Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

When choosing window treatments for your home, there are several factors to consider.  The main reason for using window treatments is privacy, closely followed by the desire to express personal style and enhance the look of your windows.  Practicality is also important.  Blackout blinds for the bathroom should be stylish, attractive and easy to clean, as well as offering the privacy you and your family desire.

The bathroom is the one room in the house which requires the most privacy.  Sheer, lacy curtains are not going to be adequate when your neighbour is mowing his lawn ten feet from the window.  Curtains also tend to collect dust and encourage mould growth.  Moisture-resistant, clean, practical blinds are the perfect solution.

Bathroom blinds come in many styles, colours and sizes.  You can choose from ready-made blinds, or have them custom designed to fit your window, style and taste.  With the stunning variety of colours, styles and materials available, you should have no problem finding a blind which will look great in your bathroom.

PVC blinds are one of the most common choices for the bathroom.  PVC comes in a wide array of colours and styles, making it a versatile material, easy to customize to your personal style.  While real wood is an impractical material for the humid environment of a bathroom or kitchen, many faux wood styles are available.  Bamboo is also a popular choice, because it is mildew-resistant and easy to clean and maintain.  A weekly dusting is usually enough to keep your bathroom blinds looking as good as new.

Shower enclosures come in many shapes and sizes, whether for a walk-in shower, a steam or power shower or a frameless enclosure. When choosing a shower enclosure the first consideration is where the shower will be positioned. The shower enclosure’s height and width should be such that it is easy to access and fits comfortably in the bathroom.

There are many different shapes of shower enclosures on the market including, square, rectangular, d-shaped and quadrant-shaped. The size of the shower enclosure should be large enough to make showering comfortable but also in-keeping with the rest of the bathroom suite.

Once the type of shower enclosure has been decided upon the next important consideration is any extra fittings or accessories. Particular importance should be attached to the shower tray which will prevent water leaking on to the bathroom floor. As continental bathrooms tend to be wet areas and water usually drains through the floor, European shower trays may not be suitable for UK bathrooms which are often carpeted.

It is important to buy a shower enclosure from a reputable firm who have tested their product to ensure that it performs to the required standard. Anti-corrosion testing should have been performed on the enclosure and top brands will often perform additional tests. Check that the rollers on the corner shower enclosure work well and look out for any areas which might be a source of leaks.

Adding accessories to your bathroom enables you to achieve your own personal style.  As the bathroom is one of the most important rooms within your home, you may wish to consider adding a variety of accessories that will enable you to transform it into the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Some bathroom accessories are essential whilst others can be added to your bathroom simply to accentuate certain parts of the room.  Shower curtains, wall mirrors and bathroom mats are all essential items and the many styles available enable you to select something that will easily match the rest of your bathroom décor.

Bathroom accessories can help to add style and elegance to your bathroom.  If you are aiming to achieve an Edwardian style for your bathroom, there is a variety of traditional luxury bathroom sets available, designed to help you complete your theme.  For plenty of style and luxury, small accessories such as soap dishes or wash bags are ideal and enable you to add your own personal touch to your bathroom.

Bathroom accessories not only enable you to add style to your bathroom but also comfort.  It is important to remember that your bathroom is not only used by yourself but also others, such as guests or family members.  Adding accessories such as hand or face towels, stylish basket bins and wall mounted accessories such as toilet roll holders will help to provide comfort, transforming your bathroom into a room that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also one that offers plenty of convenience.

If you wish to improve the look of your bathroom, then there are many steps that you can take to add just the right amount of style and elegance to it. Adding your own personal touch to your bathroom will transform it into the perfect place to relax and unwind whilst providing plenty of luxury and style.

Bathroom accessories such as towel rails are a great choice for adding style and elegance to your bathroom. For extra comfort and luxury, you may wish to consider adding heated towel rails. Towel rails come in a variety of designs and are ideal for those wishing to achieve a stylish, designer look for their bathroom.

Pedestal sinks are a great choice for those wishing to achieve a contemporary or Victorian theme. You can develop your elegant and stylish theme by installing a mirror or cabinet above your sink. Mirrors are available in a wide variety of shapes and styles and are the perfect accessory for those wishing to complete an Edwardian or Victorian theme.

If you are on a budget, then you can still achieve a theme that offers plenty of elegance and style to your bathroom by adding small touches. Simple items such as shower curtains, shower screens, bath panels and even small items such as soap dishes and vanity cabinets can help to add a stylish flair to your bathroom.

When designing or refurbishing a bathroom, one of the first decisions to make is whether to have a shower curtain or a shower door.  The differences between the two can come down to style, price, and practicality, budget and long-term bathroom plans. 

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.

Is your bathroom tired and out of date?  You may be surprised at how easy it is to liven-up your bathroom by changing just a few key elements, something that can be done over a weekend.

First, draw out your battle plan.  Make a list of everything in your existing bathroom that you dislike.  Next, browse over images designer bathrooms to gain inspiration.  Once you find key elements that you like, browse through catalogues or websites and decide on the specific items in your bathroom that need to be changed.

Bathroom cabinets can be painted for a fresh look, just be sure to use a proper primer and ask for bathroom paint when you go to buy it.  Consider the colour of the things you are not going to be changing, such as the basin and its surround, the toilet, the bath, the shower.  Remember, bathroom walls are a breeze to paint.  It should only take a few hours, given the relative small size of the room.

