Tips for new bathroom?

[LovelyAndAmazing]

We are just beginning the process of planning a new bathroom - I'm a total novice and would be very grateful for some tips and do's/don'ts.

We have a small bathroom that gets a lot of use as it is the only one in a small Victorian house (family of four - two teenagers).

At the moment I'm looking at the option of large tiles to minimise grout cleaning and create a feeling of space. I've also seen these porcelain wall panels - does anyone have any experience of these and would you recommend them? TIA!

https://www.toppstiles.co.uk/grande-stone-lucca-grey-porcelain-panel-100cm-x-260cm#selection.productcolour=Marble%20Statuario&selection.primaryytilefinish=Polished&selection.size=120cm%20x%20120cm%20Panel

Thanks so much @Aparecium for taking the time to do that - you've really got me thinking! We would need to put the basin next to a wall rather than window to allow for a mirror,

I'm itching to get in the bathroom to measure again, but it is of course occupied!

@overmydeadbody - I think you're right - having started looking at colours I am feeling excited about the whole thing rather than just 'meh'.

We've got those tiles. They are lovely! 😊

@poetrylover - they are beautiful! Out of interest - what kind of/colour floor tiles do you have?

We're at the same stage with our en suite 😄

I'm going with large, neutral, non-glossy tiles - probably the tiling equivalent of magnolia paint - and colourful cabinets. But no grey. . Silver, as in shiny, metallic silver, probably, but absolutely no grey.

I really like those blue tiles.

we have a warm terracotta designed tiled floor then pinkish walls. White tiles around the shower with grey grout. Green Moroccan tiles behind the vanity. Sounds crazy but it works I promise!

We cut out to scale paper shapes of our bathroom to play around with the layout. We ended up keeping it as is but the paper parts helped us move the towel rail and where to add some extra storage.

Also fired earth so a free computer graphic tiles mock up for you with tiles from their collections. Defo with going there to get some ideas. We massively switched up what we thought we wanted after a visit there.

We have just done a bathroom (well a professional company did it for us) and they're coming back this year to do our second bathroom.

Fantastic tip above about the controls being in the side near the door opening for the shower! It's things like this you don't think of until after, and it's where a professional bathroom designer comes into their own. Wouldn't have even occurred to us.

The best thing in our bathroom is the mirror, it's a simple rectangle with a touch button on the front so it illuminates all the edge, and it's heated behind it when on so stays clear when in the shower. The light is amazing and makes it very good for putting make up on and doing eyebrows etc. so my tip is to get a decent quality mirror.

Think about storage. We made an alcove behind The wall so have a Storage cupboard which is flush with the wall.

And don't be afraid to move things around, don't automatically think you have to keep the same layout. Our designer suggested a new layout which meant things were better positioned, there was actually more floor space but we ended up with a bigger shower too.

@Aparecium colourful cabinets aren't an option I'd thought of! I think we will probably have large grey tiles on the floor. We have white at the moment and they are a nightmare to keep clean.

@Catsfrontbum it sounds like you really know what you are doing with your colour combinations 😊 - not sure I trust myself to be too adventurous!

@toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 - a heated mirror sounds great and you're right about the storage - we need to incorporate as much as possible.

We have a lot of requirements for such a small space!

I’m watching with interest OP as we have a very small bathroom and an even smaller budget! But the bathroom has to be done this year as bits of it are falling apart.

We have a mirror just as @toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 describes which incorporates a toothbrush charger. I’m only small - the ‘unfogged’ area (a section at the top, not the whole mirror as we thought) is too high up for me, but hey ho. Not all of the bulbs in these mirrors can be replaced (ours can’t. DS’s can).
Large tiles have reduced grouting and made the room appear bigger. Spare tiles are stored under the bath, sealed in by the panel which I’d rethink tbh.
We have drawers under the sink which allow the room to be kept quite tidy and quickly cleaned. The free space below exposes more floor space giving the illusion the room’s not as small as it is. (It’s tiny, typical 1970s.)
I have a ss ladder radiator which needs more polishing than a white/grey/black one. Food for thought? Nowadays lots of friends and family have black fittings.
We used Karndean which we find toasty, not slippery and easily cleaned.

