10 STEPS TO YOUR DREAM BATHROOM
Turn a tired old bathroom into your base of tranquillity with some stylish upgrades. We tell you how
How to curate a space that’s perfect for you
1 Location, location, location
If yours is a terraced house of a certain era, there is a chance your bathroom is downstairs, accessed through the kitchen. Are you tired of semi-clad people dashing through while someone’s cooking? Would you sacrifice part of or a whole bedroom to move the bathroom upstairs? According to research by insurer Direct Line, two bathrooms to every three bedrooms is the ideal ratio. So, if you’re adding onto your house, you need easy access to a bath or shower room on at least two levels.
2 Bathroom blues
Begin with the cons of your bathroom; the loathe list that you are desperate to change. Is it the tiny plastic tub that you can’t relax in? The no-power shower that’s just a tepid trickle enclosed in a clammy, clinging curtain? Are your separate bath or basin taps either always too hot or too cold? Decide your priorities for your dream bathroom and you can plan exactly what you want to fit into what might be a compact room, and how best to allocate your funds.
3 Making space
The bathroom doesn’t have to be the biggest room as it’s usually only used by one person at a time for a relatively short period. But you don’t want it so cramped your knees knock against the bath when you use the loo. If bathroom and toilet are separate, can they be knocked into one for a room with space for a bigger suite and more storage? Could an old hot water tank and airing cupboard make way for a shower cubicle? You might consider switching rooms if there’s a spare that’d be better used as a bathroom – though you’d need to lay pipes to supply it with water and possibly move the soil stack.
4 Plan the layout
A galley-style arrangement can make a bathroom seem narrow. Running the bath along the shorter wall at the end could open up the centre of the space. If you’re tired of climbing into the bath to have a shower, try moving things around to make room for a cubicle or wet room-style shower. If you can, tuck the toilet away so it isn’t the first thing everyone sees. Choose a door that swings open against a wall rather than into the middle of the room, or look at a sliding pocket door.
5 Working out the budget
You can expect to pay an average of around £6,000 for a total bathroom renovation, but if you have a tight budget, a makeover is possible from around £2,300. For a real luxury look, the bath alone can cost thousands. When deciding what to spend and where, first take into account the cost of the jobs you can’t do yourself. Unless you’re a skilled DIYER, you’ll need to pay for a plumber, electrician and maybe a tiler for the walls and floor. Then add up the price of bathroom essentials – the suite, bought together or as separate pieces; taps and shower heads; waterproof flooring; bathroom paint, tiling or wall panels; a radiator that’ll double as a towel rail; one or more points of light, and some storage.
6 Bring in the light
Natural light in a bathroom is a plus, particularly for precision tasks like shaving or applying make up, but so too is privacy. If your window (or windows) overlook your neighbour, invest in frosted glass or retrofit a window film to the bottom half or the whole of the glass. Waterproof shutters can also partially cover windows. You could shower under the stars with a rooflight above the cubicle. If the bathroom is windowless, a solar tunnel through the ceiling can bring in the sun. For artificial light, try a mix of ceiling lights and task lighting with wall lights above or around the mirror.
7 Shower or bath?
The great debate! Does the idea of a luxurious walk-in shower, or even one built for two, trump a long soak in a warm bath? It’s very much a personal choice. For a family with young children, a bath is non-negotiable – the easiest way to get them clean and have fun while doing it. If space is at a premium, removing the bath can allow you to upscale to a more generous shower cubicle or wet room. If you have an eye on house values, removing the bath altogether could affect yours. Compromise could be key – shower baths that are wider at one end now offer a lot more foot room for a more comfortable showering experience. Or what about a bath in the master suite for hotel-like indulgence?
8 Going green
You can go green in the bathroom without bringing back the avocado suite (unless you really want to!). A power shower is bliss, but can use more water than a bath. An eco showerhead adds air to the water, reducing the amount needed, or try one that pulsates the water to cut the flow rate.
An eco shower can also reduce energy wastage. Taps with a sensor stop and start automatically, so you don’t leave the water running needlessly while you are washing or brushing your teeth. As for the toilet, look for a water-saving dual flush.
9 Decorating decisions
There are no limits to how you can decorate with specialist wallpapers and paints that can cope with a steamy atmosphere. You might still want to avoid a carpeted bathroom, but anti-slip bath mats and rugs can bring softness underfoot. Tiling is a job you can tackle yourself, but you need to be confident you can make it level and watertight. Porcelain or ceramic tiles are the most popular options. Natural stone is on-trend but is more porous and requires more upkeep. If you’re eking out your spending, tile round the bath, shower and basin splashback, or add panelling to the bottom half of the room, and then use bathroom paint for the rest of the room. If you’d love a statement wallpaper, buy one that’s water resistant or washable, or protect it with a sealant-like clear matt varnish.
10 Hide it away
The bathroom attracts family clutter like metal to a magnet. Smart storage is a priority so you don’t feel stressed looking at gunge-covered product bottles and empty toilet tubes. Mirrored cabinets can bounce light round the room. An upcycled cupboard makes a unique vanity for towels and cleaning products. Alcoves built into showers or above baths keep things off the floor and offer space for a wine glass.
Use baskets for extra toilet rolls, or show off Instagrammable recycled ones on open shelving.