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.

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.

If you wish to add a new look to your bathroom, then you may wish to consider opting for a unique design.  There are many types of bathroom suites, furniture and accessories that will enable you to create a completely different look for your bathroom.  From unique baths and showers to different types of cabinets and accessories, you are sure to find something to help you add something new and interesting to your bathroom.

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.

Just because you have to fit a bathroom into a small space, it doesn’t mean that it has to look or feel cramped or cluttered.  There are a number of things you can do to get the most out of the limited space you have.

Stone floors or tiles set in continuous, unbroken runs create the feeling of space; if you combine this with a white bathroom suite, pale paint on the walls, and light coloured accessories, you will automatically be creating an open feeling even in a small space.

Bathroom furniture designed specifically for small spaces is readily available.  Measure up the space so you know exactly how much you have to play with, and you may be surprised at the variety of narrow and compact items that are available.  A wall-mounted toilet or a semi-pedestal sink suspended from the wall will give the illusion of more floor space than there actually is, thus making the room feel bigger.

If you are squeezing a bathroom into an attic space, try incorporating a skylight.  The natural light will reflect against surfaces and create a feeling of space.

If you don’t have the space for a separate bath and shower, choose one of many shower-over-bath configurations currently available in the market.

Cleverly positioned mirrors reflect light and give a feeling of depth to small bathrooms.  Minimise fuss around windows by using blinds rather than curtains; curtains tend to dominate any wall they are on, and serve to effectively shrink a small space.

If the ceiling is low or sloping, a sunken bath is a smart way of creating additional space.

Don’t allow space under the sink to be wasted.  Fit a cupboard surround or vanity unit around the sink to provide storage.  Use redundant space on the walls to hang shelves, bathroom cabinets, and accessories such as heated towel rails.

The simplest things, such as altering the way a door opens from left to right, or replacing a conventional door with a sliding version, can instantly create more space and suggest different bathroom layouts.

Cleaning the bathroom suite is usually one of the most dreaded household tasks. However, using a few quick tips can make this task much easier. After using these suggestions, you may find yourself looking forward to cleaning the bathroom!

Clean the Toilet First

The toilet is often the dirtiest surface in the bathroom, so clean it right away by dropping two denture tablets or effervescent antacid tablets into the bowl. The bubbles from the tablets will loosen most of the stains in the bowl and add shine.

Presoak Hard Stains

If you have tough soap scum on your shower doors or fixtures, rub a concentrated orange-based cleaner over the scum stains. Then leave the cleanser on for an hour. Continue cleaning other parts of the bathroom and then come back and rub the stains to see if the soap scum has softened. If not, leave the cleanser on for another hour and then check it again.

Use a Toothbrush for Tight Spaces

Bathrooms are full of tight creases and crevices, particularly between shower tiles and sinks. An old toothbrush is a perfect tool for cleaning inside these hard-to-reach places. Dab a bit of your standard cleanser on the bristles and then rub the spaces thoroughly.

Take Care of the Taps

Steel tap fixtures are sensitive to harsh cleaning products, so avoid them on those surfaces. Pour white vinegar onto a paper towel and apply it to the tap thoroughly. Remove any tough stains with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Bathroom furniture can be used to create a particular feel in a bathroom as well as creating more efficient storage which is important in any bathroom. If space allows then you could store your towels, toiletries, medicines and cleaning products in the bathroom, which will create more space elsewhere in the home.

If there is sufficient space in the bathroom a tallboy or tall shelves can be used to store towels. Tallboys can be an attractive feature and they are ideal for stacking large bath towels. An alternative is to use a big basket or wooden crate to store rolled towels if there is sufficient floor space.

In large bathrooms building shelves into the walls or using large baskets or trunks for storing towels and washcloths can create a bathroom feature as well as providing useful extra storage. Low cabinets and small chests of drawers can be useful for placing toiletries on or as a place for decorative items. Wall cabinets are useful if floor space is limited and choosing a bathroom cabinet with a mirrored front saves space by obviating the need for a separate mirror.

Bathroom furniture can be free standing or it can be fitted. A number of companies offer a range of fitted bathroom furniture which can combine storage, lighting and good materials to create a stylish look. The units come in a variety of colours and can be coordinated with the bathroom suite, so whether the homeowner wants to create a Victorian bathroom or an ultra-modern minimalist bathroom, the furniture can fit in with the theme.

