Ever wondered what it takes to design the perfect bathroom?  What should you be including? What should you be spending money on?  Where should you be holding back?  Of course, everyone has their own idea of perfection so the first step is to consider what is perfect for you!

So many people jump straight to choosing their tiles and taps without considering their own personal requirements.  Following the steps below will ensure you already have a plan when stepping into your local tile store, making choosing your tiles and finishes much easier.

When designing a space, there are 5 steps that should be followed.  This becomes super important when designing such a highly used area as a bathroom.

Step 1:  Consider Your Needs

Examine what your requirements are, and your wish list items.  This will really help to create a space tailored to your specific needs and desires.  

Here are some questions you should be asking yourself:

• Do I need a bath?
• Do I need a space for applying make up or straightening my hair?
• Would I benefit from 2 sinks on my vanity, or does a single vanity suffice?
• How about a double shower: is this the ultimate luxury and a must or, in reality, will I never use this because I prefer to use my shower time as relaxation and thought time on my own?

Step 2: Consider the Functionality

How does the space currently work for you, and how does it need to be improved?  Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself:

Is there anything wrong with my current bathroom that I wish to fix?

• Is it too dark? – could we add another window, or better overhead lighting?
• Is it too cold? – let’s add underfloor heating to our must incorporate list!
• Does it feel small and pokey, and would moving the location of the bath or WC help with this?
• Is there a towel warmer allocated and designed in?  
• Should the floor tiles have extra grip?  
• How many people will be using this space and what will the likely wear and tear be?

Once you have examined how the space currently works and what improvements you would like to make, make a list of these requirements.  

You should now have 3 lists for your perfect bathroom design: 

• “Must haves” list
• “Wish list”
• Functional requirements and improvements list

Step 3:  Floorplan

Using your “Design Brief”, it is now time to create the perfect floorplan.  You can use online programs, such as Floorplanner which are free to use, but a simple and effective way of working out a floorplan is by drawing the bathroom to scale on graph paper and using simple cut out shapes (cut to scale) to create different options for the floorplan as in the example below.  Coming up with 3 options will allow you to see the benefits and drawbacks for each floorplan and pick the one that is best suited to your needs. 

A finalised floorplan will give dimensions of the key fixtures such as the vanity and shower as well as show that you have enough space between the fixtures to manoeuvre comfortably.  

At this stage, it is important to add in a lighting plan and electrical plan so you don’t forget those all important shaver sockets. 

Step 4: Create a Lighting Plan

At this stage, it is important to add in a lighting plan and electrical plan so you can plan your task lighting, shaver sockets and a place to wire in the heated towel rail.

I have a specific way that I create my lighting and electrical plans and I will write a blog post on this in the future. In the meantime, you can follow these steps to add in the lighting:

1. Plan your accent lighting (wall sconces, LED strips and lighting that creates atmosphere)
2. Plan your general or overhead lighting
3. Plan your task lighting (specific lighting for applying make up, or shaving)
4. Add ventilation fans
5. Plan the locations for where you will switch the lights from
6. Allow for towel radiators, underfloor heating and other hardwired fixtures
7. Add your powerpoints

Bathrooms are areas of high humidity and there are strict regulations governing the placement of electrical fixtures and fittings. Always have a registered electrician carry out the work who will ensure compliance and issue an installation certificate.

Lighting is a great area to involve a designer on! Not only are they aware of regulations, they can help you add powerful impact and functionality in what is often a small space.

Click here to enquire about how I can help you with your bathroom design and lighting plan.

Step 5: Layer in The Beautiful…

This is the part that we all want to get to straight away, yet by considering needs and functionality first we can make sure that once we are at this step, we know the direction that our design is headed in and the key features that we wish to incorporate.  Useful questions to ask yourself when layering in the beautiful: 

• Would I like to keep the colour palette in whites and neutrals?
• How can we add character and interest to the space?  (This could be with a vibrant patterned wall tile, cool coloured tapware or just by adding greenery in the form of plants that love humidity.)  
• What sort of words would you I to describe my ideal space?  Here is an example of a few words that could be used to describe how a space feels:

Moody | Light | Bright | Coastal | Energetic | Tranquil |  Fun | Textured | Spacious

Source some pictures from websites such as Pinterest, Houzz or your favourite home magazine.  

At this stage it is really helpful to find a tile or a fixture such as a tap that you love and will form the “jumping off point” of your aesthetic design, helping to guide your decisions from here on in.  

To Summarise

By following the 5 steps above, spending time answering the important questions, working out your floorplan, and then deciding on the beautiful finishes, you will be guaranteed to be designing a bathroom that is perfect for you and your lifestyle.

Click here to find out how I can help you with your bathroom design.