Bathrooms - lessons learnt. Hints and tips.

[ErrolFinn]

I am just starting the process of replacing our tiny bathroom and I was wondering if anyone who has had a new bathroom fitted recently had any good hints or tips? There are so many beautiful bathrooms on Pinterest but I have no idea where to start!

What has been your best purchase and what do you regret about your new bathroom?

I love my Mira wireless remote control, it digitally powers the water to the bath and shower. No taps, I set the temperature to exactly what I want. I can programme it so shower turns off after set minutes (perfect for teens who will stand under forever) and to fill the bath for certain amount of time so I dont have to watch it.

Most people I know who have had issues with bathroom refurbs its because the tiler did a poor job. Dont trust the plumber with this, find a good recommended one separately, there is a lot more skill and experience required in good tiling than people realise.

@WellIWasInTheNeighbourhoo

I didn't even know you could get remote controls for the bathroom! Top of my wish list whenever we refurb next 🤣

I love my dual-fuel heated towel radiator. I have it on electric for an hour a day in spring / summer so no soggy towels hanging around. Also love my led mirror which I wave my hand at, so no need to touch anything.

I don't like my slipper bath much - it's not fixed to the floor (isn't supposed to), so when empty, moves around. It's style over substance. I also regret getting a non-stone shower tray. It's big, so flexes, which means that the sealant cracks and leaks. Often. This is down to it being an old house, with no true walls / floors. I'm sure it's be fine somewhere flat with right-angles! 🙂

Good quality vinyl flooring is warmer, and stays looking like new for longer.

I agree with what lots of people have said about tiles. I have very dark grey tiles on the floor and they look filthy all the time due to water marks. I had my bathroom fitted about 4 years ago and every single time I go in the bathroom (so that’s multiple times a day !!) I feel regret about those dumb tiles!

One thing I like is that I went from a bathroom with a toilet, sink, bath and shower over the bath and boiler tank cupboard - to a separate shower in the boiler tank cupboard. I went for a slightly smaller bath. I only take the odd bath. I have three kids who still fit in the bath together. Pleased I went for a smaller bath to enable me to have a separate shower.

I'm glad now that I stuck to my guns and went with vinyl flooring rather than the tile that the designers had their heart set on. All I was thinking at the time was that it would be really easy to change the look of the room with new flooring and a few accessories.

The other bathroom has tile and yes it is cold on the feet in winter. I am glad that I went with the recommendation for grey grout because it still looks good twenty years after it went in.

Mine is not new, but my one regret is I didn't account for storage. I had a sink with no pedestal, which does make the floor space of the small room look bigger, but now I would have it in a cupboard for storage and sacrifice the floor space because it's not usable.

A big cupboard which provides a big shelf is a real bonus.

We got expensive taps and shower but the sink taps and the shower haven't lasted - I wasn't impressed.