Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

The bathroom mirror is far more than a utilitarian object for shaving or putting on make-up. Although functional, you should never forget it forms one of the focal points of your bathroom and should be treated with all the care and consideration you would lavish on a new bath, sink or shower unit.

Framing your mirror can add style and imagination to your bathroom. It is of paramount importance that before buying your frame you should carefully consider exactly what you would like the room to express. Remember, how you choose to decorate will reflect your personality.

If you have decided on a traditional bathroom, the ideal frame for your mirror is likely to be an antique. These need not cost a fortune, just have a search around markets, house clearances, even car boot sales.

Do not be put off by first appearances; good quality frames can easily be stripped of flaking paint. In fact, you will often find the price considerably lower than you would pay for a freshly painted frame. Wood staining is an ideal way to restore the lustre of an old frame.

For a more contemporary look, metal frames offer numerous advantages. They are easy to clean, come in a wide variety of styles and can be painted in virtually any colour. They also offer clean lines, while being of any shape or size.

If your budget is restricted, try visiting an art and craft shop. Very often you can find very reasonably priced self-assembly frames.

Freestanding bathroom sinks have become increasingly popular in recent years. Before this, the most common type was the pedestal, which was traditionally made in white ceramic, with a long, slightly fluted base on which perched the basin.

Although elegant enough in its way, the pedestal has fallen out of favour, largely due to the problems of lack of storage space.

One of the great advantages of freestanding sinks is the range of materials it can be manufactured from. This makes it a particular favourite with designers and DIY enthusiasts who like a little more flair in the bathroom. Indeed, such is its versatility that many a bathroom has been designed around, for example, an oiled bronze sink.

What really makes this design so popular is the added storage it allows. Cabinets can easily be installed around the sink and allow further creativity by mirroring the design of the basin.

For example, a specially designed chrome sink would match a minimalist contemporary bathroom cabinet or vanity unit. In this way it would provide a focal point for the bathroom, every bit as striking as the bath or shower unit.

What is important is to carefully choose the shelving that will go inside the bathroom cabinet or vanity. Do not forget that the pipes for the water supply are also located inside the cabinet. The depth of the cabinet is vital and if the shelves have to be cut around the pipes, the material you decide upon will be of crucial importance.

As environmental issues become increasingly more important, it is no wonder that people are seeking out eco friendly ways to build their new homes or extend and revamp their existing ones. One of the questions that is increasingly being asked is ‘can underfloor heating work in conjunction with solar panels that provide the electricity?’ The answer is a resounding yes.

Underfloor heating is a very green way to heat your home, as it uses a lot less power and fuel, temperatures are lower to achieve the same effect and the only resources used are water (if you have a wet underfloor heating system) and electricity. It therefore makes sense for anyone wanting to live a cleaner, greener life to choose underfloor heating as solution. Obviously they will also be seeking other ways of making their homes even greener and solar panels are an excellent choice.

The good news is that there are no issues with running an underfloor heating system off electricity generated on the premises, in fact the underfloor heating system really isn’t fussy where it gets power from. The wiring can be adapted to fit any property schematic as required. If you are in any doubt do not attempt to wire the electrics yourself, but call a qualified electrician and let him do the work; remember, electricity can and does kill. By all means look into the options, because more companies are wising up to eco friendly ways of working, so finding someone to help should be easy.

Fabric shower curtains look great and add a touch of luxury to any bathroom. They are available in a far wider range of materials than the traditional plastic or vinyl and are far more flexible. Being able to tie back a fabric shower curtain opens up the bathroom and gives it a light and airy feel. However, depending on which type of fabric you choose, a few simple steps should be followed.

First, of course, is the question of whether or not to fit a shower curtain liner. If you choose a curtain, which is easy to wash, such as hemp or cotton, the answer is probably no. However, if you choose a brocade or even velvet, you should definitely consider investing in one to combat mould.

Another question to ask yourself is how often do I use the shower? Fabric, of whatever material, takes time to dry. Roughly speaking, if you shower on a daily basis, then a liner is probably your safest bet.

Most manufacturers recommend washing your shower curtain on a least a weekly basis. This is because spores rapidly build up and spread throughout the bathroom area. To avoid this problem, a curtain liner of vinyl can be rinsed down after every shower and often needs only to be machine washed once a month.

Remember that any fabric shower curtain needs to be fitted to a rail. Removing the curtain for washing can be a tedious business. Similarly, so can replacing the hooks or shower curtain rings if they break.

So, you have installed your new bath, chosen your sink, selected tiles and flooring, shopped for matching towels and bath mats, hung the bathroom mirror and fixed your towel rails. Yet something is still not right. The answer could well be the taps on your new bath and sink.
 
Nowadays, taps come in as many shapes and sizes as your bath or sink. Whether it is a traditional or ultra-modern design you have chosen for your bathroom, you will surely want a tap to mirror your design choice.
 
Have you thought about a wall-mounted sink tap? These wall-mounted models add a dash of elegance to any bathroom. Easy to install and available in many styles, they are sure to be a focal point for you and your guests.

Have you considered the range of designs now available for that perennial favourite, the two-handled model? Sleek Italian or chunky Victorian designs, choose one that is right for the overall look of your bathroom and your domestic needs. For example, a centre-mounted tap would be ideal for households with children.
 
The finish of your tap is another important consideration. Nickel-plated taps are difficult to clean and easily lose their shine. A chrome fixture would be better or what about solid brass taps? Simple and elegant, they can add a touch of elegance to any bathroom and work especially well if you have wooden bathroom accessories. Be sure to match them with your lavatory handle or toilet roll holder.

