Bathroom Ideas

 IDEAS , TIPS & INSPIRATION FOR PLANNING
A  NEW BATHROOM

The bathroom & kitchen are the two rooms of the house that are the most costly when it comes to a makeover but they are also the rooms that will potentially add the most value to your home as well. But updating your bathroom doesnt have to cost a fortune. Here I will share tips, decorating ideas & inspiration to help you create your perfect bathroom space. Whether you opt for the do it yourself route to freshen up your space or you have your bathroom proffesionaly re-designed this page is full of suggestions & tips to help.

You bathroom is not just a practicle cleansing place for your daily washing routine, these days we want a sanctuary to soothe our spirits & aid us in relaxation. At times a lot of us lead stressful & busy lives & we need a space to come home to where we can relax & unwind. Not all of us can afford trips out to a health spa, so creating a tranquil oasis in our own homes is becoming an important part of planning a bathroom.
There are easy ways to simply update your space from a lick of fresh paint to replacing the taps or putting up a new shower curtain. These simply changes can make a huge difference & wont burn a whole in your pocket. If you want to replace your sanitary ware without a huge price tag choose it in classic white pottery & match it with plain white tiles. These tend to be less costly & have the advantage of not dating. You can always add some colour with your accessories.

An effective bathroom layout is designed with space to move around without bumping into things.  Opting for wall hung units can make the room feel deceptively more spacious than it is. Basins that are built into cupboards are another great idea as it gives you more storage space & hides away any unsightly pipe work. Try & avoid clutter by storing things away. Its a good idea every few months to have a cleaning blitz & throw out empty or expired lotion bottles & moisterisers. You need to utilize your space well so if there isnt space to fit furniture to store your bathroom essentials then use the wall space to put up pegs & hooks or use organisers that clip over the door. 

Freestanding shelving units & wicker drawer baskets can fit in small spaces like below the sink & they help keep things tidy. Just keep out to hand things that you use daily & put the rest neatly away. Towels can be displayed on towel racks, heated towel rails or they can be folded neatly in baskets so they are close to hand. There are lots of contemporary storage accessories you can purchase that are reasonably priced, are functional & look good to boot.  Shower caddys can be hooked over the showerhead or come with suction pads that stick them to the shower wall.
If your bathroom theme is that of country or french cottage & if you have the space use unique furniture pieces from other rooms of the house to use for storage. Dressers are a great choice as they keep with that vintage look as do antique chests.

This image is care of http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Un-suite bathrooms have become even more popular in the past few years with more & more new builds being built with one or more of them to accommadate busy family mornings.  Make sure your en-suite is well ventilated so steam doesnt flow back into your bedroom causing dampness. These two rooms need to flow together well in decoration. Choose a colour theme that matches or compliments. Another rising trend is for wetrooms, which are basically large shower rooms designed with a slightly sloping floor for water to drain away. The whole room is tanked & tiled with waterproof lining behind the tiles or even specialist waterproof panels.  Funky patterned water proof panels are quickly becoming a popular feature in wet rooms as a fun alternative to tiles. Often people with opt  to have steam attachments fitted so it can double as a steam room for that spa feeling to help you relax & unwind at the end of a hectic day. If you really want that complete spa feel how about making a tiled bench area that allows you to sit & chill out in your steam room.  

When creating your home spa retreat paint your walls in a pale blue or green or opt for neutral colours or soft whites to create a tranquil feel. Set the mood with scented candles & bath oils in lavendor or camomile, aromas that are associated with relaxation. If you can afford too then invest in a whirlpool bath tub that has built in jets & lights for that added bit of luxury. Treat yourself to a bath pillow so you can lay back & relax with your bath jets soothing your muscles. Add a towel warmer, they look far more appealing than most radiators & there is nothing more comfortable than a warm fluffy towel against your skin. If you have the space add a walk-in shower with an oversized rainfall shower head. Recessed glass shower units are very effective, especially for a contemporary style bathroom. If you choose to tile your floor with ceramics then have some under floor heating installed otherwise opt for a fluffy rug to step out of the bath onto. 

Ceramic tiles are a great choose for walls or floors as they are cheaper than natural stone or porcelian and are harder wearing. Marble or granite worktops add a luxuriuos finish but you can buy Laminate surfaces that look identical to marble or granite.
Dimmers are the best option for light fixtures as they have the flexibility for you to have softer mood lighting when you want to relax but can be brightened up for those rushed mornings getting ready. When sellecting window treatments wooden slate blinds give a distinctive spa feel otherwise opt for light & airy fabrics.

If you are going for a full bathroom makeover then the main elements you need to plan are the fixtures, considering plumbing & space as you make these plans. There is such a large variety of pottery to choose from & cost, space & your style all come into your choice of decision here. As I have already mentioned if you are on a budget then opting for classic white pottery is your best bet. If you have the luxuary however of a large bathroom space you could consider a free standing bath & can even be extravegant enough to have situated in the centre of the room although this does mean the plumbing work will need to be plumbed through under the floor which can add more to the fitting costs. However for most bathroom designs the bath is generaly plumbed along one wall, whether your choice is for free standing or fitted. Jacuzzi & spa baths are another luxurious choice & need to be fitted by a proffessional tradesman. A very popular bath style at the moment are the pea shaped baths that incorporate a shower bath combination with the shower end being slightly curved with a matching curved shower screen. These style baths are a great if you havnt got the room for a seperate bath & shower cubicle within your space.

Your hand basin/sink should be chosen to match the style of your bath  whether you opt for wall mounted or floor standing. There are so many different materials to choose from these days & many shapes & sizes. In unsuite bathrooms often people go for smaller sit on bowl basins that are just big enough for washing hands cleaning teeth.  These days bathroom design is consentrating even more on style & not just on practicality. Even toilets & bidets are often now designed with style in mind. Once apon a time toilet seats were either plain white plastic or wooden but now there are a huge variety of clever designed seats in photographic images like flowers or sea themes, the list is endless. There is a big focus also now for taps & hardware & more often in contemporary style bathrooms taps are now wall mounted & normaly come in a chrome finish.  For a more traditional bathroom brass is a commonly chosen fixture with a seperate hot & cold tap rather than the single lever now often seen in modern bathrooms.

As well as taps other accessories to consider are towel rails & cupboard handles all of which are an important part your decorative scheme. There is such a huge selection on the market these days all dependant on the style you have opted for whether you are going for a modern scheme or country cottage or beach haven there is something for every taste. But there are also many other accessories to think about from mirrors to soap dishes & bath racks. Again these all come down to your personal taste & all these little things can transform your space without having to be costly.

Catchpole & Rye