How to make the most of your bathroom space

Thursday, 5 April 2012 4:37 PM

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the home and for it to work well you need to get the right balance between practicality and style. There is lots to think about when revamping your family or en suite washroom to make sure you get it right.

One mistake homeowners often make when planning their new-look room is to start by selecting a bathroom suite, rather than considering how to make the best use of the space available. Many rooms designed for washing are quite small, particularly in older properties, so you need to carefully plan how to fit everything in without it looking and feeling cramped.

You can use a bit of imagination while doing this, thanks to the range of clever products now on the market. They include space saver baths that are much narrower at the plug and tap end than the bit where you sit. Another idea worth thinking about is a corner basin and cupboard that will allow you to fit an essential piece of kit in an otherwise unusable space.

It is also possible to save space on your shower - and not only by installing one over the bath. In an ideal situation you would want a huge enclosure with a multi-jet shower, where you would feel comfortable relaxing. In most properties, that is not possible due to the amount of room available, but take some time to look at the various fittings on the market and you will find a high-quality option suitable for your home.

The Matki shower enclosures range includes the Illusion Quintesse, which is designed to fit into corners. Although it is relatively small, the frameless glass used in the doors and side panels gives the impression of it being much bigger. There is also a similar model that slots into recesses and one with curved glass that can be used in even the tightest of corners.

If lack of space is not a problem, or you are just remodelling an en-suite that does not have a bath, you will prefer a shower enclosure that will act as the main feature of the room. Something from Matki's sleek Colonade collection will fit the bill perfectly.

In most bathrooms the single largest item is the bath itself. They are now available in a huge range of shapes and sizes, so there is sure to be something suitable for your home that matches both your taste and budget.

Something from the range of steel Bette baths can be a great focal point for a room. Choose from traditional rectangular designs, a contemporary oval shape or a corner bath, depending on the space you have to fill. As the baths are made of steel and then coated with enamel, they are guaranteed to be hardwearing and last for many years.

Don't forget about the finishing touches when redesigning your bathroom, as little things like taps and lighting can make a huge difference to the overall look.

One thing to pay particular attention to is the mirror, as the wrong choice will overshadow everything else, but the right one will help to create the illusion of space in even the smallest of rooms. Another is the towel rail - choose one that also acts as the bathroom's radiator and you will be able to avoid the walls becoming too cluttered.