redesigning a bathroom for first time buyers introduction...redesigning a bathroom for first time...
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Redesigning a bathroom for first time buyers
Introduction
Our contemporary, space saving bestseller Cubitt Designer
If you’ve just bought your first home then updating abathroom is a great way to put a personal stamp on yournew property and start afresh. When it comes to what toconsider, the top three constraints you may be workingaround are;
1. Space - perhaps your bathroom space is at a premium
and your priority is to pay close attention to layout andmaximising your use of the space without compromising onyour growing needs in the years to come.
2. Budget - after paying a mortgage, conveyancing and
deposit fees, you might be left with a small pot of money towork magic on a bathroom in need of TLC so your priority ismaking an impact cost effectively.
3. Making quality choices - whatever choices you make
now as a first time home owner, you need to feel confidentthey’re the right decisions for you and your family with qualityproducts you can rely on for the next 10+ years.
At bathrooms.com we’re passionate about finding designsolutions that work around your needs and budget as a firsttime home owner. This guide is designed so you can designyour dream bathroom on budget and potentially add value toyour first home as a result.
Whether you’re staring at a dated avocado bathroom suite or
you want to make the space more focused on your needs as
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opposed to the previous homeowners, it’s important to weighup your options so your new bathroom stands the test oftime.
Where to begin
Before considering which bath, shower or toilet option is right
for your new home, first get a thorough understanding of
the space you’re working with, the elements you want to
keep and change and then pin down a realistic budget
based on what you think you’ll need, not forgetting labourcosts for installation.
What’s a realistic budget for a bathroom?
This is a common question for first time homeowners.
After buying your first property, you’d be surprised at thedramatic differences you can make to your bathroom on atight budget with just a few key design changes.
The average cost for a complete bathroom redesign in theUK (including plumbing, tiling, flooring and labour) is
estimated at £4,000 (source – Daily Mail, December
2015*). However, if your budget is smaller, costs can be
heavily reduced by being clever with how you plan yourspace and DIYing where possible. We’ll be giving space andcost saving tips throughout this guide to help you make theright decisions.
Prices can also vary depending on the size of yourbathroom, and how much of the original bathroom yousalvage. No matter what your budget, Bathrooms.com offeraffordable bathroom solutions without compromising ondurability and design. We recommend seeking quotes fromexperienced plumbers and tilers early on in the project whichwill help you set a realistic figure as labour charges can varywidely across the UK.
* http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-3336666/The-one-cost-homebuyers-fail-budget-adds-10-000-year-moving.html
Your options
There is a wide array of different bathrooms available to you
to achieve a variety of different looks, from modern wet
rooms, to traditional freestanding bathroom suites.
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Knowing what is achievable in the space you have is thesecret to successfully prioritising your household needs anddefining the overall look and feel of the space.
We pride ourselves on producing practical bathrooms that
fit with first time buyer’s lifestyles and budget without
compromising on design, so no matter how big, small or
impractical your space may be, we have the products tocreate your dream bathroom.
Let’s begin by looking at your options taking intoconsideration your constraints as a first time homeowner -
space, budget and quality.
Baths for first time buyers
Our Burnham back to wall bath makes the same statement
as a freestanding bath, but needs less space in a layout.
Baths and showers are the biggest pieces in your bathroom
so first decide whether you’ll have one or both, then sketch aroom plan with your measurements in mind. If you can’t fit
both a separate shower and bath, a shower bath will be a
more effective and affordable option - we’ll cover more infoon shower baths below.
If space and budget is at a premium, straight baths are a
great choice as they fit neatly along a wall or up against acorner which makes best use of the floor space available to
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you. A model like our Sullivan is practical, stylish and offersa contemporary look at an affordable cost.
Straight baths come either with squared edge, or curved
edge ends. If the end of your bath will sit in close proximity
to your sink or toilet, a curved edge bath would soften the
flow of the room and prevent bangs and scratches over the
years, whilst a square edged bath will need a little bit more
walking space around its perimeter to prevent clumsyknocks.
