Category Archives: Bathroom tips

Let there be lighting!

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Choosing the lighting for a bathroom is a big decision which requires a little foresight and planning. From aesthetics and style to functionality and safety, there are a number of factors to consider when selecting bathroom lighting that delivers both practically as well as visually.

One of the main aspects to consider, is bathroom lighting safety, which is of paramount importance, and why it is always recommended that a trained electrician installs any new bathroom lighting. There are a number of regulations to adhere to, including IP rating, which measures the likelihood of steam or water accessing the light fitting, placements of fixtures within the different zones of bathrooms, and the general suitability of lighting fixtures and fittings for bathrooms.

Bathrooms are predominantly bathing spaces… So why is good bathroom lighting such an important aspect of the design?

Often in smaller rooms, or if the bathroom is in the middle of the home, there may very little, and sometimes even no source of natural light. In this scenario bathroom lighting will often be selected as a substitute for natural light. This means that it needs to do more than simply brighten the room, and so several light sources are likely needed to cover various tasks and functions.

Bathrooms are where we do a lot of preparation for the day – from makeup to shaving, to hair, we need to be able to see clear detail (and often on a microscopic level!) Decent lighting will make these jobs a lot easier to do!

From an interior design perspective, better bathroom lighting can immediately transform a space, and it also helps draw attention to certain aspects of a room.

You can save on the cost of energy by investing in decent lighting solutions. By selecting energy efficient lighting such as LED’s, you will use less power consumption which means that the lights will last a lot longer, prolonging their use as well as protecting your wallet a little in the process.

Bathroom dimmer switches are also an energy efficient option, as even on their brightest setting they use significantly less electricity than a standard light switch. As well as adding a subtle ambient glow, dimmers can also help with the adjustment of your eyes between darkness and light – a gentle way to ease into those dark winter mornings!

So now we’re fully versed in what is so amazing about great bathroom lighting, what are the different types, and why do we need them?

If you have begun your research into bathroom lighting, you may have noticed that there are a broad range of different types on the market. The key thing to note is to use lighting to layer and highlight different zones of the room, enhancing experience and functionality of those areas dependent upon their usage.

  • Recessed spotlights

Spotlights sit within the ceiling so that the lightbulb is flush with the ceiling surface. By positioning spotlights equally throughout the bathroom, you can ensure that the room is evenly lit for general lighting use. They’re a great option for smaller spaces, since they don’t encroach into the bathroom itself at all.

  • Short bathroom ceiling lights

If space is not an issue, ceiling lights make great alternatives to recessed spots. Choose a short ceiling light that sits up to and over the ceiling fitting to light the bathroom as a whole.

  • Bathroom ceiling chandeliers

Used to enhance a space visually and add a little luxurious elegance, a chandelier is a great option for adding a show-stopping statement to larger bathrooms.

Top tip >> Before hanging chandeliers, ensure that you check the weight and bathroom suitability first.

  • Bathroom wall lights

Often positioned to frame the sides of a mirror, wall lights are frequently selected for their decorative qualities as well as for their functionality. Usually chosen to add a soft glow to a room, they’re an ambient addition that has the additional use of helping brighten the space.

Top tip >> Since many bathrooms are tiled, the installation of wall lighting fixtures and fittings always needs to be planned intricately as selecting the wrong position can have costly implications.

  • Bathroom mirror lights

Used to enhance and illuminate a bathroom mirror, bathroom mirror lights can usually be found around the edge of the mirror frame. Depending upon the design, the lights are positioned to the sides, top or bottom of the mirror and can emit anything from a soft glow to stronger lighting appropriate for such tasks as the application of makeup and shaving. Whilst not designed to be the primary or sole light-source of a bathroom, they do provide optimal lighting for beauty regimes.

Top tip >> Consider how bright you need your lighting to be. For example, do you require strong, focussed light directed to one specific area, or perhaps it’s more of an overall glow to enhance the whole room? Brightness is measured in Lumens, so it is a good idea to take the time to check and compare the Lumens across different LED lights.

Once you have established the type of lighting that you would like for your bathroom, another key consideration is the temperature of light.

By temperature we mean how ‘cool’ (blue toned) or ‘warm’ (yellow toned) a light is, which is measured in Kelvins (K).