Don’t put the towel radiator too close to the toilet or basin as you may burn yourself - I had to move a radiator for this reason as I moved the loo.

I’m looking at wood effect ceramic tiles for the next bathroom - a spa like feel, all white, neutrals and wood - an attempt to make it appear larger. The last bathroom was white/off-white, black and brass fittings. Next one will be teal and dark blue with Moroccan floor tiles & brass fittings. I’ve added colour by painting ceilings in some - black, pink and (planned) dark blue for two bathrooms and a cloak room.

Search Pinterest for eg “blue tiled bathroom” and steal ideas and pull it together to suit you.

Try wall hung toilets for space and ease of cleaning. You can box them in or build a false wall if budget allows. I also upcycle cabinets into vanities, bonus of it being cheaper.

@Mydoghealsmyheart we are exactly the same - had been planning to redo our kitchen this spring but have realised we can't put the bathroom off any longer. It feels like the whole house needs sorting all at once!

@Whenwillitstopraining I'm not sure our budget will stretch to a fancy mirror, though it would be nice to have a plug point incorporated in it. And v good point about a stainless rail - at the moment we have a ss radiator and it needs a lot of buffing.

@SoFP your bathrooms sound beautiful! You have also voiced my thoughts exactly about the position of the towel rail - I had been considering moving the loo over slightly towards the bath (have attached the pic again) and putting a vertical rail on the wall to the right of it but it's too much of a squeeze. At the moment there is a radiator under the window and I'm thinking about putting a bigger horizontal rail there instead like this bigbathroomshop.co.uk

I'm very undecided over whether to keep the old lay out or try a new one as suggested up thread.

https://www.bestheating.com/milano-kent-electric-straight-chrome-heated-towel-rail-1000mm-x-1000mm-91194?gl=111398xtutuupMQ..&gclid=77986260f8b61384e7ae07f4b53df410&gclsrc=3p.ds

Trying the link again for the towel rail

Google heated towel poles. They are brilliant for small spaces. We have some and they are just as good as radiators for drying towels, without nearly as much heat output. They don't get hot enough to hurt, though too hot to hold. They are electric, permanent wired, and can be in Zone 2 IIRC. So they could easily be positioned between bath and toilet in your existing layout.

Can you tell I love mine? 😄

Don’t have the toilet boxed in. It makes fixing any problems later a hundred times harder.
Avoiding white grout definitely pays off- far less issue with mould.
Heated and illuminated mirror is a good investment.
Underfloor heating is a waste of money for a small room where a radiator is plenty.
I have deep drawers under the basin that provide loads of storage- really useful.

If you’re having an over-the-bath shower, the shower screen could incorporate a horizontal bar for the towel.

Thanks for the comments everyone! I am re-reading them and obsessing about heated towel rails at the moment - really important we get it right as I'm sick of damp towels.

What are people's thoughts on these oak effect porcelain tiles for the bathroom floor? Not something I would ever have considered but I think I rather like these! We have stripped wood floors throughout our house.

www.toppstiles.co.uk/mora/mora-oak-tile

We did our bathroom last year and went for a toilet with no rim; understood it was more hygienic… the reality is that there is regularly wee on the floor (not hygienic!!) . get the normal toilet!!

Also got wood effect tiles; I love them!

@Thisisthedawningoftheageofaquarius that's a really useful tip - I was considering a rimless toilet.

A vote towards the wood tiles is encouraging! I think I need to see them 'in the flesh' to get my head round them properly!

Spend on a quality vanity unit. Ours cost 900+ including the basin but it stores.... So... Much... and is very elegant. Mirror which lights up. Oh my god it's nice not to have the overhead light on, makes for a nice bath with ambient lighting. Get the biggest bath for the space. Don't scrimp on tiles that make your heart happy. We went for monet-esque blue/green tiles and they are beautiful. Make it a bathroom that soothes your soul and go from there.

I really like wood tiles and have them in my bathroom. But, our fitters restricted us to their one preferred supplier, and I have to say I’ve seen ones I like better than the ones we actually have. I think texture is really important- you definitely need to see them in the flesh to choose.

What is a rimless toilet and why would it affect men's aim?

My Mum has just had her bathroom done and no tiles, just the shiny wipe clean stuff! Can imagine it will always look new and clean, way forward. X