Getting it Right: The Bathroom Details That Matter
Small decisions add up to big impact, so include them at the start of your bathroom planning
The bathroom is the place where details really matter. When you are building or renovating a bathroom, you might be tempted to focus on the biggest considerations – the overall bathroom plan and the large items like the vanity, basin, bath, toilet, shower or the taps.
The smaller details are also integral to the final form and function of the bathroom, so should be factored in earlier on in the planning process. You need to give yourself enough time to consider all the options, allow delivery time for products and schedule in professional (or proficient DIY) installation. Here are some of the small but impactful details that can really complete the bathroom.
The smaller details are also integral to the final form and function of the bathroom, so should be factored in earlier on in the planning process. You need to give yourself enough time to consider all the options, allow delivery time for products and schedule in professional (or proficient DIY) installation. Here are some of the small but impactful details that can really complete the bathroom.
Mirror
There are so many different kinds of mirrors to choose from and most people think you can pick this at the end, however, it is worth considering this item at the beginning. Your designer will be creating an overall composition with the vanity, basin, mirror lights and other details to work together harmoniously, so it’s ideal to have the mirror sorted at the start. By being prepared, you can take advantage to consider installing a mirror demister and the necessary timber blocking needed to hang a heavier mirror.
There are so many different kinds of mirrors to choose from and most people think you can pick this at the end, however, it is worth considering this item at the beginning. Your designer will be creating an overall composition with the vanity, basin, mirror lights and other details to work together harmoniously, so it’s ideal to have the mirror sorted at the start. By being prepared, you can take advantage to consider installing a mirror demister and the necessary timber blocking needed to hang a heavier mirror.
Bottle waste trap material
If you plan to have exposed plumbing underneath a vanity benchtop or wall-hung basin, be sure to specify a bottle waste trap in chrome, brass or the same metal finish as your tapware to give you a quality finished look. Choose this option early, along with the basin, and have it ready for the plumber. Otherwise they will install a basic, unattractive plastic pipe instead.
How to choose the right bathroom basin
If you plan to have exposed plumbing underneath a vanity benchtop or wall-hung basin, be sure to specify a bottle waste trap in chrome, brass or the same metal finish as your tapware to give you a quality finished look. Choose this option early, along with the basin, and have it ready for the plumber. Otherwise they will install a basic, unattractive plastic pipe instead.
How to choose the right bathroom basin
Niches
Talking to your designer and builder at the beginning means you can install these great and handy niches throughout the bathroom. Allowances need to be made in the walls to make available space for the niche, while the tiler will need to waterproof before laying the tiles.
For the shower, a built-in niche to house essential products is a clean and efficient way to organise your shower (no more bending down to pick them off the floor). Talk to your interior designer or builder about how big you want this niche to be.
TIP: Check the placing of the niche to fit with the tile layout for a clean and tidy finish.
Talking to your designer and builder at the beginning means you can install these great and handy niches throughout the bathroom. Allowances need to be made in the walls to make available space for the niche, while the tiler will need to waterproof before laying the tiles.
For the shower, a built-in niche to house essential products is a clean and efficient way to organise your shower (no more bending down to pick them off the floor). Talk to your interior designer or builder about how big you want this niche to be.
TIP: Check the placing of the niche to fit with the tile layout for a clean and tidy finish.
Niches are not only restricted to the shower, they can also be located by the bath. This long timber built-in niche by MOAA Architects efficiently stores products within comfortable reach of the bather, rather than having them sitting on the bath’s edge. It also doubles as a display space, and the timber brings warmth and interest to the room.
If you have a good sized bathroom and it is difficult to create a niche within the existing walls, your builder can bring the wall forward into the space instead. This niche, created by a ledge below the mirrored cabinets has become a handy space, not only for useful storage and a display area for the bathroom that happens to have no vanity, but also creating a space for the plumbing behind the toilet and basin to be installed. If you figure this out at the beginning, it can be a great design feature.
Five-star shower niches
Five-star shower niches
Handles
Handles often don’t get the credit they deserve in a bathroom. As well as serving the obvious primary function of opening drawers and cupboards, they are also the finishing touch for the vanity; think of them as jewellery. What do you want your bathroom handles to say? Are they minimal, contemporary, traditional or quirky? They are a great tool to state the style you want to show.
The handles seen in this example match the tone of the striking tile, nicely repeating the colour palette. Choosing these handles earlier meant the vanity drawers were built to allow these to sit on top of the drawer fronts.
