A new bathroom is a significant project in the scheme of house renovation and re-designs, so don’t jump into it without ample thought and research.

There are many considerations involved in planning a new bathroom, so don’t underestimate them. When I was renovating our bathroom there were so many considerations I wasn’t able to list them in order of importance, instead I initially focused on the overall look and ambience that I wanted to create; that is a great place to start your research if you haven’t already established your new look. The other important factor is plumbing; it can be expensive if you need to move plumbing from one side of the house to another.

Do you want a sleek ultra-modern shiny look with a lot of chrome and glass?If you have an old house you may want to keep your bathroom to conforming to that era and a Shabby Chic or French Country look would suit. Either way, the points you will need to consider are still the same.

As mentioned, there are many areas to consider when researching bathroom design, below I have listed some that I considering important.

Flooring: A hardwood floor can look great in a bathroom, but consider the implications if the bath overflows, or just the general day to day wet and steam a bathroom produces.  In colder climates some homeowners prefer a bathroom-specific carpet, yet in the warmer climates, usually only floor tiles would be considered.

Lighting: Whilst most bathrooms contain recessed lights, or a combination heat/fan/light system, don’t go past a glorious chandelier.I hung a beautiful crystal chandelier in our newly renovated all white bathroom with great resutls. This dramatic look can work well with alot of decorating styles.

Don’t forget natural light as well.  Perhaps during this bathroom renovation it is the time to install a larger window in the bathroom to allow in more light and ventilation.

Walls: Most homeowners opt for wall tiles either floor to ceiling or half way up. If you are after a more dramatic look why not think about some funky wallpaper, just ensure that you don’t use an uncoated paper as it will not last the distance.  Wall paper is an option if you like to change the look of a room often, as it is relatively easy to remove and hang another style, and it won’t break the budget.

Bath Tub: Do you want a separate bath tub from shower, or do you need to put the shower over the tub?  These days the array of bath tubs available is fantastic, from the vintage look claw foot bath, to the more modern stand alone tubs. Remember all those sunken baths in the 70s, maybe they’ll make a comeback? Whatever you decide make sure you research all that is available before making your decision.

Bath Tub & Basin Faucets: Where do you start to think about this vital component of your new bathroom?  I think the best place is to decide what you want the faucets and taps made from – chrome, brass, aged brass, etc. That will then narrow down your options.Bathroom faucets can cost well up into the hundreds of dollars each, but there are cheaper options so shop around to find one in your budget.  As always do your research as there is good quality, low price options available. Having said that make sure they are made to a quality that will last the distance.

Toilet: Is the toilet going to be in the bathroom, or does space allow you to install it in a separate room?  The most important aspect of this decision is the plumbing.  Will new plumbing have to be laid?

Electrical Outlets: How many do you need and where do you want them?You also don’t want to forget shaver sockets.We know water and electricity don’t mix, so ensure you comply with your local regulations when planning the electricals for your bathrom. Some countries won’t even allow electrical sockets in the bathroom, so ensure you know your local laws.

Storage: Think about what you plan to store in your bathroom.Will your bathroom need to store all your towels? If your bathroom will only be storing toiletries, then you could consider a large vanity with cupboards and draws. If you are one of the lucky ones with a large bathroom space, then consider built-in cupboard to hide everything away, or even an elegant armoire of you have a vintage style bathroom.

I dream of the day I can have a bathroom the size of a large bedroom complete with open fireplace, a large claw foot bath in the middle of the room and a big comfy sofa … ah keep dreaming.

Correctly using tiles to finalise the style and look of your bathroom is perhaps the best way of giving it a co-ordinated look that will create a tasteful and elegant bathroom. To insure that the end result is a complete success there are some things you might want to consider otherwise you may end up with a style disaster!

Bathroom tiles are now very much seen as a critical way of ensuring that your bathroom looks elegant chic but also timeless. If you choose ceramic bathroom tiles that are very chic, they can look somewhat dated in a few years. It is better to use tiles that will never go out of fashion. They will still look chic in the coming years.

I thin band of colour half way up the wall is a popular look with cream or white tiles. Whilst this still can look stylish, it can be seen up and down the country in thousands: if not millions of bathrooms.

To create lots of colours, the random use of coloured bathroom tiles from the same range, can interject colour, but look stylish and contemporary, without creating a style that will easily date.

Rectangular, larger tiles can also give a chic appearance to a bathroom and are easier to put up, rather than the smaller tiles. Mosaic tiles tend to date quite quickly, but look ok around wash and baseness and showers.

Many people try to copy far extravagant bathroom designs within a tiny, standard bathroom. If you are tempted to go for the look of the ultrachic hotel bathroom you stayed in when in Paris: don’t! What will happen is that the bathroom simply doesn’t work, if your space is significantly smaller than the original bathroom. Instead take some key features like a wash hand basin, shower etc and emulate these, but use your own taste and style to choose your own type of tiles etc for the rest of the bathroom. Then you will have tiles that are appropriate for the size of room.

Sometimes, very large bathrooms tend to have very large tiles: but do not be tempted to go for this look in a small bathroom, since the tiles can make the room look smaller, go for standard rectangular tiles instead.

Thus designing a stylish look with bathroom tiles is not too difficult, but you do need to think about your bathroom, its size and how the tiles will wear and look in the future. Be realistic when designing, you have to be realistic with what you have to work with.