Blue Bathrooms

Tiles are the most permanent decorating decision in a bathroom. They outlast paint, accessories, and most fixtures. Getting the tile choice right means thinking beyond what looks good in isolation and considering how the tile behaves in the space. This means how it reflects light, how it reads against grout, how it ages, and how it relates to the fixtures around it. This guide covers bathroom tile ideas across every style, format, and room size, with practical advice on each choice. How to choose bathroom tiles Before picking a specific tile, confirm three things: Where the tile is going. Floor tiles must have an adequate slip resistance rating. Any tile used on a wet bathroom floor needs a minimum R10 rating. R11 or above is recommended for shower enclosures and wet rooms. Wall tiles do not have the same slip rating requirement, but should be moisture-resistant. The room's light conditions. A bathroom that receives good natural light can handle darker, richer tiles without feeling oppressive. A north-facing bathroom with no window, or a small internal bathroom, benefits from lighter tiles that reflect available light into the room. The grout. The grout colour significantly changes the character of a tiled surface. A light grout on a light tile reads as seamless and minimal. A contrasting grout emphasises every joint, making the tile pattern the focal point. Decide on grout alongside the tile, not afterwards, and test a sample in the actual room before committing. Always order at least 10% more tiles than the calculated area. Tiles are produced in batches that vary slightly in shade from one run to the next. Running short and ordering from a new batch often results in a visible colour discrepancy in the finished room. Bathroom floor tile ideas Large format floor tiles Large-format floor tiles have fewer grout lines than smaller tiles. This makes the floor read as a single continuous surface rather than a grid, which makes the room feel bigger and cleaner. They are particularly effective in small bathrooms, where a busy tile pattern near the floor draws attention to the room's footprint.  Wood effect floor tiles Bathroom vinyl flooring and wood-effect tiles add warmth to what is otherwise a hard, cool surface. Wood-effect porcelain tiles give the natural appearance of timber with the durability, waterproofing, and slip resistance of a tile. They suit spa-inspired, Japandi, and transitional bathrooms particularly well, and contrast effectively against white sanitaryware. Related: Japandi Bathroom Ideas Chequerboard floor tiles A black-and-white chequered floor is one of the most timeless bathroom tile patterns available. It suits traditional, Victorian, and maximalist aesthetics equally well and provides strong visual interest without requiring wall colour. The scale of the chequerboard matters: smaller tiles create a busier pattern, while larger tiles feel more considered and less dated. Related: Victorian Bathroom Ideas Hexagonal floor tiles Hexagonal tiles break the orthogonal grid of most bathroom floors and introduce a geometric quality that suits both contemporary and period bathrooms. Small hexagonal mosaics (25–50mm) add fine detail. Larger hexagons (100mm+) make a more architectural statement. Both work well in monochrome or in a single colour against a contrasting grout. Related: Contemporary Bathroom Ideas Textured and anti-slip tiles In a bathroom used by children, the elderly, or anyone prioritising safety, a textured tile with a higher slip-resistance rating provides grip that flat, polished tiles cannot. Textured surfaces also add visual depth, catching light at different angles as you move through the room, creating a constantly changing quality that flat tiles do not. Related: Wet Room Ideas Bathroom wall tile ideas Floor-to-ceiling tiles Tiling from floor to ceiling rather than stopping at a half-wall makes a bathroom feel taller and more complete. It is the most cohesive approach in a shower room or wet room where water resistance across the full wall height is a practical requirement. In a standard bathroom, it is a strong aesthetic choice that removes the decision about which paint colour to use above the tile. In a small bathroom, using the same tile on all four walls from floor to ceiling blurs the edges of the room and makes it feel larger than it is. Related: Shower Room Ideas Half-height tiling with paint above Tiling halfway up the wall with moisture-resistant paint above is a cost-effective alternative to full-height tiling. It provides waterproofing where splashing occurs, while allowing the room's character to change through paint colour over time without retiling. The horizontal line created by the top of the tiles should sit at a height that relates to the architecture of the room, typically at the height of the windowsill, door frame, or top of the bath surround. Metro tiles Metro tiles, the rectangular brick-format tile originally used in underground stations, are one of the most versatile bathroom wall tiles available. They suit contemporary, industrial, traditional, and transitional bathrooms and are available in almost every colour and finish. Laid horizontally in a brick bond, they are clean and understated. Laid vertically, they create a sense of height. Laid in a herringbone pattern, they become the focal point of the wall. Related: