If you’re thinking about updating and revitalising your family bathroom or ensuite, it’s vital that you make plans ahead of starting the work. These plans should go much further than a simple overview of how you would like your bathroom to look – they should cover all areas, from the colour scheme and the bare essentials, to luxury touches and the positioning of everything in the space.
This guide offers up 7 important considerations to make when giving your bathroom a much-needed makeover.
1. First things first – is there anything you would like to keep?
We understand that many of you will want to rip out the entire suite and start afresh, but it’s well worth taking some time to cast your eye over the space and look for any bathroom features that are worth keeping. Not only will this help you to save some money to use for other elements of your bathroom makeover, it will also help to keep your bathroom feeling like your own.
It could be anything from the lighting to the tiling, or even a storage solution you’re particular proud of. Whatever it is, taking the time to look for anything you would like to keep will certainly go a long way in your planning.
2. Really think about the flooring
With various styles and materials to choose from when it comes to bathroom flooring, it’s essential that you really mull over what flooring will work best for your own needs. Fitting new flooring takes a good amount of time, effort and money to complete, all of which you can really make the most of with some pre-empted planning.
If you’re looking for flooring that’s incredibly easy to care for, you can’t go wrong with porcelain or glazed tiles. They are much less porous than natural stone and are less likely to wear or stain, even with little care. Whereas anyone looking for non slip flooring in their new bathroom should consider investing in matte or textured tiles.
Of course, there are plenty of other options to choose from when it comes to bathroom flooring. Many homeowners opt for click in vinyl for a wood effect that won’t be affected by moisture in the room. This is just a drop in the ocean as to the things you should consider when choosing the right flooring for your bathroom.
3. Do you want plumbing as a feature?
Whilst the more modern bathroom tends to keep plumbing and other essential components hidden from view, bathrooms with a vintage or industrial theme might benefit from visible plumbing.
Think about the style you’re going for and how certain elements of the bathroom should be laid out to fall in line with this. From there, you can make decisions on where your bath, shower, sink or toilet should sit and whether you will need additional pieces of furniture to optimise the space and style of your bathroom.
Top Tip: If you choose to keep your plumbing out of view, you can’t go wrong with a vanity unit in your brand new bathroom. Not only will it cover the sink pipes, it will also provide extra storage space and a lovely stylish addition to the space.
4. Think about where you should save and where you should splurge
To really make the most of your bathroom makeover budget, make a list of the components that require a lot of investment and those that are worth saving a few pennies on. For example, you should be looking for high-quality materials and features when it comes to the suite itself, but perhaps you could find cheaper versions of the designer decorative additions you had your eye on.
If you have a budget in mind, it makes sense to prioritise certain elements of the bathroom makeover that will require a large amount of investment – anything additional should be saved on and not splurged on.
5. Optimise the positioning of bathroom accessories
For complete convenience, it’s well worth making use of this general rule of thumb when it comes to your bathroom accessories. Anything from your towel rail to your toilet roll holder and cabinets have an optimal positioning in your bathroom, and making sure they are placed within these positions can help to really make the most of your new bathroom:
Towel rails should sit about 4 feet above the ground Toilet roll holders should be placed about 2.5 feet above the ground and at least 6 inches away from the toilet The top of your bathroom cabinet should sit around 6 feet above ground level
It’s best to mark out their positions using masking tape, before physically fitting them into the bathroom space.
6. Match the colour scheme with your needs
To get your bathroom colour scheme right, you need to think about what you’ll be using your bathroom for the most, or the type of ambience you would like to create within it. Do you want your bathroom to be a relaxing space to rejuvenate after a long hard day at work? Or would you rather it be a place for complete practicality and convenience?
In order to achieve whatever needs you want to prioritise the most with your bathroom makeover, you will need to really think about the colour scheme and how that will play a role in achieving the right space for you.
7. Find a happy medium when it comes to lighting
Bathroom lighting has two essential roles within the space – to provide complete convenience when you’re getting ready for the day ahead, and to provide a relaxing space to wind down in after a stressful day. With that in mind, it makes sense to try and find a happy medium when it comes to lighting for your bathroom makeover.
Spend some time assessing different ways of lighting your bathroom space and find the right one for you that also provides a happy medium. Whether that’s a specific light shade that’s effective for day and night use, or whether you choose to invest in dimmer switches, lighting plays a vital part of how happy you will be with the finished bathroom makeover.
If you have recently carried out your own bathroom makeover and have tips for anyone looking to start their own, please feel free to share them with us in the comments below.