If you’re planning renovations in your home, then your bathroom might stand out as in particular need of attention. Regularly exposed to heat and water with minimal window ventilation, it is no surprise that this is the part of the home that quickly shows its age. Additionally, a clean, modern bathroom, or one in a classic style that is well maintained, can add significantly to the overall value of the home, making a pre-move renovation well worth the investment. Before you get started, make sure you’ve considered the most important factors in bathroom design.
Size
The size of your bathroom will decide which features can be accommodated, and therefore which should be prioritised when you are renovating. In order to give the appearance of openness, it is better to economise on space with your fittings, no matter the size of your bathroom. For smaller bathrooms, combined sink and toilet units and over-bath showers work well. If you have plenty of room to play with, you could add a free-standing bathtub as an eye-catching feature but leave plenty of space around it to maintain the idea of spaciousness.
Functionality
While keeping conscious of the space restrictions, you’ll also want to bear in mind the needs and preferences of the people who will be using the bathroom. This might mean walk-in bathtubs and other devices for the elderly or disabled. If you know that no-one in the house is going to be taking a bath, then you might just go for a shower. From traditional cubicles to luxury wet-rooms, you can choose between shower enclosures of all shapes and styles depending on your needs and taste. However, baths are a popular feature with buyers, so if you are remodelling to maximise sale value bear this in mind.
Budget
As with any project or major purchase, it is essential to set out a budget ahead of time and to see it as a maximum rather than a target. Be prepared to have unexpected extra expenses and leave flexibility in your budget to accommodate this. It is best to begin by getting the essentials into place, and then using any remaining cash to decorate or to elevate your design. Certain luxe features, like heated flooring and floating toilet seats, might work nicely in a larger property – but be careful to consider energy costs to decide whether or not these touches are financially viable.
Style
When you’re putting together your bathroom décor, you’ll want to be reasonably sure that it matches the context of the rest of your property. Are you going to go for something monochrome, or colourful? Is it going to be contemporary, or traditional? While it might be tempting to veer into a different aesthetic with every room, the lack of consistency might end up detracting from the home as a whole, so aim to keep your bathroom design ideas in line with the rest of the property. As well as major elements of décor such as paint colour and tiles, don’t forget that small touches can produce big results.
