Choosing bathroom units

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your house; it must be clean, functional and inviting - bathroom units can play an important part in designing your perfect bathroom.

Bathrooms come in masses of varieties and forms. Some are relaxing rooms with hot tubs, whereas some are purely functional, modern and incorporate the minimum amount of furniture.

Choosing showers, bath and sink units for your bathroom

Plan your bathroom design carefully

If you have a large bathroom, having a separate shower and bath is a luxury. If you need to save space, though, it could be worth having a shower installed above your bath so you still have the option of washing in either. You can then have a shower curtain or screen installed for privacy and to prevent water splashing. This is, of course, down to personal preference and if you just prefer one unit or the other then you may want to buy a dedicated bath or shower unit.

For particularly luxurious bathrooms, you may consider buying a corner bath unit or hot tub which can, again, be doubled with a shower. Baths aren’t the only part of the room that can be made extra appealing as you could consider a separate wet room for your shower. The whole room will of course need to be waterproofed floor to ceiling, with non-slip tiles for the floor. With the right lighting, a wet room can be cosy and inviting.

Choosing lighting units for your bathroom

As with any room it is important to capitalise on any natural light you have coming into the room. Use mirrors to make the room larger and reflect light. There are a variety of lighting units you can choose from depending on your preference and how light you want it to be. If you want to keep things simple then ceiling lights are a good choice. For a modern bathroom consider ceiling or wall-mounted spotlights. If you feel like spending a little extra here and there, you can also buy illuminated mirrors or lights to change the colour of the water flowing from the taps.

Choosing flooring for your bathroom

When you buy flooring for your bathroom, the most important thing is that it is non-slip, easy to clean and aesthetically pleasing. Linoleum flooring is popular in bathrooms because of the massive range of colours and patterns it comes in, making it suitable for most bathrooms. It is easy to clean as well as install and the price tag is less than other options like stone or porcelain.

Stone flooring is one of the more expensive types of bathroom flooring, but looks great. Consider buying second hand or reclaimed stone if you are buying on a budget. Stone can also get cold and slippery when wet, so underfloor heating may add to your costs if you want a safe and comfortable bathroom.

Porcelain flooring is a cheaper alternative to stone and is just as hard wearing and easy to clean. If you want stone flooring but can’t afford it, porcelain is definitely worth considering.

Choosing a heating unit for your bathroom

Heated towel rails are ideal
for the bathroom

Underfloor heating units are quickly becoming popular as a heating solution for the bathroom, as they can save between 25 and 30% on your heating bills compared to radiators, which are the traditional choice. Underfloor heating dries the floor quickly as well as making it comfortable when you get out the shower, so it is practical as well as pleasant.

Heated towel rails are a way of indulging yourself with warm towels when you step out of the bath, but they are surprisingly efficient and inexpensive as a heater in their own right. They use roughly as much energy as a light bulb whilst providing enough heat to dry out the humid air of the bathroom which will prevent your mirrors fogging. They’re also great for items other than towels. For instance wet socks or gloves can be dried without you running the tumble drier and using extra energy. They are usually priced between £100 and £300.

Fitting your new bathroom units

Fitting bathroom units is risky if you try to do it yourself, especially when you factor in the danger of fiddling with electricity mixed with water. Make sure to hire a qualified professional to fit the bathroom units for you, saving you time and money if you do it wrong as well as the danger of doing it yourself.