The nuts & bolts

12 POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A NEW BATHROOM

1 SET YOUR GOALS

‘Think very carefully about how you will use your bathroom and what will suit you and your family,’ advises interior designer Anna Haines. Note the key pieces you require, such as a luxurious bath, roomy walk-in shower, vanity with twin basins, a steam shower and large radiator for warming multiple towels. Planning at this stage will make the next steps so much smoother.

2 ESTABLISH A BUDGET

Yiota Toumba, senior designer at Ideal Standard, advises allowing about half of your budget to products, half to installation costs. ‘This is a good indication of the split, although much depends on product costs – not just the fittings but also tiling, flooring and lighting. And don’t forget that even small changes, such as new brassware, can have a big impact, if you don’t want to go to the expense of a full renovation.’

3 GOING SHOPPING

‘Choosing the right supplier is essential in curating your ideal sanctuary,’ says Sophie Weston, marketing manager, Geberit. Some retailers offer design and installation services, some bespoke products made to suit unusual spaces, and some manufacturers offer complete bathroom solutions to make combining sanitaryware, furniture and brassware easy – it can be surprisingly tricky to select the correct parts for your choice of products, unless you are experienced.

4 CONTEMPLATE STORAGE

‘Consider the specific items you need to store and how often you use them,’ says Colin Clark, national account manager, Royo UK. Vanity units with shallow drawers are useful for skincare and cosmetics, while those with deep drawers are ideal for taller bottles. Cupboards can provide a home for towels, cleaning products and toilet paper supplies, and illuminated mirror cabinets with integrated recharging sockets are good for shavers, toothbrushes and small toiletries and accessories. A built-in laundry basket is also useful.

5 CHOOSE THE MATERIALS

‘Beautiful surfaces can transform a bathroom from functional to luxurious, introducing welcome splashes of colour, decorative detail and contrasting textures,’ says Tricia Guild OBE, Designers Guild founder. ‘Surfaces are just as important as the classic “key” bathroom pieces, as they can completely change the overall effect.’ Choose from beautiful marbles to non-porous porcelain tiles that make maintenance easy.