Where to start: key design tricks and trends for bathroom renovations

Nine in 10 homeowners choose the bathroom as their top priority renovation. So what are the key looks this year, and where do you start? 

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A bathroom renovation can be one of the most rewarding interiors projects you can tackle in your home, instantly modernising a property and adding value.

As demand continues to soar for more affordable "fixer-upper" homes, struggling first-time buyers scour the lower end of the market. So it's no surprise that the 2017 Houzz UK Bathroom Trends Survey reveals that more than half of renovating homeowners under 35 choose a bathroom project as one of their first after buying a property.

BEFORE YOU START: TOP TIPS

BATHROOM PROJECTS

 

£5,600: average UK spend

£6,300: 50sqft+ bathrooms

£4,500: 50sqft or less

Source: Houzz and Home UK Survey 2017

Whether you're considering a complete renovation or a minor upgrade, taking on this kind of project can be daunting — and you don't want to be left with no bathroom at all while waiting for your new suite to arrive.

Make sure you get a few quotes from local contractors, and arrange for them to visit. This takes time but it's worth getting it right — it always helps to make sure you and your plumber are on the same page.

Your builder might offer to order materials for you, which is helpful if you're pressed for time and it's likely they can make use of their trade discount. If you're ordering the materials yourself, aim to have everything delivered by the time work is scheduled to start. You don't want to be paying labour costs for work that can't be done because your delivery has been delayed.

Get ideas and style tips from our collection of dream bathroom looks in the gallery above, and get top tips before you start from editor of home renovations and design platform Houzz UK, Victoria Harrison...

1. Planning

Start by considering your existing layout. It’s worth noting the positioning of the pipework and electrics as a lot of this will determine where items such as the bath, shower, toilet, basin and radiators can be placed.

2. Keeping costs in check

Taking time to map out a clever and functional layout can do wonders for making sure your bathroom projects stays within budget. Using space saving tricks such as boxing in pipework and built-in shelves can help achieve a bespoke look without adding too much to the cost.

Spend time researching affordable and simple materials.

3. Think of the upkeep

Easy-clean coating on shower screens and darker coloured grout are simple ways to keep your bathroom looking spick and span. Wall hung fixtures for your toilet and basin can also provide simple solutions as cleaning the floor will be a lot easier.

4. Space-saving hacks

Floor-to-ceiling or even wall-to-wall mirrors create an effortless, spacious feel and serve as a practical addition to any room. Using the same coloured paint on walls, ceiling and woodwork can also make a small room look deceptively grand.

5. Bath or shower?

A bath is great, especially when it comes to families, however, it doesn’t need to be a standalone piece of furniture. A bath shower combination is multi-functional, appeals to families and is a great compromise.