Do you lay in bed designing your dream bathroom? for your needs? Well, you are not alone. Research shows that re-doing the bathroom is one of the most popular renovation projects these days due to the many reasons to have a reno. Designing the bathroom of your dreams can be fraught with challenges so here are some tips to help you create the exactly what you want and need.

Part of the challenge in bathroom design is to create a room that looks great but is also practical and meets the needs of all members of the household. Bathroom components are long-lasting so it is important to get it right; replacing those new floor tiles is usually not an option if you decide you don’t like them! This is why the design process is so important; you really need to get all aspects right before any work starts. Consulting a bathroom renovation specialist will go a long way in making this process easier.

The key points in creating an excellent bathroom design include floor and wall tiles, colour pallet, electricity and water supply and components, ventilation, fittings and fixtures. Decide whether there needs to be any structural changes such as repositioning the shower recess, replacing an out-dated window or knocking out a wall to create more space.

Research modern bathrooms in showrooms, magazines and online to familiarise yourself with what is available. It’s possibly a long time since you built a new bathroom and styles and designs have changed a lot over the past few years. Beware of following new trends too slavishly though, as they can often become quickly out-dated.

One of the first decisions to make is the style of the décor in your new bathroom. Generally speaking, it should co-ordinate with the style of the rest of the house to create a smooth transition from room to room. Next, look at some ideas on the colour pallet, remembering that it’s best to keep major items like tiles, bath and basins fairly neutral because they are expensive to alter if you want to change the colour scheme later on. Plan to use accessories and linen to bring in splashes of colour.

Tiles form the backdrop to a renovated bathroom design and are probably going to be the biggest single component of the renovation. There is a huge range of different types, styles, colours and textures on the market today so take the time to look around before making a decision. Again, get expert advice about what is suited to your application.

Check out the current water supply and decide what changes you need to make. Is the water pressure adequate? Are the connection points in the right locations? Are there any leaks that need attention? Is your current hot water service adequate for the requirements of the new bathroom? Now is the time to consider what water-saving options you can use to your advantage and to help preserve this precious resource.

Lighting and ventilation are essential elements in a workable bathroom, so take the time to assess what the needs of the family are; it is important to get these right. Bright halogen lights over the vanity are important for tasks such as makeup and shaving. Dimmers allow for mood lighting for a relaxing soak in the tub. Effective ventilation is vital so that mould and damp problems don’t develop, so check out the latest systems for steam and moisture extraction.

Possibly the area that impacts most on the design of a bathroom is that of fixtures and fittings and there are loads of beautiful bathroom fittings available. Choose fittings to match your décor but keep in mind the practicality of each piece, keeping in mind the people who will be using the room. Designer taps may look fabulous but are they practical for little hands, if you have kids, or for aging hands in later years?

You can design the bathroom of your dreams and be delighted with the finished result. Take these key points of bathroom design into account when you start the planning process and you will continue to love your new bathroom for many years to come.

Have you ever made Bathroom Renovation Mistakes?… Renovating an important room like the bathroom can be fraught with problems but if you know the most common mistakes other people have made and seek the advice of a qualified professional bathroom renovator, you will be able to breeze through the renovation process.

The main area that causes problems is determining a workable budget. Some experts will tell you to expect to come in over budget; they advise people to allow around fifteen or twenty percent extra for unforeseen circumstances. There are several unknown factors that can affect the total cost with bathroom renovation, including the effect of mould, old or faulty plumbing, inadequate water pressure and electrical work.

It is important not to cut corners when renovating the bathroom. Statistics show that nearly seventy percent of all household accidents occur in this part of the home and when you consider that this room combines water, electricity, glass and slippery surfaces, it’s easy to understand why. So it is vital that you get a professional to install things like power points, lights, plumbing and fixtures to be sure that they are safe and comply with council regulations.

Don’t scrimp on space when you are planning a new bathroom. It’s easy to think that you can save some money by reducing the size of the bathroom itself or the shower recess or vanity. This short-sighted approach is going to leave you with an unworkable room that is uncomfortable to use, and let’s face it, you do need to feel comfortable when using the bathroom. You may not be able to change the actual size of the room with a renovation but clever placement of elements can maximize the space for you.

Storage is one of the most important criteria to consider when renovating the bathroom. You can’t have too much storage, so aim to maximize this element right from the design stage. There has been a return in popularity of the pedestal basins of times gone by and these are very attractive, especially if you have similar décor in your home. However, this is just one example of how storage can be lost during a renovation, when you compare them to a vanity unit. Corners are an excellent place to add extra storage for small items that need to be easily reached.

