Bathroom Design Ideas

Painted walls don’t have to be boring; and wall paper isn’t the only way to create a unique look. Here are a few ideas using paint, glaze, and some common items for application:

Colour Wash – Colour wash creates a faded, country styled look and is good at hiding uneven walls. Apply a layer of colour wash over a light background and then blend brush strokes by dragging cheesecloth over the surface.

Sponging – Sponging is the art of applying paint or glaze using a sponge in a dabbing motion. A natural or sea sponge provides a coarser surface for a more provincial feel, while using a synthetic sponge results in a finer, more subtle effect.

Ragging – Dab a paint-saturated rag onto the wall or twist the rag and roll it across the freshly painted surface to create a creased fabric effect. For a more subtle look, use a dry rag to remove wet glaze.

Stippling – Use a stippling brush to gently dab on clear or pigmented glaze to create a subtle textured finish.

Dragging – Lightly run a dry paint brush down or across a glazed wall to create a wood grain effect. Control the look of your stripes by changing the angle of your brush to the wall.

Stencilling – Stencils can be used to create a visual at any part of the wall you desire: around the top, the middle, or near the skirting boards to create a border; or in the middle to create a focal point for the eye.

Renovating the bathroom is a project many people embark upon after deciding that they have become unhappy with their current bathroom. Depending on the size of the bathroom and the intended scale of the renovation, such a process can be either simple of very complicated, but there are some tips and general guidelines to take into account to ensure that the project will not get out of control and become too overwhelming, regardless of its size.

The first step is to decide precisely what in the bathroom requires alteration, and why. For instance, is the size of the bathroom a problem (too small?) or is it just that the style and general décor is looking rather out of date? Perhaps some of the bathroom is damaged, or there is not enough natural light coming into the room. Determining precisely what changes need to be made and why can make the whole process of bathroom renovation considerably less complicated, and possibly even less expensive in the long run.

Sometimes the renovation need only be purely decorative – giving the walls a fresh lick of paint, changing the wallpaper, or simply adding a few new bathroom accessories and replacing dated items of bathroom furniture. Sometimes the project can be so complex (particularly if the size of the bathroom needs to be increased, which would entail the knocking down of walls and the like) that the services of a professional contractor would most likely need to be engaged. On other occasions, the bathroom size problem can be solved far more easily by replacing cumbersome bathroom cabinets with far slinkier sink vanities.

Bathroom renovation can be simple or complicated – but knowing precisely what changes are required and how to go about implementing them before commencing the project, can make it proceed in a considerably smoother fashion.

Once you have decided to install underfloor heating, either using a tradesman or by doing it yourself, you will need to decide which system is most suitable for your needs. Whether it is a wet system, solar powered or electric then you will need to find a supplier.

A good idea is to talk to people who may have had similar work done and find out who supplied their equipment. If this isn’t an option then a visit to a local DIY store will give you some ideas, especially if you are going to do the work yourself. If you want to have the work done for you then looking in the telephone book or yellow pages may help you. Another good way to find a supplier of underfloor heating systems is to use the internet. This will give you all the options you need both in the type of heating and also whether or not there is a stockist in your area.

Underfloor heating suppliers like floorheatingonline.com will be pleased to offer advice on what type of heating will suit your needs, and also be able to explain the options of what type of insulation and heating controls will be the best for where you live and your personal needs. It is also possible that the supplier you choose may be able to help you find someone to fit your system if you are not able to do it yourself.

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.

Water underfloor heating is one of the most popular types of heating for the home.  It works on the same principle as standard central heating, in that hot water is piped through the system, gently warming all the rooms.  Water underfloor heating systems are more suitable for newer floors.

The flow of the water is controlled by a manifold which has a temperature control to ensure that the system is operating at maximum efficiency.  The heat in each individual room is controlled by thermal actuators and there are electronic controls which can operate timings and temperatures in each room.

The heating system can be controlled by electronic hubs which can control each room individually or divide the building into zones.

Water at a temperature of approximately 50°C is passed through a series of looped pipes laid under the entire floor of the room.  The whole floor then becomes a radiator, warming the room gently from the floor upwards.  The pipes for each zone or room all run to and from the manifold which is conveniently located for the user. 

The temperature at which water passes through the underfloor heating system is lower than that for standard central heating as the surface of a radiator is much smaller and has to radiate much more heat to warm the room. 

Underfloor heating kits are widely available and can be easily installed and connected to other fixtures such as towel rails.  Underfloor heating will work with most boiler types and is even compatible with alternative energy sources such as solar panels. 

Unless this is a small part of a major property development project, you’re not going to need expert skills in the building trade or advice from architects in order to install a shower. Depending on where you locate the shower, though, you may need to do a little plumbing, plastering, painting and decorating or tiling in order to make good the wall that you feed the water pipes through.

A manual shower is essentially an adapted mixer tap: water temperature and flow rates are controlled by different taps, or by a single lever control. Thermostatic showers have an integral adjuster which responds to water temperature, automatically reducing hot or cold flow depending on the temperature you set. 

Begin by removing a length of plasterboard and cutting notches in the studwork where you want the hot and cold copper pipes to run (if you’re simply replacing a pre-existing shower, just connect the tap/spray to the pipes after removing the old one). Assemble and mount the tap on the wall in the position you need it and mark where the pipes will connect.