If you’re set on having a separate shower cubicle and bath
but have a small space to work with, consider a corner bath
which gives the illusion of space because of its curvededges. Corner baths can be installed flush against 2 walls inany right angled corner allowing more room for the loo, sinkand shower, adding to a better overall layout.
Ensure you end up with a bath that stands the test of timecomfort-wise by considering how you like a bath to fit aroundyou when in use. If you tend to soak in baths sitting upright,
a flat base bath might be more comfortable for you.
Alternatively if you prefer lounging, a bath like our Coateswould provide sloped support to your back for hours ofrelaxation.
Add personal touches to your new bath by choosing
unconventional taps that offer a design statement alongside
practicality. Taps can either sit fixed to your bath towards thecenter or to one end, or above the bath tub with pipe workrunning behind a partition wall which will give a tidy look.
Mixer taps with a shower head included are a great choice
for ease of cleaning regardless of whether you’re opting for ashower bath or separate shower and bath.
Top tip: Baths tend to be a standard size 1700mm. If you’re
working with a smaller bath space, most of our baths can be
ordered in 1600mm. Our smallest baths are our L and P-
shaped shower baths at 1500mm.
Showers for first time buyers
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As long as you have a head height of 1850mm+ a shower
can comfortably fit under the ceiling or in the recess of a
room
Choosing the right shower enclosure and tray for your
bathroom design is an opportunity for you to add a personaland practical touch to your first home. Decide whether youwant to make your shower a stand out feature in the room,or a practical place to wash as this will determine yourdesign choice.
Walk in shower enclosures paired with an ultra slim wet
room tray gives the illusion of space. They’re a deceivably
inexpensive option with their cutting edge frameless design,and if you want a shower that’s low maintenance, ordering a
single glass screen for a walk in shower as opposed to a
shower cubicle, will be easy to wipe down and keep clean -there’ll be no handles or frame getting in your way.
If you prefer a step in, step out opening to your shower(which does lock heat in better than a walk in shower)
sliding door enclosures are a more practical alternative to
a 90 degree hinged door opening in small bathrooms. Theysave the space that the swing of a door would usually takeup in a room giving you more floor space to work with. Theminimum size of a sliding door enclosure is around 1,000mmto allow enough space for the door to open and closeproperly.
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If your priority is optimising space inside the shower yet youdon’t have space for a wider rectangular shower tray,
quadrant and pentagonal shower enclosures tuck in
nicely to a right angle corner whilst not losing valuableshower space - when in use, having your back to the doors
of a pentagonal shower means you still gain the same
amount of arm space as if you had a square or rectangular
shower tray, but altogether it will take up less footprint in the
room.
Having a less practical sloped ceiling or squeezing in ashower to the eaves of a bathroom can be difficult to work
around but provided you have a head height of 1850mm for
your shower space, we have shower screens that can be
purchased in 15 different widths that are easy to fit.Remember to account for the floor height of your tray as thiswill minimise head space under sloped ceilings.
Frameless screens are a great way to keep light running
through a small bathroom with a feeling of spaciousness.
Opting for adjustable hard wearing glass screens as
opposed to hanging a shower curtain keeps the spacefeeling clutter free and is more hygienic.
Shower baths for first time buyers
Our L-shaped shower bath is available to order in 4 different
sizes to suit your bathroom shape (1500mm, making it our
smallest shower bath on offer)
The long term versatility shower baths can bring a home is
unrivalled. They offer the convenience of quick showers,
and the relaxation of baths cost effectively (you won’t be
paying for the two separately).
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If your first home is somewhere you plan on starting or
bringing up a family, a bathroom with a shower bath is a
feature you should consider for their practicality. Showerenclosures can be tricky for children to use whereas ashower bath is simply somewhere they can step into.
