So you wish to begin the great journey of bathroom design? Where do you begin? Amongst all the information and opinions, how will you make your way through the jargon to realise your dream bathroom? Here is a good place to start.
Questions to ask
What will your dream bathroom look like? Where do you begin? To find out what you really want in your bathroom, take a look at your situation now. Here are a few questions to begin with:
- Are there enough bathrooms in the house for the number of people who live there?
- Are the bathrooms conveniently located?
- Are there young children, elderly persons, or both in the family?
- Does anyone have a disability?
- Do the fixtures need updating, are there any leaks, or does the room simply need a cosmetic makeover?
- Is there enough storage for everyone who uses the space?
- Is there good lighting and ventilation? Are there any signs of mould or mildew?
- Are there enough electrical outlets?
- Should you go with a bath or a shower? Or both?
- Do you regularly need to use the bathroom at the same time as other members of the household? How many?
- What kind of budget do you have for the project?
- Is there another bathroom in the house you can use until you’re finished renovating?
Once you’ve considered what you don’t like about the space, think about the things you do like. Do you want a bathroom that’s clean and simple, or extravagant and luxurious? Try to gather pictures and product information to suit your style. Use ideas from this website and get some inspiration from a Mico Bathrooms showroom. Get together a list for one of the Mico sales representatives to help you choose a look that suits your unique needs.
Getting Started
There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing a bathroom. You can take on the project yourself, sourcing each individual item and hiring tradesmen as required. Or, if you prefer, you can utilise the resources of an architect, designer or builder, especially if the work involved is large. Mico Bathrooms are a specialist bathroom company that can help you with whatever option you choose.
Before you start choosing fittings and fixtures, take time to plan. Simple tricks will save you time and effort. Once you’ve decided on the size of the bathroom space, make a list of your preferred fixture, furniture, and storage requirements. Keep this information handy when looking around our website or Mico Bathrooms showroom; this way, you can collect the details and measurements of the products you need.
To get things started, take a look through this book for ideas and inspiration. Once you have some ideas, draw up a plan of the room (please link to Bathroom Planner). Start by measuring each wall and transfer the dimensions onto a piece of graph paper. Mark the positions of windows and doors. Make sure to include space for the door to open fully so you have enough room to get access to fixtures or fittings. Also, try to include other features such as air-conditioning ducts, radiators, or architectural details to make the best use of space. Where a bath or sink is likely to be situated beneath a window, or where a ceiling has a steep slope, it’s useful to draw the elevation of each wall; this will give you an idea of the headroom available.
Once your plan has been drawn, it’s time to indulge in the visual and tactile pleasures of shopping for surface materials, fittings and accessories. You can use your measurements to work out the best arrangement for your chosen elements. This book supplies the exact dimensions of products, allowing you to draw them to scale. When drawing your plan, try to imagine what it will be like to move around the room; from the toilet to the sink or bathtub, to the storage area where the towels are kept. Try several situations to assess the pros and cons of each to see which scenario suits you best.
Practical Considerations
The perfect bathroom design addresses both your practical needs—where should the toiler go? Is there enough room for the shower in that corner? What are the best storage options? —and your aesthetic wishes—what colours are right for this space? Whatever you decide, here are a few considerations that will ensure you’re on track towards getting your perfect bathroom.
As we spend more and more time in our bathrooms, we take more care in thinking about the space feels. Is it welcoming? Are the surfaces beautiful to the eye and inviting to the touch? Is there enough space to keep clutter at bay, and does it fit without being obtrusive?
Designing your ideal bathroom is kind of a balancing act. On one hand, functionality is key. You want the layout to be workable, the fixtures to be comfortable and easy to use, and the lighting to be flattering. On the other hand, the ambience of the environment is important too. A successful design will address both function and sensation. You must try to think logically and laterally to get the most out of the room.
Use of Space
With limited space to play with, not to mention plumbing to think about, your new bathroom may require some clever design. That’s why it’s so important to get it right from the start. Regardless of how much space you have to work with, clever planning and good design will ensure that your new bathroom is convenient and a pleasure to use.
Although space can limit some possibilities in your design, even the smallest of bathrooms can be cleverly planned to make best use of an area. When working with a smaller bathroom, try to imagine your movements around the room. Perhaps the single biggest design challenge is fitting in all the functional items without them appearing too cluttered or overcrowded. Keep in mind that the space needs to be well ventilated. Damp surfaces and humid air will allow mould to develop quickly. Try to place the extractor fan opposite the door so that fresh air will be drawn across the room, gathering stale air as it moves.
Whatever sized bathroom you’re working with, good storage is vital. All bathrooms, no matter what their size, require some kind of storage. If floor space is taken up with fixtures, look at the wall elevations to see if there is room for wall cabinets or shelving. Maximise the space available and prevent surfaces from becoming cluttered by combining cabinetry with bathroom fixtures. When planning your bathroom’s layout, remember to include enough storage for bulky items, such as towels and toilet rolls, and open shelving for toiletries and accessories.
