Bathroom Design Ideas

Not everyone can afford to remodel their entire bathroom all at once. Most of us pick one item to upgrade at a time. One way to have a maximum impact with minimal expense – in comparison to other purchases you might make during your bathroom remodel – is to replace your existing basin mixer taps with new ones.

There are more mixer tap styles available than any other type of bathroom fixture. Choose mixer taps that will complement your current décor and hardware – towel bathroom radiators, shower accessories – but can also be a focal point of your finished bathroom.

One of the more elegant, modern designs can be seen in the Barcelona mixer. They take their inspiration from the iconic chair designed by Ludwig Miles van der Rohe for the 1929 Barcelona Exposition. Those familiar with the chair will see its smooth lines reflected in these water taps.

Another popular choice are the Blade mixer taps. Their sleek design will work well in a modern, minimalist bathroom. They are cast in solid brass, and are double-dipped in chrome.

The Trinity mixer taps are a modern take on a period design. They are both budget-friendly and grand in design. There is also a version of the Trinity mixer taps for the shower.

If possible, purchase your shower mixer taps from the same line and at the same time that you upgrade your basin mixer taps. It will keep your fixtures from not matching and also save the plumber the extra trip, and you the extra cost.

Choosing taps for your bathroom sink or bath is an important matter. Taps are one of the most used items in a home and they act a bit like jewellery in a bathroom and bring everything to life. They can be used to add contrast, or to bring dazzling light into the room.

The first thing to consider is budget because taps come in a wide range of prices depending on design and materials used; then decide on style. Contemporary taps are designed with clean lines and fewer handles than traditional ones. There are also taps which fit into the side of the bath and require three fixing holes for the two taps and the spout but you will need to have the correct hole pattern drilled or cut into your bath for these.

Taps with zinc alloy bodies tend to cost less but they will corrode over time. In hard water areas the water itself can cause corrosion on inferior metals and the longest lasting taps are solid brass ones. In general it is possible to tell the quality of taps by their weight. The heavier a tap is, the higher the quality.

When you have decided what quality of bathroom taps you want to buy, it is time to select the finish. There is lots of choice here including antique and polished brass, bronze, nickel, chrome pewter, and a number of other materials which are available from various designers. Bathroom taps are an exciting thing to buy when you see how wide the choice is.

Of all of the changes you will make during a bathroom remodel, new mixer taps will have the most impact. At both the basin and in the shower, they also serve as little works of art thanks to the modern designs available today.

When choosing your new mixer taps, consider where you might be going with other hardware, as well. You will want your mixer taps, shower accessories, towel radiators and other fixtures to all complement each other.

Someone with a modern sense of style will appreciate the Cubik mixer taps from victoriaplumb.com. These cube-like basin mixer taps in smooth, polished chrome come in a regular height and a high rise version. There are also matching shower mixer taps.

Those who have a home that is a mix of period and contemporary will be drawn to the Alexa basin mixer taps. They have the traditional cross-head handles but the polished chrome finish and sleek lines give them a more modern look. Also at victoriaplumb.com, there are matching fixtures for the bath and/or shower, plus for the bidet.

The Hampshire mixer taps at victoriaplumb.com are for those who appreciate timeless elegance. Their porcelain caps feature an “H” and a “C” and turn easily to adjust the temperature mix. These mixer taps also have coordinating bath and/or shower, plus bidet, fixtures.

It’s always a good idea purchase your shower mixer taps at the same time that you upgrade your basin mixer taps. That way, everything will match and you won’t have to pay the plumber twice to visit.

There are a number of regulations regarding the fitting of bathroom taps, or anything else connected to the water supply.  The Water Regulation Advisory Scheme, or WRAS, has a list of standards that should be complied with.

When looking at taps in a showroom inspect the packaging and see if they are up to standard. If this is not clear on the packaging ask if the taps conform to the Water Regulation Advisory Scheme standard.  You need to know if the non-metal parts of the taps conform to the BS 6920 standard and that they are not made using any materials that are hazardous to health.

