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Below you will find an extensive variety
of useful hints & tips to help you when designing
your bathroom.
Design and Layout Tips
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Include sufficient space for everything including the doors, windows and sloping roofs.
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Allow space for standing and sitting, getting in and out of the bath or shower etc.
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Purchase items that are of the same size and shape if you wish to replace the existing dated
suite with something new but not wish to change the layout of the bathroom.
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Space saving ideas can be created with bathroom mirrors, or glass shelving.
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False ceilings - a major problem with many small bathrooms, washrooms and WCs is that the ceiling
is often too high in relation to the walls. This can leave you feeling boxed in.
With correct lighting and clever decoration it can alter the room enabling it to feel inviting.
A slatted false ceiling with appropriate lighting will enhance your bathroom.
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Replacing fixtures - your suite may be fine, but a change to the
taps and cistern handle may give your bathroom a new lease of life, along
with a general decoration.
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Ventilation - in the majority of bathrooms, we have windows, which allow for natural
ventilation, however where there is no ventilation we need to install an extractor fan.
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Do you have the right extractor fan for the size of your room?
This can be achieved by calculating the volume of the room by multiplying its
height by its width by its length. Multiply this figure
by the number of air changes needed in an hour (20 for bathroom, 15 for WC)
and buy a fan capable of providing the required flow rate.
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Consider adaptations for the disabled - fitting grab rails to walls and fixtures
will make bathrooms safer for disabled persons wishing to stay in the comfort
of their own home. Ensure the floor is safe - slip free. Reposition
accessories such as mirrors, towel rails, etc so that they can be reached from
a wheelchair. Add grab rails close to the toilet. Bath chairs and
shower chairs are available; alternatively you may wish to make a hinged
slatted seat that can be fixed to the shower wall.
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Bathroom Products
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Where is the best place to purchase your new bathroom suite - consider the local DIY stores
along with specialist outlets which will have many suites on view that will give ideas
on layout, style, colour schemes etc.
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What materials do you want – enamelled cast iron bath,
glass bath, plastic bath, acrylic bath,
if plastic - there are many thickness of baths available – which is right for your
family? Consider weight, use etc.
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Sinks come in many sizes and styles – do you want a vanity unit,
pedestal or wall hung
or en-suite.
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Consider corner sinks, corner showers and corner baths as they can often save space.
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Are you considering a bidet?
Ensure you purchase the right toilet for your waste outlet,
as there are many different styles of waste outlet from
the toilet i.e. horizontal, S-trap, P-trap etc.
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Bathroom Furniture
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Space saving ideas can be created with bathroom mirrors, or glass shelving.
Maximise the use of wasted space by using fitted bathroom furniture.
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Storage - your family bathroom can accumulate a large amount of clutter. Whether wishing
to store cleaning materials, medicines, children’s bathroom toys or your toiletries, there
are various options available to you. A medicine cabinet that can be locked is an ideal
storage item for these childfree items, whilst a bathroom vanity cabinet can hide many of the bathroom toiletries.
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Decoration & Accessories
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Choose neutral colours for decorations if you regularly update your bathroom colour scheme (i.e.
walls, flooring and decoration).
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Tiling a bathroom can create a clean and tidy environment, which
is easily maintained. There are many different approaches
you can take to tiling your bathroom, from simple measures of splash backs against
the bath, sink and shower, to part or full tiles. There
are wide ranges of tile sizes and designs, along with
a variety of coloured grout that can add a different feel
to the total look of your bathroom.
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It is important when tiling a bathroom to ensure the tiles are fixed to
the wall using the correct grouting adhesive.
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Do not tile on papered surfaces – tile directly on clean, dry plaster.
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Run a pointed stick or pen top along the joints to indent the grout consistently.
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For safety reasons remember to use either a pull cord light switch,
or have the switch outside the bathroom.
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What accessories do you wish to fix against the wall or tiles –
soap dish, medicine cabinet, toothbrush holder, towel rail etc.
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Plumbing
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Ensure sufficient space for pipe work to follow the natural flow of water.
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Consider where you are to position a radiator or heated towel rail.
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Are you planning to change the route of the toilet soil pipe?
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Box in unsightly pipes behind a bathroom cabinet.
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