If you are planning to create a completely new bathroom, then there are many types of unique bathroom suites available.  Freestanding baths are a great choice for those wishing to add something unique to your bathroom.  These types of baths create a great focal point and are available in a wide range of styles.  Whirlpool baths with lighting installed are also ideal for those wishing to add something unique and luxurious to their bathroom.

If you are on a budget, then you can still create a unique look for your bathroom without spending too much.  Simple touches such as your own tile designs, pictures or unusual bathroom accessories will help to create a brand new look for your bathroom.  You can even consider replacing your taps, toilet roll holders or soap holders with more unique designs such as gold or polished brass.  Not only will these create a unique look, they will also add extra elegance to your bathroom.

Whatever you are aiming for, you are sure to find something unique and stylish amongst the many types of bathroom furniture and accessories available.

Shower Doors

Installing a shower door on the side of a bath is quite simple and need not be an expensive endeavour and most bathroom suites can accommodate one.  It is certainly worthwhile doing if you plan on staying in your home for some time.  Shower doors instil a luxurious atmosphere to the bathroom and also allow users to install additional features into the shower enclosure, such as rain showerheads, which would normally make a tremendous amount of mess if you only had a curtain.  Shower doors are also easier to clean than curtains, as less mildew accumulates on them. 

Shower Curtains

Curtains can add flair to bathrooms and are great accent pieces that can be easily removed and changed.  They are available in a wide variety of colours, prints and textures to match any existing scheme.  Inexpensive and easy to install, shower curtains are an excellent short term and practical solution when moving into a new home.  Curtains can be left open to show off a bath or closed to hide it from view. 

On the downside, they do tend to be harder to clean and if inadvertently left outside the shower or bath, can drip water onto the floor.

Luckily the beauty of this style choice is that often those who opt to go for this theme can get away with an older bathroom suite.  Ideally a shabby chic bathroom would feature a freestanding bath, although there is no problem if the finish on this is no longer perfect.

Shabby chic designs benefit from the use of antique or reclaimed fixtures such as door handles, taps and light fittings, and appropriate examples will likely be found at your local architectural salvage yard.

If you intend to feature a shower in your shabby chic bathroom design then an over bath unit is totally appropriate if no space exits for a freestanding unit.  Oversized metal shower heads can add to the retro feel in a bathroom of this kind.

The final touches in the shabby chic bathroom design come in the form of bathroom accessories.  There are a wide range of bathroom accessories specifically designed in shabby chic style including those in distressed and painted wood finishes.

Finish the look with retro patterned linens which can be found in second hand stores or through online auction sites.

Large rooms with high ceilings can carry off vintage style suites, freestanding roll top baths that have tiny feet, and toilets with a high cistern and a long chain flush will certainly look the part in an older style house. Bathroom tiles on the walls and floor, and jardinières with flowing greenery help to finish off the look.

Larger modern style bathrooms are likely to have a Jacuzzi style bath and a separate shower cubicle.  Larger bathrooms can also carry off the ‘his and hers’ style basins. There are many styles to choose from including round glass bowls and square porcelain styles. Good quality taps are also important to complete the look.

If you have a smaller bathroom in an older home you may find that opting for a shower enclosure instead of a bath provides more free room. Enclosures are available in all styles so there will always be something to suit the period of the home.

Small bathrooms in modern homes are easy to shop for, a standard shower enclosure with simple shower doors, possibly with plain glass to give the illusion of a bigger room, and smaller basins in a simple design helps to keep the room unfussy. Minimalism is almost essential in smaller rooms as too much clutter makes the room feel claustrophobic.

The colours of bathroom suites tend to change quite often and after a very short time certain colours will no longer be available, so if you need replacement items in unusual colours or shapes you will probably not be able to get them. Choosing white and adding colour to the bathroom in other ways avoids the likelihood of this problem arising.

When selecting bathroom colours, you should consider the amount of light in the room. Dark colours in a small room with little natural light will make the finished effect dark and claustrophobic. If you have chosen a white bathroom suite, it is easy to personalise a bathroom by adding accents of colour with tiles, paintwork, wallpaper, or even fabrics.

