1. Minimum functional requirements

How many people use your bathroom and how would they like to use your new bathroom? If you have a bathtub, do they fill it up or just use the shower? Do you have storage units, e.g. shelving for bathroom towels, cleaning products, and toiletries? We suggest writing down the minimum set of “must-have” requirements initially.

2. Space

Having written down your minimum functional requirements this leaves the rest of the space in your design to be creative with. Squeezing in many items will give a cramped a look and leave less space available for people to move around which can impact people using mobility aids (e.g. wheelchairs) now or later down the line. We suggest thinking about how much open space is left each time an item is added to the plan.

3. Lighting

Making use of natural light is a great cost-efficient way to brighten up your bathroom, so we just factoring in the direction of sunlight into your design when creating your floor plan.

If you’re planning to have any lighting or electrical devices then we suggest ensuring that the devices are suitable for wet areas, the voltage supply is appropriate and the circuitry is adequately protected. Please let us know on your project description so that tradespeople are made aware.

4. Heating

If you’d like to keep your bathroom warm there are different options for heating, including a heated towel rail (which for smaller bathrooms may be sufficient), underfloor heating or having standalone heaters.

5. Ventilation

It’s important to keep bathrooms properly ventilated to avoid mould growing inside. Having extractor fans that stay on for a while after you’ve left the bathroom can help as well as leaving the windows open.

6. Wall coverings and flooring

If you’re planning to buy your own paint we suggest checking that the paint is suitable for bathrooms, being resistant against moisture, mould, and mildew. Many stores have sections for “bathroom paints”. The same applies for wallpapers and other wall coverings that you might want to implement.

If you’re going to tile the floors or walls then we suggest thinking about:

• The size and colour of your tiles;
• The colour of the tiling grout (which will show up between each of the tiles);
• The orientation of your tiles if their lengths and widths are not equal. For example, laying tiles vertically can give an impression of a taller bathroom, and laying them horizontally can give the room a wider effect;
• Adequate waterproofing underneath the tiles.

• The number of rooms in your home that require heating;
• Whether you would like a gas boiler, fully-electric boiler, or a different type;
• If you own a boiler at the moment, the type of boiler you currently have, for example a combi boiler or a system boiler (which has a separate water cylinder for storing hot water), and how many radiators are currently installed;
• Whether you already have solar panels for heating water.

We suggest:

• Consulting local estate agents to find out the trends in your area, and how much value your designs might add to the price of your property. If you’re unsure of what additions you’d like, you may want to consider:
  • Adding a bedroom for your family or guests
  • An open-plan living area
  • A downstairs toilet
  • Converting your loft area at the same time
  • A new kitchen
• If budget permits, engaging an architect for the designs, and if required a structural engineer too. We can engage them on your behalf for a free estimate, and then you can decide if you wish to proceed. If you would like this please mention this on your project request.
• Checking if your designs are allowed within your Permitted Development rights. more information can be found on the government website here( Link ) and if not obtaining the necessary consent. Going through this process could take 2 months or longer.
• If you’re adding more rooms we suggest thinking about the impact on existing rooms. For example:
  • Adding an outer layer of rooms could block light from reaching the inner rooms causing them to appear darker.
  • If you’re planning to heat the rooms using your existing boiler, we suggest checking if it’s capable of handling the additional load.
• If you’re building close to the party wall between your property and your neighbour’s, making sure you have their consent. More information on the “Party Wall” act can be found on the government website here( Link )

• Durability against scratches
• Water resistance
• Installation costs
• Maintenance
• If you have (or intending to install) anything under the existing floor that needs to be considered, for example underfloor heating.

When specifying your project we suggest making it clear whether you’re buying the flooring materials yourself or if you’d like tradespeople to buy it for you.

We suggest:

• Reviewing your existing kitchen and writing down what you like and dislike about it. For example, it might have a lot of open space for people to cook and move around, and you might want this capability in your new kitchen too.
• Engaging a kitchen designer and exploring different ideas. There are different styles including Contemporary/Modern, Cottage, Shaker, Traditional, etc and many variations.
• Making sure you have enough budget before going ahead. Remodelling existing kitchens can be significantly more expensive than the prices you might have seen in stores, for example if there’s a lot of pipework that needs to be changed or installed. We suggest reviewing the estimates you receive through the website and making sure you’ve accounted for any building work, carpentry, plumbing, electrics, window manufacturers, work-top installers and so on.

In your project we suggest accounting for:

• Damp treatment, especially if your walls are exterior-facing
• Plastering if you’re intending to remove existing wallpaper;
• At least 2 coats of paint, especially if the existing wall is a completely different colour;
• Painting of any other adjoined surfaces e.g. woodwork in skirting boards and door frames, which also may require multiple coats of paint;