These bathroom design ideas cover every aspect of how to plan and decorate your dream bathroom, shower room or en suite. They come with design inspiration and practical how-to advice from the expert Ideal Home editorial team.
Amy Cutmore, Digital Editor 2nd April 2019
After a hard day, what could be more relaxing than a long soak in the bath? That is – unless your bathroom is out of date, and as you lay back, all you can think out is the mouldy grout/peeling paint/dripping taps. In which case, a makeover is definitely in order!
Designing a bathroom might seem a daunting task, but with our bathroom ideas and expert advice it needn’t be. There are several essential elements to consider when you think about bathroom design – whether you want to know how to install a shower room or what bathroom suite will suit your space, our gorgeous bathroom decorating ideas gallery is packed with inspiring pictures to get you started.
Browse these beautiful (and practical, we promise!) bathroom schemes for all styles and budgets to get a sense of what you like. From vintage bathrooms with free-standing tubs to modern bathrooms, there’s a huge range of options to choose from so it pays to do a bit a research before you invest.
From small bathroom solutions to our guide to bathroom colour schemes, we’re here to help you create the perfect bathroom in the heart of your home.
Cleaning your bathroom is unlikely to be a chore you relish. After all, who’s ever claimed to love scrubbing toilets or tackling mildew stains? However, that doesn’t mean it needs to be a completely thankless task—or a particularly time-consuming one.
We’ve rounded up tips from top cleaning experts on how to clean a bathroom with products you already have at home, making the process easier and saving you time along the way. And for more ways to spiff up your space, check out these 20 Things in Your Home You Didn’t Realize You Should Be Cleaning.
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The key to sparkling shower tiles is already in your pantry: white vinegar.
“Heat the vinegar up in the microwave and spray it on while it’s hot,” suggests Brad Roberson, president of Glass Doctor, a Neighborly Company. Roberson suggests adding a tablespoon of dish soap to the mixture if the smell bothers you, noting that this can also help cut through tough grime. And if you’re preparing your cleaning arsenal, start with these 20 Genius Products That Make Cleaning So Much Easier.
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If you’ve got mildew or surface mold in your bathroom, a clean dish brush is the tool you need to combat it. Roberson suggests combining six cups of warm water and a quarter cup of bleach to create a mold-busting cleaner.
“Use this solution to scrub down the walls [and] rinse well with the bucket or a handheld shower head sprayer,” says Roberson. And for more genius ways to spruce up your space, check out these 50 Easy Home Hacks That Will Instantly Improve Your Life.
Shutterstock/nadisja
For those stubborn mold and mildew stains that your dish brush and bleach solution won’t touch, try applying a paste of baking soda and water. “Cover the stain with the paste and allow it to stay on the stain for three to four hours,” following up with a thorough rinse, suggests Roberson.
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If your drain is emitting some unpleasant odors, a simple mixture of baking soda and vinegar can fix that in no time.
“The combination of vinegar and baking soda begins to fizz and can help break up any congealed grease in your drain,” explains to Joshua Miller, VP of Technical Training at Rainbow International Restoration. Miller recommends pouring one cup of baking soda and two cups of white vinegar down the drain, then flushing it with hot water after half an hour. And for more helpful information, sign up for our daily newsletter.
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Some parts of your sink are simply too small for the average cleaning tool to reach.
Luckily, there’s a solution right inside your medicine cabinet: “Dental floss is a great way to remove buildup in the nooks and crannies of the faucet and handles,” says Kim Burckhardt, owner of Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services of Westminster-Eldersburg. And for more surprisingly effective solutions to your household woes, check out these 33 Mind-Blowing Old-Fashioned Cleaning Tips That Actually Work.
One of the most common home renovations is the addition of a bathroom. Most older houses were built with no more than one bath; in today’s world, there’s almost no such thing as too many baths. In new construction, the rule of thumb is at least one bath for the master bedroom, one bath for every two additional bedrooms, and a half-bath (toilet and sink) near the relaxation area of the house. If you have fewer baths, that may be why you’re reading this article.
You know whether your bathroom facilities are adequate or not. But there are other questions you need to ask yourself as you continue your inspection tour. Is there an electrical outlet in the bathroom and, if so, is it a ground-fault interrupter (GFI) receptacle? This is a safety device that functions as a second fuse and will, in the event of a fault in the ground, shut off power to the outlet and prevent electrical shock. They’re recognizable by their small, rectangular reset buttons located between the plug receptacles.
Is the water pressure adequate? Run the cold water in the tub or shower and then flush the toilet: If the volume of running water diminishes noticeably, the pressure is low. Do you need a second sink? Is there enough ventilation, or does the bathroom fill with steam and remain damp for hours after every shower? Is the tile around the bath or shower tight or are there signs of deterioration at the corners or at the junction between the tile and the tub or shower base? Use the heel of your hand to exert some gentle pressure on the tile walls at the point where they join the tub or shower pan. Is there any give? Springy tile may indicate the wall has gotten damp and deteriorated over the years. The absence of a grout line and the presence of mold are signs that water may be seeping into the wall cavities.