Traditional Bathroom Ideas The grout choice transforms the reading of a metro tile. White grout on white tiles creates a seamless, minimal look. Contrasting dark grout on white tiles makes every joint visible and creates a graphic quality. Choose based on how much attention you want the tile to draw. Zellige and handmade effect tiles Zellige tiles, handmade Moroccan tiles with an irregular, slightly imperfect surface and a high-gloss glaze, create a wall of constantly shifting light as the glaze catches at different angles. The variation in tone and surface makes each tile slightly different, and the wall reads as richly textured rather than flat. Zellige tiles suit spa-inspired, bohemian, warm, and eclectic bathrooms and work particularly well wrapping three walls of an enclosed shower. Pair with our gold bathroom furniture for a warm, considered finish. Related: Spa Bathroom Ideas Fluted tiles Fluted tiles have a ribbed, channelled surface that adds strong vertical texture to a bathroom wall. They work particularly well in contemporary and Scandi bathrooms and suit both large-format and smaller configurations. Like zellige, the texture means the surface reads differently depending on the light and angle, adding depth to what would otherwise be a flat plane. 3D and textured tiles Any tile with a surface relief, from a subtle embossed texture to a more pronounced three-dimensional form, adds depth to the wall in a way that flat tiles cannot. They are most effective as a feature wall or accent within a larger area of simpler tiles, where the texture contrasts with the surrounding surface rather than competing across every wall. Tile alternatives: bathroom wall panels Bathroom wall panels are an alternative to tiles in wet areas that eliminate grout lines. A large-format panel in a marble, stone, concrete, or wood effect creates a seamless waterproof surface that is faster to install and easier to clean than a tiled equivalent. There is no grout to seal, no grout to clean, and no risk of water penetrating a failing grout joint. Wall panels suit shower enclosures and bath surrounds particularly well. In a walk-in shower, a single large panel on the back wall creates a seamless visual that tiles cannot replicate without very precise laying and minimal grout lines. Small bathroom tile ideas Keep the palette tight: In a small bathroom, multiple tile types, colours, and grout colours create visual clutter that makes the room feel busier than it is. Limiting the palette to one or two tile types and a grout colour that blends makes the room feel calmer and more spacious. Use light and reflective finishes: Glossy or polished tiles reflect light into the room, which is particularly valuable in a small bathroom with limited natural light. A white or pale grey glossy tile on the walls effectively increases the room's perceived brightness without the need for a window.  Extend the tile to create height: Running a vertical tile format from floor to ceiling, or using the same tile continuously from the floor through the shower wall to the ceiling, draws the eye upward. This emphasises the room's height rather than its floor area, creating a sense of space that horizontal formats cannot. Vertical metro tiles work particularly well for this.  Large tiles in a small space: Large-format tiles with minimal grout lines make a small bathroom feel cleaner and more open. The fewer interruptions in the tile surface, the larger the room reads. Related: Small Bathroom Ideas Bathroom tile ideas by colour White bathroom tile ideas White is the most consistently popular bathroom tile colour for good reason. It suits every style, every fixture colour, and every bathroom size. White tiles reflect light, pair with any sanitaryware, and do not date. The interest in a white tile bathroom comes from the format, texture, finish, and grout choice rather than the colour itself. Related: White Bathroom Ideas A bevelled white tile reads differently from a flat white tile. A glossy white tile reads differently from a matte one. White zellige reads differently from white metro. The colour is consistent; the character varies enormously depending on the other choices made. Grey bathroom tile ideas Grey tiles work well in modern, industrial, and transitional bathrooms. Mid-grey porcelain in a large format with minimal grout lines and matt black or chrome fixtures is one of the most consistently well-resolved bathroom combinations available. Browse our grey bathroom furniture to complete the look. Dark grey creates drama and suits bathrooms with good natural light or well-planned artificial lighting. Light grey reads similarly to white but with a cooler, more contemporary quality. Related: Grey Bathroom Ideas Green bathroom tile ideas Green has reasserted itself as one of the strongest bathroom tile choices after decades in the shadow of avocado suites. Sage and olive greens are warm and neutral enough to work as a background colour across multiple walls. Forest and bottle greens read as a bold, confident feature choice. Deep emerald in a glossy finish on a single shower wall, set against pale surrounding tiles, is one of the most visually effective bathroom tile combinations available. Pair green tiles with brass or brushed gold fixtures for warmth, or with matt black for a sharper, more graphic quality. Related: Green Bathroom Ideas Black bathroom tile ideas Black tiles create drama and depth that no other colour replicates. They suit bathrooms with strong natural light or well-designed layered artificial lighting. In a poorly lit bathroom, dark tiles can feel oppressive. The most effective use of black tiles in most bathrooms is as a feature wall or shower surround, contrasted with white sanitaryware and light flooring. Black tiles show limescale and water spots clearly, particularly in hard-water areas. A regular maintenance routine and a squeegee after showering are necessary to keep them looking their best. For furniture and fittings to complement a dark tile scheme, see our black bathroom furniture.  