Generally speaking, a warmer light (around 3000 Kelvins) will emit a gentle, more flattering and even glow – ideal for photographs and for assessing how you may look in an environment with softer light. Cooler, more natural lighting (around 5000 Kelvins) provides a more intense, harsher light, and is therefore more suitable for tasks such as makeup application as it provides a true reflection of detail and colour.

So, which is better?

The temperature of the light is therefore an important decision to make when it comes to installing lighting. Ideally, if you are looking for both task lighting in the bathroom and would also like the ability to be able to see how you would look in varying lighting environments, then it may be worth considering illuminated mirrors that have the benefit of being able to switch between different lighting temperatures.

The best of both …

All our UK manufactured mirrors use CCT (corrective colour temperature) LED lighting, which enables the user to flip between 3000K and 5000K, meaning that you can quickly see your reflection in different lighting scenarios and feel better prepared for your day (or night) ahead.

Colour corrective temperature lighting also means that you can mimic the natural light of a day, by setting it to 5000K for the cooler light of a morning (an ideal setting to gradually wake you up for a morning shower!) and you can then change it to 3000K to appear warmer for the evenings – ideal to create a calming atmosphere for bedtime. This can be especially helpful in supporting and enhancing circadian rhythms, and for helping children with night time routines too.

Design your bathroom lighting to coordinate with your interior.

Lighting a bathroom needn’t only be about the technical aspects of design. There are also ways to add more colour to an interior, solely with clever lighting. If you are looking to add pops of colour as well as better lighting, then it is worth considering colour changing LED lights.

Ultra-versatile dual white LED lights, coupled with our Spa Mode lighting can instantly and dramatically change the look of the interior simply with the flick of a switch. Used within many of our mirrors, you can quickly and easily control the light colour of a room and therefore the mood and aura too.

For example, if your bathroom is all white, you can inject colourful yellow and orange lights to add warmth and a welcoming feel for visitors.

Calming blues and greens can add a spa-like sanctuary feel, perfect for relaxing baths and R&R.

To find out more about lighting options within our mirrors, take a look at the collection here

Top 5 tops for making a smaller bathroom look bigger

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When it comes to beautiful bathrooms, many of us imagine owning dreamy, spacious bathrooms with plenty of room for a freestanding tub, double shower, and statement basins, not to mention oodles of storage. But let’s face it, often space in the bathroom is at a premium, so it’s always worth having a few tricks up our sleeve when it comes to making this room look and feel bigger.

From the use of colour and texture, through to materials and lighting, there are many clever and considered ways to enhance the amount of perceived space in your bathroom.

Have a read through our top 5 tips to take your bathroom from compact to capacious with just a few simple styling hacks.

  1. Clear the clutter

By their very nature, bathrooms tend to attract a build-up of items, from toothbrushes and makeup, through to bath toys and medicine. But we can’t very well magic all these must-haves away, so the solution is rather in the choices we make for clever storage instead.

If you have established that good storage is a priority for you, yet you are trying to make your compact bathroom or en suite appear bigger than it is, then choose closed cupboards rather than open shelving. Solid cupboard doors can not only hide away all the stuff that you don’t want your guests to see, but they can also help maintain the flow of the space, therefore making the room appear larger than it really is. Choose flat faced, or simple cupboard doors that tie into the wall colour for a seamless look.

Another option for smart storage that won’t add to the visual clutter, are shelves that house baskets or totes. The key to keeping it neat and tidy is in consistency, so ensure that all the baskets are uniform in shape and size for a clean look. A huge benefit of open shelving is that you can make use of the wall space if floor space is at a premium.

Top tip: paint the shelving the colour of the walls and select storage tubs that are the same tone too so that it all blends into the room.

Mirrored bathroom cabinets are a multifunctional way to maximise space, cover all the clutter and enhance the size of the room. They often also have moveable shelves internally, which means that you can flex the space according to your requirements. The mirrored doors will not only reflect what is in front of them but also bounce more light around the

room, making the space feel brighter and bigger.

When it comes to furniture, anything which sits off the floor helps make a room look lighter and airier, and therefore bigger. Choose floating (wall mounted) vanity units or cupboards with slim, exposed legs so that you can see a gap between the bottom of the unit and the floor to give the impression of more room.

