Home Sweet Home

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house, and it pays to get the design right. Not only will your entire family use it, so will many visitors to your house. It serves an important function, and so it’s worthwhile spending some time thinking about how you will use it, and how this should impact its design. Choosing a modern contemporary bathroom is one of the most pleasurable parts of redecorating a house, and I hope to gloss over some key ideas in this article.Before you decide on a suite, you need to consider whether you want a bath or a shower. Showers are more practical, and typically take up less space. Baths are less practical, but the relaxation benefits often far outweigh the extra time involved, or the extra water requirements. You can of course have a bath installed with a shower above it.

If you choose a shower, you need to decide on the type of shower head you will use. Most people opt for a hand held shower head, as these are easier to clean, and simplify the cleaning of the bath or shower. Rain showerheads are increasing in popularity – these mimic rainfall, and provide an invigorating shower, while using less water. They’re also better for the scalp, as they use less water pressure, although the massaging effect of high pressure showers is lost.

Once you’ve decided between a bath and a shower (or decided to have both!), the next step is to think about the colour scheme. Does your bathroom get a lot of natural light? If not, you probably want to shy away from dark colours, as they will make the room seem gloomy.

Once you’ve chosen a colour scheme, you might want to consider flooring. Tiles are the most hygienic choice, and are easiest to match to the tiles you will invariably want on your walls for waterproofing purposes. They can be cold however, a problem that can be solved with underfloor heating, although this can be an expensive choice. Carpet is another option, but it is vulnerable to damage caused by water, and it can be rather unhygienic in a toilet for obvious reasons! Using a shower mat and a mat around the toilet can be a good way to compensate for a cold floor.

After the flooring, it’s time to think about fixtures and fittings. Your choice is typically between chrome, brass and gold fixtures and fittings. In modern bathrooms, I tend to advocate chrome, as it’s a very contemporary looking material. Brass looks good in period bathrooms, and gold can be a good choice in any bathroom, although be wary of it looking too ostentatious!

Next, you probably want to decide on a vanity cabinet – a bathroom mirror cabinet is often a good choice, as it provides somewhere to apply makeup or shave, as well as store all your cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Finally, for that extra bit of comfort, have you considered a padded toilet seat? They are available in a myriad of beautiful designs, and what’s more important in a modern contemporary bathroom than the comfort of its users?