Check out what the taps are actually made of. Some taps look good, but they are made of a brass and zinc alloy which will not be very hard wearing. If you buy these taps they will soon look dull and need to be replaced in a couple of years.  If you are thinking of buying chrome plated taps the chrome should be at least 40 microns in thickness as anything less will flake off with use.

If you buy bathroom taps which are up to the WRAS standards and have a certificate to say so, they are more likely to be good quality and to be hard wearing. The best of bathroom taps have at least a five year guarantee and if you are considering mixer taps you may even be able to get a lifetime guarantee if you search around among the different brands.

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.

Bristan is one of the largest suppliers of bathroom suites, pumps, accessories and heating for bathrooms, in the UK. The company is at the leading edge of the market and this assures both quality and excellent after sales support. You will also find that the sheer buying power of a company of this size results in a very competitive pricing structure.

The range of products on offer also means that this is somewhere you can buy all the items for your new bathroom and can avoid having to purchase your suite from one company and all your accessories from another. This helps create a look that is stylish and very harmonious.

It is also possible to buy very traditional bathroom suites here, so you have the choice of being as conventional or as modern as you wish. You also have peace of mind, because even though the products are very durable, if anything does happen to go wrong, you can be sure that a company of the stature of Bristan is more likely to still be around than some of the lesser-known brands in the industry.

For those on a very tight budget, there are often ‘end of line’ products available. You should bear in mind that this means the items are no longer in production, so in the future replacement parts will be more difficult to source. You should therefore be sure to give some consideration to the possible future cost implications, before you plump for what seems like an exceptional offer.

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.

Having a traditional theme for your bathroom can make it much more comfortable and add elegance to the room. Furniture made from brass or porcelain is ideal for a traditional bathroom. Visit antique stores and see what furniture would look best for your traditional theme. Going for an Art Deco look is a good idea if you wish to achieve a traditional look for your bathroom.

The Heritage Bathrooms outlet offers furniture that is suitable for traditional bathrooms, such as cast iron baths and a pedestal basin. They also offer a selection of Art Deco products that are suitable for family bathrooms that have a traditional theme.

Searching sites such as eBay will help you to find low cost traditional items for your bathroom. If you are struggling to make a decision on what kind of layout you would like for your traditional bathroom, then visit a few showrooms or have a look on a few websites to see if you can practice with a few layouts and colour schemes. Flicking through a few magazines may also give you an idea of what type of furniture will suit a traditional theme.

You can even find taps that have a traditional look. Tap Choice offers Bristan Colonial traditional bathroom taps, which are priced at around £36.93 with a chrome finish and £52.37 for a gold finish. They also offer traditional bidet mixers and bath fillers, which are also available in chrome or gold. Simple items such as these will give your bathroom the traditional look that you are hoping for.

Taps may seem like a perfectly straightforward item to buy, but the reality is that there are now so many different makes on the market it is difficult to make a choice.

Cross head taps, which are the more traditional style, have recently been surpassed in popularity in modern bathrooms by the lever taps or even taps which are simply round in shape.  You can even have taps which are wrist controlled, thereby meaning that you don’t have to use your fingers to turn on the tap, just knock the lever with your wrist or the back of your hand.

The choice comes in thinking about how you will use the bathroom.  If you choose taps which are just rounded, with no levers or cross heads to turn, then you may find that if your hands are dirty (particularly after a nappy change or similar) these taps are not the easiest to use.  But if you are young, then they are very stylish.

Taps will also complement the room they are fitted in; if you have a very traditional style bathroom, go for a more traditional looking tap.  But if you have installed a minimalist modern paradise, then some sleek, angular taps with levers will set the design off beautifully.

When you do see a type of tap which appeals, try out the various designs imagining the types of scenarios in which you will be using them at home. Are your hands soapy?  Are they dirty?  Can the taps be easily controlled in these circumstances?  Only when you have fully considered the pros and cons of each set, will you be able to choose taps which both complement the style of your bathroom and are suitable for your own particular needs.