  • Create clarity and space with colour

One of the most instant and transformative ways of making a small bathroom appear bigger, is through the way in which colour is used. There are several different tricks that can be deployed, depending upon the desired outcome and personal tastes. Here are several techniques to enlarge a bathroom with colour:

Monochromatic magic

Select one colour, and create a monochromatic scheme by choosing tiles, paint, cupboard doors and accessories all in the same hue.

Colour drenching in this way will envelope the room in one colour, creating more of an elegant, uniform look which will make the bathroom look bigger than schemes with multiple colours that are likely to draw the eye to detail.

 Top tip: When tiling, choose grout in the same colour as the tiles to create more of a seamless look and feel.

Perfectly pastel:

Avoid dark and highly saturated colours in small bathrooms, as these will give a sense of cosiness and intimacy, closing the space in. The objective is to try and bounce as much light around the room as possible, with a light and airy finish, so pastel palettes and lighter colours are very much your best friend here.

White on white:

For a timeless, simple look, decorating with white on white in a bathroom helps create a flowing look, as any white tiles and accessories will immediately blend in with the ceramicware of the WC and basin. – But white needn’t mean boring. – Pull in character and interest with different textures and shapes, for example white waffle towels, or hexagonal shaped tiles.

  • Makeover with more mirror

A statement mirror above a vanity unit will do more than just reflect what is in front of it, it will also work to bounce light around the room, increasing the brightness and therefore the perceived size of the space.

Here are a few rules of thumb when it comes to selecting a bathroom mirror with the objective of making the room look bigger:

  • Choose a mirror that ties into the rest of your scheme. For example, if the theme is lots of flowing lines, go for mirrors with irregular or rounded edges. A more cohesive looking scheme will immediately make a room look larger
  • Select the largest mirror that your wall space will allow. The more space there is on which to bounce light, the better
  • Consider smaller vanity mirrors to enhance dark corners on washstands and vanity units
  • Be strategic about where to hang the mirror and be cautious about what you are reflecting – Remove any clutter that a mirror might reflect, as this will add un-needed detail and fussiness to the room. Reflecting windows, blank walls or tiled walls is best for bouncing light and making a room look bigger.
  • Layer your lighting

Good lighting sources are so important in a bathroom for activities such as shaving or makeup application, where often there isn’t much natural light available.

Luckily, there are some clever lighting tricks that you can try to help brighten the space and make it appear bigger than it really is.

Consider the different types of lighting that you require and add them in at various locations around the bathroom.

  • 1 – Task lighting. This type of lighting can often be tied into the edges of contemporary mirrors and cabinets and is particularly handy for activities requiring detail, such as shaving or applying makeup.
  • 2 – General lighting. Recessed spotlights, usually in the ceiling, are physically unobtrusive and will light the room well all around from a general perspective.
  • 3 – Ambient lighting. We can enhance a space with mood lighting such as with wall sconces (usually positioned either side of a mirror), or down lighting from feature pendants.

5.  Less is more

To make a smaller bathroom appear bigger, it is best to avoid too much of anything. Clean lines and simple styling will have a significant impact on perceived space.

Too much detail in a room can draw the eye and add fussiness and visual noise to a room, so large expanses of plain solid materials or tiles can really help open the room up. To enhance a bathroom size visually, avoid the use of intricate patterns.

That said, if you do like a little boldness when it comes to interior styling, subtle stripes can assist in make a room appear bigger, and particularly verticals with the impression of adding more height to a room. You could try this as full-length window voiles, ridged tiles or even experiment with some striped towels hanging neatly on a ladder.

Keep the flooring free from rugs and mats, as these all add more visual clutter to a space and will enclose the room.

Remove visual barriers within the room by switching out shower curtains for transparent glass screens, allowing the room to feel larger.

In small en suites or cloakrooms, it may pay off to consider smaller functional options such as triangular corner showers, corner basins and wall hung WC’s to make the most of the surrounding space that you do have.

Build your bathroom design around the practical necessities of the room as a priority, and keep the styling uncluttered, simple, and streamlined to enhance the feeling of space.

Happy styling!