A bathroom renovation should be designed for the long-term so choose fixtures and fittings that are durable and will continue to service the needs of the occupants for many years to come. Think about resale value and appeal as well; you might not be planning on selling up but this could change in the future.

As with fashion, trends in bathrooms come and go. You might fall in love with the latest trend in basins or colour schemes but will they stand the test of time? Trends are just that; transitory ideas that can lose their appeal very quickly. So stop and consider whether you will still love the latest trend in bathroom deign in several years’ time. Remember, you have to use this important room every day and, while you can change painted surfaces and towel colours, you do need to choose permanent elements that will stand the test of time.

Some people choose materials that are unsuited to the environment of a bathroom in everyday use. Remember that this room experiences heat, cold, damp and moisture on a daily basis and so the materials you use must be able to stand up to these conditions. Be advised by your renovation specialist as to what materials are best to use and which one you should avoid.

Think about the environment when planning a bathroom renovation. These days there are many water and power saving devices that are easy to install during the renovation process. Do some research to discover how you can help the environment and yourself at the same time. Not only will you be saving valuable natural resources, like water, you will also notice a huge saving off your power and water bills.

Not installing adequate lighting is another common mistake people make when renovating the bathroom. This is one room where you need maximum illumination at times and it’s best to have it installed as part of the renovation process. Identify spots where you need the brightest light, such as near the basin for shaving and applying makeup. If you love to take long baths by candlelight, allow for lights that dim to create the right atmosphere.

One of the most important factors to consider when renovating a bathroom is to allow for adequate ventilation to help prevent mould and mildew problems and to keep the air fresh and clean. The type and size of ventilation appliances will be determined by the size of the room, the height of the ceilings and the windows in the room.

To avoid bathroom renovation disasters, keep these ten common mistakes in mind when you are planning and designing your makeover. Then you will be happy with the results now as well as in the years of use that the new bathroom will receive.

Taking steps to prevent bathroom damp is the best way to avoid the problems it can cause. Wet areas like bathrooms, laundries and kitchens are prone to damage caused by damp but luckily there are strategies that will help control the situation. Here are some of the best ways to avoid bathroom damp.

Damp is caused when condensation and moisture is unable to evaporate, preventing the surfaces in the bathroom from drying out. Many surfaces in a bathroom are porous and so are able to absorb moisture. However, if these surfaces are not able to dry out effectively, damp develops. Constantly wet areas like bathrooms, toilets, laundries and kitchens are prone to the effects of dampness, causing peeling paint and wallpaper, development of mould and fungi, stained patches and unpleasant odours and even causing allergies to the human occupants.

The main cause of damp is lack of effective ventilation in the room. Wet areas need good air circulation in order to be able to breathe and dry out before being exposed to more water. Fresh air coming into the room, and being able to circulate around the room, acts to dry out the walls and ceiling and helps to remove damp odours and prevent damage from occurring.

Some simple ways to help keep the bathroom dry and free from damp include fixing any taps that drip; airing and washing towels and bathmats regularly and drying them in the sun; washing the shower curtain in a vinegar solution to keep mould at bay; keeping tiles and glass clean and free from mould. If you have any wooden items in your bathroom, take these out into sunshine on a regular basis as well.

Fresh air is the best way to keep damp at bay. The bathroom window needs to be open after baths and showers, to allow steam to escape and prevent condensation forming. During the day in mild weather, keeping the window and door open will go a long way to preventing damp issues. The weather has an effect on this process as well. In warmer weather, moisture tends to evaporate more quickly but in winter, artificial heating in the bathroom can help the drying process and avoid the problems associated with constantly damp surfaces. Structural changes might be necessary in extreme cases, to avoid damp problems and these are best carried out during a bathroom renovation.

When planning to renovate the bathroom, consider the size of the current window. If it is small, or poorly located, replacing it with a larger, airier window will help with the circulation of fresh air to dry and cleanse the whole room. Fitting an extractor fan is a really effective way of avoiding damp and its problems. The fan extracts steam and moisture as it is formed by running hot water in the bath or shower; this keeps the room steam-free and prevents condensation and moisture damage.

One of your main goals for renovating might be to get rid of the damp. These best ways to avoid bathroom damp will cut down on your cleaning time, save you money and provide a healthier bathroom atmosphere for the whole family.

