Design your bathroom like a Pro 1300 908 890 info@hotspaceconsultants.com www.hotspaceconsultants.com If only designing your new bathroom was as simple as copying from a photo or showhome you ve seen and love. It s rare that replicating another bathroom verbatim will work in your own space; so follow the tips and ideas in this guide to create your own beautiful, unique masterpiece. BATHROOM RENOVATION CHEAT SHEET Follow steps 1-12 over the coming pages to imagine, refine and define your ultimate bathroom renovation, then complete your design on the accompanying Renovation Design Plan template.
STEP 1 FIRST THINGS FIRST CONFIRM YOUR LAYOUT a) Measure then draw your bathroom walls onto the graph paper - 1cm = 1m. Remember to include all windows and doors b) Now draw your current shower, bath, vanity and toilet positions in blue. Once again, 1cm = 1m c) Next, design your new layout (if changing) and draw in red. Be sure to read through the following tips and ideas to get your layout just right d) Write the dimensions of your new bathroom fixtures (vanity, bath and shower) into the Renovation Design Plan template Will you change the layout or will it stay the same? Your ideal layout Things to consider Aim for the vanity being the first thing you see on entering the bathroom Keep the toilet out of sight from outside the bathroom Position your toilet between two other elements (eg vanity and shower, vanity and wall); not along a wall on its own Locate the shower away from any windows Ensure any doors do not bang in to one another (ie shower door, vanity doors, bathroom door) Aim for a streamlined and simple layout! STEP 2 DREAM YOUR THEME Will you go light & bright, earthy & inviting or moody & dramatic? a) Firstly, search the internet for images you like (try Houzz and Pinterest) or take photos of showhome bathrooms you love. You no doubt have plenty of inspiration already! b) Now identify which elements of each image you love best. What s the common thread on the images you repeatedly choose? Eg. what vanity design do you like best? Which floor and walls tiles? Feature lighting? c) Keep your preferred theme in the back of your mind as you select the individual pieces that create that look 1300 908 890 info@hotspaceconsultants.com www.hotspaceconsultants.com 2
Did You Know? Whatever your theme, its best to link some of the colours or elements to the rest of your home design (for better flow) You can incorporate almost any theme of bathroom into any style of house; but when doing so, be sure to include subtle accents that link between the spaces Darker themes work best in naturally well - lit rooms Create a visual link between multiple bathrooms ie use the same floor tiles or the same vanity style or the same feature details; or a combination of these things Its true; a lighter colour scheme will make a space feel bigger and a darker scheme will make it feel smaller. But does it really matter in the bathroom? Stick to one show-stopper in your bathroom. This could be the floor tiles, a feature wall or the vanity & mirror set-up To create a modern style, opt for clean lines and simple geometric shapes STEP 3 CHOOSE YOUR FLOOR TILES Keeping in mind your preferences from step 2, select your floor tiles. Design tips to know before you choose Larger tiles in a bathroom will help make it feel more spacious, but too-large tiles for the space will look out of proportion Matching grout and tile colour gives a more seamless, contemporary effect Darker & mid coloured floors are more practical than light coloured floors. Light looks great in a show home because it has never been used! Matching bathroom floor tiles to shower base or hob tiles helps promote a better flow and sense of space Will you go light or dark? Ceramic or Porcelain? Rectified edges or otherwise? Rectified tiles give a more streamlined look but are more expensive to lay Slightly veined or patterned floor tiles are easier to keep looking good than a flat, unpatterned tile Use the same flooring as other areas of your home to enhance visual flow Tip: Use a paint colour to guide your tile choice. Ie choose your paint colour then shop for tiles to match STEP 4 CHOOSE YOUR WALL TILES & TRIMS Which wall tiles and trim finishes won out in step 2? Go ahead and select these now. Did You Know? Large wall tiles can help give the illusion of a bigger room. But go too big and they ll look over-sized and out of proportion Rectangular tiles installed vertically can visually heighten a room Rectangular tiles installed horizontally can give the illusion of a larger, wider space Use a wall of feature tiles to add some pizazz to your bathroom, but avoid feature trim tiles for a contemporary look Instead of a patterned feature tile, add interest with a textured or small tile design Will you do a feature wall of tiles or keep it seamless? Will they be Polished, Honed or Lappato finish? Choose any feature wall tiles first and work the rest of your design around these Tiling up to the ceiling will visually heighten your bathroom Use no more than three different tiles (including the floor) in your bathroom Flat finish tiles are a modern look, but may date more quickly than alternatives Rectified tiles give a flatter, more seamless look which contributes to a more contemporary effect (but are more expensive to lay) 3 1300 908 890 info@hotspaceconsultants.com www.hotspaceconsultants.com
STEP 5 CHOOSE YOUR VANITY Keeping in mind your aesthetic preference established in step 2 and dimensions from step 1, choose your vanity Will your vanity to be wall hung or free-standing? A recessed, semi-recessed or top mounted basin? Some things to know when selecting your vanity Wall hung vanities make a bathroom feel more spacious than it actually is Matching the vanity and wall tile colour gives the illusion that your bathroom is bigger than it really is Wall hung vanities require extra support (additional framing within the wall cavity) Opt for a unique top-mounted basin design for extra wow factor Timber or timber-look vanities add warmth but keep them detail-free for a contemporary look Discreet or no handles eliminate the need for pull handles and will make the room feel more spacious and modern STEP 6 CHOOSE YOUR BATH Based on your favourite look and practicality for your bathroom layout established in steps 1 and 2, choose your bath. Will you select a free-standing bath or a built-in option? Stone, Acrylic or Steel? What to consider when selecting a bath A free-standing bath can make a dramatic statement, but it needs to be practical too. Ie Avoid a high sided bath if you have small children Bigger is not always better. A too-big bath takes a lot to fill and may become rarely used What will your bath surrounds look like? Tiling the bath hob the same as your floor or walls gives a more seamless/spacious effect Curved style baths provide a softer more romantic effect, while an angular style is more contemporary Ensure your floor will stand the weight of your new bath plus a bath full of water. If you have any concerns, have it checked out by an engineer 1300 908 890 info@hotspaceconsultants.com www.hotspaceconsultants.com 4
