A bathroom in the UK is peculiar thing. It is the place where we take time to think, to get us going in the morning, sluice off the grime of the day and refresh ourselves. We call it the 'smallest room in the house' and that's for a definite reason. Space is usually very limited in such places. There are, however, certain design rules that will help you make the most of a small space. In real terms, this means: Plan Check where your pipes come into your bathroom. Is there any possibility of changing the way your bathroom is laid out? If so, use a sketch pad and work out some alternative configurations of the toilet, sink, bath or shower enclosure and fittings. Select a bathroom suite that will fit into your bathroom. Most bathroom suite manufacturers have now cottoned on to the idea that we don't all live in mansions with bathrooms the size of an olympic swimming pool. There is a wide range of bathroom suites designed to minimise the 'footprint' of your pottery, giving you valuable square inches of floor space. Build Storage into your Design Give yourself handy storage by installing a semi countertop basin with cupboard space below. Hide away all those ugly bottles, toilet cleaners and clutter to keep the room tidy. Install high-level storage in the form of shelving and cupboards. Place neatly folded towels up on the shelving, along with bathroom-related nick-nacks. This will keep the eye-level surfaces as clear as possible. Be clever with colour Paint your bathroom in an off-white colour. Remember that whites come in a range of shades. You should try to avoid blues, greens and purples, opting instead for the warmer shades containing oranges, browns and yellows. No-one looks great in the morning, but there's nothing less inspiring than seeing your face looking pale and wan because of the lighting and paint colour in the bathroom. Paint the ceiling a bright white to reflect as much light as possible. Lighten the darkness Install bright lighting - preferably some with an option to direct multiple points of light around the room. You may like to opt for a second set of lighting that is not so harsh. Mood lighting can help transform your day-to-day bathroom into a luxury spa for when you need to relax and de-stress. Reflect the light Go for the biggest mirror you can afford. Avoid fussy frames. If possible, go for a frameless mirror that spans a whole wall. It will immediately make the bathroom seem far larger. Use moderation when accessorisng Use themed accessories. Don't opt for a hotch-potch of mixed accessories, as this adds to the cluttered effect. Select simple, subtle soap dishes, robe hooks and towel rings to complement your minimal scheme. Heat electric Install an electric heated towel rail, or a dual fuel bathroom radiator, to make sure that your towels dry all-year round. These add a touch of class and elegance to a room. We would love to see some photographs of your finished bathrooms. Tell us what you found difficult, what was easy, how you overcame problems. If your story makes it onto our website, we'll give you a small gift as a sign of our appreciation. |
