consumers with uniquely modern European sensibilities.

For those with tastes that lead them away from minimalism, Bristan has dozens of luxury bath mixtures that employ hoses, chrome, and porcelain accents. From the turn-of-the-century Paris evoking 1901 to the clean and efficient lines of the Blade and Blaze models, to the more creative, industrial feeling G-Type Thermostatic, Bristan bath mixers perform, inspire, and invite bathers to enter into a dynamic repartee of man and design.

It is important that you choose the right windows for your bathroom. Having a window that lets in plenty of natural light is a good idea, but you also need a window to will allow you to keep your privacy. Stained glass windows are usually used, and there are many different styles for you to choose from.

If you wish to achieve a stylish look, then choosing a window with opaque glass is a good idea. You also need to choose a window that will look appealing both from the inside and the outside. Bathrooms usually only consist of one window, so it should not be too expensive have a window fitted.

If you wish to have as much natural light in your bathroom as possible, then you could opt for a normal window but use Venetian or vertical blinds to keep your privacy. Blinds are ideal as you can adjust them and let in just the right amount of light whilst ensuring that your bathroom remains private. There are plenty of different colours of blinds for you to choose from, including personalised blinds where you can add your own designs.

If you do decide to opt for blinds, then it may be a good idea to avoid using wooden blinds, as these types of blinds may not be suited to the damp air in the bathroom. If your bathroom has a wood theme, then stick to blinds that give off a wood effect rather than ones made from wood.

Bath screens and shower curtains are an important addition to the bathroom, as they allow you to have privacy whilst you shower or bathe. Shower curtains come in a variety of styles and are ideal for making your bathroom look creative. Bath screens look more modern and are the best option if you are aiming to make your bathroom look as stylish as possible.

Bath screens may be a little more expensive than shower curtains. Plumbworld offers a selection of bath screens, from fixed bath screens to folding bath screens. Hinged bath screens look good, but may get in the way when it comes to cleaning the bath, whereas a folding screen can just be pushed back to easily access areas that need cleaning.

Shower curtains are less formal than bath screens and are available in lots of interesting styles and colours. Shower curtains can add more spark to the room and are perfect for fitting in with a particular theme. If you have an aquatic theme, then there are shower curtains with blue patterns or pictures of dolphins. There are even shower curtains to suit a wildlife theme.

If you have a family bathroom, then it may be better to opt for a shower curtain to make the bathroom more appealing for children. If you live alone or with a partner, then a bath screen is perfect for a modern or luxurious theme. Shower curtains are also ideal if you are looking for a more affordable option, as they are usually priced under £20.00. The prices of bath screens vary, but they are generally more expensive, most of them being priced over £100.00.

It is important that you choose the right taps for your bathroom. There are many styles to choose from so it is a good idea to have a look around to get an idea of what will suit your bathroom. If you need a matching set, then there are tap packs available for your bath and sink. UK Bathrooms, an online retailer, offers a wide range of bathroom mixers in various finishes, which are both stylish and easy to install.

It is important that you have taps that provide a water pressure that is suitable for you. Spa taps provide only high water pressure, so you should only purchase these taps if you are comfortable with that setting. If you like to be in control of the water pressure, then there are taps that have just one spout that provides hot and cold water, so that you can adjust the water to a temperature that you are comfortable with.

Victorian Plumbing, a UK bathroom company, offers a selection of taps to suit different styles of bathrooms, including designer bathrooms, traditional bathrooms, classical bathrooms and much more. Their styles are top quality and ideal for those who are aiming to make their bathroom look as good as possible.

The most obvious theme perhaps for a bathroom is an aquatic theme. Bathrooms are all about water and relaxation, so it makes sense to adopt a theme that represents the ocean and sea life. An aquatic theme is also perhaps the most interesting and is likely to go down well with children. There are many types of water themes that you can have.

If you love the beach, then choose colours such as blue and green for your bathroom. Use seashell shaped soap dishes or place star shaped ornaments in your bathroom to add to a beach theme. Also stick to blue or green towels to match your walls or carpet. Add pictures or art prints of fish or other types of sea life to your walls to add to an ocean theme.

For a more fun theme, you could have a pirate theme for your bathroom or a surfer theme. For a surfer theme, add wallpaper that has different designs of surfboards or palm trees. Palm tree designs will give your bathroom an exotic theme and offer a relaxing atmosphere. Use boat designs and pictures of ships for a pirate theme.

If you have a shower, then choose a shower curtain that has pictures of sea creatures or other ocean designs. Having this type of shower curtain will really add character to your bathroom and make it a fun place for children. Add to the theme even further by using shell shaped soap and toothbrushes with sea designs on them for children.

As well as choosing different colours for the walls and floor of your bathroom, there are many other ways in which you can be creative. You can use artwork to make your bathroom more interesting. For example, if you have opted for an aquatic theme for your bathroom, then adding some pictures of fish, seashells or mermaids will make your bathroom look more adventurous. It may also be a good idea to use themed accessories, such as soap dishes in the shape of a seashell or soap in the shape of a fish. To match the theme, buy items such as soap that are the same colour as your paint, wallpaper, tiles and carpet.

If you have children and wish to create a fun theme for your bathroom, then choose bright shower curtains and add a few toys for the bath area. If you have two bathrooms in your house, then focus on decorating one especially for your children and use bathroom accessories, such as a shower curtain with pictures or a shell shaped sink. You could also buy bright coloured tiles with pictures on them to make the bathroom more fun for children. Educational pictures, such as pictures of different types of fish may also be a good idea for children.

If you wish to be creative but also keep a relaxing and luxurious theme for your bathroom, use candles and fluffy towels. Colourful scented candles will make your bathroom more relaxing and luxurious and also give it a creative flair. Adding plants to your bathroom will also provide a creative edge and will also make the room more romantic and relaxing.

Installing new items in your bathroom can be a difficult task depending on what you are planning to install. Basic plumbing can be easy to install, but if you are planning to make any major changes then it may be a good idea to get the job done professionally.

If you are unsure of how to install any new items, such as a toilet, bath or shower, then there are a variety of websites that provide diagrams to assist you rather than you spending extra money to have it fitted by someone else. Many items come with installation instructions to help you, so if you follow these carefully then you should be able to install the items correctly.

Installing new lights is fairly easy, but you will need to make sure that no areas are exposed to water when you are installing electrical items and if you are dealing with any wires then keep them away from the bath or shower area.

Before you install any new items in your bathroom, it is a good idea to get accurate measurements. This will give you an idea of what size bath, shower, sink or toilet is suitable for your bathroom and will make installation quicker and easier. Work out how much space will be available for when you have all the items fitted, so that you do not end up with a bathroom that is too cramped.

Wickes, a DIY store, offers a selection of free helpful guides on their website to assist you with installing new items and making general improvements to your bathroom.