Bathroom Ideas
You want to maximise a small space If you’re struggling space-wise, you can’t beat a built-in bath, which these days come in all shapes and sizes. Don’t have room for a full-length tub? Worry not. Opt for a shorter, deeper model that will offer just as good a soak as the bigger designs, and add in a shower above it for flexibility.
The team chose Starphire glass for the enclosures. “It’s more expensive, but I think it’s worth it every time,” Rabaut says. Starphire glass is clearer and has much less of a green cast than regular glass. The shower has a teak floor. “This floor is also linear and reinforces the warmth of the wood,” she says.
PVC panelling Have some fun and inject an earthy, industrial or cabin-like look into your bathroom decor by installing PVC panelling instead of tiles, wallpaper or timber. PVC is the perfect substitute wall finish for wet zones, as it can withstand up to 60 degrees heat without its finish being affected. Think retro vinyl records, but with a wide range of designs. Not only does PVC prevent dirt build-up, it’s also immune to mould and germs. So unlike timber panelling, it only requires a low-fuss, hot sponge wipe down for cleaning. Another bonus is that PVC is fire retardant and good for insulation – it’s the same product that is used to insulate electrical cables. Available in a range of patterns and colours, these panels are cost-effective and can be nailed to walls to hide lumps and bumps without having to fill holes, resurface and paint. DESIGN TIP: You can nail panels down with the pattern vertical or horizontal, to make your ceilings look taller or your walls wider.
Privacy wall/screen
Black toilet seat
Nice tiles
Timber-look shiplap. Keep a beach-inspired look going right through the bath without worrying about water damage with Corian sheet, cut to look like shiplap. In this master bath, the ceiling and walls are poplar wood shiplap siding, and the area inside the shower is Corian fabricated to match.
Shower screen
Flip top. Taking centre stage in a clean-as-a-pin white bathroom, and up high and out of reach of toddlers’ curious fingers, this medicine cabinet is one to watch.
Pull-out medicine cabinet
Push pull. Medicines should ideally be kept away from moisture and heat to keep them fresh, so the bathroom is only a good place for them if they are out of the way and behind a door. That’s why this clever contraption, a pull-out storage system that allows you to easily see the cabinet’s contents and maximises space, works so well. If you were to go down this route, ensure the door has a seal and is closed properly.
Toilet roll storage - recessed cabinet over the toilet takes advantage of space in the wall. The room is covered in porcelain tile that looks like wood. The floor tile is a lighter version of the wall tile. “I wanted it to have a sauna feeling in here, with most of the surfaces covered in wood,” Ha says. Tile from the Oxy Wood Collection in White Smoke (flooring) and Grey Pepper (walls): Nemo
Laminate panels - bathroom is a vision in blue – blue mosaic floor, blue laminate wall panels and blue vanity. Like the rest of the house, it’s playful and unexpected.
Clever storage solutions bring the wow factor
One sink 2 mixer taps
Black & White colour scheme
Tall cabinet attached to sink vanity unity, smaller mirror
White tiles black grout - would this show up any damp discoloration marks???
Tiles / Wall hung toilet / No handles on press doors
Use dark colours as an option for windowless bathrooms ... Create a soothing sanctuary At the other end of the spectrum, an all-black bathroom with masses of tiling can also stake a claim to fuss-free design. This style works particularly well in two settings: either a room with lots of natural light, as here, or one with none. It might seem counterintuitive to choose dark colours for a windowless bathroom, but it’s often more effective than picking pale shades that look lacklustre without natural light. Instead, embrace the dark and create a spa-like cocoon using tactile materials.
Aging/Twilight Years consider: In the shower For the elderly, this is possibly one of the most dangerous areas of the home. However, there are plenty of practical changes that can be made now to avoid problems later on. First and foremost, make sure you have non-slip tiles in the bathroom. FUTURE-PROOF PLAN: If you don’t have non-slip tiles, apply a non-slip tile coating to the floors or, if you have the budget for it, have a tiler completely re-do the floors – he may be able to simply tile over the top of what’s already there. Another way to keep you safe from slipping is to remove a framed shower cubicle and replace it with an open-access cubicle – this only works if you have the space to do so. Alternatively, hang a frameless glass door. Either way, the floor surface from dry to wet area must be seamlessly flat to avoid any tripping. Also consider updating to an adjustable showerhead or hand-held shower rose. This will make showering and self-care much easier. One of the ways ICLA recommends that the risk of scalding be reduced is by installing thermostatic mixing valves in the bathroom. These combine hot and cold water and deliver the mixed water at an even, pre-set temperatu...
Aging/Twilight Years consider: In the bathroom As for the other rooms in the house, the bathroom should be easy to access, devoid of clutter, vented for free-flowing circulation and well lit. But the bathroom also needs to be well equipped with aids for keeping steady and upright while wet. The main aim here is to avoid falls. FUTURE-PROOF PLAN: Install grab bars near the toilet and shower to aid movement around the bathroom. Even if you don’t want them immediately, it’s a great idea to work out where they will be of most benefit so that you can simply add them at a later date. Continued next photo ......
Black and white You really can’t go wrong with black and white – it’s chic, versatile and always in. Whether you bring the scheme to life with handpainted floor tiles and horizontal black wall tiles, as in this hip space, or go for the classic subway and hex-tile combo; it’s bound to look good even five or 10 years out.