Run the hot water pipe by branching out from the vent pipe above the hot water cylinder. The cold water pipe needs to be taken from the pipe work below the outlet that feeds the hot water system. If you’re not sure about this, a plumber will install the copper for you, although his services will add to the overall costs! Connect the hot and cold pipes to the tap with the fittings supplied. Replace the strip of plaster, tile over and enjoy your new shower.

Electric underfloor heating is becoming very popular as energy rates rise. The reason is simple: heat rises, too. Underfloor heating is much more efficient than the forced-air heating more commonly used in today’s homes. Rather than a radiator or electric baseboard which heats the air, and the air then heats the objects in the home (from furniture to humans), an underfloor system heats the floor, which radiantly heats the objects and the air.  This produces a smoother, gentler heat than that of the forced-air variety.
 
The laws of physics tell us that heat always flows toward cold.  If you are seated on an object that is colder than your body, you will lose your heat to that object until the two of you reach equilibrium. With electric underfloor heating, the floor and the furniture are heated slowly and gently, and when you sit in the furniture you don’t lose any heat.  Most people report feeling warmer in a room heated radiantly than in a room heated to the same temperature via more conventional methods.  In fact, people who use radiant heating often lower their thermostats a few degrees and feel just as warm as those using conventional heating methods at higher temperatures.
 
Electric underfloor heating is very easy to install during either new construction or a remodel.  Because the flexible mats with thin electrical wires in them are so light and portable, nearly any homeowner can undertake this project with fantastic results.  Programmable thermostats increase energy savings, turning the system off when you’re not home and turning it on shortly before you arrive.
 
Underfloor heating is enjoying a quiet revolution, and if you’re considering new construction or a remodel, it should be an option you seriously consider for a heating system.

When looking for a heating system for the bathroom, underfloor heating is ideal. The room will be warm without being hot, and when you get out of either the bath or shower the floor will be warm to the touch. Any towels or mats that you put down to stand on will be warm and any spills will quickly dry up.

The bathroom is an ideal place to use underfloor heating; it is suitable for use under tiled or laminate flooring as well as wooden floors, all of which can be found in bathrooms. Underfloor heating is perfectly safe in bathrooms even when using electric underfloor heating systems. As long as the heating system has been properly fitted, even if there is a flood in the bathroom e.g., if someone were to leave a tap running, there would still be no risk and the heating unit would remain perfectly safe.

One important aspect of choosing underfloor heating is the fact that there is no need to have a radiator in what is often a small room in the home. This means that the positioning of the necessary bathroom furniture is easier and more adaptable. It is also a perfect space saving feature.

Whether you choose to use electric or wet underfloor heating this is an ideal way to heat your bathroom. It is interesting to note that the original underfloor heating was invented by the Romans who used it to heat their baths before it was used to heat the rest of the house.

Very few of us have the luxury of a large bathroom. While we want something fabulous and showcase-worthy, we are restricted by size, shape, and budget. Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of what you have:

• Replace floor-mounted sinks and toilets with wall-mounted ones. More floor space makes a room feel bigger than it is.
• Use mirrors wisely. Placing a mirror opposite a window reflects light and adding things like mirrored cabinets helps give the illusion of more space.
• Choose pale colours for floor and walls.
• Install vertical radiators instead of traditional ones.
• Keep the fixtures small. Shallow basins, small countertops, and slim-line accessories all work towards making your tiny bathroom feel grander than it is.
• Minimise the clutter. Unfortunately, the smaller the space, the more eye-drawing things like multiple shampoo bottles and loads of toiletries are. So keep your things put away and out of sight.
• Combine your shower and bath or get rid of the bath altogether.

Most importantly, don’t give in to the space; make the space work for you! Remember that which might look garish in a large room will often look quite wonderful in a small one. So don’t be afraid to make a statement.

A small bathroom doesn’t have to be a boring bathroom. With a little thought, a little planning, and a little creativity, you can make that small space feel larger and look amazing.

Where a structure has solid concrete floors it may be necessary to also install thermal underfloor heating insulation boards in conjunction with either water or electric underfloor heating.  Solid floors can lose heat under the floor as well as round the edges and the use of thermal insulation boards can help to prevent the unnecessary loss of heat.  The use of these boards can add to the cost savings that consumers can make if they opt for underfloor heating systems. 

The insulation boards can be fitted either above or below the concrete.  Above the slab means that the rooms will warm up and cool down fairly quickly in accordance with the heating system that is being used.  If the boards are installed below the concrete it will improve the thermal functioning of the building, allowing the solid floor to absorb heat and release it slowly.
 
When used with underfloor heating systems the boards should be set below the concrete, so that the water pipes or heating cables can be set into the concrete.  If the insulation boards are placed above the heating it prevents the heat from getting through.   

The boards can be made from several different materials including extruded polystyrene, rigid urethane and rigid phenolic.   They come in a range of thicknesses and can also be used on original tiles and other types of floors if required.  All of these can be used below the concrete slabs or screed floors and are easily installed, coming complete with easy to follow manufacturer’s instructions.