Just renovated the en suite but not sure about it. Please help

[Harbourlife]

So we bought a house 5 years ago and I decided to find a builder who will renovate our en suite as was fed up with cleaning the grout and the tiles (we live in the area with hard water). It wasn’t looking too ugly, but mouldy in places and some tiles started to discolour.

Our builder talked me into installing the panels instead as it will be super easy to clean. Now the work is completed, I’m not sure if I like it as it looks a bit cheap🤔

The house is 10 years old and we will be planning to move in about 7-8 years time because of the school situation.

My question is: do you think the en suite looks tacky? Would you buy it if you liked the rest of the house? Everything works well and I like how clean it is, but really started doubting myself whether I should have gone for tiles instead.. oh dear!

I’ve attached the before and after pics.

I don't mind the panels, clean lines and the marble effect won't date too much. It would drive me mad that the builder hasn't lined them up correctly though! I would be complaining about that as it's really jarring

Paint colour looks fine with the panels but can't tell from pics if panel has a beige or white/grey tone or if paint is grey or blue. If blue then maybe navy towels and if grey then deeper grey or sage green

Adding a plant is a great idea too

I would say the floor is what dates it most, so if you can cover that fairly cheaply, it would lift it

Shocked at how much costs have gone up since we had our bathrooms done 5 years ago though!

I don't like the panels you chose but I would choose panels over tiles every day especially in a hard water area.

It won't stop you selling in the future.

Fantastic, I’ll definitely use it in the future! we still have a kitchen and a hallway to do. Many thanks!

Many thanks, I will have a look for the prints over the weekend. Good idea! Will also have to think where to put the plants. :)

I think it looks a lot better and fresher. I have panels too but they're patterned to look like white tiles, I like yours too though.

What water softener did you get?? Really want to sort our hard water!

Thank you for your opinion xx

I'd go big. Outside the shower on the wall between the shower and toilet. A nice chunky printed plant pot too. I'd repaint the walls the mushroom colour the other poster suggested then accent with white frames for the prints.

Many thanks. We have a water conditioner Aquabion (whatever that means) :)

it was cheaper than the water softener as it only lasts 7-10 years. We paid £550 for it. The limescale used to drive me crazy and my son is also suffering with eczema. So good quality water was a priority for me.

Good idea, we might repaint at some point, just have to talk my husband into it again haha

I'll be doing my main bathroom in panels and marble effect ro. I agree it's a shame the marble pattern wasn't matched up properly and the floor and wall paint needs changing. Otherwise ita a huge improvement on your previous one.

I got my ensuite refurbished in the dpring. I went for panels too OP but I just had them on all the walls not just behind the shower. They are far easier to keep clean and no grout to discolour. I think mine are identical to yours. I just accessorised with dark grey blind, towels and a bath mat.

I did grey vinyl and charcoal grey sink unit too.

Ahh, do you mean there’s a big gap in between the panels? I have no idea what it should be actually..

they are white and grey. :)

the floor is 10 years old as we sadly didn’t have the money to renovate everything:)

the prices are insane now, and I even struggled to find a builder! Shocking

Someone else said it - looks like a caravan holiday home. I've stayed in plenty and it's standard. Also agree with other posters that the paint doesn't help I'm sure with the right paint and accessories you can elevate it.

I had a fully tiled bathroom, large tiles. It was 20 yrs old when I sold it and it still looked quite new. Proper cleaning after every use doesn't take long. Ventilation is key. .

I’ve had caravans and my first thought about your en suite was that looks much better. It wouldn’t put me off buying your house even though I’m not keen on marble effects. Imo it looks light, clean and fresh. The shorter shower screen appeals to me too.

The shower looks nice but I'm not keen on the wall behind the loo and sink. But I don't like bathroom wall panels and love tiles so that's probably why.

I think a creamy cafe au late (or something in that ballpark) colour would tie it together better, the floor and paint don't gel together imo.
Our plumber suggested mermaid board when we had ours done (three,so probably thinking of his workload ) we chose tiles . The little ensuite has a mocha/ mushroom gill slightly pink tone paint and I love it (slightly browner than sulking room pink)

Ooh after saying I don't like panels I could definitely be persuaded by some of those wallpaper-like ones.

If you get decent large format tiles you hardly get any grout. I also cannot remember when I last saw a bathroom with pot plants. Somewhat dated. Clean and sleek is not pictures and pot plants in 2024.

No gaps no - it's just that the marble pattern should line up for a seamless effect between panels (like you would with wallpaper if that makes sense - lining up per the repeat)

Grey & white panels should look good with sage green towels

In case you ever go for tiles in a future house, 2 words for you - grey grout ;-) Makes it so much easier - I would never have white grout again!

We made this mistake, I will never do it again. Yours doesn't look too bad in photos but at least for ours it is the case that photos don't fully show up the texture problem.

Panels are very practical and lots of people love them for that reason x

Life to shower…I like the panel but I probably picked different design. Probably a block colour like maroon or dark navy blue.

life too short for cleaning

I would paint the wall white and change the flooring

The panels are great but nothing matches and it all slightly clashes