Has the time come to replace your bathroom suite? A new bathroom is one of the best home improvements you can make, and as a room that gets plenty of use, it’s an improvement that should make mornings easier and more enjoyable.
But getting the right result with your new bathroom takes a bit of planning and research. Here are four key things you should think about when replacing your bathroom suite.
What do you need?
The first decision you need to make is what to include in your bathroom suite. Is it going to be a conventional bath, sink and toilet combo, or are you going for a shower instead of a bath? Perhaps you want a bath and shower. As well as considering what will work best in the size of space you have, you need to make sure you pick a combination that best meets your needs.
If space is no problem, a walk-in shower and freestanding bath could give you more of a spa-like experience and add more luxury to your bathroom. You might also fancy his-and-hers sinks to help streamline daily routines and give you a more personalised space.
In a small bathroom, you may be tempted to do away with a bath to save space, but you need to consider the impact of doing that. For instance, you won’t be able to enjoy a soak in the bath and it can make it tricky to bathe young children. You also need to consider the fact that a bathroom without a bath can be off-putting to buyers. So, if you’re refurbishing your home to be ready to sell, check what will add the most value.
Get the sizing right
If you do have a small bathroom, you shouldn’t feel restricted. There are plenty of compact bath options to help you fit in a bath and shower. Or you could combine the two and have the shower over the bath. If you’re going with this option, it makes sense to choose a wide or P-shaped bath to give you more showering space and improve your bathroom experience.
There are other ways to save space, too. Some wall-hung toilet options can help free up the floor, but there are compact close-coupled options with small cisterns and shorter pan lengths that can save space too.
Sinks are another area where you can save space. There are wall-mounted and cloakroom options that take up much less space than traditional sinks with pedestals. If you’re going to struggle to fit in separate storage space, then you might want to consider a sink mounted on a vanity unit.
However, compact sinks and baths aren’t for everyone, and they’re not always as convenient to use. Therefore, it’s also worth considering whether a layout change might enable you to fit more into your bathroom.
Think long term
A new bathroom doesn’t come cheap. Typically, you’ll pay between £2,000 and £5,000 to get a new bathroom fitted. To protect this investment, you need to think long-term.
Particularly when it comes to sinks and baths, there are some really beautiful and eye-catching designs you can choose from. For instance, rustic stone and pink, bowl-shaped sinks are two styles that have become popular recently. But trends change quite quickly. On average, interior trends change every two to five years. So, it’s often wise to avoid bold styles and go for a timeless appeal to ensure your bathroom doesn’t date after a couple of years.
It’s also important to consider the quality, durability and maintenance of materials. Materials such as acrylic and vitreous china are so popular because they’re durable and easy to clean. While materials like copper, stone and cast iron are durable and do offer a sense of luxury, there is more maintenance involved and you may need to use specialist cleaning products on them.
Look at ways to save money
As you will be aware, new bathrooms can be expensive. So, it’s worth looking at ways you can save on your bathroom installation cost without sacrificing quality or style. Keeping your plumbing in the same place and doing some of the ripping out yourself are two sensible ways to ensure you stick to your budget.
Shop around and ask for quotes with the labour and materials costs listed. It could be that you can source a cheaper suite, or you may find your bathroom fitter can. But unless you do your research, you can’t be sure.
There are plenty of other savvy ways to save money. For instance, only tiling partway up the walls or just around the bath and shower areas will save on material and labour costs. Using cost-effective vinyl flooring instead of pricier stone and tile options will also save money.
Some parts of the bathroom, including the suite, flooring and taps, need to be hard-wearing but other areas don’t. So, it can be prudent to save money on things like lights, mirrors and blinds by going with affordable high-street buys rather than designer pieces.
Saving money doesn’t need to affect the overall quality or look of your bathroom, but the more cost-cutting steps you take, the more it can feel like a compromise. Therefore, you need to decide which money-saving measures you’re willing to make, so you achieve a balance between cost and style.
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