The basin and bath taps are fairly easy to replace, as long as you choose an interchangeable style.  Depending on their design, some taps can soon look outdated and just this one simple change, along with matching bathroom cabinet hardware can have a huge impact.

Replacing bathroom accessories is by far the easiest and most economical way to update your bathroom.  If you have a tired looking bathroom mirror, consider swapping it for a more contemporary design.  If your lighting reminds you of 1987, find a replacement system that can be installed without digging through the walls.

Updating your bathroom takes little time and effort, but can make a huge difference.

Looking at renovating your bathroom, but not willing to invest in a whole host of bathroom accessories to give it a facelift?  Although often overlooked as important features, a bathroom mirror can actually bring out the best in the room.  With so many different types of bathroom mirrors available on the market, from heated to illuminated models, it can difficult to choose which type is best suited to your room.

As with almost every other important feature, you should first look at the style, size and colour of the room.  Decide if the mirror should follow an existing look or style, in order to blend in with the rest of the fittings or whether the mirror should be used as an accent to create a new look.  Do not be afraid to experiment with styles that differ from what you already have.  Be bold and take some time to imagine how various models would fit into your bathroom, rather than buying the first one you see.

Size is another important factor that will determine what kind of mirror to buy.  The overall theme or the style of your bathroom accessories will help determine what size and shape would be the best fit.  As an example, buying a rectangular mirror in a room that features predominantly round shapes will not work well, so be sure to keep the overall look of the room in mind.

Colour is the final important element to consider.  Coloured mirrors can be an easy way to add life to an otherwise bland bathroom.  Matching and contrasting colours can have a very strong, but positive effect.

Tiling is often regarded as a complex task, way beyond the capabilities of the average DIY enthusiast, but in fact if you follow a few basic guidelines it is relatively simple and the effects can be startling.  The principles once learned, can be applied to both small and large areas and once you have mastered the art of tiling you might find yourself becoming addicted to it because of the sense of achievement you get.

A shower cubicle is just three walls and when the tiling is complete, you can add the fixtures and fittings such as soap and shampoo shelves.

It is important to remember that all tiled areas must be sealed off to prevent water seeping through into the surrounding area.  The type of sealant usually used with tiling is silicone rubber, which is especially prepared with this waterproofing role in mind.  If you use another type you will just have to do it all again, as water is absorbed and the wall starts to rot.

Silicone sealant comes in tubes and guns for ease of use and simply squeezes into place and is smoothed off with a finger.

Fixtures come with all necessary fittings like plugs and screws.  Simply drill the holes, using a piece of masking tape to stop the drill sliding on the enamel.  Mark the drilling point on the masking tape with a pencil point and then drill the hole at perfect right angles to the wall.  The masking tape will also help prevent the tile cracking or chipping.

The bathroom is a functional space and one that is most likely to be visited by guests in your home at one time or another.  For this reason it is important to try and ensure that the décor of your bathroom accurately reflects your household personality and gives the impression that you wish callers to take away with them when they leave.

Injecting personality into an area like a bathroom, with its focus on functionality and its clearly defined role in the home, can be a challenge.  However, there are a few tricks that can help to bring your bathroom decor up to the standard that you require.

One trick for an unforgettable bathroom is to create a feature basin.  While the pedestal basin has long been a staple of British bathrooms, homeowners are now beginning to look beyond this and use this important piece of essential bathroom furniture as an eye catching focal point in an otherwise functional space.

Consumers can choose from a wide range of carefully crafted basins – such as “floating” glass basins without any visible under plumbing or support, industrial style steel basins which are a great look in a minimalist home or, for the bigger bathroom, a double basin wall, which can lend a real feeling of symmetry to geometric designs.

To create a feature basin, homeowners need to look beyond the bathroom as they know it and let their imaginations run wild.

When it comes to tiling, the process can be relatively easy if simply fixing materials to a blank wall.  However, in most situations there will be existing features to take into consideration, whether these are sinks, baths, kitchen cupboards, or cookers.  Tiling is still simple as long as the time is taken to consider these features, making alterations as necessary.

In some cases, you may only be tiling half a wall.  In this case, it is important to consider how the ‘edge’ tiles will sit and, if tiling the bottom half of a wall, ensure that whole tiles are seen at the top edge.  Meanwhile, if you intend to tile around baths and worktops, the best look is have full tiles at both the bottom and top.  This will involve having a smaller strip of tiles within the design, and can be placed accordingly to make a feature.  You could even use a different colour tile to highlight and embrace the change.

Tiling around windows and doors can be one of the most challenging problems, with windowsills especially making it vitally important to consider spacing before starting the job.  Try to place tiles around this area so that whole tiles are flush with the features.  Thin strips are more obvious here and can cause distraction from the overall effect.  Meanwhile, whilst tiling windowsills, try to ensure that a whole tile is placed towards the room, with a thinner strip on the outside edge by the pane if needed.

Whilst tiling around existing room features can be more challenging, as long as the time is taken to carefully space materials, there is no reason for the finished job to look out of place.  In addition, by highlighting specific areas with other colours, you can make the differences part of the design scheme.