Planning a bathroom Designing a bathroom

When planning a new bathroom or en suite, first draw out a plan on graph paper (using metric measurements) showing where the bath, sink, loo and shower are and noting the position of windows and doors. Also measure how far away the room is from the existing waste pipes, plumbing and boiler. 

Draw out a plan using metric measurements

Then work out how much you want to spend, ensuring that you don’t invest more than you are likely to recoup if you plan to sell your house. Make a list of priorities - what you need and what you would like to have.

Take all your information to a bathroom specialist who can help design and plan your bathroom options. Make sure they keep to your budget and ideally look for a company that can give you a 3-D image of the finished room to help you decide on the best design.

Once you have a few designs under your belt and are sure of all the products you want to include, check to see what you can get for the best price.

For more information on planning your bathroom visit www.bathroom-design-guide.com, www.diydata.com and www.kbsa.org.uk.

Smaller spaces

If you don’t have much room to play with, look for corner sinks or toilets. There are plenty of products on offer that are smaller than standard sizes. Wall-hung units can save floor space and give the visual impression that the room is bigger than it actually is. Heated towel rails can mean you don’t need to make room for radiator.

Ventilation is important, especially if there isn’t a window, so think about fitting an electric fan (and get it certified by a properly qualified electrician).

If you can’t fit a bathroom or en suite anywhere near your waste pipe, then it might be worth investigating if you can fit a macerator toilet. They can be noisy, but are worthwhile if it means you get extra flexibility. For more information, visit www.saniflo.co.uk or www.edincare.com.

For more ideas on saving space, look at these websites: www.spacemakerfurniture.co.uk and www.small-bathrooms.co.uk.

Building regulations

Once your new bathroom or en suite is complete, make sure you gain the relevant building regulations approval – including drainage, any electrics and ventilation and checking that any glass meets the required safety standards. For more information on bathroom building regulations visit www.diydata.com and www.bathroom-design-guide.com.

Creating an en suite

Adding an en suite or extra loo can make a big difference when you have visitors – and add value to your home. Look for dead space that you aren’t using for anything important and that is near the waste pipe. For example, you could use the space currently taken up by fitted wardrobes in a bedroom, or use a partition wall to divide the room.

Another option is to take space from two rooms rather than one – easier if the walls you want to use are partitions rather than structural. Make sure you can still fit a single or double bed in the remaining space, though, rather than losing a bedroom. If you want a downstairs loo, think about any space you could use under your stairs or divide from the kitchen or utility room.