Bathroom 101

The bathroom is often the smallest room in the home, but it can still be a stylish and practical haven. Whether you’re renovating an existing bathroom, adding decorating touches to a tired one or building from scratch, Mitre 10 has everything you need to get your bathroom right.

Pop into your local Mitre 10 and chat with the team to get design inspiration and practical tips for whatever size bathroom and budget you’re working with.

First, think about your needs, as the bathroom can be a costly room to update.

• Who will use the space? Consider whether it needs to cater for the whole family or be tailored for two.
• What are your must-have features?
• Are you clear about your budget?
• Have you decided on your preferred style?

With these areas covered you’ll find making further decisions easy.

To get you started, here are our top ten design basics to inspire your dream bathroom.

Top 10 rules of bathroom design:

Layout

Sketch out your ideal bathroom layout. Take into account plumbing and wiring, making note of how much space is between the shower, toilet and vanity. Is there space to dry yourself and move around? Do the doors open the correct way without clashing? Is the toilet out of sight when the door is open? Build a partition wall if necessary. Save money by avoiding moving plumbing fixtures if you can. Try using the grid planner here to map out your bathroom.

Storage

Think about what you use and where it will be easiest to access it. You could use open shelves for folded towels and scented candles, storing the bulk items in a nearby linen cupboard. Keep the items you use on a daily basis in an easy-to-access vanity or your cabinet. Free-standing cabinets, peg rails and shelving also create storage, as do wrap-around shelves, recessed nooks and slimline cabinets.

Surfaces

Surfaces can set the tone of the room. Ensure the materials are moisture resistant and can withstand high humidity. Tiles are a natural choice for bathroom floors, benchtops and walls, and are available in a huge range of styles and looks. Go for a marble-look tile for walls and a more luxe, streamlined look for floors. Timber floors lend a softness and are timeless, while mosaic tiles in your shower or splashback add texture and colour.

Fittings

Be consistent with the style and size of fittings. And don’t feel that you have to use small fixtures and fittings – large handles on cabinets are easy to use and can look great. Simply changing your fittings and the handles on your cabinets with modern ones will instantly update your existing bathroom. Choose a vanity with soft-close doors and drawers, and a timer for your heated towel rail to keep costs down.

Bathroomware

Large, built-in vanities and baths may reduce cleaning space, but can add heaviness to your room’s aesthetic. Consider a vanity with a large sink that won’t feel cramped when using it. A freestanding bath will make the room feel more spacious than a built-in one, as will a floating toilet. If you're worried about cleaning behind the back of the bath, a back-to-wall freestanding bath is the perfect choice. If space is tight and you’re torn between a small bath compared with a large shower, go with the latter.

Colour

The most common bathroom hues are white, a soft neutral, or monochrome, creating a relaxing setting that never dates. A combination of white and grey tiles will bring a chic, masculine monochrome look to your bathroom. Dark patterned tiles will add drama to your bathroom and give it a boutique hotel feel. Soften it with the modern lines of a freestanding bath. But if colour makes your heart sing, include it. Consider painting the outside of a clawfoot bath or a feature wall in your favourite hue.

Accessories

Scented candles, sumptuous bath mats and towels in bright colours and patterns, indoor plants, and soap canisters – these finishing touches can add a lot of personality to any bathroom. During summer, bring in fluffy hand towels in bright summery colours or pastels, swapping them for more moody hues in winter.

Lighting

Ideally you want a combination of task, accent and ambient lighting. Task lights are a necessity either side of your vanity mirror to avoid overhead shadows. Install a dimmer for low-level ambient light at night or when relaxing in the bath. Install accent LED lights at the base of a wall or behind a freestanding bath for visual effect. Bathrooms are often in the coldest part of the house with the least light, so maximise windows and skylights where you can to improve natural light. Consider installing frosted windows for privacy if neighbouring houses are in view.

Ventilation and heating

Opening windows after you’ve had a shower or bath isn’t always sufficient to ventilate your room. Install a fan to help with the process and avoid the build-up of mould. Don’t forget how cold it can get in winter and install some form of heating – a heat and ventilation light will do both of these jobs.

Keep it simple

As mentioned above, bathrooms are often squeezed into one of the smallest spaces in the home. So be mindful about what you want to include in there. Don’t cram in a bath, separate shower, twin basins, toilet and bidet if you don’t have the room. Only go for a separate bath and shower if there’s enough room; otherwise, combine the two. Remember, you want your bathroom to be a calming space, not cluttered and busy.