Plan the position of wall-fitted storage so that doors and open shelves are within arm’s reach, especially if you have small children to think about. Shelf units where the narrowest shelf sits at shoulder-level and the widest shelf is above head-height will stop the room from feeling cramped. For maximum efficiency, allow enough space for you to move and dry easily.
Many bathrooms make use of steel and chrome, as well as reinforced glass fittings. Including a wall of mirrored doors can help to conceal full-length cupboards. Mirrored cabinets and glass coloured tiles work to reflect light and really open up the room. Reflective and transparent surfaces are useful in creating a spacious feel—their design is minimal, and this adds to an uncluttered look and a relaxing environment.
Lighting
Combining a mix of lighting pieces can enhance the style and sophistication of your bathroom design. Whether you want to add balance or contrast to a room, good lighting will contribute greatly to the atmosphere, highlighting your most-used fittings.
Creating a warm, cosy bathroom with good lighting helps to transform the room, creating different moods and effects. Installing energy efficient fixtures will ensure the space is cost effective too. Try to plan bathroom lighting to coordinate with the installation of fixtures and cabinetry, since some wiring may need to run along the walls behind them. Position lights to illuminate key areas such as the shower enclosure and sink mirrors where you need good visibility.
Bathrooms work best with natural light and the warmth of the sun. Variable lighting can offer you a combination of mood lighting and bright, functional light to suit. It’s good to have adjustable lighting around a mirror for shaving and applying make up, and soft artificial lighting for evening make up. Well-placed light fittings that are controlled by a dimmer switch will let you change from bright and active to soft and subdued at the twist of a button. Dimming the light will also affect the colour of the walls and the fabrics you’ve chosen, helping to create more soothing, restful atmosphere.
When working with large bathrooms, areas need to be well lit so that those furthest from the windows can get enough light. It helps to plan the lighting system at the same time as planning the position of the bathroom fixtures so that they are clearly visible and easy to use—even at night.
Colour Inspiration
Light but dense, strong yet delicate, the power and the paradox of colours seem to lie in the number of colour schemes available for your home. For lovers of colour, there is no lack of choice. To get an idea of where to start, select a colour scheme that will help you make your own design statement—because there are no wrong answers when it comes to individual taste.
Colour, of course, is a key element in the design of your bathroom—it can set a mood and even influence emotions. In your home, colour and materials should be used to link the spaces throughout, giving a sense of continuity but by no means sameness. In choosing a colour scheme, try to imagine the feelings you wish to express in the space. Try to get an idea of the different feelings evoked with every tone.
To make a small bathroom appear larger, keep colours plain and patterns simple. Clean lines, uncluttered space and a limited material palette can help promote a feeling of serenity. Lighter colours can have a calming simplicity that can make your bathroom more welcoming at the end of a long day. Pale tones are useful for creating a light atmosphere, but, if you prefer something stronger, add some bright towels and accessories to splash some colour into the mix. Strong colours on the walls make a small room appear smaller, but in a larger room it will create a more intimate environment. Rich colours can also provide an excellent background to display items.
Try to consider how much natural light enters the bathroom during the day. A dark room will look better with pale-coloured fixtures, shiny fittings, and good lighting. Think about who will be using the space. Will your bathroom surfaces require frequent mopping up? Teens and children can have a big effect on the cleanliness of the room. Also, think about whether the colours of the room will complement the colour and style of the rest of the house. Whichever colours you pick out, make sure they express the atmosphere you wish to create. After all, it’s an area you will spend a lot of time in.
Design Tips
What are the best ways to take the stress out of renovation? Getting good advice can help you save time and money. And of course, Mico Bathrooms representatives are available nationwide to provide helpful and professional advice on your bathroom project.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- To keep installation costs to a minimum, find out where existing pipework and wiring is situated so they can be easily linked up to the new fixtures and fittings.
- Safety should be high on your list of priorities. Look for non-slip surfaces and smooth edges to protect you and your family.
- A wall-mounted sink or toilet makes a room look more streamlined. This helps if you have a small bathroom to renovate or are trying to achieve a clean-lined, contemporary look.
- Make sure that the wall coverings and flooring you choose are suitable for warm, damp conditions and will not be damaged by splashes of water.
- If you prefer clean, uncluttered lines, look for a fitted bathroom where storage and pipework is concealed.
- Warm, steamy air is a fact in busy, shared bathrooms, so it’s important to install an efficient ventilation system to keep the room fresh and aired. Install the ventilation at the same time as the lighting so the electrical work can be done in one go.
- Think about how much time you have for cleaning. If you have little spare time, avoid fittings with details that trap dust and dirt.
- Bear in mind the location of the main soil pipe. It’s difficult and expensive to move this, so you should try to ensure that your additional pipework has easy access to it.
- To keep the price of installing a bathroom down, place new fixtures in the same position as where the original pieces stood. It’s relatively inexpensive to alter the position of the bathtub, sink, or shower but make use of the existing soil pipe for the new toilet.
- Having two basins in a bathroom can speed up the morning teeth-cleaning and washing for a busy working couple—no more arguing over who gets to use the bathroom first.
A minimal approach to decoration can look good in a bathroom, and uncluttered surfaces will also make it easier to keep the place clean—which is especially important in a plain white bathroom where grime and marks will show. |