Are the porcelain fixtures in good condition or is there cracking or pitting? Are any of the fixtures of a certain age? Older fixtures, even if they have age lines, can add character. Pedestal sinks, claw-foot tubs, and pull-chain toilets are cherished by some home renovators.
Examine the floors around the toilet: Irregularities in the floor (dips, discoloration, softness) may indicate leakage that has caused decay in the subfloor or even the structure around the toilet. That will need to be repaired. Examine the floors around the perimeter of the room, too. Like kitchens, bathroom floors require wet mopping and if the joint where the floor abuts the walls isn’t watertight, moisture can be wicked by the walls and produce peeling paint or wallpaper and, over the long term, deterioration of the wall itself.
A bathroom bill is the common name for legislation or a statute that defines access to public toilets by gender (restrooms)—or transgender individual. Bathroom bills affect access to sex-segregated public facilities for an individual based on a determination of their sex as defined in some specific way—such as their sex as assigned at birth, their sex as listed on their birth certificate, or the sex that corresponds to their gender identity.[1] A bathroom bill can either be inclusive or exclusive of transgender individuals, depending on the aforementioned definition of their sex. Unisex public toilets are one option to overcome this controversy.
Critics of bills which exclude transgender individuals from restrooms which conform to their gender identity argue that they do not make public restrooms any safer for cisgender (non-transgender) people, and that they make public restrooms less safe for both transgender people and gender non-conforming cisgender people.[2][3][4] Additionally, critics claim there have been no cases of a transgender person attacking a cisgender person in a public restroom,[2][5] although there has been at least one isolated incident of voyeurism in a fitting room.[6] By comparison, a much larger percentage of transgender people have been verbally, physically, and sexually harassed or attacked by cisgender people in public facilities.[7] For these reasons the controversy over transgender bathroom access has been labeled a moral panic.[8]
Proponents say such legislation is necessary to maintain privacy, protect what they claim to be an innate sense of modesty held by most cisgender people, prevent voyeurism, assault, molestation, and rape,[9] and retain psychological comfort.[10][11]
One bathroom bill, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act in North Carolina, was approved as a law in 2016, although portions of the measure were later repealed in 2017 as part of a compromise between the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature.
Also in 2016, guidance was issued by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education stating that schools which receive federal money must treat a student’s gender identity as their sex (for example, in regard to bathrooms).[12] However, this policy was revoked in 2017.[12]
Public perception[edit]
Public opinion regarding “transgender bathroom rights” in the United States is mixed, see summary table below.
Date(s) conducted
Support laws that require transgender individuals to use bathrooms that correspond to their birth sex
Oppose laws that require transgender individuals to use bathrooms that correspond to their birth sex
Don’t know / NA
Margin of error
Sample
Conducted by
Polling type
May 3, 2017 – May 7, 2017
48%
45%
7%
4%
1,011 adults American adults
Gallup
Cellphone and landline phones
March 2017
40%
40%
?
?
YouGov
?
February 10, 2017 – February, 19, 2017
39%
53%
2.6%
2,031 adults
Public Religion Research Institute
Live interviews via RDD telephones and cell phones
In many parts of the home, choosing flooring mainly comes down to appearance. You want your living room, dining room, bedroom, or office flooring to look great; performance, while important, is second. With bathrooms, the playbook changes.
When choosing bathroom flooring, consider how it will perform under stress. And the stress event in this case involves water, lots of it. Water is so prevalent in bathrooms that it is an expectation, not an anomaly. Water is everywhere: on the walls, ceiling, and the floor. Moisture will quickly ruin the wrong flooring. To make matters even more difficult, you eventually have to pull those other factors into the dialogue. If moisture were the only factor, sheet vinyl or ceramic tile would likely win every time. But these additional factors, like durability, appearance, cost, and ease of installation, need to be considered, as well.
Watch Now: 8 Questions to Consider When Buying Flooring
Porcelain or Ceramic Tile
Porcelain tile is the best of all worlds for bathroom flooring, as it is waterproof, stylish, and cost-effective. Like stone, porcelain tile can achieve a rich, textured, solid feeling. Like vinyl, it is waterproof and is fairly inexpensive. Like wood flooring, tile looks great.
Should you choose porcelain or ceramic tile and is there a difference between the two? Porcelain is part of the general ceramic tile family with one slight difference: water absorption rate. The Porcelain Tile Certification Agency (PTCA) certifies types of tile as “porcelain” if these tiles have a water absorption rate of 0.5-percent or less. If this is a half bathroom or powder room, there is less of a need to purchase porcelain tiles because there are no bathing facilities.
