If your bathroom is feeling lacklustre, it can affect your daily mindset. The bathroom is the first place that you head to in the morning and the last place you go before you head to bed. It can be a haven of calm in a busy life or an energising start to your day. These things may seem small, but they really do have an impact. So when your bathroom is outdated or impractical it does matter. This is why a bathroom update, however small, is worth doing.
Bathroom Refits
Do you dream of refitting your bathroom from scratch? To have all of the aesthetic design and functionality that you’ve dreamed of? These projects are real game changers, and worth planning well and investing both time and money in. However, the time isn’t always right for a full bathroom refit. Maybe you’re planning a full bathroom refit later in the year but need some quick fixes to tide you over before taking on a more complete project. We look at the easiest ways to update your bathroom.
Walls
Clearly the most obvious and impactful place to update your bathroom aesthetic is on the walls. With a variety of different ways to dress your walls, you have a few options here.
Paint
One of the easiest ways to transform your bathroom is by giving it a fresh coat of paint. It’s a relatively affordable option that can make a big difference. The extent that this will affect your room is dependent on how much open wall space you have. Choosing a new colour can change the whole appearance of your room. However, your choice must still tie in to existing tile or other waterproofing that you have on your walls. Light colours create an open and airy feel, or bold colours feel more dramatic and dynamic.
Tiles
You may want to replace the tiles in your bathroom without updating other elements that are in situ. However, tile removal is such an invasive job that it’s hard to achieve in isolation. In that case, it’s worth looking at tile paint as an alternative option. This can be time consuming and fiddly, but is relatively easy on the budget.
Wallpaper
Smaller cloakrooms can benefit from being fully wallpapered. A bold print is characterful and distinctive. For larger bathrooms, wallpaper is better kept to a feature wall. So if you have a wall that would work in this way, either opposite a window or in an alcove, then it’s worth exploring wallpaper prints that you like.
Windows
We don’t often consider a window as a key interior area for bathrooms. However, this source of natural light is key for the natural calm in a bathroom. If you currently have heavy blinds in place, consider replacing them with something lighter. Indeed, with frosted window glass, it’s often unnecessary to use blinds or curtains at all. Utilise your window sills for decoration rather than function for the most cohesive update to your bathroom style.
Accessories
Easy to swap in and out, accessories can really tie in an update to your bathroom. From bathmats to towels, fresh linens will surprise you with their impact. Add a reed diffuser to enhance ambience, and candles to make the bathroom feel more spa-like. While you may want to add recessed shelving in a full bathroom refit, for the meantime consider an open wall shelf. This means to display candles or other decoration creates levels in your visual sphere, helpful in designing a pleasing room.
Lighting
Lighting can be an essential element in updating your bathroom. Clearly, unless you schedule a full bathroom refit, you can’t change structural lighting features. However, as part of a surface update, you could replace your wall mirror with a lit mirror. This is a good way to create a different layer of lighting to add depth to the room. Update your light fixtures and fittings if you are able, or choose a different finish for spotlight surrounds.
Plantlife
Finally, adding greenery is one of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to add vibrancy to a bathroom. Plus, plants are known to be good for our health. If you tend to struggle to keep plants alive, it’s OK to choose faux plants. If you prefer the real thing, try to use the existing levels in your room to make the most of this accessory. Trailing plants work well atop high wall units. A collection of plants of different heights is a great feature to liven up a corner.
When do you need a full refit?
Sometimes, the condition or layout of your bathroom simply can’t be improved by surface updates. In these instances, you should plan for a full bathroom refit. With expert designers, we advise on the optimum layouts and styles for bathrooms of all sizes. There are styles of furniture that you may not have considered before which can revolutionise your bathroom experience. We work to maximise natural light, design ambience enhancing artificial light levels and coordinate colour and style so that your room is just how you want it.
Even if a surface update to your bathroom is a temporary measure until a full bathroom refit, it’s worth doing. We’re strong believers in how important a high quality bathroom is in a home. That’s why we work so hard to design stunning spaces. To browse for inspiration, take a look at our gallery.