Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Shower enclosures or shower cubicles are the areas (usually small) in which people take showers. The purpose of the shower enclosure or shower cubicle is twofold – both to provide a place of privacy while so exposed, and also to prevent the water used whilst taking the shower from covering the whole of the bathroom floor.

Obviously, the first thing that needs to be considered before choosing a form of shower enclosure for your bathroom is the size of the bathroom in question. There are numerous kinds of shower enclosures, available in almost any size, so it is vital to choose one which will both fit nicely into your bathroom – while still leaving plenty of space – and which suits the plumbing in your bathroom.

Another thing to consider is the length of time you can expect the shower enclosure you choose to last for. Shower enclosures are generally quite expensive, so durability is a very important consideration – with a life span of at least ten years being the usual expectation for such an investment.

 The shower door needs to be assessed for the same consideration, as well as its efficiency in preventing water leakage; a rubber seal on shower doors is considered to be the best way to prevent water leaving shower enclosures and spilling out into the bathroom itself, while a metal door handle is always going to be more durable and long lasting than one made out of plastic. Thick frosted glass for the doors is the best option, for both durability and safety reasons.

Many people are now opting for underfloor heating rather than standard central heating as it has several benefits for the consumer. 

Operating an underfloor heating system can often work out to be a cost efficient alternative to other types of heating.  Using water underfloor heating can be a cheaper alternative as the water is heated to a lower temperature than in a system that uses wall mounted radiators.  This system also runs more quietly than conventional central heating. 

Underfloor heating is often installed as standard in newly built homes, particularly in small buildings.  It allows maximum use of space without radiators taking up wall space.  This also means that radiators are not gathering dust and are not causing problems when it comes to decorating a room. 

This also offers health and safety benefits, as there are no hot pipes or radiators for people to burn themselves on and the fixtures will not harbour dust mites which may be irritating for those who have allergies.  Having to cover radiators defeated the object of having heating as it meant that the heat was restricted. 

When floor heating is used in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms which are prone to wet floors and condensation, the user will find that they will dry out much more quickly and damp will be less of a problem. 

Having underfloor heating is an advantage to home owners as potential buyers will often see it as an unusual feature that adds value to a property and will offer long term benefits.

Wood is a very popular choice for beds, and understanding your options lets you find the perfect wooden bed for your room.

Different woods give a different look, so knowing the types of wood most commonly used to build furniture will help you choose a style that suits your decor.

Mahogany, oak, pine, cherry, maple, walnut, and rosewood are all popular furniture woods.  Finishes and stains range from dark espresso to light honey, painted to natural.  Hardwoods like oak, walnut, and mahogany are usually used to make high-end, solid wood furniture and beds, while softer woods like pine and cedar are used by many budget manufacturers to create veneered or particleboard pieces that are more affordable.

Cherry is a reddish wood known for its strength and durability.  Maple is a popular choice for painted beds.  Oak is very heavy and strong, and carves extremely well so it’s often used to create ornate headboards.  Pine is lightweight and evenly textured, though its durability and knotted surfaces make it ideal for rustic beds.

Wooden beds provide a wide range of style options for any decor.  The sleek, elegant look of a raised platform bed is well-suited to modern design; many platform beds also include built-in storage.  Dramatic wooden canopy or four-poster beds certainly make a statement in any room, and draping fabrics over the canopy can tie a room together.  A sleigh bed can be modern or traditional and is perhaps the most versatile wooden bed.  And, of course, classic wooden bunk beds are a great space-saver for any child’s room.

Living in the cold climate of the United Kingdom, central heating radiators are an essential part of any household. Bathroom radiator designs, however, have come a long way from their bland, cold, purely functional origins. In recent years, however, radiator designers have realised that there is a large consumer demand for radiators that do more than just warm the house, but also compliment the interior decoration of it in surprising, colourful and tasteful ways.

The old fashioned white rectangle radiator has slowly but surely disappeared from the majority of British households, replaced by an almost unending choice of radiators in all colours and many sizes and shapes, including some truly bizarre and memorable ones such as spirals and whorls, and even some that resemble kinds of abstract works of art! This newfound wide variation of designer radiators also means that not only can you have a more aesthetically pleasing and imaginative kind of radiator, but that you can have radiators in different shapes, styles and colours in every room of the house if you so wish, for example children’s rooms can be adorned with designer radiators built in the shape of animals etc.