It is important to keep waste pipes open and free flowing.  Over time the accumulation of soap, detergents, grease, and lime scale can cause significant narrowing of the bore.  When the flow of water is impeded obstructions can form.  Although obstructions are easily removed manually, it is a messy and frequently awkward task.  Sometimes large obstructions are not easily accessible and then it may be necessary to employ a chemical solution.

There are a number of proprietary drain cleaners available on the market but it should be remembered that these are very harsh and toxic chemicals and great care must be taken when storing and using them in the home.  Prolonged or too frequent use of these chemicals can also damage the integrity of the pipe walls, so, although they are a good preventive for blocked pipes, they should be used with caution.

Safety goggles and rubber gloves should always be used when handling these corrosive or caustic chemicals, and they should never be used in combination with a rubber plunger.

Drain cleaners come in liquid or granular form.  Some foam up on contact with water and waste matter.

The disadvantage of liquid cleaners is that they may pass through the pipe system without fully contacting all surfaces, making them only partially effective.  The foaming cleansers are superior, in this respect, as they foam to fill the space, but foam is not as concentrated as the liquid. 

Dried granules are poured, by measured amount, into the pipe and then water is allowed to mix with the granules in the pipe.  Hot water should never be used to dissolve the granules.  The chemical reaction usually releases a lot of heat and it is the combination of heat and the liquefying effect of the chemicals that effectively dislodges and dissolves the solid matter lining the pipes.  It should be remembered that these chemicals lose their effectiveness when they are exposed to the air so it is better to purchase them in small quantities rather than store opened containers in the home.

Because of the corrosive nature of the chemicals, thorough flushing of the pipe system with both hot and cold water after treatment is essential.

Sometimes a quick, temporary fix is required for a leaky or damaged pipe caused by freezing, dents, or corrosion.  In this kind of emergency situation, a fix can usually be successfully completed with either epoxy putty or clamps. 

If using an epoxy patch, first make sure you turn off the water supply to the leak.  Try to drain as much water as possible from the leaking pipe.  Next, dry the area well so the epoxy can effectively hold fast to the pipe. 

Now use as much epoxy putty as necessary to completely cover the area around the leak.  You will probably need to knead the putty to make it soft enough to apply it.  After you have applied the epoxy putty, allow it to completely cure before turning on the water. 

To use clamps to temporarily repair a leaking pipe, first clean the surface around the crack.  Use a metal file to smooth down any sharp edges that can slice through the neoprene or rubber patch that is used in combination with clamps.  Cut the neoprene or rubber patch to the necessary size and place it over the ruptured area.  Make sure the patch overlaps this area.  Keep this patch in place with one hand, while tightening the hose clamp or clamps around the patch and damaged pipe area with the other. 

Remember – these are only temporary fixes for damaged pipes.  It is recommended that you should repair the leaking or broken pipe using a more permanent repair methods as soon as possible.

Many of us may remember the distinctive avocado, champagne or peach coloured bathroom suites of the 1970s, often accompanied by gold-effect taps for a really opulent finish.  These days, however, most people opt for the clean simplicity of pure white bathroom furniture.  It seems that the retro styling of coloured bathroom suites is one design area that will not be making an immediate comeback. 

Buying a complete bathroom suite, as opposed to purchasing individual pieces of bathroom furniture, is the sensible and economical way to revamp your bathroom.  This approach is especially suited for households with more than one bathroom, as the savings can be significant.  Whether you use your bathroom as a basic place to wash or as a pampering spa area, a bathroom suite is an excellent place to start.  Generally consisting of a bath, toilet and sink, bathroom suites can also include a cabinet and other bathroom furniture. 

A fully fitted bathroom will usually include designer shower enclosures complete with shower tray and shower enclosure.  However, many people now opt for the shower to be located in a totally separate space, or even revamped into a modern wet room, which is a tiled area with an open plan shower and self-contained drainage which generally does not incorporate a sink or toilet.

Whether you choose a classic Victorian style bathroom suite or sleek and modern bathroom furniture reminiscent of a luxury hotel, always bear in mind that it will appeal to the widest range of people as long as you choose it in white.