Bathroom Design: Rules To Live By

May 18, 2026

Bathroom renovations frequently rank among the most popular home improvements based on how much they can improve day-to-day living. They also tend to be a good return on investment in terms of property value, particularly when it comes to adding an en suite or cloakroom space.

It’s no coincidence that bathrooms are also a room we have extensive experience in designing and redesigning, so much so that or list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ is well established.

Changing trends along with updated technology and hygiene systems mean there are many components to consider when designing your perfect bathroom. Make the right decisions by keeping a few of our golden rules in mind.

Plan your space

Take the time to look at all the variations of space usage. Measure, create mood boards and challenge how you currently use the space, prioritising storage and a good-sized shower where possible. Consider how you can maximise every recess and nook for extra storage as well as incorporating design features to reflect your personal needs.

Make your spend count

Allocate the main portion of your budget to the elements you interact with most like taps and the marble. These are the features that will instantly elevate your experience in the space. You’ll feel the value immediately and benefit from their quality with every use.

Hold back on tiling

Although tiles can be a wonderful feature if well chosen, you don’t need to tile every surface. Often just the wet surfaces are enough and you can add luxury through plain textured vinyl wallpapers for the dry areas. If you’re worried that wallpaper doesn’t belong in bathrooms, vinyl wallpaper is a great option. It’s wipeable, washable and steam-resistant. It’s also very affordable which makes it a win for both style and budget. Micro-cement is also popular as a water-resistant surface you can apply to floors and walls, offering a seamless joint-free option in a whole variety of colours.

Choose tile trims and grout carefully

Don’t assume your tiler can do this for you. The wrong grout can undermine the look of a tile and there’s nothing worse than being disappointed when you’ve taken time and invested budget into beautiful tiles. Chrome tile trims are dated and can cheapen the overall look of tiles so it’s best to avoid them. You might find that your tile choice has a matching ceramic trim or you can opt instead for brass, soft white or charcoals tones instead. Anything but chrome!

Lighting matters

A lighting plan is well worth doing and not something you want to regret once installation is complete. Start with considering the right light levels for all the practicalities a bathroom needs.

Whether you’re applying make up and need a downlight to be between the face and the mirror, or introducing highlighted features with soft moodier lighting it’s key to get it right. You might consider highlighting shower recesses in pretty mosaic tiles or integrating a ceiling coffer with LED track for some upward lighting. We like to build in subtle micro floor spots on either side of a bath to create a refined, spa-like effect.

Maximise your shower space

We’d opt for a bigger shower rather than a small shower and a small bath, wherever possible, avoid avoid a shower-bath combination. Of course there are times when this might be the only choice in smaller bathrooms or houses, but while they try to do two things, they tend not to tick the box for either and it’s better not to compromise your overall comfort and access where possible.

Shower trays are now super slim line and come in a variety of colours to match your tiled flooring perfectly. Closed in showers are arguably more popular – rather than planning for a drafty open-ended design, use a tailored pivot door to keep the steam in. Benches are becoming more popular in showers and adding a steam option can create an instant spa feature in your own en suite.