Related: Black Bathroom Ideas Natural stone and stone-effect tiles Natural stone, such as marble, slate, travertine, or granite, brings a quality and depth to a bathroom that porcelain and ceramic cannot replicate. Each tile is unique, with natural variation in veining, colour, and texture.  The limitation is maintenance: natural stone is porous and requires sealing, specific stone-safe cleaning products, and regular resealing to maintain its appearance. Vinegar and acidic cleaners permanently etch the surface. Stone-effect porcelain tiles provide a visually similar result with significantly less maintenance. High-quality stone-effect porcelain in a large format is difficult to distinguish from the real thing at conversational distance, and it can be cleaned with standard bathroom products without damage. Related: How To Clean Bathroom Tiles Bathroom tile pattern ideas Herringbone A herringbone layout uses the same rectangular tile in a zigzag pattern, creating a strong sense of movement and direction across the wall or floor. It adds visual interest without requiring a different tile; the pattern is the feature, not the tile itself. Herringbone suits metro tiles particularly well and is effective in small bathrooms, where it creates a sense of directional movement that expands the perceived space. Brick bond The standard horizontal brick bond, where half a tile width offsets each row, is the most commonly used layout for rectangular tiles. It is clean, familiar, and versatile. For a more considered alternative, a vertical stack bond (tiles aligned rather than offset) creates a crisper, more grid-like quality that suits contemporary and industrial aesthetics. Feature wall A single feature wall in a different tile, colour, or pattern creates a focal point without committing the whole room to a bold choice. The wall behind a freestanding bath, the shower back wall, or the wall opposite the door are the most effective positions for a feature tile. Keep the surrounding walls simple to allow the feature to work. Related: 11 Bathroom Trends Contrasting grout White tiles with black grout are one of the most effective contrasts in bathroom tile design. The black grout makes the tile grid the wall's visual structure and adds a graphic quality that plain white grout does not. It requires consistent cleaning to maintain, as black grout that becomes grey or patchy from calcium deposits loses its effect. It also pairs naturally with black fixtures and black shower enclosure frames. Bathroom tiling ideas FAQs What tiles make a bathroom look bigger?  Large-format tiles with minimal grout lines are the most effective single choice for making a bathroom look larger. Running the same tile from floor to wall creates continuity, expanding the perceived space. Light, reflective finishes bounce light around the room. Avoiding contrasting grout reduces the visual grid effect that emphasises the tile joints and makes the room read as busier. Do floor and wall tiles need to match?  No. Matching floor and wall tiles in the same format and colour can look very strong in the right context, particularly in a shower room or wet room where a continuous surface is the goal. In most bathrooms, using complementary tiles that share a tone, texture, or format is more common and easier to get right than an exact match. The key is that the tiles relate to each other visually without competing. What is the best tile for a small bathroom?  Large format tiles with a light, reflective finish. The fewer grout lines and the lighter the surface reflects, the larger the room reads. White, pale grey, or soft stone-effect tiles in a large format with a pale or matching grout are the most consistently effective combination for a small bathroom. What grout colour should I use?  A grout colour close to the tile colour is the most forgiving choice and creates the most seamless result. A contrasting grout makes the joint pattern the visual feature of the wall, effective when used intentionally, but unforgiving if the tile laying is not precise. Test a sample of your chosen tile with two or three grout colour options in the actual room before committing. Get inspired by bathroom tile ideas at Bathroom City Tiles are the foundation of a bathroom's character. They have the largest surface area in the room, are present in every design and style, and outlast almost every other element. Getting the choice right is worth more time and consideration than most people give it. Browse our range of bathroom wall panels and bathroom vinyl flooring as alternatives to traditional tiles, and explore our full range of bathroom furniture to complete your specification. For personalised advice or to see our bathroom tile alternatives in person, visit our Birmingham showroom, book a consultation, or call us on 0121 753 0700