Our range of shower baths come as P shaped, or L shaped
providing lots of extra room on the tap end of the bath givingyou the same experience as showering in a spacious
enclosure. The models come in lengths of 1500mm, shorter
than an average bath. All models come with hinged shower
screens measured to fit your bath perfectly, with the option
of left hand or right hand hinge screens to suit the layout ofyour bathroom. So think carefully about the positioning of thetoilet, sink and storage as you don’t want a hinged screenbanging into your bathroom suite.
Toilets for first time buyers
If you’re changing the layout of your bathroom then you’ll
need to think about the position of your toilet as the first portof call. Your soil pipe will dictate the position of your toilet soit’s actually best to plan your bathroom layout surroundingyour toilet.
If you’re buying a toilet for a very small bathroom, under stair
cupboard or ensuite, a corner toilet unit like our metro
compact is a great space saving option as it positions thetoilet out of reach from swinging shower screens or basinsand utilises space in an otherwise redundant corner.
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Wall hung toilets like our Rinaldi Signature, our most
affordable in the wall hung range, are mounted and raisedfrom the floor to give the clever illusion of space underneath.The cistern and pipework on wall hung toilets are usuallyhidden behind boxed in tiling or wall panels for a minimallook which can double up as clever use of storage space. It’salso worth considering toilets with a dual flush which aremore environmentally friendly and will save your pennies aswell as the environment.
Bear in mind that hidden cisterns and pipework must alwaysbe accessible if for any reason there is a toilet or drainblockage and your plumber needs access. Your tiler orplumber will provide you with simple solutions to achieving aboxed in look whilst making it accessible.
Top tip: When measuring for toilet installation give
enough space on every side of the loo so that you can
be seated comfortably. Not too close to your bath,
shower or worse… your radiator/towel heater. Ideally
allow 15 inches either side and 21 inches of legroom in
front.
Basins for first time buyers
Despite basins taking up a small amount of space in a
bathroom, the design you choose for your first home can
transform the room and overall design. Wall hung basins
are the most compact option for small bathrooms, our
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smallest being our Contour Designer basin at 340mm. If youare looking for a small basin that is high quality without theprice tag, this is the most affordable solution.
Consider what your growing needs will be in years to come.If you’re to take into account the needs of family living, we’drecommend opting for a sink as large as you can suitably fitin the bathroom. Wall hung basins are better for small tasks
like washing hands, whereas something like a counter top
basin or inset vanity basin like the Linear Design would be
perfect for tasks that may cause a splash such as washingyour face and brushing your teeth. The larger the footprint ofyour sink, the less likely you are to find water on the floorwhen little ones are using it. For a happy medium betweenlarge and small, pedestal basins like the Metro Curve offerpracticality and a real focal point to a bathroom as they havegood depth, catching any splashes and hide unsightlypipework inside their stand.
Countertop basins are a fantastic option for smaller spaces
if your vision is to install one onto a shelving unit providingunder sink storage for things like makeup, beauty productsand razors. They can also give a style statement to a roomwhen fitted in a suspended fashion below a mirror.
Top tip: Look for a basin with a fairly wide rim that cancomfortably fit soap dishes or toothbrush holders on. Thiswill save you space elsewhere in your bathroom, and all yourdaily products can be positioned within reach.
Bathroom suites for first time buyers
To promise a strong, cohesive design in your first bathroom
refresh, you can opt to buy a bathroom suite to give you
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confidence that the individual parts in your bathroom will allmatch.
Purchasing one of our bathroom suites is a great opportunity
to save money on your redesign. When purchasing
products separately it can cost up to £100 more per suite. Soif you’re thinking about only changing the bath and toilet, andyou’re not sure how long your existing sink has left, it couldbe better value for money long term to buy a bathroom suiteand replace everything, giving you a 10 year guarantee.
Our bathroom suites can include a toilet, sink, shower-bath,freestanding bath or shower cubicle, depending on your
needs, in a range of quality designs from clean line
contemporary suites to the more classic and elegant
models. Our cheapest suite is the Essential 3 piece, a
popular choice for first time home owners who have a tightbudget as it offers them quality design that’s built for modernliving.