Small items of wood, sea grass or cane furniture can be added to the room to make it appear less clinical if you have gone for the all white effect, and the addition of a couple of luscious leafy plants can do a great deal to improve and enliven the décor.

A typical bathroom DIY project involves replacing deteriorated features. An old bathroom may have become water damaged, with rotting wooden floors and decaying plaster, have a worn out, or out of fashion, bath or shower or a worn out floor covering.

Though contemporary tastes have become increasingly diverse, a perennial favourite is the use of both floor and wall ceramic tiles and a white bath or glass shower enclosure. DIY shops will tend to have a huge range of fittings however, and the Internet can further provide what the traditional shops may not.

When fitting a new bathroom, you may want to consider using the opportunity to install new features such as more sophisticated plumbing, underfloor heating, new decorations, a different colour scheme and perhaps new double glazed windows.

Before commencing installation work efficient and adequate stripping out of the old features is required. Skipping odd jobs to save time may result in you having to go back later and correct mistakes at additional cost. Also, ensure that you have designed the new bathroom properly; you would not want to be some way into the project before realising a new feature does not fit in well with your design.

One of the most popular bathroom suites is the white bathroom suite design. Bathrooms are often complemented by the calming effect of a white bathroom suite, supported by a warming wall colour that fits in with the taste and style of your dream idea of what your bathroom suite should look like.

With many new-build homes now incorporating small bathrooms into their designs, minimalist white bathroom suites undoubtedly fit the criteria, as they make the space appear larger and brighter.

In opting for a white bathroom suite you are giving the opportunity to work with a blank canvas, as white goes with pretty much every colour; therefore you are able to complement your bathroom with a splash of colour that is suited to your style and taste.

Bathroom accessories or well chosen bathroom furniture can also accentuate and bring to life all white bathroom suites. You can add designer radiators or standard bathroom radiators; you could even just have just a shower cubicle or shower enclosure without the need for a bath at all.

The possibilities with white bathroom suites are endless and to add that touch of style you can consider decorative basin taps, bath taps and a focal point bathroom mirror, which will go a long way to bringing your minimalist white bathroom suite to life.

Near the top of the list will surely be the bathroom. As most people are now aware, the bathroom, along with the kitchen, is the most used room in the house. Simply put, this means that if your bathroom is not up to the mark you will lose money on your house. Conversely, presenting a beautifully finished bathroom will add to the resale value of your property. It is therefore a sure fire investment opportunity. 

A generally accepted fact is that a second bathroom automatically increases the value of your property. This is particularly true if you have a family home. Parents are often not keen on sharing a bathroom with their children and vice versa. If the main bedroom is large enough or adjoins a smaller room, creating an en suite bathroom is a very useful bargaining tool.

If this is not possible, improving the existing bathroom is another very sound ploy. Do not be afraid to spend money. Purchasing a state-of-the-art shower unit with combination showerheads is bound to impress potential buyers. Installing a bidet is also worth considering.

Consider if there is space enough for a double sink unit. Increasingly, both partners work and a double washbasin allows a couple to use the bathroom at the same time, saving time and increasing efficiency.

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.

Sleek and minimal design is the latest trend for modern bathrooms and you will find that the majority of choices will come in a chrome finish, with brass usually the second most common choice. Single taps (also known as single-bloc mixers) are easily the most sought after when it comes to bath taps as they save the hassle of mixing hot and cold water from different taps. However, if you are hoping to add one of these to an older-style bath, you may run into the problems if the taps were originally separate.

Of course, one way to overcome this is to purchase a split single-hole mixer – where the hot and cold pipes enter from where the original  taps were placed – but also well worth considering, especially if you want to go for the most modern look, is to install wall-mounted bath taps. Not only will it give a stylish finish to your bathroom, but there will also be less cleaning involved around the base of the tap.

If you want to add a showerhead to your bath taps, there will still be a wide range available to complement any style, and these can also come wall-mounted.