Bathroom lighting is consistently under planned and consistently regretted. A single overhead fitting does one job reasonably well; it illuminates the room and fails at everything else. It casts shadows across the mirror, making grooming difficult. It flattens the room aesthetically. It provides no flexibility between a bright morning routine and a relaxed evening bath. Getting bathroom lighting right means thinking in layers: ambient light for the room as a whole, task lighting where you actually need it, and accent or mood lighting for the elements worth highlighting.  Why layered lighting matters in a bathroom A bathroom is used differently at different times of day. Morning: bright, functional, task focused. Evening: relaxed, warmer, lower intensity. A single overhead fitting cannot serve both well. Layered bathroom lights use multiple sources at different heights and intensities. This allows the room to adapt. The practical argument is as important as the aesthetic one. A bathroom mirror without dedicated lighting near it forces the user to work in their own shadow. Make-up applied under a ceiling spotlight often looks very different in natural light. Shaving or skincare in poor mirror light means missed detail. These are daily frustrations with a simple fix. Bathroom lighting zones and IP ratings All bathroom lighting must comply with the zone requirements defined by BS 7671. Every fitting installed in a bathroom must carry an IP (Ingress Protection) rating appropriate to its zone. This is a legal requirement, and all electrical work in a bathroom must be carried out by a Part P-certified electrician. Zone Location Minimum IP rating Zone 0 Inside the bath or shower tray/enclosure floor IP67 (total immersion) Zone 1 Above the bath or shower to 2.25m from the floor IP45 (IP65 recommended) Zone 2 600mm outside the bath or shower perimeter to 2.25m IP44 Outside zones Rest of the room IP44 recommended as best practice The zone around a bathroom basin within a 60cm radius of the taps is treated as Zone 2. Any light closer than this distance must carry at a minimum IP44. Read more: An In-Depth Guide to Bathroom Lighting  Ceiling lighting ideas for bathrooms Recessed LED downlights The most commonly installed and most practical bathroom ceiling light. Recessed spotlights sit flush with the ceiling, offer no surface for damp to accumulate, and are straightforward to clean. Available in fixed and tiltable formats. Tiltable allows direction to be adjusted after installation, which is useful for highlighting specific areas or correcting a placement that does not quite work as planned. For Zone 1 (directly above the bath or shower), choose fittings with an IP65 rating minimum. For Zone 2 and outside zones, IP44 is the minimum. Space downlights evenly across the room to avoid dark corners. A common mistake is installing a single central downlight or clustering them in the centre of the ceiling, leaving the room's perimeter in relative shadow. Square ceiling lights A square flush-mounted LED ceiling light is a clean, contemporary alternative to recessed spotlights. It provides even ambient illumination from a single fitting and suits bathrooms where the ceiling is too shallow for recessed installation. Pair with a separate mirror light for task lighting rather than relying solely on the ceiling fitting. Pendant lights Pendant lights in bathrooms are possible, provided they are positioned outside the bathroom zones and carry at least an IP44 rating. A pendant hung over a freestanding bath at a safe distance from the water creates a hotel-like aesthetic effect that overhead spotlights cannot replicate. In practical terms, pendants suit larger bathrooms with high ceilings where the hanging length can be sufficient to create visual impact without bringing the fitting close to water zones. Task and bathroom mirror lighting ideas Task lighting at the mirror is the most important single lighting decision in a bathroom. It directly affects how well the mirror functions and, therefore, how well the bathroom functions as a grooming space. Illuminated and backlit mirrors An illuminated bathroom mirror with integrated LED lighting solves the task lighting problem elegantly. It provides light at the mirror surface rather than from behind the user, and the integrated design means there are no separate wall lights to position, wire, and align. Backlit mirrors create a halo of light around the mirror edge, primarily an aesthetic effect that also provides ambient light. Front-lit mirrors direct light onto the face from the mirror surround, more effective as task lighting because it illuminates the user rather than the room. You can also find models with adjustable colour temperature with cooler tones for morning grooming and warmer tones for evening baths. A demister pad, available on most illuminated mirrors, keeps the glass clear of condensation, a practical feature if the mirror is used immediately after showering. Choose a mirrored cabinet for all these benefits but with extra storage.  