We love bathrooms. Fact. And we believe getting the bathroom of your dreams takes a fair amount of consideration, creativity and careful planning. In fact, in doing this you can create a space that you’ll want to enjoy for years to come.
Taking the time to design a bathroom, thinking about layout, colour scheme, accessories and what’s important to you will provide a much more harmonious place to relax and unwind in.
In this blog, we’ll share some top tips from our bathroom designers as well as the latest tips and advice to create the perfect space.
The biggest bathroom design mistakes
Being aware of the pitfalls before you start planning is especially important if you are working with a small bathroom or one which has an awkward or unusual layout. The practicality and functionality of a bathroom should be equally as, if not more, important than the aesthetic side but it’s usually not considered as much during the planning and design stages of a renovation.
Before buying any bathroom furniture or sanitaryware, we would always recommend putting pen to paper and thinking about everything you want to do and include. Are you starting from scratch or making smaller individual updates? Starting from scratch obviously carries with it a bit more consideration than if you are just installing a shower or changing your basin.
To help, we got together with our own bathroom design experts here at Drench to help us understand what are the biggest challenges when designing a bathroom and how we can avoid making those sometimes costly mistakes.
1. Skimping on storage
The number one issue we hear about time and time again from customers is that they don’t have enough storage in the bathroom. It means their vision of having a clutter-free and mindful space quickly dissipates.
Having ample storage is beneficial to keep a clean and tidy room but also it helps to add texture, colour and dimension to the space. You can choose different materials and types of storage such as rattan baskets, a trendy shower niche, wooden shelving, vanity units or bathroom mirror cabinets to give everything a place and keep everything neat.
Storage is crucial for small bathrooms to maximise the use of space, however, even in larger rooms it can be a really stylish way to utilise blank spaces or complement other features.
There are plenty of places in the bathroom that have great storage potential but often get under utilised, such as:
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Under bath storage: The majority of bath panels are installed on magnetic clip-like systems, so these can be easily removed and reinstated to allow full access beneath the bath.
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Alcoves & Recessed Cabinetry: Build storage into walls to free up valuable space in your bathroom.
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Over Door Storage & Shelving: One of the quickest and easiest ways of adding additional storage is through shelving. The space above the door is a good spot for surplus loo rolls and cleaning products if wall space is limited.
Explore more small bathroom storage ideas.
2. Not getting advice
Whether it's a small change or a much larger renovation, speaking to a design expert gives you some clarity on those questions or challenges you’re facing. At Drench, our FREE phone consultations are easy to book and give you time with a real expert who can listen to you and offer advice and solutions without the pressure to buy.
For bigger projects, you probably already have an idea or even sketches of what you want your bathroom to look like. Using a 3D design service helps to bring this to life and can even include accessories and colour schemes. This is great to visualise what your bathroom will look like but also allows our design experts to offer advice on the layout of specific features.
You can also have advice on product selection and the types of brassware, fixtures and accessories that work for you and your lifestyle. Having this visual reference keeps your project on a straight path too. Seeing it in 3D means you can make changes and updates at this early stage, saving you from costly changes further down the line.
3. Not checking overall heights
Ceiling height must be considered especially if your room is below the average of 2.4m as this then limits the products readily available to you. You also need to consider if this height would change with any floor or ceiling preparations for lighting, underfloor heating, panelling or tiling, for example. Once you have your final dimensions, be mindful of allowing for things like ventilation to make sure you’re not risking damage later on.
Similarly, if you are installing a bathroom in a loft space or in the room of an older property, you may be faced with pitched ceilings. This can prove a real design challenge for incorporating a shower enclosure or shower bath because of the lack of head height. However, it may also be a great cavity space for things like concealed shower valves and concealed cisterns and frames.
The key is to really look at the space available to you and make the most of this. A bathroom design expert and visual reference can really help to overcome or see challenges in a new light.
4. Not being spatially aware
Creating illusions of space is perhaps one of the biggest design hacks when it comes to designing small bathroom spaces. You want to consider anything that is likely to make you feel like you have more space than you do and prevent the room from feeling cramped.
The more floor space that you can see, the larger the room will feel which is why selecting wall hung products wherever possible, such as a wall hung vanity unit or a wall hung toilet is beneficial, plus it helps to make the cleaning and maintenance side of things much easier as you have less obstacles to battle with and nothing floor mounted for dust or dirt to collect around.