A bathroom radiator is essential and bathroom radiators come in many styles and colours. The variety of shapes and sizes has enough impact above and beyond mere style, of course – it also means that they can fit into almost any area of the room you wish to have one in. Modern radiators also heat up a lot quicker than the old fashioned models due to their use of materials such as aluminium and stainless steel as heat conductors. Searching through a radiator suppliers website such as UK Bathrooms will give a good idea of what designer radiators are out there and help you to make the perfect choice for your home.

Designer radiators have truly taken the radiator into the 21st century; a designer radiator can add an element of class and sophistication to any room.

Underfloor heating system insulation boards and tile backer boards are under-flooring boards specially designed for use with underfloor heating systems.

Why use underfloor heating insulation boards?

An installed underfloor heating system produces heat that travels in two directions – upwards into your floor and room, and downwards into the sub-flooring and screeds. While the former is exactly what is desired, the latter results in the loss of precious heat and energy. Using underfloor heating insulation boards prevents that unwanted loss of heat and energy, ensuring that your underfloor heating system is operating as efficiently as possible. The result is a room that is not only warms up more quickly, but also retains that warmth for longer. The rule of thumb is: the thicker the insulation board, the more effective it is.

Are there different types of underfloor heating insulation boards?

The first type is the tile backer boards for wooden sub-flooring. Tile backer boards are made from a lightweight type of insulated board that is designed to be fixed to prepared wooden sub-floors. Their high compressive strength makes them suitable for use with under tile heating, while their waterproof, rot-resistant design makes them perfect for use in wet areas like bathrooms.

The second type is the thermal insulation boards for concrete sub-flooring. These are designed for use over solid concrete sub-floors and cement screeds. Like tile-backer boards, they are designed to support extensive and long-term static loads. They are also lightweight, waterproof, and rot-resistant.

While installing underfloor heating insulation boards is not always mandatory, doing so will always improve the performance of your underfloor heating system.

If you are a DIY enthusiast you will know that looking after a house can be one huge learning curve, with many things always needing to be done, alterations made, and improvements lined up in a queue for your attention.

The great thing about DIY is that it is a healthy hobby, it saves you significant sums of money, and has a result that everyone will appreciate, and hopefully praise you for.

In terms of sheer exercise, yoga, step aerobics, Pilates and workouts at the gym cannot compete with DIY. It also keeps your mind fully active as you grapple with how to get things done effectively and tastefully. You will grow in confidence at every completed stage, and acquire a Zen-like ability to absorb criticism and plod on regardless.

If you have mastered painting, plastering, decorating and laying underfloor heating you might be flexing your muscles for a new challenge. Fitting a kitchen or fitting a bathroom may seem like climbing the Matterhorn, when compared with the molehill of giving the walls a new lick of paint, but it is hardly rocket science.

Those of us who do not have access to architects and interior designers need not languish helplessly in a house we are not happy with. Fitting kitchens may seem daunting at first, but it involves many skills that you already possess, and the challenge is in the planning and methodology. DIY kitchens come with complete assembly instructions, so it is just a matter of not panicking, and of taking things slowly and patiently.

After fitting a new kitchen or bathroom you will feel confident enough to tackle anything!

A divan bed is a wonderful choice for just about any space. Combining comfort, beauty and storage, divan beds sleekly store items beneath the mattress, in a location that’s easy to reach, yet out of the way. Divan beds are perfect choices for students or young adults moving out on their own for the first time. Have a tiny flat?  A divan bed will work miracles with the space you have.

Divan beds are also perfect for the older generation. Divans now come in adjustable models, so seniors can have spare sheets, pillows and blankets stored in a handy space in the bed, but the mattress can still adjust for the perfect night’s rest.

A solo, or twin size divan bed will be the best way to utilize space in a small apartment or flat while still getting a great night’s sleep. The storage space below the mattresses can keep bulky sheets, pillows and blankets out of sight, and the bed itself can be a stylish addition to your apartment. 

