Contemporary Bathroom Design

MODERN BATHROOM LOOK

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DESIGNING YOUR PERFECT WASHROOM

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Don’t be daunted by your new bathroom project. Follow our step-bystep guide to planning a bathroom that makes a splash for all the right reasons It was once an afterthought – often contained to a shed in the garden. But now, after the kitchen, the bathroom is probably the most important room in the house in terms of resale value. As we seek to make the most of precious downtime, its status has been raised. No longer driven by purely practical needs, many of us are renovating our bathrooms with relaxation and pampering in mind.

As well as simple renovations, we’re also planning more extra bathrooms and en-suites.

Whatever your reason, installing a new bathroom is a serious undertaking and can be deceptively tricky. It requires quite an array of fittings and technical skill, often in a very compact space.

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1. ASSESS YOUR NEEDS Begin by working out your key priorities. A family bathroom or spa-style sanctuary will require a long list of specifications and fittings that could include a bath, separate shower, double basins, and hea ps of storage, while an en-suite or guest bathroom may just require a shower and loo.

Next, ask yourself what sort of space you hope to achieve. Are you seeking a haven to escape to, or are you more of an invigorate-and-energise kind of person? This will affect the fixtures, fittings and colour scheme you choose.

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2. PLANNING A BATHROOM LAYOUT Don’t change a layout just for the sake of it. If it works well for you, keep it. It’s a much cheaper option, too, as moving waste and water pipes can be expensive.

If you do plan to change your layout, measure your bathroom carefully. Note the position of doors windows and any pipes. It might help to draw an outline on graph paper, or use an online design tool.

It’s also a good idea to visit a local bathroom showroom for advice, as its designers will have plenty of experience in maximising space while at the same time minimising costly mistakes.

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3. SEEK OUT INSPIRATION Choose your style early on as this will help narrow down the choice of fittings to consider. Your main options are period style, classic or a contemporary look. Hotels, particularly small boutique ones, are a fabulous source of design inspiration, so scour their websites for looks you love. Quite often they’ll feature a lot packed into a compact space, so you’ll probably pick out a few layout tips, too.

Flick through interiors magazines to gather tear sheets and try to bring together a visual checklist of what appeals to you,

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4. BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR SPACE There’s no point pining for his-and-her sinks, a statement walkin shower or a double-ended roll top if they won’t fit. The truth of the matter is it isn’t going to be possible in the most UK bathrooms – apparently the average footprint is about the same as a king-size bed.

Don’t cram in fittings (this will only make the room feel smaller) and research products that will help you make the most of your square meterage,

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5. FACTOR IN STORAGE Storage is the key to a successful bathroom – and no, a minimal glass shelf won’t be enough!

Toiletries never display well (unless you’ve taken out shares in Aesop or Jo Malone), nor do shampoo bottles standing on the floor of the shower. A substantial vanity with space for extra towels is a smart buy.

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6. CONSIDER YOUR BATHROOM LIGHTING As bathrooms are often placed next to the bedroom, lighting should be considered carefully. You don’t want bright lights flashing on in the middle of the night – it’s not comfortable for the person taking a trip to the bathroom, or for the person asleep next door bedroom.

Then, if you’re taking a late-night trip to the bathroom, you can turn on the low level lighting without waking up others – or yourself – too much! Some of the lighting could be operated by a motion sensor, meaning there is no fumbling around for a light switch.’

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