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Original poster

If you were redoing an ensuite...

32 replies

OlafLovesAnna · 01/02/2022 08:04

What would you have / do?

I've never had one before and have moved into a house with a rather dated one. I have the bathroom fitters here this week doing the main bathroom, then they'll move onto the ensuite.

They are extending it slightly to make room for a 900x900 shower and I have bought a wall hung sink cabinet thing in oak and a loo. I haven't chosen tiles yet but I like the cliq ones from Topps.

I'm just wondering if there were any little twiddles you did at fitting stage that made it better/ more user friendly etc. Maybe somewhere to put make up or an inset shelf thing?

OP posts:
Datsandcogs · 01/02/2022 08:25

More radiator capacity than they calculate, you can always turn them down but cold bathrooms are awful.
Heated towel rail.
Recessed shelf in shower for bottles etc.
You don’t need a power shower if the water pressure is good but you do need good water pressure for a decent shower. Also think about shower head, rainfall showers are very popular, personally I don’t like them as I don’t want to get my hair wet every time and I hate shower hats!

Defiantly41 · 01/02/2022 08:31

The plainer the shower cubicle is on the inside, the easier it is to clean! I swear the people who design these things have never had to clean one. Watch out for twiddles, nooks and crannies that are impossible to get clean - for this reason I'd always choose straight lines rather than curves if I could.

Also agree with a niche for shampoo etc rather than fitting a rack or having all the bottles cluttering the bottom. Ideally this would be far enough away from the shower flow so it doesn't get flooded when the shower is on.

Shower controls situated away from the shower flow so you can switch it on without getting drenched in cold water

Purplewithred · 01/02/2022 08:31

Make sure you can turn the shower on from outside the shower - I hate having to reach under the shower to turn it on and dodge the cold water.

Ultimate bathroom mirror lighting if you put your makeup on there is two lights either side of the mirror at (your) eyeline height, and one down light over the mirror between the top of your head and the wall. Also if the mirror is flush to the wall then a heating pad behind it to get rid of condensation.

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 01/02/2022 12:37

Great - thank you. I hadn't thought about turning the shower on from the outside.

I've ordered a heated mist free mirror but I think I might ask for a niche shelf in the shower and outside by the mirror to store things tidily.

OP posts:
JustWonderingIfYou · 01/02/2022 12:41

Bigger shower. 1000x1000 would be the very smallest i'd go and I'm very petite.

Agree with wallnook and clever towel rail placement.

Also electric underfloor heating as tiny bathrooms always seem to get very wet!

ElephantOfRisk · 01/02/2022 13:53

Make sure the shower pole thing for the shower head is high up if you have tall people. In a normal ceiling height house, it can never go so far up that it's unusable for short people but it's murder trying to crouch under one that doesn't go high enough.

Wnkingawalrus · 01/02/2022 13:56

If the shower needs to be that small I’d turn it into a walk in wardrobe instead!

MrsMoastyToasty · 01/02/2022 13:57

Extractor fan
A shower head that can be held in your hand (can't bear fixed overhead shower attachments).
I would have a bath too if space allows.

ElephantOfRisk · 01/02/2022 13:58

We are all big people, I'm 5'10 and DH and DSs 6'2/3. DH does weightlifting. We have an 800 shower (can't fit any bigger in) and we all manage fine, also never get water on the floor bar a few drips.

Also just turn the shower head to the side when turning the water on so don't get blasted with cold water. Appreciate you can't do that with the ones that drop from the ceiling.

Corneliusmurphy · 01/02/2022 14:01

The fixed overhead shower makes it so much harder to clean the bathroom or rinse off hair dye. Dsis has one with a fixed head and small handheld option am definitely going for this when we redo ours. Also bigger cubicles are definitely better.

Shmithecat2 · 01/02/2022 14:04

We're just making an ensuite now - 900x1400 shower, with rainfall and separate shower head (similar to pic). Pocket door for access from the bedroom, so no space needed for door to open into from either room.

If you were redoing an ensuite...
Jenjenn · 01/02/2022 14:05

Have a look at pentagon shower tray instead of square one. I stayed in a minuscule single hotel room with the tiniest ensuite and I was really surprised how much more spacious standing diagonally made. That shower tray was 800 at side and it felt absolutely fine.