Divan beds come in a variety of styles, from American Southwest to Oriental to Gothic.  Georgian and Edwardian styles are classic and elegant, while the newer brushed-metal frames add a modern touch to any room. New frames and matching furniture made from sustainable materials, like bamboo, cane or maple can almost bring the outdoors inside, creating your own little “green space” inside your home.

Whether considering furniture for your current space or for a new space, think about a divan bed. It will likely offer options you hadn’t thought about, and free up space you could surely use.

DIY mainly refers to the practice of domestic home improvement without the aid of professional workers. Non-professionals can now acquire the materials and equipment to successfully complete a range of projects. The most common types of DIY activities include exterior / interior re-design, modifications, repairs or additions involving construction, painting, decorating, plastering and fitting, for example, bathrooms, kitchens or underfloor heating.

It is advised to thoroughly research a DIY project before starting. It can be costly and bothersome to have to correct work in progress or change plans halfway through a job. Knowing the desired outcome clearly from the start is of a major benefit. What this means in practice is planning the work from start to finish so that the work can progress seamlessly and efficiently.

Essential to DIY research is defining the project: what the finished product should look like and what the desired function is. Inspiration for this can be found from a multiplicity of sources, from general media such as DIY television shows, Internet sites, books and magazines, to specialised sources such as DIY websites and local educational workshops.

Particularly popular nowadays are the DIY Internet sites. These combine categorised explanations, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) links, video / audio content and social networking links, where interested individuals can ask each other for advice and offer helpful feedback.

Research is an essential part of any DIY project.  Do not be tied down however, be adaptable when required and you can change plans if required once the actual work has begun.

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the fairest of them all? With a designer illuminated mirror in your bathroom, the response to that question just might be, “me”. Illuminated mirrors range in style from basic, backlit mirrors to standalone illuminated mirrors with LED lighting.

When choosing a bathroom mirror, pick one that will complement the décor and hardware – mixer taps, towel rails, and shower accessories – already in your bathroom. There are several designer options available, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find one that fits.

Backlit illuminated mirrors come with multiple squares of light edging the mirror or with a frame of light. These types of mirrors, which come in a variety of sizes, usually come with a pull cord and would work well in a bathroom with a simple, modern décor.

The vertical Lelia Demista illuminated mirror has a single halogen lamp and glass shade at the top of the mirror and is fitted with a Demista heating pad to keep its image clear. The Felix Demista illuminated mirror offers a landscape option, and it has two halogen lamps and glass shades up top. Both have a pull cord.

The Aztec illuminated mirror looks more like a flat-screen TV than your typical bathroom mirror. It sits on a shelf, landscape style, and has bevelled edges. It will stay steam-free, and its LED illumination – tiny lights on the left and right – has a life span of 50,000 hours.

An illuminated mirror serves as a focal point in your bathroom, so be sure to choose one that you won’t tire of looking at over time.

Underfloor heating installation is normally more or less the same regardless of the system chosen, being water pipe, electric cable or mesh based. Water or wet underfloor heating installation places a system of underfloor water pipes in a solid floor environment. The installation can be done professionally or by using underfloor heating kits on a DIY basis. Unless the DIY individual knows how to use concrete mixers and is also confident with laying concrete or stone/tile cutting, then perhaps the installation is better undertaken by a professional.

Water pipe underfloor installation is among the oldest forms of underfloor heating. It was popularised in the West by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early twentieth century. Wright had seen a Korean underfloor heating system in Japan, known as ondol.

Modern systems consist of water pipes installed in concrete foundations or in a relatively thin layer of concrete – known as gypsum – or on wooden foundations on the sub floor. Floor support may have to be added when water underfloor heating is used as the weight of the installation may be considerable. When done on a DIY basis, it is advisable to check the weight restrictions of the water underfloor heating system with a professional.

The benefit of using concrete as a support and surrounding for water underfloor heating is that it stores heat effectively. Underfloor heating via a concrete floor is thereby one of the most cost-efficient means of heating spaces as it requires comparatively much lower levels of energy. It is also long lasting heat: takes more time to heat but is slow to cool when compared with other systems.