Mirrors are hugely undervalued and can really contribute to making a room feel much larger than it is, as well as making it feel brighter, as their reflective properties bounce light around your room and create the illusion of more space.
Opt for wider mirrors including up to the full wall length to expand your space, or use taller mirrors to draw your eyes up toward the ceiling and detract from where your room lacks volume.
5. Not considerate of layout
Sometimes less is more in the bathroom. When you’re limited on space, the last thing you want to do is to try and place too many different objects in the room. In doing so, you end up compromising on the sizes of some or all of the products which makes your space impractical.
For instance, ask yourself if you have left enough space to open the drawers and still be able to stand in front of your vanity unit comfortably? Is it possible to walk around the perimeter of the room without bumping into or side shuffling past things?
Designers work with approximate recommended distances for between components, but it’s a good idea to also use your own judgement and find what you are comfortable with. We would recommend mapping out the footprint of each of the products in the physical space with masking tape and cardboard or old magazines. Creating a 3D design can also be a really good way to understand the space available.
When planning a layout, it’s always best to start with areas of the bathroom that may have potential restrictions in their ability to be moved around; this is predominantly fixtures such as the toilet, basin and heat source.
It doesn’t mean you can’t move these if needed but moving can mean more expensive fitting costs. Once you’ve established the location of these then you can review the remaining space and find suitable options.
6. Forgetting about lighting
Lighting is really important in the bathroom, especially in smaller bathrooms where it can feel quite dark and claustrophobic if there is minimal natural light. In fact, lighting should be considered early on to ensure it’s being utilised in the best way possible.
An LED central ceiling light or strip of LED spotlights are great ways to provide vibrant lighting in small spaces. In larger areas, you might want to incorporate an ornate main ceiling light and then opt for other accent lighting to enhance certain features in your space.
Accent lighting can work in smaller spaces too, such as with an illuminated mirror. You can also introduce extra lighting inside alcoves or underneath wall hung vanity units to create even more ambience. In addition, you may want to consider having secondary lighting wired so that you can use accent lighting on its own without the main ceiling lights.
7. Trying to do it all yourself
While we are definite advocates for giving DIY a go, there are some instances where hiring a professional to take care of it really is the only way to go. Unless you have lots of experience with plumbing and bathroom renovations then trying to refit a bathroom yourself may lead to bigger issues and costly challenges.
A professional will most likely have come up against these before and know the best way to navigate or avoid the trouble in the first instance.
Our bathroom fitting cost guide can really help you to understand what you need to consider when renovating a bathroom including costs for installation based on the types of fittings and the size of your space.
8. Copying Pinterest style
We love using social media for inspiration but trying to recreate entire styles can be daunting. The best thing to do is use sites like Pinterest and Instagram to collate ideas and inspiration and then create your own sense of style from that.
Aside from it not being personal to you, their chosen aesthetic may not be the best option for the size or type of space you’re working with. For example, in smaller spaces, using lighter and more natural colours for the walls and floors helps to reflect the light and give that illusion of space. Similarly, using a gloss or satin tile can help to reflect light opening up your room and is easier to clean to keep mould at bay. Of course, this is your project and it should always be a style that makes you feel good!
Speaking to bathroom design experts can give you insights into current trends and colour schemes that work well together with certain brassware finishes for example, and also give tips on decor and finishing touches to bring your space to life.
Have you thought about bathroom wall panels as a way to update your space?
9. Going overboard
We can all get a little carried away when it comes to home improvements but it’s really important to fix your budget before you start planning. If you already have a figure that you can afford then fit your project into this. Most professionals and design experts love to hear a budget they can work back from and will be able to offer helpful tips to get exactly what you need with the money you have to spend.
If it’s a little more flexible, consider the scope of work that needs completing and ask for quotes from recommended tradespeople so that you have a good idea of what you need to spend to create the bathroom you want. This is also where a 3D design tool can really help with the decision process.
Have a good understanding of the things you love and also those that you don’t. Consider if you need to complete a full renovation or whether you can identify areas of your existing bathroom that could be improved. Maybe you can update your shower enclosure to look more modern and stylish or invest in updating your toilet to include a back to wall toilet unit to keep things neat and easy to clean.
We hope you found this blog useful. Doing your research and speaking with professionals early on will always minimise your chance of falling into these bathroom design mistakes.
For more tips on designing a bathroom, take a look at our other resources: ‘how much does it cost to fit a new bathroom?’, ‘choosing the right bathroom’, and ‘small bathroom layouts’.
