It’s in the detail

After the kitchen, the bathroom is the most expensive area of the home to build or renovate, so it is essential you get it right. Hannah Paynter from Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom offers advice as to where to start 

A well-designed bathroom has a huge impact on your household’s routine and harmony: precluding those arguments that arise over use of the space – whose turn it is, and whose things go where – and offering a whole new level of comfort and relaxation. The look of your bathroom is inextricably tied to, and influenced by, the rest of your home. Continuity in colour, style and fittings from your kitchen and living areas will ensure your bathroom blends with the house design as a whole. 
However, it is important to remember that your bathroom is a utility area, so less is more when it comes to personal touches, particularly if the bathroom in question is to be used by guests. Drawers are a great way to store items such as toilet paper, soap and towels, as well as hide your personal items – keeping the bathroom clean and uncluttered. 
When planning your bathroom, the first thing you should do is sit down and make a list, including: things you must have in the space, things that would be nice to have, and things you don’t need. This will allow you to prioritise your budget. Also, consider who uses your bathroom, now and looking into the future. How many drawers and shelves do you need in the vanity? Do you want a bath? If you have a shower unit with doors, is there going to be enough space to open them?
Despite being a utility area in the home, the bathroom is also a space for relaxation, so it needs to be designed with both concepts in mind. 

Colour
From your vanity, to the walls, to the floor, colour is an important consideration across all surfaces. 
Lighter colours will reflect light and make your space look larger, while dark and contrasting colours will absorb the light making the room appear smaller. The use of the same or similar colours across all surfaces will allow the eye to move seamlessly across the space, making the area appear larger.
One of the easiest ways to bring pops of colour and pattern to your bathroom is through towels and accessories. Simple additions which can easily be changed out. 

Floors + walls
In wet areas what is underneath is just as important as your surfaces. It is paramount to prevent your walls and floors from swelling and rotting as a result of moisture ingress. However don’t scrimp on the floor and wall surfaces. Although the bulk of the effort and cost goes into completing the work underneath, the surfaces are what you will be looking at day in, day out.

Fittings
Invest in good quality fittings. What may seem like a bargain at the start may end up costing a lot more than you saved when it fails. There is nothing worse than having to remove beautifully-laid tiles because the fifty-dollar shower mixer that you bought off Trade Me failed.
Stick with reputable brands that have been around for a while; this way, if you need a spare part in the future, it will be easier to track it down. By buying new you are also ensuring your vanity surfaces and so forth are hygienic from the outset. Think about the materials you are introducing to your bathroom as you want them to be sealed and easy to clean. 

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