Handles often don’t get the credit they deserve in a bathroom. As well as serving the obvious primary function of opening drawers and cupboards, they are also the finishing touch for the vanity; think of them as jewellery. What do you want your bathroom handles to say? Are they minimal, contemporary, traditional or quirky? They are a great tool to state the style you want to show.
The handles seen in this example match the tone of the striking tile, nicely repeating the colour palette. Choosing these handles earlier meant the vanity drawers were built to allow these to sit on top of the drawer fronts.
Making the handles the star in the bathroom is a great opportunity to introduce some whimsy to a plain room. These fish handles bring a sense of fun to a functional room. Another useful aspect is that they are not made of an exposed metal so they will not rust in the humid environment, as well as being very easy to grab with wet hands.
Hand towel rails
Large towel rails are fixtures of most bathrooms for bath towels and mats, but don’t forget the need for small rings or rails to take hand towels. While towel rings are space efficient, it’s good to let your designer know you want these at the beginning of the design process. This will allow them some forethought as to where they can place them, while keeping the overall composition looking great.
See some great rail and hook options
Large towel rails are fixtures of most bathrooms for bath towels and mats, but don’t forget the need for small rings or rails to take hand towels. While towel rings are space efficient, it’s good to let your designer know you want these at the beginning of the design process. This will allow them some forethought as to where they can place them, while keeping the overall composition looking great.
See some great rail and hook options
Hooks
Hooks provide an essential service in most bathrooms. From a single hook to a whole row, they are so useful for towels, dressing gowns, bags, brushes, keeping clothes off the floor and more. They can be hung on the wall or more discreetly be tucked behind the door. It would be ideal to let your designer and builder know at the beginning so they can add suitable timber blocking behind the wall surface for the hooks to be firmly screwed into, and to hold the weight of whatever may be hung on them.
Hooks provide an essential service in most bathrooms. From a single hook to a whole row, they are so useful for towels, dressing gowns, bags, brushes, keeping clothes off the floor and more. They can be hung on the wall or more discreetly be tucked behind the door. It would be ideal to let your designer and builder know at the beginning so they can add suitable timber blocking behind the wall surface for the hooks to be firmly screwed into, and to hold the weight of whatever may be hung on them.
If you let your designer know at the beginning about wanting hooks in the bathroom, not only will they be installed firmly on the walls, they can actually end up being a great design feature by providing a decorative dose of colour in an otherwise neutral bathroom.
Shaving/make-up mirror
If the bathroom is for both him and her, then another finishing touch is a specialised shaving mirror. These pivot out from the wall, and are small enough to not obstruct the main mirror. Generally they have greater magnification than a wall mirror, to enable a better shave and close-up grooming.
While you may think you could add this at the end of the renovation, it’s worth taking the time to locate it in the ideal position so it can be used properly (i.e. sited so it shows the lower part of the face, and can sit back flat on the wall when not in use).
It’s also best to plan this earlier, in case extra wiring in the wall is needed for a lighted mirror, to have the ideal timber blocking behind the wall surface to hold it firmly in place, or to allow for drilling through any surrounding tiles without cracking them. We also want it to look great in the overall composition, and not like it was squeezed it between other elements.
TELL US
Have you renovated a bathroom before? What were the things you recommend planning before you start? Tell us in the Comments section below.
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Browse more stunning bathroom schemes
If the bathroom is for both him and her, then another finishing touch is a specialised shaving mirror. These pivot out from the wall, and are small enough to not obstruct the main mirror. Generally they have greater magnification than a wall mirror, to enable a better shave and close-up grooming.
While you may think you could add this at the end of the renovation, it’s worth taking the time to locate it in the ideal position so it can be used properly (i.e. sited so it shows the lower part of the face, and can sit back flat on the wall when not in use).
It’s also best to plan this earlier, in case extra wiring in the wall is needed for a lighted mirror, to have the ideal timber blocking behind the wall surface to hold it firmly in place, or to allow for drilling through any surrounding tiles without cracking them. We also want it to look great in the overall composition, and not like it was squeezed it between other elements.
TELL US
Have you renovated a bathroom before? What were the things you recommend planning before you start? Tell us in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse more stunning bathroom schemes
Getting the right vanity mirror light is an important early decision. You need to strike the right balance between form and function: a light that seamlessly gels with the overall style of the room, while providing the task lighting you need to properly light the face (sans shadows) when putting on your make-up or brushing your teeth. You need to choose the location – above or beside the mirror – early on in the build so that the electrician can put the wiring in the right place before wallboard and tiles go in.
TIP: Check with your electrician or lighting supplier that your chosen mirror light meets New Zealand and Australian regulations for safety for bathroom and wet area use.