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Redesign Your Bathroom the bathroom is one of most visited rooms in a home. Whether you’re taking an early morning shower, late night bath, brushing your teeth, shaving, doing your hair, or just using the toilet, the bathroom is an important part of your daily life. So, it only seems right that you’ll want a stylish, welcoming and homely bathroom, and here we have some top tips for you to consider when creating your ideal bathroom.
First of all you will need to choose a theme and these days there are endless possibilities for bathroom design. You could go for the Moroccan look with deep colours and plenty of gold accessories, the minimalist look with white walls, white bathroom suite and very few accessories, or you could opt for the under-the-sea theme, with plenty of fish, crabs, seahorses, dolphins and whales adorning the walls. Whichever design you choose, make sure it is one that suits the age and style of your house, but also ensure it’s a theme you actually like.
When redesigning your bathroom it is important to include enough space for everything that’s going inside the room, including the doors, windows and any sloping roofs. There’s no point buying a beautiful new bathroom suite that blocks the doorway! You should also remember to leave enough space for standing, sitting, and getting in and out of the bath or shower. Again, there’s not much point having a bath if you haven’t got enough room to get into it.
If you just want to update your bathroom suite and want to avoid redesigning the entire room then make sure you buy a bathroom suite that is the same size and shape as the existing one. However, you could keep the existing suite and have new accessories to give the room a completely different feel.
A feeling of space and openness can be achieved in your bathroom by the use of mirrors and glass, either a simple bathroom mirror, a bathroom cabinet with mirrored doors, or glass shelving.
Do you ever feel totally boxed-in when you’re standing in your bathroom? You can change that boxed-in feeling with clever lighting, decoration, mirrors, or a slatted false ceiling.
Often family bathrooms become overrun with clutter such as shampoo and conditioner bottles, medicine, hairbrushes, shavers, toothbrushes, bathroom toys, etc. To make your bathroom look neater and tidier, invest in some space saving storage units. There are many different types of shelves, cabinets and cupboards to choose from to suit your bathroom and keep it looking tidy.
If your bathroom does not have a window that you can open for ventilation then you will need to install an extractor fan. Make sure you choose a fan that is the right size for the room. This can be done by calculating the volume of the room. Multiply the room’s height by its width by its length, and then multiply this figure by the number of air changes needed in an hour (20 for a bathroom, 15 for a toilet room) and then buy a fan that provides the required flow rate.
When it comes to bathroom furniture there is more choice than ever these days with a wealth of baths, sinks, toilets, cabinets, and other furniture available to help you achieve the look you desire for your bathroom; whether it is minimalist, modern, traditional, luxurious, or plain and simple. Here we give you the low down on the main types of bathroom furniture and what’s available to help you choose the right bathroom furniture.
Baths There are many different styles, sizes and shapes of baths, such as rectangular baths, round baths, corner baths, freestanding baths, and shower baths. In most cases, baths come in two types of material – cast iron or acrylic. However it is possible to add a touch of luxury to your bath nowadays with whirlpool baths and spa baths available for use in your bathroom!
Traditional baths are usually made of cast iron, and these are most commonly used as freestanding baths. Cast iron baths are extremely heavy, more than 100 kilos on average, so your bathroom floor must be strong enough to hold the weight. The inside of the bath is covered with a glossy white enamel, and is usually rippled or dimpled. In some cases it may be necessary to paint your cast iron bath, which will allow you to match the colour of your bath to the colour of your bathroom.
Acrylic baths are the lightweight modern alternative, which can be easily moulded to produce delicate and detailed bath designs. However, acrylic baths are also very durable and will last many years. One of the best things about acrylic baths is that they are relatively warm to the touch, unlike cast iron baths which are cold and can reduce the water temperature slightly.
Sinks These days you will find a wealth of sink styles to choose from, such as pedestal, vanity, wall-hung, cloakroom or en-suite. Each type of sink is a different size so you should be able to find one to fit into the smallest space in your bathroom.
The type of sink you choose will depend on the style of your bathroom. You may be looking for a functional sink, a very modern style sink, a traditional style sink or maybe a sink that matches your bath and toilet.
But before you decide on a particular design and style, you should think about the size of your bathroom and who uses it, so you can choose a sink that fits in the room and serves its purpose. If it is a family bathroom, which can often get full of clutter, you may want to combine your sink with some handy storage space, or if you live on your own in a newly-built apartment you might want to go for a very modern style of bathroom furniture by getting a wall-hung sink. Toilets
A toilet is obviously a hugely important part of our modern-day society and everyone's home has at least one. As the toilet is one of the most regularly used items in a home, it should be both functional and pleasant.
If you are planning to redesign your bathroom you will find there are lots of different styles of toilet to choose from, such as close-coupled toilets, back-to-wall toilets, high-level toilets, low-level toilets, and wall-hung toilets. When choosing a toilet you should take into consideration the style of your bathroom, and whether you want the water cistern (tank) to be close to the toilet, high on the wall, or hidden from view.
Cabinets and cupboards In every bathroom there is always plenty of clutter such as towels, cleaning products, kids’ bath toys, medicine, toiletries, and cosmetics. But you don’t want all this to be on full view for everyone to see. The best way to keep your bathroom looking neat and tidy is to invest in some extra bathroom storage furniture, such as wall cabinets and cupboards.
There are plenty of options where storage is concerned, including drawers, towel rails, and shelving, and a combination of these could help to create more space in a very small bathroom. Try space saving furniture that is slim and reduced in depth so it doesn’t take up much room or obtain shelves and cupboards that go above your toilet, under your sink, or even under the bath.
You will also find that you do not have to compromise on the style of bathroom you are trying to create because bathroom storage furniture comes in an array of styles, colours and sizes to suit all tastes.
Bathroom Accessories If you are reluctant or can’t afford to buy a new bathroom suite then why not invest in some new bathroom accessories, which can transform the look of your bathroom and make it feel brand new.
There are lots of different types of bathroom accessories available, including toilet roll holders, hooks, soap dishes, mirrors, scales, towel rails, toothbrush holders, toilet brushes and holders, shower curtains, shower screens, ornaments, candles, and pictures. These accessories and little extras can either finish off the look of a newly redesigned bathroom or make an older bathroom design look fresh and modern.
Along with these accessories, you can also transform your bathroom cheaply and easily by investing in some new lighting. You could install halogen downlighters that will fill the room with bright light and create of feeling of space, or if you want your bathroom to be a relaxing and mesmerising place then opt for dark, subtler lighting.
Another way of changing the look of your bathroom is the use of tiles. You can either re-tile the entire room using pristine white tiles or maybe colourful mosaic tiles, or you can add to your existing tiles with colourful and decorative tiles in the shapes of dolphins, fish and seahorses, which simply stick on to existing tiles.
Flooring is obviously also important in a bathroom, and along with tiles, laminate flooring and carpet, you should also think about the little extras such as bath mats, and sink and toilet mats. These days you can choose from a wide and wonderful range of colours and styles, from white square mats to blue dolphin-shaped ones. Whatever style you choose for your bathroom, you’re bound to find a range of accessories to enhance its look. |