Top tip: If you have more than one bathroom in your homeyou could consider buying a bathroom suite and useindividual parts across both bathrooms to spread yourbudget a little further.
Storage solutions for first time buyers
The plus side of owning your first property is having full
permission to take storage solutions to the next level up thatrented accommodation limited you with. During the redesignof your new bathroom, it’s important to take into account
opportunities to incorporate storage space wherever
possible.
For a start, bathroom cabinets are a great addition to any
bathroom as they provide a home for unsightly razors, yourstock of toothpaste and toothbrushes, and double up as a
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handy bathroom mirror. We offer minimalist bathroomcabinets, some made specifically to compliment your
bathroom choice, most of which incorporate built-in lighting
technology to optimise light in your space. Bathroom
cabinet lights offer an ambient feel when the main light isswitched off which could save you money in electrician feeshad you have desired dimmer lights.
Further consideration for storage solutions could be to
install countertop basins to a shelving unit, utilising the
space where pipework would typically sit. Shelving above a
toilet utilises wall space, providing a home for towels and
storage baskets and is typically the cheapest storageupgrade you can give to your first home.
Radiators/towel heaters
If you’re redesigning a bathroom that’s dated, it’s common to
find that radiators have been positioned in less practicalplaces. A popular option in upgraded bathrooms is to installa towel heater in place of wide radiators. Apart fromproviding comfort and heat to the bathroom, towel radiatorslike our curved heated towel rail have a modern aestheticthat potentially saves space in a bathroom. Older heatersare typically wide, whereas towel rails are tall and thin givingyou more wall space to install a wall hung basin, shelves ortoilet. The Renwick towel rail takes up the smallest amountof space of all our towel rails, and is the most affordableoption on our website.
There’s no doubt that towel heaters bring an unrivalled
sense of luxury to any bathroom, given they keep towels
warm and fluffy, but if you’re worried they may be toomodern for your plans, look at our Arlo Traditional Radiator.
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It isn’t for cheaper budgets but it does offer a more timelessdesign that ties in with traditional bathrooms.
Bathroom furniture for first time buyers
Vanity units are a great way to utilise space under a sink andthere are a variety available from bathrooms.com from £79.A corner vanity unit is a great option to conserve valuablespace and a combination unit combines a toilet, sink andstorage in one piece of bathroom furniture.
Alternatively, freestanding units are great additions forstorage and give you the freedom to move these aroundyour bathroom. You can also take these with you if youdecide to move property rather than having them affixed to awall.
Mirror cabinets are also a great way to utilise space thatwould have been taken up by a mirror and double this up asstorage for medicine and other bathroom essentials.
The finishing touches
To finish off your bathroom redesign, don’t forget about all
the ways you can enhance your space however small it
may be.
Positioning large mirrors on walls will give the illusion of a
larger room as light reflects from wall to wall, doubling the
space size. If opting for pattern tiling either on your walls
and/or floors, try not to focus on big, bold patterns in smallareas. More detailed, smaller patterns in tiling is better suitedto a smaller space as it is less busy.
As you would in any other room in your new house, make
the most of lighting. If your bathroom doesn’t see much
natural light, inset ceiling lights will brighten the room. Becareful as you are planning lighting changes as more oftenthan not, faux ceilings have to be put in place to hide wiring.This lowers the ceiling height of your room so keep this inmind for your shower measurements.
If you have large windows and lots of natural light, introduceplants and elements of nature which will bring the outdoorsinside, and don’t forget no bathroom is complete withoutcandles scattered on shelving for ultimate relaxation.
To recap
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Redesigning a bathroom you’ve long dreamed of that comesin on budget without compromising on design and quality ishighly achievable.
The key is getting clear on the possibilities available to youand being realistic with your budget and space constraintswhilst constantly taking into account your needs now, and 10years down the line. With close consideration and clever useof small areas, you will end up with a bathroom that standsthe test of time. A relaxing space for you, your family andfuture owners of your property, long into the future.
Good luck!
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