TEN TOP TIPS FOR A BETTER BATHROOM
I’ve seen some unfortunate bathrooms in my time as an interior designer. The ones that require the biggest overhaul and investment are those that lacked planning for important things like adequate lighting, ventilation and plumbing. Before you think about the colour of your tiles and the latest shower screen, consider the fundamentals.
Take time to plan the space. Establish where your electrics will go, siting the extractor fan and your high-level and mid-level lighting. Plan your plumbing and underfloor heating. Lastly, factor in ample storage – my mantra, you can never have too much storage. With some clever advice from the experts, your bathroom will be a sanctuary. Here are my top tips for a better bathroom:
1. Keep a bath if you can. The bath is often the first thing omitted when people consider a re-design of their bathroom space. Installing a bath/shower is one solution, but you could also try freeing up space for a stand-alone bath by changing the way the bathroom door opens, or using a pocket door. A bath placed under a window is a great space saver and will also provide a wonderful vista. Combining a wall-hung loo and basin in one, is another way to free up space. There are also some great concertina shower doors available to avoid a wide swinging door in a small space.
2. Install and duct an extractor fan. Ventilation is particularly important, especially in small bathrooms or those without windows. Trapped condensation causes mould which will ultimate damage your walls and mirrors (not to mention your health!) Make sure you install an extractor which vents directly to the exterior of the building and preferably linked to the light switch so you never forget to use it. To avoid the annoying sound of the over-running motor on the fan, ask your contractor to set it to go off shortly after the light is switched off.
3. Plan your storage. Don’t leave storage as the after-thought. Plan for some bespoke cabinets or a custom vanity unit. Don’t be afraid - they’re not as expensive as you think. Bespoke built-ins will help you gain every inch of sacred space available.
Look for clever spaces for storage
You really will need more storage than you think. Look for inconspicuous areas like under eaves or above head-height. You might even fit in a linen cupboard. Ask an interior designer for advice. They are experts at space planning and will help you magic space out of nowhere. Another tip is to plan a drawer, especially for the master bathroom, as they are the most effective way to store toiletries. Try a cutlery tray to organise your make up. Those little segmented sections are a great way to separate lipsticks from nail varnish.
4. Layer your lighting. Many people neglect to install adequate lighting in their bathrooms and forever find themselves squinting into the mirror. With the advent of LED lighting, it’s much easier to position lights so they conform to IP regulations which state how far light fittings must be from the water source. This is good news for small bathrooms as it gives you greater flexibility for the layout. Be adventurous and atmospheric with your bathroom lighting. Try small plinth lights in the walls, star lights in the ceiling or lights within a glass shelf. And always light your mirror from the side to avoid shadows being cast on your face, which not only make you look older, but make it much harder to efficiently apply make-up. Try elegant walls lights or concealed lights behind the mirror.
5. Investigate the latest technologies in waterproof flooring. First, decide if you want under-floor heating before you choose your flooring as products as certain tiles are not as conducive as others. I would also recommend installing the heating with a timer and an over-ride switch. Then, investigate modern alternatives to tiles.
Try rubber, coconut husk planks, bamboo, or vinyl. Polyflor vinyl tiles have very realistic wood floor effects nowadays and the added benefit of being hard wearing, easy to maintain and slip resistant for the life of the product. Natural wood is normally not optimal in a bathroom, but you could try bamboo or coconut husk as they’re water resistant. Never use limestone in a bathroom it is very porous and will stain and crack over a short period of time.
6. Have a hand-held shower attachment. In the bath and shower cubicle, such a practical idea for ease of cleaning the shower or bath. Crosswater do a brilliant new alternative to the traditional telephone style bath attachment, called Follow Me. It will make hair-washing time for little ones so much easier.
7. Keep showers and baths easily accessible. There are many innovative shower screens on the market that cantilever or concertina back against the wall. These will avoid the problem of getting inside the shower or bath to clean that a fixed shower screen presents.
8. Death to black mould. Adequate ventilation and regular cleaning with bleach will help inhibit black mould. Choosing dark grey grouting and mastic will help mask the appearance of it. But the only way to get rid of it is to have a professional replace the grouting.
9. Check the head height. If you’re doing a loft bathroom, reduced head height can be an issue. I recommend placing the bath here, but keep the taps where the head height is the restricted as you bend down to turn on taps, and allow for getting in at the highest point.
10. Think about your personal preferences. Plan the practicalities. Do the people who will use the bathroom prefer mixers versus separate taps, heated towel rails, or underfloor heating? Consider all the little details that will make the bathroom better and fit for purpose.
Creative Director, RJV Designs
TEL: 020 7385 6009
MOB: 07794 363 169
Email:info@rjvdesigns.co.uk
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