Have you every tried one of the many styles of Freestanding Baths? They’re pretty great… The bath has a long history, starting out as little more than a tin tub and developing into the built-in style that was common for decades in the western world. The first full-size baths were free-standing, held off the floor by four feet which were often elaborately carved. The style that immediately comes to mind is the Victoriana style with its claw feet. Freestanding baths are enjoying renewed popularity, with many homeowners electing to have one installed during a bathroom renovation. As with most things, they have points for and against them, so we will look at some of these pros and cons.

The style of freestanding baths have changed in recent years. There is still the traditional ones with the feet but now there are also ones that are solid to the floor, creating clean lines and a sleek, modern look. So, the first advantage to a free-standing bath is the ability to coordinate it to the décor of the room and the rest of the house. If you have a vintage theme throughout your home, you can now have modern fittings in your bathroom that match this style. Similarly, if you have a modern style of home, you can still have a freestanding bath that fits in with the rest of the home.

Another great thing about this type of bath is the wide range of styles that are now available. Whether you want a classic or modern style there is lots of choice in size, depth and shape. Consider who is going to be using the bath when deciding on size and depth; if you love a good, long soak in the tub, go for more depth and size to enhance this experience but if the bath is for children, it would be safer to choose something shallower.

There is also a choice in the materials used to manufacture the bath. Old baths were enamelled metal, usually cast iron, and these are still available but tend to be more expensive than those made of acrylic. The advantage with acrylic is that it doesn’t chip like enamel, although these days, enamelled baths can easily be repaired by a professional.

One main disadvantage of the freestanding bath is the space it takes up in the room. A built-in bath stands against a wall or in a corner and is quite space-efficient. To look their best and achieve the greatest impact, freestanding baths need to be placed away from the wall. If your bathroom is small, this could pose a problem for accessibility. Installation may also cost a little more with a freestanding tub.

One of the biggest disadvantages with freestanding baths is their weight, especially the cast iron models. You need to be sure that the floor can support the weight or opt for a lighter acrylic model; these look just the same as the cast iron models but weigh considerably less.

It is important to consider these pros and cons of freestanding baths when you are planning your bathroom renovation, to help you make the best choices for your situation. A professional bathroom renovating company will be able to give you excellent advice and help you make the right choices.

Sometimes you just need to hear the Top Reasons for Bathroom Renovations… Bathroom renovations are a major undertaking and it is important to understand why you are considering making such a move. The reasons help to determine some of the changes you will make and what the budget will be. Here are the top 5 reasons that people renovate their bathroom.

The bathroom is one of the most-visited rooms in a house so it is important that it is a comfortable and pleasant space to be in. Possibly the top reason for renovating a bathroom is to improve how it looks; bathrooms do lose their gloss over time. In older homes, this room wasn’t given much attention but was made to be merely serviceable. The bathrooms tended to be small and dull, often with tiny windows and dark wall and floor tiles. Enamelled surfaces become chipped and stained over time and affect the over-all appearance of the room. An old-fashioned bathroom could be improved by bringing it into the 21st century with modern fixtures and fittings; these tend to have clean lines which freshen a dull room.

A bathroom needs to be functional and so it could be that the needs of the family have changed and a renovation is needed to make it more serviceable for the people who use it. Old plumbing could be faulty or the water pressure too low. If the family has grown, an additional bathroom might be considered a good investment. A remodelling needs to take into account who will be using the room and how it is to be used. If the inhabitants are becoming elderly, safety features might need to be included such as grab rails and anti-slip surfaces.

Because the bathroom is such an important room, potential home buyers consider it a key feature in determining if a house is suitable and worth the asking price. If you are thinking of selling your house, you might want to renovate the bathroom to increase the resale value or make the home more saleable. If you own an investment property, renovating the bathroom will help to attract quality tenants, a higher rental price and allow you to capitalise on your investment.

The cost of energy and water is rising at an alarming rate and so another reason for remodelling a bathroom is to make it more energy efficient. There is a wide range of products on the market that can achieve this and some can be fitted without a lot of structural work. Because you will be saving on power and water bills in the future, the cost of the renovation will pay for itself over time.

One of the major reasons why homeowners renovate is simply to improve how their house looks by incorporating the latest trends. Bathroom fixtures and fittings have changed considerably in recent years and the range is staggering. Many homeowners simply want a modern, trendy bathroom, with all the latest in bathroom technology.

Which of these 5 top reasons for bathroom renovation is your motivation for considering this step? Whichever it is, a qualified bathroom renovation company will give you advice on what is available to achieve the result you want.