A dual shower Would you forgo a bathtub altogether in favour of a shower? What if it were a really nice shower? This gorgeous shower has dual showerheads, black slate and built-in storage for towels and soap.
Opt for an all-white palette There’s a reason why white is a go-to colour for designers when decorating a tight space – it’s bright, fresh and will bounce light around a room, creating the illusion of spaciousness. All-white palettes can sometimes look cold and clinical, so if you’re thinking of using this pared-back scheme in your small bathroom, introduce different patterns and textures to breathe life and personality into the space. This compact bath zone shows how it’s done. Here, mini subway tiles line the walls and add a punch of visual interest and industrial flair to the room. A floral lace-like shower curtain balances the cool, urban look of the tiles and infuses the scheme with a hint of chic appeal, while chevron-patterned towels offer another layer of contrast and tactile appeal. The result is a small bathroom that’s light, full of life and looks larger than it really is.
If you desire a more dynamic look for your small bathroom, stick with a white base but add touches of lively colour here and there. Small pops of colour will infuse the area with character, without compromising the room-enhancing effect of the simple scheme. Alternatively, rather than using crisp white as your base, try a barely-there neutral or pastel shade instead. Soft hues such as dove grey, powder blue and dusty pink will also expand your space visually, plus they offer personality and interest, too.
Choose space-savvy storage It’s important to keep clutter at bay in small bathrooms, otherwise the area can quickly become cramped, disorganised and chaotic. One way to overcome this problem is to incorporate space-savvy storage, such as deep drawers and pull-out shelves, into your bath zone so you have plenty of room to store bathroom essentials and other bits and bobs. Consider fitting out your drawers and shelves with organiser trays and baskets, too. They will help you maximise your storage space and ensure it remains neat and easy to navigate.
Lay down large-format tiles Create the illusion of spaciousness in your pint-sized bathroom by installing large-format floor and wall tiles. This compact bath proves just how effective this design trick can be. Long, rectangular feature tiles line the wall and draw the eye from one side of the room to the other, making the narrow space appear wider. Large floor tiles in a rich chocolate hue ground and add depth to the space, and also help to visually expand the room. Notice, too, how the glossy finish of both the floor and wall tiles enhances the feeling of space. Another benefit of incorporating large-format tiles into your small bathroom is that they are easier to clean, as there’s more tile and less grout to scrub.
Black and white theme plus barn door
1 sink multiple taps
Treat stone as a neutral Floor-to-ceiling metro tiles with grey grout make a statement in this super-sized shower. To soften the graphic grout lines, as well as to create cohesive design, pair with natural grey stone. This adds visual interest to a neutral pattern that doesn’t try to compete.
Retile over the old floor Bathroom renovations can be expensive undertakings, largely because of the labour involved. But what if you could do away with much of it? Instead of hiring someone to chip away the old floor tiles (or attempting it yourself), why not tile right over the top of them and transform your bathroom in the process. Just make sure there are no cracks in the existing floor tiles, or there could be problems in the concrete underneath.
Doing the triple Sometimes even a double basin is not enough! This triple wall-mounted basin is made from tough cast iron and incorporates three sets of taps for three pairs of hands.
Single basin with double taps Industrial cool An oversized, concrete trough, suspended from the wall, is edgy, stylish and urban all at once. If you love the too-cool-for-school look, this is the basin for you.
Sliding door handle Seamless and space-savvy. Slimline flush inset handles, like the one used in this bath zone, are an ideal hardware solution for cavity doors. Why? Because, unlike D- or bar-shaped designs, inset handles sit flush against the door, allowing the panel to slide fully into the recess. This leaves the doorway free and clear for you to walk through without any obstacles – such as a bulky, protruding handle or a chunk of sliding door – in your way. The minimalist handles help create a more clean and seamless look, too.
Love the colour scheme
Grey tiles & grey grouting
What’s not to like about this contemporary bathroom? The only problem would be choosing whether to have a bath or a shower – the understated wooden cabinetry ensure both are the stars of the show.
Grey mosaic tiles The guest bathroom is long and narrow, so Andrews positioned the shower behind the walls near the sink to make the most of the available space. “As it’s quite compact, we didn’t want to make this room too busy, so I’ve relied on texture and tone from the mosaic wall tiles,” Andrews says. Praetorian square mosaic tiles (similar): Topps Tiles
Mirror shapes
In the ensuite, white subway tiles with dark grout provide a striking contrast against the bluestone flooring. “The subway tiles give a contemporary feel, especially with the dark grout, but also references the old,”
In the same eclectic bathroom, black grout in between white tiles makes a bold statement. There’s no need to match basin tapware with those over the bath or in the shower. Shapely chrome tapware over this basin lets the tiles take centre stage. In the same eclectic bathroom, black grout in between white tiles makes a bold statement. There’s no need to match basin tapware with those over the bath or in the shower. Shapely chrome tapware over this basin lets the tiles take centre stage. Black grout & white tiles
The owner of this Sydney apartment made use of an old barn door from the south of France in the bathroom to save on space and add character. The handle is from Italy and the hardware on the top of the door is from the US.
Mirrored sliding door
Open baskets
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