For those households with small children, bath time can be a trying affair and as they get a little older and a little more independent, this can turn into a real source of worry. Perhaps the ideal advice when designing a bathroom in these circumstances is to try to put yourself in a child’s shoes. What are the potential hazards? How is the bathroom to be a safe as well as enjoyable place? What does a toddler need to encourage him or her to use the bathroom without harm?

Perhaps the most obvious improvement, though often the most overlooked, is to have a stool next to the bath. This allows the child to climb in without clambering and slipping on the wet tiles. A bath mat is essential. Vinyl floor tiles are also a good idea.

As they get a little older, a drawer could be reserved especially for the toddler to keep towels and pyjamas in.

Similarly, try to purchase a shower curtain with little pockets for toys. Ideally this should be of a breathable material to reduce the possibility of mould.

As we are constantly warned, children can drown in a very small depth of water. Oddly, parents assume this refers only to the bath, but toilets are also a major hazard. A lock or clip fitted to the seat is a vital safety device, particularly when the child is still very young.

On the subject of locks, make absolutely certain that all the cupboards, particularly the medicine cabinet, are secured at all times.

Despite the fact that it is an electric based system and everyone knows electricity and water don’t mix, the heating cable or heating mat system is the perfect solution for bathroom use and what is even better is that it is completely safe. The electricity and water just don’t get the chance to mix and this is a lovely luxury for the bathroom, as you will no longer get cold feet when you step out of the lovely warm bath.

As a bathroom tends to be in the upstairs part of the house, the first thing to be installed is a layer of insulation designed to force the heat upwards rather than down into the rooms below. The heat cabling is then laid, starting at one end of the room and winding back and forth in neatly spaced rows, before being taped into place. A thermostat control point should be added at some point and the whole floor should be uniformed, which is to say the spaces between the cables are all about the same. Once you have done this, your bathroom floor tiles can be laid straight on top of the underfloor heating system, using a flexible tile adhesive. This is also an excellent way of securing the layer of insulation at the beginning of the installation.

A downstairs bathroom could be suitable for a wet underfloor heating system, but this is not really the best solution to use upstairs, as it cannot be installed effectively and the weight would be excessive. 

Hydrotherapy is an extremely effective method to ease stress and tension. Indeed, recent medical research has highlighted the efficacy of a long soak in the bath as aid to enhance circulation, which is of vital importance to anyone suffering from arthritis and diabetes.

But even if you have been working in the garden, or had a particularly difficult day in the office, as little as ten minutes a day in a whirlpool bath will soothe away all those nagging aches and pains.

If you are considering a whirlpool spa bath, but do not want to replace your existing bathtub, there are a number of conversion kits available on the market.

These can normally be installed by technicians within the course of a day and are suitable for almost every type of bath. As long as there is access to one side of the bath and there are no obstructions to the pump or pipes, installation can be completed with a minimum of fuss or mess.

The spas are fitted with easy-to-use controls that ensure safety and comfort. The constantly maintained temperature allows you to relax in the whirlpool for as long as you like, while the adjustable airflow gives you full control of the jet intensity – from a light stream of bubbles to an intense and deeply invigorating water massage.

Economically, the whirlpool is value for money. Depending on the area cost of a unit of electricity, the pump operates at around 3 pence per hour. This can be offset against the savings on hot water because the temperature of the water used will be lower than that of your normal bath.

And because the whirlpool re-circulates water from within the bath, it is easy to keep clean. Simply add a formulated cleaner to a bath full of water and circulate through the system at regular intervals.

Be more creative with your bathroom tiling. If you want to get away from the standard, grid patterned ceramic tiles, use two, three or even four sizes of tile. Add decorative border tiles, or lay out different sized tiles next to each other in a bespoke design.

The first thing to do is to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Do you want a strong, colourful design or something a little more traditional with subtle details. Or a muted background drawing attention to your sink or bath?

Mix and match tiles throughout the floor. Break up the grout lines and focus on the tiles themselves rather than the grid pattern. Create squares or rectangles in front of the bath, sink or vanity unit.

Add borders around the perimeter of the bath or shower. This will give emphasis and highlight the fixture. Try darker tiles around the bath mixed with a paler colour in the main body of the bathroom. The same approach could be used to focus on the shower stall and lavatory.

Another effective method is to angle the tiles. When these are turned to a 45 degree angle, the design draws the eye to the edges of the room where you have just created the border. Even if you only angle six tiles, an attractive diamond shape is created that will highlight a fixture.

And experiment with changing the colour of the grout. It now comes in a wide range of colours and will effectively create an individualistic style at virtually no extra expense.

Showers offer a refreshing – and economical – way of washing without soaking for hours in a hot bath. They are also ideal for those who have difficulties getting in and out of the tub.

A shower uses both hot and cold water, which is mixed either manually or automatically to provide a constant spray of water at precisely the right temperature to suit you.

Electric showers are the most popular model. They draw water directly from the cold mains domestic supply and only heat it as long as you are actually using the shower.

Therefore, electric showers are able to be fitted in virtually every home – even where there is no storage heater.

The vast majority of electric showers offer a wide range of power settings, beginning with the most basic, low cost unit, to a high performance model. However, many people prefer a more powerful shower and opt for a unit with an enhanced kilowatt capacity to increase the flow rate.

Indeed, a high percentage of electric showers are fitted with a variable power setting to provide optimum economy even during the summer, when water from the mains will have a greater ambient temperature.

Many houses that have the luxury of two bathrooms often have an electric shower in one, enabling you to shower even in the summer when you may not have stored hot water all of the time.

Electric showers come in a vast range of shapes and sizes. Be sure to choose which model is exactly right for you and your family. And do not forget to check the manufacturer’s warranty and guarantee.