Generally, the bathroom is one of the most expensive rooms in your house to renovate, so it’s obviously not something you want to do regularly.  Don’t let this intimidate you though – if you approach the planning one step at a time, you might find the journey enjoyable…or at least keep the end result in mind, because it’s so rewarding!  There are numerous ways you can approach the planning, but here is a guide to where we start.

Step 1 : Gather Inspiration

Gather images from magazine, Instagram, Pinterest and spaces you see out and about.  You may have found a tile that you absolutely love.  Before you rush out and purchase, collate any samples together with your inspiration pictures and start your own mood board.  Hopefully, you should start to see a consistent theme emerging.  If you’ve collected samples you should be able to tell how well things are working together at this point.

Gather inspiration online, via magazine, samples and places you visit

Step 2 : Lock in the Layout

This is always the most time consuming step for Kyal and I, as a functional layout is so important.  Draw an outline of the room you’re working with and experiment with layout options – don’t always settle for the first option.  Allow yourself some time to think about the best layout for your lifestyle.  Consider what is important to you, for example, if planning an ensuite and the room allows, would you prefer a double shower or a double basin? When considering the layout remember to think about natural light.  Where are windows positioned in relation to other elements in the bathroom?  For example, consider positioning a mirror in close proximity to a window for optimal light reflection.  If the budget allows, have you considered changing window sizes?  Velux skylights are also a great idea for increasing natural light and creating a feature in small spaces.

Scale your bathroom up and experiment with different layout options

Step 3 : Choose your Feature

If you’re after a bit of ‘wow factor’ in your bathroom, now is the time to think about what that will be.  Is the bath the feature?  If so, you may you want to consider a large-format tile on the walls behind the bath so as not to distract from your feature.  Sometimes less is more!  Ensure your choices don’t compete with one another.  If you’ve found a mosaic tile you love, ensure that the remaining tiles don’t compete.  Are you after a feature tile or did you want to keep the bathroom simple and streamline?  Remember that you don’t have to tile to the ceiling on every wall.  For example, you could consider subway tiles to 1200mm with the remainder wall painted a feature colour.  Bespoke cabinetry, feature pendants or wall lighting and mirrors can all be used to create a feature.

Step 4 : Add in the Finer Details

Once you’ve mapped out your general layout, and before anything is locked in, now is the time to add in all those finer details.  This includes but is not limited to niches in the shower area, built-in shaver cabinetry and extra storage opportunities.  It’s also important to lock in a lighting plan at this stage, remembering to think about ensuring enough functional light – especially in the vanity zone.  These are all things that your builder and/or trades will need to know as early as possible so that adequate planning can occur.

Step 5 : Select Accessories

Once you’ve mapped out your layout and design features, you should have a clear idea of how much space you’ve allowed for bathroom essentials such as vanities and shower area.  This layout is essential for bathroom product shopping.  For example, when searching for a bathtub, it’s important to note how much room you have allowed so that you don’t purchase a bathtub 200mm too long for your space!  It sounds obvious, but it happens!  Have all your tapware and bathroom products selected before any work commences to ensure that everything is organised, and that you’re not holding trades up.

Select your tapware and other bathroom products ready for trades to commence work