Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Not everyone wants to pay a handyman to come in and install a new bathroom cabinet, so here is a way that people can do it for themselves.  This short guide is aimed at installing a bathroom cabinet designed to be set into the wall.

You should start by making marks on the wall where the cabinet will hang.  You should then locate the bracing beams in the wall, also known as studs. 

Locate the stud in the area and then make square holes four inches wide on either side of it with a keyhole saw. The saw should not go too far into the wall.  Look around the holes for obstructions.  If there are any wires around, the job cannot go forward without an electrician.  

The cabinet should then be held against the wall and a precise outline of it drawn.  The cabinet must be hung level, so it is important to use a spirit level to check.  Having completed this step, you can then cut along the pencil markings, clearing debris as you go. 

The screws on the stud must be removed at this point.  A hacksaw blade will do the job.  The wall stud itself must then be cut out with the use of a handsaw. 

The cabinet door should be removed for easy handling, and the cabinet held up to the hole that has been made for it.  Any tight spots can be fixed with a utility knife. 

A section of 2×4 should be used for blocking, and held into place with adhesive as well as screws.  The cabinet can then be attached to the wall.  You should ensure that any wall plugs or screws used to affix the cabinet are strong enough to keep it up.  Many bathroom cabinets even come with affixing kits containing the proper elements.

One of the easiest ways to increase the value of your property is to carry out a face-lift to the heart of the home, the kitchen and a DIY upgrade does not have to be expensive. When planning the project, take into account that the current trend is to have a more open plan living area, which is more welcoming and friendly. 

The centre of any home is the kitchen and having it in a room, separate from the rest of the house, is closing off what should be a warm and friendly space. Should you wish to create the open plan look and feel, you may have to knock down a wall or two. If that is the case, you should consult a structural engineer before begin demolishing walls. After all, you do not want to compromise the structural integrity of your home.

There are many elements to be incorporated into a kitchen; you need space for a cooker, fridge, counter space, cupboards and much more. Plan your kitchen on graph paper first, ensuring that you leave sufficient room for appliances with doors that open and close without blocking other pieces of equipment. 

Remember that the style you choose should make you feel happy in your kitchen.  As much as it needs to be what you want, remember that your kitchen upgrade needs to be practical. It would not be a good idea, for example, to put an island counter in a kitchen that is small, because it will take up too much space.

Firstly, and most importantly, any electrical work should be carried out by a qualified, certified person in accordance with Part P of the Building Regulations and the 17th volume of 7671 Stipulation, for Electrical Installations (Wiring Regulations).

Bathrooms, with little or no ventilation, often make use of an extractor fan connected to the lighting circuit, so that it comes on automatically when the light is switched on. Important elements to consider when selecting your lighting are water vapour and steam. Bathroom lights are usually operated from a switch outside the room or sometimes by a pull cord attached to a button at ceiling height inside the bathroom.

Lighting designed for bathrooms is IP certified, which stands for Ingress Protection and means the unit is designed and insulated to provide protection from splashed water and vapour.

For ceiling mounted light fixtures, 2D ultra violet tube light, globe light fitting and bathroom four-bar spotlights are among the most popular. Numerous kinds of wall lights are also available, including shaver sockets, though there are many more options to choose from. 

The style of your bathroom, particularly a bathroom suite, needs to reflect your lifestyle.  Do you like the old-fashioned look of a period or stately home?  Victorian bathroom furniture could be your perfect choice, perhaps including a cast iron or roll-top bath with claw feet.  A vintage-look reproduction or a genuine refurbished Victorian bath from a salvage yard can be installed in your bathroom, together with a classic Victorian toilet with angular lines, a high-set cistern and a porcelain pull-chain.  The look can be neatly finished off with a wooden seat and cover, and even a bidet to add that extra touch of authenticity.

If you have children, you may require a more robust and easy clean look.  The simple lines of modern bathroom furniture, together with some flashes of colourful Ideal Standard bathroom accessories, a fish mobile perhaps, novelty shower curtains, maybe bright, washable window blinds, will all create an airy, cheerful family look that is easy to care for.

If you are more interested in high-end design, you may incorporate opulent features like a Jacuzzi bath, a walk in shower, and the sumptuous finish of marble, chrome or glass.  The couple with everything may even opt for twin sinks, set side by side for efficiency of use and ease of companionship, and no more quarrels about who will use the bathroom first.

Whether practical, historical or aesthetic considerations are uppermost in your mind, there are many looks to choose from to ensure you will be happy with your bathroom furniture and style.

The Royal Horticultural Society estimates that there are over 600 acres of prime vegetable-growing land sitting unused outside the nation’s windows.  That is a lot of vegetables and should spur you into turning that patch of unused ground or bit of balcony outside your flat into a compact garden.

The most effective, easily built and maintained small garden is a raised bed garden.  A raised bed has several advantages that make it ideal for use in a small space such as an allotment or balcony.

To build your raised bed you will need:
Tape measure
Garden spade
Screwdriver
Mallet or hammer
Nails
Screws
Four 1in x 12in cedar boards
Four 2in x 2in cedar posts
Plastic sheet (necessary only if building on a balcony or patio)
Soil
Compost
Fertilizer

Choose your site and then measure and mark out the location of the raised bed.  Prepare the location by clearing out any debris, sticks and stones, and if you are building on an allotment dig down one to two inches, loosen and level the soil.  Omit this step when building on a balcony or patio; instead lay out the plastic sheet.