Sustainable Bathroom Design Themes

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Sustainability. – A term that by now we are all familiar with as we look to reduce our negative environmental impact on earth. But how does it translate into designing interiors, and more specifically, how do we create earth-friendly bathroom spaces?

By minimising our energy usage, lowering the number of consumable items that we waste, and seeking out alternative, eco-friendly materials for our interiors, we can become more thoughtful about design. But where do we begin in our quest for seeking the best planet protecting bathrooms?

With all things eco-friendly in mind, we have pulled together some of our top tips for styling a bathroom sustainably:

Materials matter

The great news is that earth-conscious materials such as metal, porcelain and glass are often naturally go-to bathroom material selections. They also happen to be eco-friendly options for tiles, ceramicware and décor, so when it comes to the details of the bathroom elements, there is a wide variety of planet-friendly product to choose from.

When it comes to selecting sustainably sourced accessories, refill metal or glass bottles with your favourite (eco-friendly) soap. Not only do glass or metal bottles always look great in the style stakes, but they are also more durable than materials like plastic, which means less frequent requirements to replace, and in turn lower rates of raw material usage.

Bamboo is a great sustainable material as it grows quickly and can be made into all kinds of different items. From cotton buds and bath racks to towels and toothbrushes, bamboo makes a good, hard-wearing option for bathroom accessories. And if the time does come to replace? Bamboo is a fully compostable material!

Natural worktops such as stone and granite will last longer than acrylic or laminate, which by default makes the natural elements a far more planet friendly option for bathrooms.

When it comes to dressing windows, organic linen is a great eco-friendly option which will also offer a relaxed, cosy vibe to a bathroom interior.

Embrace mother nature

When choosing colour options for a sustainable bathroom theme, be inspired by the earth, sea, and sky. Muted and earthy palettes such as Terracotta, Clay, Apricot, Leaf green, Seafoam, Concrete and Olive green are all hues that work beautifully together or when paired with off white or beige.

To bring nature inspired colours into your bathroom, you could choose rustic, handmade tiles in these tones or to switch the palettes more frequently in the future, you could try neutral walls and flooring for more of a blank canvas, and instead pull the earthy tones simply through accessories such as towels, soap dispensers and artwork.

For a warm, slightly rustic, and raw effect, consider colour washing with these hues onto wood materials or dying fabrics with natural pigment dyes.

Positive paint

If you are looking for paint for your bathroom, seek out eco-friendly paint brands with low toxin levels, and use paint brushes and rollers that are made from sustainably sourced materials.

Rustically worn

The key to achieving an effortless and organic thrown-together look in sustainable bathrooms, is to embrace imperfection.

Shopping from preloved sites and shops means that you are helping prevent unwanted furniture reach landfill. Whilst the practical elements such as toilets, basins and showers are probably best to buy new, mixing them with retro or vintage items such as cupboards, artwork and shelves that have a slightly worn patina to them will add to the eco-friendly style overall and will create an authentic and original design. Bathroom furniture made from reclaimed wood has been growing in popularity in recent years for its more natural, imperfect qualities.

Mix and match items for an eclectic style. – As a general rule of thumb, if the colour palette is subtle or quite restricted, then you can mix styles within this to create a unique look and feel.

Reuse, recycle and refurbish

An alternative to buying second-hand, is to look around your own home or on marketplace sites for household items. Think outside of the box by giving new life to those items through repurposing them to create interesting bathroom elements.

For example, old metal buckets make fabulous planters, second hand wooden ladders can be hung from ceilings and used to hang botanicals and greenery, and vintage A-frame or lean-to ladders make great towel hanging rails. If you are into a little DIY, then Mid-century sideboards can make fabulous basin vanity units.

Upcycling also means that less new raw materials are being used. The addition of a splash of paint to some tiles can really give something a new lease of life. Tester pots and wallpaper samples are great ways of upcycling with items that might already be in your home.

Another benefit of upcycling things yourself means that you will get a unique and personal result; one which no other bathroom will have!

You can also consider what you will do with some of your old bathroom elements. Before you discard, consider refurbishment schemes such as ours where we strip out old components from mirrors to refurbish and reuse, therefore helping to reduce landfill.

Waste less water

From a practical perspective, cutting down your water consumption will make a significant difference when it comes to creating a sustainable bathroom that not only looks great but also does good too.

