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Original poster

New bathroom... what would you recommend, what do you wish you'd done?

121 replies

PermanentTemporary · 26/10/2023 19:43

On the brink of starting a major bathroom redo.

Would love to have an idea of (recent) costs - we will need to take out an old hot water tank and boiler, and remove the cupboard the tank was in. Hoping to reuse at least the basin...

OP posts:
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larkstar · 27/10/2023 00:37

The bathroom I renovated a couple of years ago is downstairs on the north facing side of the house - i.e. the cold side. In spite of a huge floor to ceiling radiator I wish it was a little warmer - it has a tiled floor but I wish I had gone for electrical underfloor heating in it.

I paid a lot for an expensive strong, well insulated bath that was shaped to suit a shower at the tap end - although we really don't have that many baths it's the only place in the house we can put a bath - I have an ensuite shower/toilet/washbasin upstairs along with another shower-room. I'm happy with the bath and the shower over the bath - I always buy Hans-Grohe taps - good quality. The bath is great - it really does keep the heat in. I also wanted a glass shower screen that was in one piece not the bifold type - it looks nicer and is easier to clean IMHO. Perhaps I'm not mad about the sink/toilet unit - it looks nice, does the job but the rectangular sink, I think, splashes up a lot when I use it (for shaving) and there always seems to be a lot of water left on the white top - I'm always wiping it down - I think I'd prefer a traditional shaped, i.e. curved, sink. It's something like this one...

https://www.bathroommountain.co.uk/harper-stone-grey-combination-vanity-basin-and-seattle-toilet-1200mm-right-handed?gad_source=1

I gutted the bathroom - removed everything - old bath, toilet, sink and all the floor and wall tiles. It still cost me £8.5k - I also had the old window removed and the opening made smaller (and a new window) to free up space on the outside wall for the shower to go at the end of the bath - otherwise the shower and taps would have had to be mounted on an internal wall. I thought it was expensive but the guys were part of the extended group of people that built my 2 story extension a few years earlier and I was very happy with the builders and the work they did - not many people can say that (I think).

As always, I'd try and think about what you really want instead - the times I've regretted work dinner on the host is when I haven't been bold enough or gone far enough when I had the chance - I've worked too much about money and scaled back certain things just to keep the spending under control, e.g. the electrical underfloor heating - honestly - I had the money available to do it - it's just in my nature to try not to spend too much as you never know when you might need it for something unexpected. I had a laminate floor put in my study and wish I'd taken out the floor to ceiling wardrobes that line one wall - another case of not going far enough. HTH

Harper Combination Vanity Basin & Seattle Toilet Stone Grey

High-Quality products at low prices from Bathroom Mountain with our Harper Stone Grey Combination Vanity Basin and Seattle Toilet 1200mm - Right Handed

https://www.bathroommountain.co.uk/harper-stone-grey-combination-vanity-basin-and-seattle-toilet-1200mm-right-handed?gad_source=1

viques · 27/10/2023 00:40

A heated towel rail independent of the heating system. I thought a radiator would be enough. I was wrong.

Diymesss · 27/10/2023 03:38

I paid 10k this summer. I have a mix of tiles and paint, with walk in shower and sink, also heated towel rail. I like everything so far ☺️

Unabletomitigate · 27/10/2023 07:18

Walk in shower if you have space, and think about how to fit the bath, mine would be much more user freindly if we had added a tiled ledge at either end to put stuff on.

MaryJanesonabreak · 27/10/2023 07:28

Brand new renovation.
Don’t have the extractor fan connected to the light, it comes on every time it’s used at night and it drones on waking people (me) up. You also have to leave the light on for the extractor to work for long enough which is a drag when you’re rushing out of the house.
The drainage system under the shower. Have a look in the catalog and research which ones work better. Ours smells of drains even though it’s cleaned every time it’s used. Plumber has been back twice and it still smells. Drives me mad. I have to flush it through and put bleach down every time there is a viewing.
The thing that is rather good is the panels at the back of the shower instead of tiles, really easy to squeegee and no grout to go mouldy.

Original poster
PermanentTemporary · 27/10/2023 07:29

Brilliant answers, thank you.

OP posts:
MissyB1 · 27/10/2023 07:32

Good thread OP, we are thinking of replacing our bathroom but want it redesigned completely.

StaySpicy · 27/10/2023 07:43

I would get those big wall panels around the bath/shower rather than having tiles on the walls. The cleaning of the grout drives me mad.

