How To: Bathroom Design

The bathroom: once a place of practical ablutions, if designed with care, can be a haven of escape. This is a room worth investing the attention in to plan the space well. Bathroom design must be functional, to answer all your needs and have the atmosphere to make you feel relaxed and happy to spend time there. This was a cupboard of a bathroom: adding the warmth of a wood floor and wood accessories turned this once gloomy cloakroom into a cocooning mini spa as the original dark tile became fresh and inviting when lifted by white and natural wooded sauna feel.

Some key considerations when planning bathroom design:

• A mix of atmospheric lighting, concealed floor, wall and mirror lights.

• Heating: underfloor is 10-15% more energy efficient than radiators and also frees up valuable wall space. A warm floor is a thing of tactile comfort.

• Tactile surfaces such as wood, stone or crafted tiles are both historically traditional and pleasurably nostalgic.

• Taps: this is where quality counts. Expensive is cheap, and as the highest use item you want it to be substantial.

• A towel warmer

• Water pressure? Do you need a pump to increase it?

• Water softener?

• Do you have room for a stool or bench?

• How much storage do you need to keep the room feeling uncluttered

Of course costs vary, but here are few average examples to give you an idea.

Average costs for bathrooms:

• Cloakroom makeover £4,000

• Bathroom makeover (suite stays in same place) £6,500

• New bathroom from scratch, with plumbing moved or installed fresh £9,000 to £20,000

It’s worth seeking multiple contractors before you commit. Differences can be between £10k to £6k, so make sure you list your needs and be consistent to get good comparisons.