Cut the cedar boards to the correct size and screw them to the cedar posts to form a box shape.  On a balcony or patio ensure the posts are even with the bottom of the frame, or let the posts extend sufficiently to help anchor the frame.

Position the frame.  Use the hammer or mallet to pound the posts into the ground if over soil, or nail the plastic sheet to the lower edge of the boards if on a balcony.

Add the garden soil and compost; mix well and level from the centre to the edges.  Spread the fertilizer evenly, work it in, and then level the soil and water thoroughly.

Even those who hate doing any kind of DIY will find themselves having to put together a piece of flat-pack furniture at some point in their life. Unlike some DIY projects, where you have to rely on your own knowledge and experience to get the job done, these do at least come with a full set of diagrams and instructions, as well as all the parts you need. Be warned that it is still possible to do the job badly even with all that help.

Preparation

The key to making a good job of flat-pack furniture assembly is preparation. Before you even begin work, read through the instructions once to make sure you understand everything. Most companies have websites or helplines if you have any questions or problems. The next step is to make sure that you have everything you need, both in terms of pieces and tools. Flat-pack furniture often claims to require no specialist tools, but this assumes that every home has items like screwdrivers and hammers. Give yourself plenty of time and space to get the job done and put everything within easy reach.

Shelves are perhaps one of the most popular DIY projects. Not only do they instantly change the look of a room, they also provide more storage space. The only problem in choosing shelves is identifying what type you need. There are so many different options available, you might be unsure as to which type to select.  As with all wall-mounted shelves, the amount of weight they can bear is largely dependent on the construction of the wall to which they are attached.

Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are so named because they appear to float on the wall. The mounting bracket is attached to the wall, then the shelf to the bracket, hiding it from view. These shelves are primarily used for light to medium weight objects. 

Fixed Bracket Shelves

Fixed bracket shelves are comprised of two vertical bars and the shelving is laid across the top. This tends to be the most common type of shelving. These shelves can be used for medium to heavier weight objects, depending on the material used for the shelf itself.

Adjustable Shelving Systems

Adjustable shelving systems comprise of two vertical bars, with notches in them, which are attached to the wall. There are brackets that fit into the notches and a shelf is then placed across the brackets. These shelves are able to hold a great deal of weight when properly installed.

Built in Shelving

These shelves are generally among the strongest of all. The shelving supports are typically affixed to all three available spaces on the wall of an alcove or other small, enclosed space.  The shelf is then placed on the supports.

Have you ever wondered how Roman blinds got their name? It’s not easy to see how a particular style of window blind, involving ruched material, is in any way Roman, but the story goes that it really does date back to ancient Rome. The Romans were very civilized and invented many modern conveniences which are still around today, including Roman window blinds.

In the dry and dusty climate of Rome, most people had no glass in their windows but they needed to keep the dust out of their homes and keep them ventilated. In those days there was no tarmac on the roads and pavements, and the air was thick with dust from passing carts, pedestrians and from building work too.

People found that the best method was to hang woven fabric across their windows, so that dust and dirt would be trapped, but cool air could still come in. Nowadays, Roman blinds are still raised and lowered the same way, using cord to gather up the fabric, but they are now made of modern materials and add a pretty, romantic effect to a room.

Through the normal use of energy in the home, it is common for significant amounts of it to be wasted.  By implementing a few home improvement processes, it is possible to ensure that the energy is used for its intended purpose and that the consequent bills are reduced to represent only what is consume.

Draught Proofing

Heat can escape through a range of gaps and crevices and even through solid surfaces that appear sufficient to retain heat.  Draught excluders for windows and doors can be purchased for easy do it yourself installation, which will often require nothing more than a screwdriver and power drill.  These help to prevent the escape of heat as well as preventing draughts from getting in.   

Insulation

Cavity wall and loft insulation helps to limit the amount of heat that escapes through the walls and the roof, which enables the home to be heated more efficiently by retaining warmth and reducing the time the heating system needs to be on for the effects to be felt.  Insulation also makes the process of heating the home more efficient as it becomes easier for the premises to stay warm for a longer period.   

Water Use

There are several components on the market that can be installed in a toilet cistern to reduce the amount of water used for every flush, but placing a brick in it will do the same job.  Similarly, a device can be purchased from plumber’s merchants and hardware stores that can be fitted into the shower head to reduce the flow of water. 

Use the Controls

The controls by which energy supplies can be adjusted are there for a purpose so use them when necessary.  Turn off the heating, lights and electrical appliances in rooms that are not in use.  Lowering the thermostat can also reduce the energy required.

Flex, like many other things, can become frayed and worn with continual use.  Accidental damage can also occur to the sheath, which may dangerously expose the live cores.  If this happens, a temporary repair can be easily made by wrapping a length of insulating tape around the flex, although new flex will need to be fitted as soon as possible.

Firstly, the correct type of flex for the job will have to be selected.  In the case of a standard or table lamp, the commonest type in use is round PVC-sheathed flex, which has three cores where the lamp has metal parts or two cores if it is entirely made of plastic.  Except in the case of unusually powerful fittings, 0.5 mm square size is adequate, and 0.7 mm should be used for lamps containing high-wattage bulbs.  Enough flex should be bought to allow the nearest wall socket to be easily reached without causing any danger.

The first step in fitting new flex is to unplug the fitting or appliance, and the cover should always be screwed firmly back in place when the work has been completed and before plugging back in the fitting or appliance.