When doing your research, look for low-flow shower heads and dual flush toilets, which will save on spending as well as water usage.

Do your research

When looking for bathroom fixtures and fittings, consider investing in items where the designers and brands are explicit about where their materials come from and how their products are manufactured. Look for information about their manufacturing methods and locations so that you can make informed and empowered decisions about the items you buy.

Seek out brands that repurpose or reuse packaging, and those that are always striving to use recycled (and recyclable) materials, too.

Made in Britain

Brands that not only design, but that also manufacture their products on homegrown soil are automatically reducing their carbon footprint.

All our mirrors are manufactured in Britain, as it helps us to have visibility over our manufacturing processes and complete control over quality and product lifecycles. In keeping the entire process local, we dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of our products, and in turn this has a positive impact on the planet.

Beautiful Botanicals

To complete a sustainable bathroom scheme, one way to add a further layer of eco-friendliness, is to introduce living botanicals.

Plants can clean the air by removing toxins that we breathe into it, which makes them a great option for enhancing a sustainably styled bathroom. As well as purifying, they also provide an array of other benefits including better mental health and help to create a natural, comfy bathroom scheme. Visually, they provide serene, spa vibes, which would fit right at home in a sustainably styled space.

Changing the way in which we approach bathroom design from the beginning is key, as is a holistic and open approach. – By making mindful, simple swaps that can have dramatically positive effects on caring for our planet, it helps us to create conscious, durable, and timeless bathrooms with the serenity that we are all seeking more of.

Biophilic Bathrooms – 2021 Interior Design Trends

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Biophilic Bathrooms

Biophilic design is all about connecting humans with nature and creating interior environments that inspire wellness and wellbeing, so that we can feel and sense health benefits in a more present and grounded way.

For the past two years, we have seen a growing trend in the way in which people use bathrooms as a haven in their homes. – A space in which to de-stress, boost moods and relax.

Biophilic design enhances practical spaces with all things natural, and so in our homes, the bathroom is an obvious candidate for styling in this way.

If you are considering a bathroom inspired by nature and tranquillity, there are some key aspects to consider first.

Materials Matter

Materials that come from, or that are inspired by natural elements, are a great place to start when it comes to designing biophilic bathrooms.

The continuity, blend and subtlety of material usage is one of the key elements in creating a cohesive, organic style. Everything needs to tie in together, without distracting or drawing the eye to any one part of the design.

Some materials to consider as part of biophilic design, include:

Concrete

With more of a masculine and modern edge with a slight nod to the current industrial trends, concrete makes a great option for organically styled bathrooms. The imperfect qualities of this material give it a look that will create a standout bathroom design, particularly for elements like free-standing basins and seamless concrete flooring.

Natural stone

Natural stone is a warm, durable material to opt for, and makes a very hardwearing floor. It has an understated elegance that elevates bathrooms, with many of us now opting for stone slab worktops as a growing trend. It looks fabulous when used as tiles on feature walls, for example in shower enclosures and as other visual accents in bathrooms.

Non-toxic, sustainable materials

Bamboo is quite tolerant of high temperatures, and can take a fair amount of steam too, making it a wise choice for natural looking bathrooms. With a softer, more rustic aesthetic, the introduction of other sustainable materials such as cork and wood will also create an effortless, relaxed look and feel.

Keep in mind these materials throughout the process, including in the selection of worktops, furniture, and accessories too.

Considered colours

Because the aim of biophilic styling is to create a tonal, relaxed, and natural environment, it’s best to avoid strong and dark colours, which tend to draw the eye to specific elements and create bold and more harsh schemes.

Instead, select paler, warmer colours and consider using harmonious and tonal colour palettes.

If white and sand colours are a little too bland for your tastes, inject further interest with textured tiles and towels, or add hues inspired by nature like ocean blue, slate grey and botanical greens.

Muted versions of colours also work well in natural schemes. This is where the colour itself is slightly desaturated or has an addition of grey mixed in to tone it down a little.

Light it up!

Due to the enhanced connection with the outdoors, creating a natural source of light is a key aspect in terms of successful biophilic design.

But not all bathrooms have big windows, so how can you obtain a (false) ‘natural light’ effect if you do not have one?

