An oasis of calm in your bathroom
Create a touch of luxury for your smallest room THEY say a kitchen and bathroom can sell a home. But not if your bathroom is full of green mould, has a loose toilet seat and discoloured grout! That is not appealing. Your bathroom should be inviting, a place where you can relax and wallow after a hard day’s work and if potential buyers can visualise themselves soaking in a hot bath or standing under a steamy shower, then you are halfway there to selling your home. It’s true, there’s no point spending thousands on a new bathroom if you planning on moving, but there’s plenty you can do to spruce up the room. Fit a new, simple white suite, for example. Look out for a sale bargain so it’s not too pricey to pick up a suite at a reasonable price. One key thing to remember is that the majority of people expect a shower, whether that’s over the bath or a separate cubicle. So, if you don’t have the cash to splash on a new suite then it’s worth investing in a shower if you don’t already have one. Putting in an electric shower over the bath, with a new-style glass shower screen, is a great way to attract buyers without the hassle of getting an whole new suite. Of course, your bathroom may not need any work at all, but just ensure those little extras are taken care of. Accessorise with matching towels, bath mats and candles and plants. These items can all help to create the ‘showhome style’ people often want and, with a few tweaks, you could have the
perfect bathroom. Do remember to stay away from garish colours as bright yellows or greens, for example, can be a turn off for some people, so stick to subtle yet stylish. Then there’s the tidying up of the walls, tiles and flooring. Ensure any discoloured grouting is taken care of, if you can’t get it beautifully white after a touch of bleach and elbow grease then you can get grouting pens which can whiten between the tiles to create a clean fresh look. Flooring can make all the difference too as no one wants to see a grimy carpet. The new-style cushion vinyl flooring gives you the option of many colours and styles, plus it’s relatively inexpensive. Another key factor to consider is the smell in your bathroom. Make sure it’s odour free and, maybe leave the bathroom window open when you have a viewing to allow fresh air in. Giving your bathroom the once over and making sure it’s pleasing on the eye for potential buyers is time well spent.
GET the water running, nice and hot, then sink in and unwind in the comfort of a sumptuous new bath, while you lie back and survey your beautiful bathroom suite. That’s the dream you have to keep in mind if you’re planning to rip out the old and install the new, when it comes to bathroom design. Working on a new bathroom can be a hassle, especially as the family bathroom is an essential part of your household’s morning preparations. If you employ a reliable team of plumbers and bathroom fitters then it shouldn’t take too long before your new bathroom is ready to enjoy. And it’s worth keeping in mind that, at the end of the process, you’ll be able to soak in a relaxing bathtub and luxuriate in your new surroundings. So, what’s popular right now in terms of bathroom design? Well the colourful design trend that is affecting most rooms of the house has also popped up in the bathroom, as has the popularity of natural materials. One very important trend is that fixtures within the bathroom be eco-friendly. So showers should be energy efficient and toilets should save on water used. S i m i l a r ly, b at h t u b s a r e increasingly eco-friendly. There are some innovative new acrylic bathtubs with built-in LED lights. LED light fittings are proving increasingly popular in the bathroom. They are
ultra-energy efficient and look great. Modern bathtubs can be fitted with sensor driven control systems that help regulate water temperature and pressure which can save up to 60% of water. A very stylish way to save the planet. The same sensor technology can be used in sinks to set the water temperature at the correct level for you, so saving the need to run the tap and waste water. The sensors can even let you know if you are wasting water. Continuing the environmentally-friendly theme, energy and water saving whirlpools and showers are trendy options for this spring. Alternatively, top-of-the- range modern showers are also available that offer spinal and foot massage with water jets, aromatherapy and ozone therapy. Sounds very luxurious. Materials proving popular in bath-
rooms fixtures and accessories for 2011 include items made from eco-friendly materials, plus glass, stainless steel and wood. In order to protect wooden flooring and bathroom furniture, moisture-resistant finishes are increasingly being used. Other interesting possible additions to your bathroom include installing a bathroom heater. These are specifically designed for the bathroom and can ensure the temperature in the bathroom is set just right for your personal preference. After all, there’s nothing worse than getting out of the shower and finding the rest of the room is just too cold for you! Last but not least, put the finishing touches to your bathroom with tiles, heated towel rails and a stylish bathroom cabinet.