Cheerfulcharlie · 27/10/2023 07:48

We built out the wall a few inches to have recessed shelves in the walk in shower which is so handy & looks neat.

icelollycraving · 27/10/2023 07:51

I really like our family bathroom but we just keep laundry in there as it’s freezing. It’s over a garage and I wish I’d had underfloor heating done.
Definitely recommend heated towel rails that run in summer too, from the hot water not the heating.

Blisster · 27/10/2023 07:52

Handy thread, thanks. We are about to redo our shower room and I have been wondering what eco type things we should be thinking about? Also, the electric shower we are replacing was great (sadly now broken) and am worried that newer ones will be rubbish. Any recommendations?

icelollycraving · 27/10/2023 07:53

I have porcelain tiles on floors, they can get v slippy. I’d have amtico type flooring as it’s a bit softer.

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 27/10/2023 07:53

A heated towel rail with hangers for the towels that stand proud.
We did our bathroom in the summer and these are really coming into their own now it's getting cooler. Dual element so independent of central heating.

New bathroom... what would you recommend, what do you wish you'd done?
DustyLee123 · 27/10/2023 07:54

If you’re having a heated towel rail, have a radiator too. We’ve just put a radiator back in as the towel rail doesn’t heat enough.
Have a stand alone shower for those times, that might happen, when you can’t climb into a bath.

Pandor · 27/10/2023 08:03

Recessed shelving in the shower has been great, much neater. Think about access to plumbing if things go wrong - taps, shower, cistern. The last thing you want (if you can possibly avoid it) is to have to hack tiles off a wall for example to sort out a leak.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 27/10/2023 08:03

Walk - in shower that you turn on outside before you get in.

Water gets to pre - set temperature when button stops flashing.
Built in ledge/shelf for all the bottles.

bestbefore · 27/10/2023 08:07

Def have the taps to the shower at the entrance. Love outcwalk I'm showers with low profile trays. In wall taps look cool. Showe pr head attachment in the bath for hair rinsing and bath cleaning. And small shower attachment wall mounted in shower

Caspianberg · 27/10/2023 08:11

Get a large sink with built in drawer underneath. Ours fits so much storage that we have a really tidy bathroom now, even though it’s tiny. Even toothbrushes live in pot inside the drawer.

Add more storage if you need to store towels in there also.

lighting above Mirror.

LemonLimeDivine · 27/10/2023 08:13

Porcelain floor tiles - very slippery with wet feet.
Towel rail isn’t effective enough to heat the room. Wish we’d gone for underfloor heating too.
Avoid marble. Expensive and faffy to clean properly.

EverythingLouderThanEverythingElse · 27/10/2023 08:20

We've got two bathrooms and in the first one there's a chrome towel rail, the second one has a towel rail that's a dark grey. Second one is so much better, the chrome shows up every water spot and only looks good when it's just been cleaned.

Don't get anything that's flattish square or oblong, things like basins and taps. Water likes a curve so it can run off, a squared basin you will find water kind of sits at the bottom and doesn't drain properly. If you have flat taps water will sit on the top and you will be permanently wiping them.

muddlingthrou · 27/10/2023 08:23

If you have space, storage at waist height and above. I'm a bit sick of bending down to get stuff out of the cupboard under the sink. We have separate toilet and shower room (which is super practical when people stay), but for some insane reason we have underfloor heating only in the shower room.

Our bathroom cost about £8k three years ago. We have super premium finishes and did rebuild the dividing wall as it was a bit wonky. Love our recessed shelf in the shower and big walk in shower!

Agree about having separate extractor and light switches. Enjoy your new bathroom!

MissyB1 · 27/10/2023 08:24

Has anyone got the wall panels instead of tiles, and would you recommend them? No leaking issues?

AnOldCynic · 27/10/2023 08:39

@MaryJanesonabreak, swap the extractor for one with a pull switch. I've done this on two properties now that had a fan like yours. Fan only goes on when it's needed.

I have waterproof laminate in the bathroom, warm on feet and not too costly.

Drylined the external north facing wall which has made a massive difference to the warmth of the room.

Wished I'd gone for an electric towel rail.

KingsleyBorder · 27/10/2023 08:46

Slim mirror cupboard with toothbrush charger sockets hidden away inside. So much nicer than having messy wires on a shelf.