STEP 7 CHOOSE YOUR SHOWER SCREEN What shape and size is your shower? Based on your plan showing dimensions, choose your shower screen. Some things to know when selecting a shower screen A full height (floor to ceiling) shower screen can give the illusion of a taller space If you can t do full height; marry the top edge of the shower screen to the top edge of the bathroom door or window frame Will it be frameless, semi-frameless or framed? Door or no door? A frameless shower screen helps provide a seamless effect and a greater illusion of space Modern black, bronze or copper shower screen frames and hinges look great now, but will probably date in a 2-3 years STEP 8 CHOOSE YOUR TOILET You can t just run out and buy any old toilet when renovating. Do you need a P-trap, S-trap or a skew trap toilet? Will it be a Back-to-wall, close coupled suite or something else? Here are a few things you should know If replacing an existing toilet, look to see where the waste outlet goes. If through the floor, you need an S-trap toilet. If out the wall, you need a P-trap toilet. And if out a side wall (for example in a unit block or highrise), you may need a Skew trap toilet The style of toilet adds to the aesthetic of your bathroom. Choose curved for a softer effect and squarer for a more angular, contemporary effect Match the style of your toilet to your bath (angular or rounded) The aesthetic of your toilet is only half the equation; it should be comfy too! STEP 9 CHOOSE YOUR TAPS & ACCESSORIES If the floors and walls in your bathroom are the clothes, then the taps and accessories are the jewellery! Finish your look with the right choices Did You Know? Changing from single lever taps to a single mixer style requires significant plumbing changes to occur within the wall cavity (so make alterations prior to any wall tiling) Choose angular or curved taps and accessories to link to your bath and toilet selections Locate taps the correct distance from the basin (horizontally and vertically) to avoid too much Will you use separate taps or combined mixers? splash or restricted hand space Always buy good quality tapware and use a reliable plumber to install. What you save on cheap taps and spouts, you ll pay in the long run when problems occur inside your walls Know the water efficiency and flow ratings for taps before you commit to purchasing 5 1300 908 890 info@hotspaceconsultants.com www.hotspaceconsultants.com
STEP 10 CHOOSE YOUR MIRROR What shape and size do you want? Can you buy off-the-shelf or will it need to be made to order? Will this be a feature or will it fade into the tiles? Recessed or surface mounted? When buying your mirror, know that If selecting a square or rectangular mirror, you should almost always make it the exact same width as the vanity OR in some cases it can be wider or narrower, but there are design rules to follow to ensure the look is balanced Round mirrors can look stunning and help to add a softer edge to the space A full height rectangular mirror (counter top to ceiling) will give the illusion of a larger/taller bathroom Consider a wall cabinet/mirror with LED strip lighting along the bottom to give some wow factor in your bathroom If you have an extra wide vanity, consider two separate mirrors instead of one STEP 11 CHOOSE YOUR LIGHTING What lighting do you love? Will it be discreet or featured? Will you have vanity lighting as well as general overhead lighting? Will your lighting warm up the space or cool it down? Make your selections now but remember that Combine recessed downlights or a central bathroom light/fan combo unit with a feature pendant or wall lighting for a contemporary effect Use neutral coloured globes for a clean effect that is neither too warm nor sterile Use feature lights to jazz up your space but only if you don t already have too many showing-stopping elements going on Always use a licensed electrician and purchase compliant light fittings (or modify to suit) 1300 908 890 info@hotspaceconsultants.com www.hotspaceconsultants.com 6
STEP 12 FINALISE AND WRITE DOWN YOUR SELECTIONS Awesome! Now you have many of the tricks of the trade to get started on your bathroom design. Using the accompanying Bathroom Design Plan template, start to articulate every aspect of your bathroom design. When this spec is completed, you have a document that you can easily renovate your bathroom by. For an example of what your Renovation Design Plan could look like, check out our sample here. And there you have it - you ve just designed your bathroom like a Pro! Well done! About the author Hi my name s Jane Eyles-Bennett and I m the founder and head designer here at Hotspace. I m an award-winning interior & exterior designer with more than 25 year s experience. I m also a design columnist for major publications including www.domain.com.au, Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, The Age and numerous others. Hotspace fills a gaping hole in the home renovations market. We give you the professional design advice you need to create a stunning home without the exorbitant cost of a high-end interior designer or architect. My team and I would love to help you design your next renovation by providing you with a Renovation Design Plan. We specialise in exterior façade and outdoor living designs, kitchen designs and bathrooms but can help with any area of your home including living spaces, bedrooms, laundry and any other area you re planning to renovate. For a home renovation professionally designed for you by an award winning designer without the exorbitant cost, get in touch: hotspaceconsultants.com