The bathroom is an area of space in the home that has
become increasingly popular in terms of importance and design over the years.
Gone are the days of a room built for practical personal hygiene as more
choices for design, appliances and furniture become available.
Getting the most out of a limited space can be a
difficult process and quite often there are essential elements to the design
that are not considered. Too often the dreams of a bathroom sent from heaven
become a living nightmare.
With this in mind, below are the seven deadly sins of
bathroom design:
1. Considering all guests:
The
home should be a place that all close family members and relatives visit in
comfort. If a family has members that are elderly then an awkward bathroom to
use may stop them from coming to visit. With a few simple bathroom solutions such
as grab bars and disabled access into bathing areas the ease of accessibility
will be improved significantly. By implementing a few extra elements is could
provide the difference to making a comfortable and relaxed home for all the
family. For those with an upstairs bathroom, a curved stair lift may be needed
to gain access to this important area.
2. Waterproofing: Quite often the design takes over the focus of the
bathroom. It needs to be 100% waterproof to prevent any leaks, rotting wood and
other unsightly and damaging aspects water can create for the home. A
percentage of the budget on re-designing a bathroom should always have the
waterproofing covered.
3. Cheaper options: Sometimes the cheaper option isn’t
always the best. When buying tiles or appliances the idea is to have a sense of
longevity in the product. Bathrooms should not be replaced or redesigned often
so ensure that the appliances bought are of good quality. A toilet seat
breaking or a tap snapping after a few years can be one of the biggest
annoyances.
4. Design plans: From a toilet in front of the door to a sink that
knocks an elbow, many bathrooms are of a small size and sometimes the placement
can be inconsiderate of the bigger picture. Make sure that the plans are drawn
down and measurements are taken fully to appreciate what it will be like in the
room once completed. These permanent fixtures will cost more money to change
around should a mistake be made.
5. No natural light: Too often a bathroom can appear
stuffy and enclosed without the use of natural light. A bathroom should always
have a window; not only will it make the room light and airy but it will give
the appearance of being larger.
6. Condensation: A major sin is not considering the way air, moisture
and steam passes through the bathroom. A room that is wet and dry many times
throughout the day needs a proper airway system with quality extractor fans or
vents to starve off any mould
issues.
7. Stick with the simple appliances: Don’t be worried about
staying in with the designs of today and opting for an eccentric appliance. Many
people now look on with their avocado coloured bath with disdain and this could
be the same for some of the colour options of today. Pearl white has never gone
out of fashion and won’t seem out of date once the next trend is realised so is
always a safe option.