  • If space allows, use large mirrors to bounce any light that there is around the room, and reflect the illusion of space. The bigger the better, and when it comes to organic styling, select mirrors with rounded edges for a softer, flowing feel. Place them opposite doors or to the sides of small windows to help reflect light into the room. Mirrors with an illuminated edge will further help provide the impression of more light.
Shaped bathroom mirrors
  • Alternatively, illuminated mirrors or cabinets will help give a brighter glow to an otherwise dark room.
  • White, polished finishes can help make a bathroom brighter
  • Select white or neutral tiles, with soft tones to help reflect more light around the room

Accessorise meaningfully

Whilst not the most obvious choice in a bathroom, considering wicker and rattan storage boxes will help obtain a relaxed and homely vibe. When opting for items like these, it is wise to position them on shelving that sits away from the wet areas such as showers and baths

Bamboo accessories such as trays and soap dispensers add a natural element to further support the organic styling.

In bathrooms where children aren’t bathed, a simple bamboo bath rack with a soy wax candle and plant can really help pull an organic scheme together, as well as add a little feeling of wellbeing and luxury.

Textural textiles

Fabrics help soften bathroom spaces, which is an important aspect in terms of Biophilic design.

Consider sustainably sourced, neutral-coloured towels with textural elements such as waffle, woven or fringing and tassels for a natural, more bohemian scheme.

Layer up different coloured tonal towels and roll a few into a basket for a homely aesthetic.

Drapes and panels help soften the harsh edges of windows. – Use simple wooden knobs as tie backs to assist with ventilation.

Plant life

One major aspect of biophilic design, and one which will immediately transform a bathroom from dull to dreamy, is the addition of a few plants.

En masse they can provide a real sense of bringing the outdoors inside, and they work well to help break hard lines and angles, which bathrooms are notorious for.

They also provide numerous health benefits, including air purification, improving the atmosphere, and enhancing mental health.

Our top tips for styling with plants in a bathroom:

Consider using plants of differing sizes and display them at various levels within the room. – Corners are great for hanging plants like Spider plants and Air plants and help if space is at a premium. Choose macrame style hanging planters to reinforce the natural element.

If space allows, a floor standing plant like a Fiddle leaf fig is a great option for a bathroom.

For pots, avoid strong colours and manufactured materials, choosing wooden, bamboo and concrete options instead, that’ll help blend into the scheme and stand the test of time.

Lastly, have fun! The aim is to end up with a bathroom space which brings you joy and boosts mood and wellbeing.

nvironments that inspire wellness and wellbeing, so that we can feel and sense health benefits in a more present and grounded way.

Bold & Boundless Design – Bathroom Trends of 2021

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Love creating show-stopping rooms for your home? Read on to hear all about little interior tips and tricks that can make a big impact, visually.

This confident trend is all about showing personality and adding style statements in your bathroom to bring wow factor and pizzazz. Being one of the smallest rooms in the home where you spend the least amount of time means that it can pay off to be a little more daring when it comes to decoration. Why not create a bathroom that will turn heads and provide a talking point for guests?

Here are a few ways to embrace the trend of big impact bathrooms that deliver brilliant design as well as functionality. – Sometimes the smallest switches can create the biggest style transformations.

Colour crush

One of the easiest and most impactful ways to add impact to a bathroom design, is with colour. Colour helps ignite emotions and the senses and can transform an interior almost instantly.

So, what are the most effective ways to bring a little hue boost to your bathroom?

Bathroom paint is a cheap and easily changeable way of adding an instant colour hit, whereas colourful tiles provide a solution with greater longevity. Whichever option you select to add colour to your bathroom, the principles on how to use colour are always the same.

When it comes to using colour, creating one colourful feature wall will always provide a pop, and helps create a focal point in a room by drawing the eye.

Alternatively, applying colour to just the bottom half of the bathroom walls can help ground the room but also by sticking with white at the top, the room remains bright and airy. – Perfect for more compact spaces. Choose stronger colour saturations if you want to go bigger and bolder or stick to pastels and more muted tones for a more subtle effect.

Popular bathroom colours for this year include all manner of nature inspired greens such as Olive, Leaf and Eucalyptus. Strong colour choices can still create a calming and restful space when used as part of a harmonious scheme.