Because there are so many different types of ceramic tiles, you can create the exact floor you want. You can even find ceramic tile that looks like wood or stone.
Individual tile comes in a wide variety of size and shapes, from square and rectangular to octagonal and hexagonal. Smaller mosaic tiles are pre-mounted on plastic mesh sheets, so you do not have to individually set each tile. With tinted grout, you can be even more creative.
Best of all, tile cleans up well and resists even standing pools of water. Like stone, tile is cold. However, radiant or heated tile can be laid under the tile. Wet tile is slippery. But texturing solves that problem. Smaller tiles are less slippery because more grout is used and the grout acts as a non-skid surface.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Many style choices
Good resale value
Works well with radiant heating
Cleans up well
Cons
Cold under foot
Hard under foot, so it is difficult to stand on for long periods
Often sterile-looking
Slippery
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Vinyl Flooring: Sheet, Plank, or Tile
Good-looking and supremely practical, vinyl has been a popular choice for bathroom flooring for decades. Sheet vinyl flooring is your best option if extreme amounts of water are expected, such as in children’s bathrooms or laundry rooms. Because
Sense: a room or enclosed structure used for urination and defecation[edit]
Synonyms[edit]
bathroom(US)
bog(vulgar slang, UK)
bogger(slang, AU)
brasco (slang, AU)
can(slang, US)
carsey(slang, UK)
cloaca(obsolete)
closet(obsolete)
closet of ease(obsolete)
cludgie(Scots)
cottage(UK gay, slang)
crapper(vulgar slang)
dike (AU&NZ, slang)
dunny (slang, AU&NZ)
facilities
geography(slang, UK)
House of Lords(dated jocular slang, UK)
jacks (slang, Irish)
jacques (obsolete)
jakes (Irish)
john (slang, US)
karzy(slang, UK)
khazi(slang, UK)
kocay(obsolete)
ladies and gentlemen(rare)
latrine
lats(UK, slang)
lav(UK, slang)
lavatory
lavabo(jocular slang)
lavvy(slang, UK)
loo (slang, UK)
necessary
necessary place(obsolete)
neddy(Geordie, obsolete)
netty(Geordie)
office [WS] (archaic)
place
potty(childish)
privy(dated)
purging place(obsolete)
restroom [WS] (US)
shitter (vulgar slang)
small room
smallest room
teahouse(US gay, slang, dated)
tearoom(US gay, slang, dated)
toilet [WS]
toilet room(dated)
throne-room(jocular slang)
urination station(slang)
usual offices(UK)
vault(obsolete)
washroom(US, Canada)
water closet (UK)
WC(UK)
withdraught(obsolete)
Hyponyms[edit]
A public bathroom reserved for use by men
A public bathroom reserved for use by women
A permanent outer building used as a bathroom
A secondary bathroom containing only a toilet and sink
A temporary structure used as a bathroom
Other
Hypernyms[edit]
Meronyms[edit]
Holonyms[edit]
Notes[edit]
Although British English also uses the term bathroom to refer euphemistically to a place to urinate and defecate, it uses it much less often than American English in reference to public toilets.
Victorian Plumbing is a leading retailer of bathrooms online. From our headquarters based in Liverpool, UK, we sell a huge range of modern and traditional bathroom products on our online store as well as in our showroom. We’ve come a long way from our humble beginnings, and we’re now one of the largest bathroom retailers in the UK.
Over the last few years, bathrooms have become one of the most important rooms to decorate in the home and now, alongside the ideal kitchen, homeowners are looking to increase the value of their home or simply show off a renovated room to their family and friends. We believe by pairing the right suite with stylish fittings and accessories, your perfect bathroom isn’t too far away. That’s why we stock well over 17000 products to help you achieve the look you’ve always wanted, whether you’re dreaming of a complete bathroom suite or just in need of a few accessories, we have the choice and range for you no matter your style and budget. You can shop our easy to use and informative website, find inspiration on our blog and connect with us on social media for updates, ideas and competitions.
If you’re looking for something specific our easy to use search bar at the top of each webpage is the best place to start. We stock 1000’s of bathroom products from leading brands, along with showroom favourites and our best-selling own-brand Victorian Plumbing designed range.
Quality Bathrooms, Without Splashing Out
Online Bathroom Specialist
We’ve built an excellent reputation at Victorian Plumbing by knowing what you, the customer wants. As an online bathroom specialist we know you want bathrooms that are stylish and high quality products, yet real value for money. Our buying team excel in sourcing the best brands and ensuring we get the best designs and styles at the lowest prices.
We truly believe in our ethos of Quality Bathrooms, Without Splashing Out. It’s cheesy – but it represents what we’re all about here at Victorian Plumbing.
