Top 10 Tips On Bathroom Renovation

 

Renovating a bathroom can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be, especially with the right advice! Design expert, Sushma from @house_on_the_way, provides some of her tried and tested methods for creating stunning bathrooms, designed at a professional level.

When renovating your bathroom, it can feel like there are endless decisions to make - we’ve collated Sushma’s expert advice below to give you a useful place to start. With these expert tips, you’ll have a stylish space you can be proud of in no time!

1. Expert’s Tip: Measure Your Space

Before you do anything else, make sure to measure your space in its entirety. It’s important to be precise and pay attention to things like windows or any other features that break up the room.

Measuring your space like this will help you get a more accurate idea of the space you’re working with.

This step will prove useful when you come to designing your layout as well as when you’re ready to order tiles or bigger pieces.

2. Expert’s Tip: Consider Layout

Once you have a good idea of the space you’re working with, question whether you are happy with the current layout or want to switch up the location of the bath, sink or toilet.

If the current layout aligns with your vision, it will be a simple case of swapping the old items for your new ones. A change of layout will be completely feasible in most cases - just remember that there will be more expense involved, especially if you need to think about changing the position of pipes.

Once you’ve made your decisions on this matter, consult your builder or bathroom installer as early as possible so they know what your requirements are from the get-go.

If you’re struggling to visualise how a new layout will look in reality, mapping out the changes can be really helpful. Making to-scale diagrams will more effectively illustrate the dimensions and visuals of each element.

3. Expert’s Tip: Seek Inspiration

When you have a good idea of the measurements, layout and what you can practically achieve in the space, it is time to look for inspiration.

Collecting images from places like Pinterest and Instagram is a great place to start. You’ll be able to find a huge variety of themes and ideas that you never would’ve thought of yourself.

On these platforms, you’ll find inspiration from both projects by professional designers and regular people renovating or remodelling their own homes, so there are plenty of ideas to draw from. Seeking inspiration like this will help you get a feel for how different layouts and styles work in different spaces.

If you're having trouble making design decisions when faced with the sheer amount of inspirational images you have collected, it can help to step away and come back with completely fresh eyes. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re instantly drawn to.

4. Expert’s Tip: Moodboarding

To create a moodboard, you don’t have to use any specialist software. Gathering images of things you like, whether this means colours, patterns, styles or specific pieces, and putting them in a document to see how they look together can often be the simplest and most effective way of creating a moodboard.

You can also create flat lays of samples you’ve collected from various companies to see how different finishes and shapes will work together.

Grouping items together gives an idea of the overall look your bathroom will have and gives you a feel for how certain items link together.

5. Expert’s Tip: Big Purchases

Deciding on the big items like your bath, shower, toilet and sink is obviously essential, but these choices will also include lots of smaller decisions that will need careful consideration.

For example, you’ll need to think about whether you want a countertop or an undermount sink. Are your taps going to be wall-mounted or sit on the sink? Where will your taps sit on the bath? These are just some of the little things you’ll need to consider that will affect the overall look and functionality of your space.

It’s also important to involve your builder or bathroom fitter at this stage to ensure your choices for these big items are feasible for the existing space.

6. Expert’s Tip: Heating

As the bathroom is a place of comfortable luxury, you will also need to consider what the heating arrangements will be.

Is underfloor heating or a towel rail appropriate for your space? If you opt for a towel rail, you’ll need to think about its positioning and how it will fit in with your other big items. You’ll also need to check the rail’s BTU output to ensure it has sufficient heat output to warm the room.

There are plenty of online calculators available to help you check the minimum BTU that’s needed.

7. Expert’s Tip: Tiles and Paint

Deciding which areas in your room will be tiled and which will be painted is another important step. At this stage, you may also need to consider how multiple tiles will work together in the space.

Tiling half of a wall gives an especially effective look - the standard height to tile to when just doing a portion of the wall is 1200mm from the floor.

Considering the little details like tile trims is also important - do you want to make them a feature or blend them into the titles for a more subtle look?

It should also go without saying that when choosing paint, you should remember to use bathroom paint that can withstand high levels of moisture.

8. Expert’s Tip: Fixtures and Fittings

Arguably one of the most important aspects of your renovation, these finishing touches will bring the overall look of your space together for a cohesive and stylish bathroom design.

In past years, chrome has been the go-to choice for taps, handles and any other bathroom fittings, but more recently, there has been a shift towards opting for matt blacks, brasses and golds.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match different metals - a combination of matt black and gold fittings can create an especially striking contrast and effective look.

9. Expert’s Tip: Lighting and Electrics

Some find lighting daunting, especially when it comes to the bathroom. However, once you get to grips with the kind of light options available, you can harness the design power of stylish lights to further enhance the space.

Spotlights can be especially effective in bathrooms as they light up the entire room. If considering a spotlight, remember that combining task lighting with mood lighting is incredibly important in the bathroom. Vintage industrial lighting that gives off a warm ambient glow can work particularly well.

Safety should also be a top priority when adding electrics. Be aware of the different electrical zones within bathrooms - these zones determine the types of lights you can have in certain areas.

You’ll also need to make sure you install lights with the relevant IP rating - all of our lights here at Industville have their IP ratings in the description so you can be sure that your favourite styles are suitable for your bathroom.

The other thing to consider is the extractor fan - it is often beneficial to have separate switches for the lights and fan so you can have a relaxing soak in the bath without the noise of the extractor fan in the background.

10. Expert’s Tip: Installation and Positioning

If you are working with tradespeople, communicate well and communicate early. They’ll need to know as soon as possible exactly where you want each item and how you want them installed.

Don’t rely on the installation team to decide on the height of your taps or shower head. Make sure everything is installed at a height that’s perfect for your household.

You should figure out the exact measurements that work best in your space, but generally, wall-mounted taps work well at around 1100mm from the floor when the top of the sink is at 900mm. A good shower head height is around 2150mm from the floor. Play around with these measurements to find the perfect heights for you.

Renovations of any kind are a big undertaking, but with these tips from a professional designer, you’ll be able to tackle your bathroom design and renovation with confidence!

For more bathroom design inspiration, discover our guide on 50 small bathroom ideas that increase space.

You can also find us on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, where we share stunning interiors and design tips every day.

Header image credit: @dovecotebarns