This does not have to be an expensive or complicated process. There are a few efficient and effective changes and additions you can make to your bathroom that will make an amazing difference.

If you have a drafty house and a bathroom with cold floors one option to consider is a bathroom radiator. Some of these designer radiators even come with a towel rack attachment to keep your towels nice and warm regardless of the outside temperatures. Overall the radiator’s benefit is the same – a nice, warm bathroom that invites you inside and tempts you to never leave.

Another option is to examine your bathroom colour scheme. A bright, colourful bathroom accessory such as a new set of towels or a colourful rug may be all that your bathroom is missing. You can also add a new set of bathroom tiles in a new colour scheme to add some warmth to your bathroom. Be careful not to make the colour scheme too loud and outrageous. You don’t need to redo all the colours; just focus on one aspect.

Because warm air rises and radiators are installed above the actual surface of the floor, there is no chance for the floor itself to get warm.  The heat just rises from the radiator to the ceiling where it simply circulates, and while that can help warm the interior of the home it does no good for the actual floor itself, or indeed the lower levels of the space.

Under tile heating systems have begun to become even more popular in recent years as technological advances have allowed a variety of underfloor heating kits to become available on the DIY market for consumers. These range from water underfloor heating systems that rely on heated water piped through tubes, to systems which are basically underfloor electric heating which uses heat mats that are installed underneath the actual surface of the tile.  This provides an under tile heating system that creates a warm floor that is perfect for those moments such as when stepping out of the shower on a frigid December morning. Instead of being greeted with a cold floor that will have you wincing, there is instead a cosy and warm tile floor.

For all available DIY underfloor heating systems simply visit your nearest home improvement store.

A chair rail is typically used in dining rooms or kitchens to prevent wall damage caused by chairs being pushed hard away from the table.  In your bathroom, a timeless and elegant chair rail effect can be replicated using two different kinds of tile and some waterproofed wood trim.  Apply one sort of tile to the lower half of the bathroom wall, affix the trim approximately waist high, and then place the second type of tile above the trim.

A bathroom tile mural effect gives your walls instant impact.  Some home improvement stores and bathroom tile design studios sell pre-packaged mural kits that are relatively easy to apply to the wall in a day or two.  Use the mural as a focal point and install other tiles around the central design to complete the look.

Mosaics using bathroom tiles are a fun and funky design element that brings a bit of bohemian appeal to your washroom.  They take some time and painstaking work to complete, but the end result is a beautifully textured and interesting surface.  An added benefit:  You can purchase damaged bathroom tiles on the cheap and use these to craft the mosaic.

Most simple bathroom tiling projects are suitable for do-it-yourself enthusiasts and can be completed over a weekend or two. 

Tiling the bathroom floor is not the only option when it comes to tiling and bathrooms.  You can transform your shower by using brighter, vibrant coloured tiles. You should consult a professional before removing old tiles.

You can also install tiles on your sink counter tops to replace that white or beige look of your bathroom or you can tile your bathroom cabinet top to add a splash of colour. Another option is tiling the walls of your bathroom instead of painting them. If your bathroom mirror needs a new look you can surround it with tiles so that it is framed. Try alternating large and small tiles to add a bit of funky style.

Tiles can brighten your bathroom with a sophisticated, updated look, while offering quick and easy bathroom maintenance. Tiling can be done by the homeowner themselves, but if in doubt it is always best to consult a professional before beginning a project.

Tiling the floor as well will give you a wet room which can stand up to showers, baths, spillages and keep them contained. Many modern houses are now being built with wet rooms containing shower, seat and bath.

When choosing colours it is wise to remember that having tiles all the same colour will give an illusion of far more space in a small bathroom. Light coloured tiles will make a small bathroom look much bigger by reflecting the light around the room, but dark ones tend to make the space look smaller.

Other factors to consider are that tiled bathroom floors can be quite cold beneath the feet, even when they are laid on a wooden floor. Installing under-floor heating in the bathroom will resolve this problem, and using warm colours like terracotta for the floor tiling will also give the feeling of a warm floor. Adding bath mats is a simple resolution to this but it defeats the object of having a waterproof bathroom and is not always a practical idea. The safety aspect of mats on wet tiled floors needs to be addressed too.

Built nearly 2000 years ago, the Colosseum is still largely standing although there has been extensive damage to the walls through a number of earthquakes. The Colosseums walls are estimated to have used over 100,000 cubic meters of travertine stone which was held together with iron clamps.

Travertine has many uses today and is still a popular building material for both commercial properties and home owners and can be used for tiled flooring and walls as well as patio areas. Travertine is available in a range of colours from grey to red and can be left natural with pitting for a weathered look or filled and sanded to give a glossy finish.

With newly fixed tiles, wipe away excess adhesive with a damp sponge but let it dry fully before you begin grouting. If you’re using stone tiles rather than ceramic, seal them before grouting. It’s best to use a grout spreader for this job but a squeegee will do. Slap a clump of grout about the size of a golf ball onto a tile, and start spreading it firmly and methodically into the gaps between the tiles. Hold the spreader at a 45˚ angle throughout and work diagonally.

Don’t do more than a square metre at a time – the grout will start to dry if you do more and will be harder to clean up. Use the damp sponge to clean up excess, rinsing it regularly to keep it unclogged. Go across the gaps at right angles. Keep going until you’ve covered and cleaned the entire tiled surface, and then polish all of it with a clean, dry cloth. Use a silicone sealant to form a watertight seal between tiles and sinks, baths and work-tops. Finally, admire your work and get someone to congratulate you!

Travertine tiles are ideal for cladding and for use external in patios and communal areas where their unique pattern and colouring gives a garden or public space, outside a hotel for example, a truly classical look. It is certainly true that using travertine tiles on your patio will certainly make it stand out. With its historic importance as a primary building material in ancient buildings, travertine tiles have a reputation for lasting all types of weather conditions and for being easily maintained over time.

The natural colours of travertine tiles make them particularly appealing and although in its purest form travertine tiles are white, impurities can cause the colour of travertine tiles to vary and to be yellow and brown. The choice of colour that you eventually settle upon will depend to some extent on the area where you a fitting the travertine tiles, for bathrooms or shower areas, many choose the pure white which gives the room a marble look, the important difference though, is that travertine tiles whilst looking like marble are considerably less in price.

Why this should be the case is a mystery. Laying tiles does not require that you be a specialist in DIY and it certainly does not mean that you are going to sneak a certified tile fitter in the back door and hope that nobody sees him.

Yet it really need not be such a trial. All it takes is a little commonsense and foresight.

Firstly, choose an adhesive that is waterproof. Any home improvement centre stocks at least one variety. Secondly, make sure you have enough tiles. In fact, buy more than you think you need. Tiles are frequently dropped or cracked.

Ensure the area you are laying your bathroom tiles on is free from detritus. A flat surface is of crucial importance. Once this is done, use lengths of spacing pieces to make sure the tiles are laid straight. Create a grid of horizontal and vertical lines.

Spread the adhesive evenly. Ensure that the tiles are positioned squarely. Although it is easy enough to remedy any mistakes at this stage, getting it right first time will increase your confidence.

Whatever you do, do not grout too soon. Wait for the tile adhesive to dry thoroughly, which can take up to 24 hours.

Finally, take great care with the grouting. If it is not spread evenly, it will dry in lumps and this can be tedious to remove.

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.