It means beautiful designer bathrooms are no longer only for posh hotels and stately homes. With our internet prices and next day delivery option you’ll be able to order your bathroom online today and take delivery tomorrow, ready to plumb in and enjoy.
Renovate Your Bathroom
Renovate Your Bathroom with Victorian Plumbing
Monday morning are hard enough as it is without having to battle with shoddy showers and temperamental taps. Couple these common problems with an awful avocado suite and you’ve got a recipe for a disastrous start to any week. Many of our bathroom products are guaranteed for 5 – 25 years and, in some cases, full lifetime manufacturer guarantees are supplied. This not only shows you just how confident we are in the quality of the items we sell but it gives you complete peace of mind when purchasing them from us.
A new bathroom doesn’t always mean modern and minimal. With our roots in the restoration and sales
From Antique Brass to Contemporary Faucets & Fixtures
Choose from a wide selection of faucet finishes and styles in widespread, centerset, wall-mounted and single-hole configurations. From antique brass faucets to accompany your traditional bathroom furniture, to contemporary faucets and fixtures to match the modern furniture in your trendy bathroom, you’ll find just what you’re looking for at Modern Bathroom.
When it’s classic style that you’re after in your bathroom fixtures, we have the traditional bathtub and sink faucets that are right up your alley. Our catalog of options includes a variety of traditional-style products, perfect for complementing the overall look and feel of your traditional bathroom. Our traditional faucets include options from brands like TOTO, Danze, Grohe and our own designs; in finishes like brushed nickel, chrome, crystal, oil-rubbed bronze, polished brass, polished nickel, satin black, sterling and tumbled bronze. With their timeless character and craftsmanship, these faucets work beautifully in a wide range of homes.
Because we cater to a range of bathroom styles, we also offer a variety of sleek, stylish contemporary faucets for sinks and tubs. When you’re looking for a bold and modern bathroom look, our contemporary options are the perfect fit. Choose from hundreds of options, created by top brands like Aquatica, Danze, Grohe, Toto or our own Modern Bathroom line. Showcasing modern lines and shapes, our contemporary faucets help you make a strong statement with your bathroom design. Opt for a contemporary faucet when you want to create an edgier, more modern style in your bathroom at home.
If you’ve seen a household cleanser ad lately, you’ve probably seen a bacteria, mold, or fungus, personified as an ugly little critter with sharp teeth, scaly skin, and a bad attitude. Those ads make it seem as if bathroom germs are mounting a daily, organized invasion of your tub, toilet, and shower. But what are the real bathroom germs lurking behind your sink, what can you catch from them, and how can you combat them?
Bathroom Germs: They’re Everywhere
The bad news is yes, there are probably a lot of germs in your bathroom. In fact, there are a lot of germs on your body.
“There are more germs than body cells on the human body, by a factor of 10,” says Philip M. Tierno, Jr., PhD, director of clinical microbiology and diagnostic immunology at Tisch Hospital, New York University Medical Center. “So 90% of the total number of cells on your body are actually germ cells. We can’t live in a bubble and avoid germs.” But, says Tierno, most germs are perfectly harmless to us.
Not all of them, of course. So what harmful germ beasties might be prowling in your bathroom? There are several types:
Gastrointestinal viruses that cause stomach ailments in humans. These include the norovirus, which you may have heard of in connection with cruise ship outbreaks. These viruses aren’t just on cruise ships; they can be exploring your toilet seat as well. Gastrointestinal viruses “are easily transmitted and can remain on a solid surface for as much as a week,” says Tierno.
Enteric pathogens, which are organisms spread by contaminated foods (and can, of course, be carried in feces). These include things like E. coli, salmonella, shigella, and campylobacter. E. coli O157:H7 is particularly nasty, causing severe diarrhea with bloody stools. “It’s the bacteria that killed four children and caused a lot of illness at Jack-in-the-Box restaurants in California in 1993,” says Donna Duberg, MA, MS, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University.
Skin and respiratory organisms, such as staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) bacteria, including the antibiotic resistant MRSA strain, and Group A Strep, known as the “flesh-eating” bacteria.
Dermatophitic fungi, like athlete’s foot, transmitted by walking barefoot in the bathroom.
Other residual fungi, like those indigenous to showers — the “mold and mildew” of bathroom cleanser fame. “They don’t cause infection, but they can exacerbate asthma and allergies,” says Tierno.
But before you evacuate your bathroom and call Hazmat, here’s the good news: if you clean regularly and practice basic hygiene, there’s very little risk from the bathroom germs you’ll find there. “Only about 1%-2% of all germs are pathogenic — meaning they can make us sick,” says Tierno. “There’s a possibility you can catch something, but if you practice good personal, household, and food hygiene, you’re at pretty low risk.”
