From layout and lighting, to fixtures and design details – we’ll give you the absolute essentials to make a functional and stunning bathroom.
If you’re updating your current bathroom, moving into a home or building a brand-new home – the bathroom can be a neglected space that gets a last-minute design to it.
The bathroom has a huge impact on your daily routine and also influencing guests’ impressions. So why not lay down the bare essentials for a quality bathroom design that will motivate you in the mornings, relax you in the evenings and impress guests like no other.
Here are 10 essential and practical items every bathroom needs to function properly while also helping to enhance the bathroom design:
Vanity View
Set your bathroom up with a view of the vanity. Additionally, if you have enough space, make the vanity the real feature. Select standout finishes and colours so your vanity sets the tone for the entire space.
Loads of Storage
Addicted to toiletries? The best place to store cosmetics and toiletries are hidden cabinets behind mirrors at eye level or in the vanity. Additionally make these into something extra unique, create a feature in your bathroom by creating a storage wall that runs the whole length of the bathroom.
Ventilation
Bathrooms are ‘wet areas’ so you will want to avoid foggy mirrors, mould and damp with ventilation. For this reason consider a ventilated skylight, roof window or even a big standard window.
Light your face, Not the mirror
Don’t blind yourself by the light in the mirror! Lighting the mirror instead of your face is a common mistake. In fact the best lighting is wall mounted above or beside the mirror and provides a diffuse light to the face. Ultimately avoid ceiling mounted recessed downlights as they often cause shadows under the eyes.
Easy clean
Try a wall hung toilet pan or flush to avoid having to clean all the little gaps. Consider having large wall and floor tiles to minimise the grout (or consider tight grout joints (1 – 1.5mm). For a secondary bathroom try a free-standing basin so items aren’t left lying around and there is less surface to clean.
Natural Light
Natural light is bright and free so why not make the most of it in your bathroom. Naturally-lit bathrooms are warmer and more inviting. If you’re unable to get good natural light, try using uplights to bounce light off the ceilings and walls.
Non-slip shower
Think mosaic tiles, chips of tumbled marble or pebbles. Floors like these allow for better drainage and can be safer. With extra grout, seal them twice as recommended with a penetrating sealer to avoid discolouration.
You can’t see the dust
Some floor tiles can hide the dirt between cleans, so look for tiles that are matte in finish, not too dark or too light and a bit grainy to look at. Tiles that are great tiles for hiding dust and dirt are limestone or shell stone.
Small floor tiles
Not a fan of large tiles? Small tiles (like mosaic tiles) are often more effective in creating a slip resistant finish and can allow you to be more creative with colours and patterns.
Mirrored wall
A well placed mirror can double the feeling of space in your bathroom. The best mirrors run wall to wall without visible fixings so they can mirror the space perfectly.
For some real-life bathroom design examples – Plunkett Homes have a range of bathroom designs that were truly built to impress.