Redlorryyellowduck · 01/02/2022 14:09

A nook for your laundry basket.

WoodenLegs · 01/02/2022 14:15

@JustWonderingIfYou

Bigger shower. 1000x1000 would be the very smallest i'd go and I'm very petite.

Agree with wallnook and clever towel rail placement.

Also electric underfloor heating as tiny bathrooms always seem to get very wet!

and also @Wnkingawalrus, surely most showers are less than this? I don't think I've ever seen a 1000 sq shower in my life. 800 wide by 1000/1200/1600 maybe.

Our current shower is 700x700 which is too small and we're going to hopefully make it a bit bigger, but if I gave up entirely then I wouldn't be able to wash!

Ragwort · 01/02/2022 14:27

Walk in shower if at all possible, shower cubicles are a nightmare to clean (who designs them?). Also get an additional tap fitting not just the overhead bit, we have two showers and in my DH's there is only the overhead shower bit so you can't clean the shower unless you physically get in it ... nightmare.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 01/02/2022 14:32

Heated bathroom floor is amazing!! You font even need to do the whole floor, just in front of the shower and sink, where you do the most stranding, 2m squared would be enough!

outdooryone · 01/02/2022 14:39

Do as they do on the continent - ceramic tile every surface possible. So much easier in the long run.
Fit the best extractor you can - and have it on timer. In-line ones are much more powerful than wall ones IME.

PragmaticWench · 01/02/2022 15:29

An extractor with a humidity control makes sense, plus an override switch.

Elasmotherium · 01/02/2022 15:57

Having renovated three bathrooms and a downstairs WC in the last year, I would:

Fully tile the walls
Good extractor with humidity control
Best quality shower/tap ware you can afford
Pay more for a good quality, thicker glass shower door (not bi-fold through trial & error here)
Storage - mirrored unit with storage plus built in storage under sink and or WC units

pussycatunpickingcrossesagain · 01/02/2022 16:14

@MrsMoastyToasty

Extractor fan A shower head that can be held in your hand (can't bear fixed overhead shower attachments). I would have a bath too if space allows.
Not just an extractor fan, but one you can turn on separately from the lights. Have it fitted right above the shower to suck the steam straight out, not on the other side of the room.🤔

Also if there's an isolator switch, it needs to be at a suitable height (so you can reach it if you're 5'3" without standing on tippy toes and doing your ankle/neck/shoulder in)

Oh, last thing. Make sure the water drains down not up... Steve, you blind prick, I'm looking at you it really is surprising that someone who fits bathrooms hasn't head of Archimedes. 🤦‍♀️🤬

mummabubs · 01/02/2022 16:14

We've got a small and dated en suite in our house and plan to turn it into more of a wetroom to maximise the space, so walk in shower with a glass pane to divide between that and the small toilet sink combo. I loathe cleaning shower trays so the idea of a fully tiled integrated floor appeals to me. I'd also been umming and ahhing over whether to get an additional shower head as well as the fixed rainfall type, but having seen the comment upthread about needing one to clean / remove hair dye I'm sold on that! 😂

BigBoxLittleBox · 01/02/2022 16:29

I echo the heated floor suggestion - have done two en-suites in the past. One with, one without and I would always install.

Another great addition is a wall hung toilet as well as sink - as much off the floor makes it seem bigger and much easier to clean the floor.

Finally, install small motion sensor lights if possible ie in the shower recess and under the sink and toilet. Great for late at night when you use the toilet but don't want to do so in the dark or blind yourself turning the lights on!

blobby10 · 01/02/2022 16:40

Use tile sheets instead of individual tiles. No grout to clean! I love mine.

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 01/02/2022 20:11

Ooohh some fab ideas here.

900x900 is the biggest we can go, I've added a shower head plus hand held thingy to the list as that's the perfect hair washing solution.

Excellent extractor fan is in hand too.

I love the idea of motion sensor lights in the loo for nighttime.

My Victoria Plumbing basket is getting filled up!

OP posts:
sweetbellyhigh · 01/02/2022 20:14

Your ideas sound great.

Keep it simple and uncluttered

Underfloor heating, heated towel rail, extractor fan.

Get a power point put inside a cupboard for electric toothbrush, so much nicer than having it on display.