Earthy tones are big news this year, particularly when used in combination together. Terracotta, muted pinks, and greige/creams have replaced the classic grey and white coupling that has been so popular in recent years. These warmer colours help create cosier, welcoming, and friendly bathrooms, further supporting the notion of moving away from the cool, clinical design of years gone by.

Deep and dark hues such as navy, peacock and charcoal are also popular and add instant drama to a space. Contrary to popular belief, dark colours can be used successfully in smaller rooms, and particularly so when fully colour drenching the space, resulting in an enveloping of colour. – Get the look by using the same or similar tones across the floor, walls, and ceiling.

For colour confidence that is a little more subtle yet still creates a bold scheme, select strong blue hues as highlights to an otherwise neutral space.

Other than on the walls and floor, an alternative way to attract attention with colour in a bathroom is through the selection of painted furniture.

Bold and beautiful vanity units can really enhance a bathroom and create a distinctively styled space. For a DIY update, use matte furniture paint to revamp your units, and source interesting handles to replace standard ones.

Mirror, mirror…

From pill shaped to circular, and demisting technology to colour-changing ambient lighting, mirrors are no longer just for reflections. They are also a sure-fire way of finishing off a bold bathroom scheme with enhanced design.

To create a bold and boundless appeal in your bathroom, look for statement mirrors that have added features and extras to add additional wow factor and update functionality.

Pretty in Print

Surface prints are a brilliant way to create a bold bathroom that oozes both style and personality.

The great thing about using them, is that you can introduce prints in a cost-effective and minimal way if you want to test just a little boldness before committing.

One way of doing this is to select statement patterned tiles to cover just one feature wall, or splashback. Then pull in the colours with towels and accessories to create a cohesive room scheme. Highly patterned tiles have been popular for a few years now, with the trends emerging for 2022 focussed on soft geometrics and all over finishes such as marble, terrazzo, and wood.

Another, more cost-effective way to add print to your bathroom design, is to introduce small bursts of pattern through accessories like towels, window treatments, accessories, and plant pots.

Or for something a little more illustrative, consider selecting statement wallpaper or artwork. When it comes to bold bathroom wallpapers, it’s really a case of anything goes. Big pattern trends for 2022 include jungle/tropical prints, large florals and all over prints featuring animals.

Top Tip! – When using wallpaper in the bathroom, it is best to avoid close proximity to bathing areas, but just in case of any splashes, you can also use a thin layer of decorator’s varnish on top to help prevent stains, water damage, peeling paper and mould growth.

Wonderful windows

Window treatments such as curtains and blinds are often a last-minute consideration, particularly in bathrooms, but a bold roller blind or artfully draped curtain panel can really help frame a bathroom window and add another layer of interest to the room.

If opting for curtains, consider light-weight fabrics that are flowing and hang nicely. From a practical sense, they should be easy to move along the pole to aid fresh air flow into the room.

In recent years, wooden shutters have been popular in the bathroom for a modern finish. Consider bringing strong colours through onto these by painting to tie them in with other accessories in the room such as towels and accessories.

Beautiful basins

This year, ornate and perfectly patterned basins have been gaining popularity as an instant way of creating an outstanding bathroom space by changing just one element of the overall design.

From block-coloured basins, through to those with intricate detailing, a bold basin is a sure-fire way to add instant impact in a bathroom, no matter the size.

For a clean, minimal look, try colour-blocking with a simple basin design in a saturated colour.

For a more maximalist style, choose hand painted basins that create a show stopping focal point. For extra style-stake points, select printed wallpapers to complete the look for an eclectic and bohemian feel.

Pleasing panelling

Adding architectural details such as interesting architrave or panelling can really uplevel a bathroom design.

Traditional panelling painted in a bold hue will create a timeless yet contemporary backdrop for your bathroom suite. Suitable for any home, but especially effective in period properties and country style interiors, classic panelling adds an element of luxury and homeliness.

If the idea of panelling is a little too classic for your own tastes, consider fluted or ridged panels for a more modern aesthetic. Vertical ridges on the wall really help add texture and interest to more clinical spaces such as bathrooms. They also break up substantial amounts of wall space for a more homely feel.