Things To Consider When Getting A New Bathroom

I love my bathroom. It is a haven of peace, and a lovely place to wind down after a hard day. As one of the most important rooms in your home, choosing how to redesign or update your bathroom is fraught with difficult decisions. Should you start from new or remodel? Well, here are some things to consider when getting a new bathroom.

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Things To Consider When Getting A New Bathroom

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My bathroom had not been redecorated since I moved into my house 14 years previously. I liked my toilet and handbasin. But the bath looked tired, and the horrible gold taps and pine fixtures were not really my taste. So I decided to try and make my bathroom as stylish as possible as cheaply as I could. Here were my main considerations in making my choices.

Cost

Of course, one of the first things to consider when getting a new bathroom is cost. Perhaps you are on a tight budget. And if that is the case, then there are a few great options to consider.

You could just choose to paint. Choosing a coordinating colour to the bathroom suite, you could just paint the walls  and you have a new bathroom for a fraction of the price!

Or you could change the taps and hardware in the room. It is strange to say it, but often the taps alone age badly. Just by fitting some new taps or a new flush handle and toilet seat you can really change the look of the bathroom. I really wanted silver taps instead of the gold taps, and just by changing these it really changed the look of the room.

You could change the tiles  or maybe even just the grout colour could be changed?

You could choose a budget range. Finally, most bathroom retailers also have a very basic budget range of suites and fixtures. These can be so much cheaper than their standard ranges, but should be just as durable. They may not have all the whistles, bells and fancy design features of the more expensive ranges, but they are a great option if you just want a basic bathroom.

Definitely decide on what your maximum budget is and discuss this with the retailer. Choose the most crucial elements of the bathroom that you want and see how these fit with your budget before adding extra features. You may even be able to see a virtual layout of your new bathroom in the showroom before going ahead with your purchase!

Fitting

Another cost consideration is how you intend to have the bathroom fitted. Are you a bit of a DIY enthusiast who can put things together well? Well that is good, but you may certainly need professional help.

Are you having plumbing, electrical and/or shower appliances fitted? Then these do need to be fitted safely. Electrical work and work associated with the boiler should be tested before use. And all this does add to the cost of the bathroom.

Similarly, will you need tiles fitted, plaster work doing or a new floor? This will also add to the overall end cost of your new bathroom project if you need someone to fit these for you. And sometimes if you are having all these items done separately you may need to project manage the fitting process, getting the plasterers in after the old bathroom is removed before the new suite is fitted etc.

Durability

Durability is another of the things to consider when getting a new bathroom. Perhaps you just want a new style.

We knew that we needed a new bathroom because I had lived in this house for 14 years, and never changed the bathroom. But at the same time as wanting an updated bathroom, I knew that I wanted a style that was clean and modern but would not really date too much. I also wanted a lighter, airy space, so went for a monochrome look. If you are spending a considerable amount on a room, you do want it to last at least 10 years, and not look too dated in that time.

This can be an important consideration if you think you may wish to move home in the near future too. You do want your new room to appeal to a broader set of people, and not be too contemporary or off the wall.

Appliance Ratings And Features

One of the most important considerations when changing appliances to me is how good their energy ratings are. Nobody wants an appliance that guzzles too much energy. And it is is an important consideration for the planet too. Most appliances these days show clearly their energy rating.

But there are other features worth considering when looking at some appliances, like

• how powerful a shower is
• whether it has side jets
• whether to choose a bath with a spa jet function
• whether to choose a shower tap arrangement over the bath as well as having a shower

Of course, cost comes into all this too. I knew that I wanted a bath with feet, but had saved money elsewhere, so I could splurge on a fancier bath and shower.

Now my little girl is a little bit older, I admit that beyond ensuring that we could still put safety locks on the medicine cabinet I did not really look more into safety aspects. But it is certainly worth considering if you have a baby or toddler in the house.

Using The Space Wisely

Planning is one of the most fun jobs when considering the layout of your new bathroom space. Especially when you don’t have a lot of space. There are lots of brilliant space saving ideas such as

• corner cabinets
• half sized baths
• smaller sink units
• swapping a bath for a shower cubicle

Organisation is also a massive consideration. You do need to make sure that you have some great storage for your towels and bath products. My bathroom had an integral fitted cupboard in the corner, but there are some lovely stand alone units out there.

Lighting

Lighting is a really important factor in how you want your finished room to look, so also needs to really be considered when renovating.

My old bathroom was a bit dark really. I knew that I wanted a lighter brighter look this time around, and that I would do this with a combination of using a lighter colour scheme and changing the light fitting. 

But it is also nice to be able to create a lower light look for using your bathroom as a relaxation space. Maybe consider using spots, or an illuminated mirror to achieve this.

Heating

If you are having a complete room overhaul, perhaps it is worth considering changing the heating to the room? We didn’t change the position or size of the radiator in this room as we are very happy with it. We just got a new cleaner looking radiator.

But it certainly is worth thinking about the position and size of a new radiator, like maybe choosing a ladder heated towel rail radiator? Click here to view some great examples.

Or maybe even thinking about underfloor heating if you are going to completely renovate the space. 

Flooring

And it may be the last thing that you think of, but flooring is also one of the major things to consider when choosing a new bathroom. There are many different types and styles including

• tiles
• linoleum
• and laminate.

All have their plus and minus points. Tiles can be cold but are much better for conducting and keeping the heat of underfloor heating. Linoleum can be cheap but durable. All factors definitely worth thinking about when planning what is best for your perfect bathroom.

We went for a lovely coordinating linoleum with a slight sparkle. 

Time to Fit

To me, this is one of the most important factors to consider when renovating a room. With a small family, having the bathroom completely out of action for weeks was out of the question. Even not having a shower for a few days was asking a lot. So I went for the option where from start to finish my full bathroom transformation took just over a week. And even this short amount of time really got me down.

 So if you too are stressed out by having a disordered home then I would suggest you go down the same route as I and get a full team of fitters in to do the rebuild in the shortest time possible.

I hope that this has given you a few good ideas for things to consider when getting a new bathroom. And that you have a better idea of all the pitfalls that may await, and how they can be tackled. Getting a new bathroom may be a large job, but it can be the most rewarding experience once it it is finished! Enjoy your new favourite space.

Now I just need to keep it clean and tidy!

Love this? Now get some Dream Kitchen Design Ideas…or find out how to give your bedroom a boho makeover.

Got some questions, or want to show me your new bathroom? Do find me on social media, I would love to hear from you. Or do comment below.

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