Read more: Bathroom Mirror Ideas Wall lights flanking the mirror Two wall lights positioned either side of the mirror at face height (approximately 170cm from the floor) provide even, shadow-free task lighting. The light comes from the side rather than from above, which eliminates the downward shadow cast by ceiling fittings and is significantly more flattering for grooming tasks. The wall lights should be at the same height on both sides and spaced to frame the mirror rather than sitting immediately adjacent to it. They must carry IP44 as a minimum given their proximity to the basin zone. Mirror light bar above the mirror A single light bar mounted horizontally above the mirror is a simpler and more compact alternative to two flanking wall lights. It provides directional downward light onto the mirror area. Less flattering for face illumination than side-mounted lights but practical in bathrooms where wall space either side of the mirror is limited. Shower lighting ideas The shower area is often the poorest-lit part of a bathroom. Overhead ceiling lights do not reach effectively into an enclosed shower space, and frameless or partially open walk-in showers sit in the shadow of the ceiling fitting. Related: Shower Room Ideas A recessed downlight directly above the shower illuminates the shower space. In a walk-in shower, this makes a significant practical difference to visibility. In a frameless enclosure, it also highlights the tiles and fittings, making the shower a visual feature of the room rather than a dark corner. For a shower niche, a small LED strip or recessed niche light rated for the zone adds depth and draws attention to the storage feature. It is a detail that reads as considered rather than functional. Related: Walk-In Shower Ideas Bath lighting ideas Lighting around a bath is where bathroom lighting becomes truly atmospheric. A bath is used differently from a shower, and the lighting should reflect that. LED strip lighting concealed in a recess or shelf behind the bath creates indirect, low-level light that illuminates the floor around the bath without a visible fitting. This works particularly well in bathrooms with a freestanding bath that has clear space around it. A pendant above the bath is the most dramatic option for large bathrooms with high ceilings. Dimmable ceiling lights serve the bath area at lower intensity. A dimmer switch on the main ceiling circuit is one of the most cost-effective improvements to a bathroom's adaptability. Related: Bath Ideas Small bathroom lighting ideas In a small bathroom, lighting has to work harder because there is less room for multiple fittings. Prioritise the mirror An illuminated mirror or a single light bar above the mirror handles both task and ambient lighting simultaneously. In a small bathroom where a full ceiling grid of downlights is impractical, a well-lit mirror and one or two ceiling downlights are entirely sufficient.  Related: Bathroom Mirrors Buying Guide Use recessed fittings throughout.  Surface-mounted fittings in a small bathroom add visual clutter and reduce the sense of space. Recessed spotlights, a recessed ceiling fitting, and an illuminated mirror keep every fixture flush with its surface. Avoid a single central overhead light.  A single central ceiling fitting in a small bathroom leaves the edges of the room, the mirror area, and the shower in shadow. Two recessed spots, one over the basin area and one over the shower or bath end, with an illuminated mirror, is a better use of the same number of fittings. Related: Small Bathroom Ideas Bathroom lighting trends Warm white LED has largely replaced cool white across all bathroom applications. A colour temperature of 2,700–3,000K provides a warmer, more flattering light that suits both morning routines and evening use better than the clinical cool white. Smart and dimmable lighting through voice-controlled or app-controlled fittings that allow the bathroom lighting to be adjusted without physically touching a switch is increasingly common in mid to premium bathroom renovations. Illuminated mirrors as a standard expectation. In a well-specified bathroom renovation, a plain mirror above the basin with no dedicated lighting is increasingly seen as an incomplete installation. The illuminated mirror has become the standard rather than the upgrade. LED strip under vanity units. Concealed LED strip lighting along the underside of a wall-hung vanity unit creates a floating effect and provides low-level ambient lighting for nighttime visits without activating the full overhead circuit. Related: 11 Bathroom Trends In 2025 Bathroom lighting FAQs What is the best lighting for a bathroom?  Layered lighting that combines ambient ceiling light, task lighting at the mirror, and appropriate lighting for each zone. An illuminated mirror or wall lights flanking the mirror, recessed ceiling downlights, and, where relevant, a dedicated light above or within the shower area cover the functional requirements. Add a dimmer to the ceiling circuit for flexibility between day and evening use. What is the best lighting for a small bathroom?  An illuminated mirror handles both task and ambient lighting in one fitting. Supplement it with one or two recessed ceiling downlights positioned at the bath or shower end and over the basin. Avoid a single central overhead fitting as it leaves the mirror area in shadow. What are common bathroom lighting mistakes?  A single central overhead light. Ceiling lights that cast shadows onto the mirror. Fitting lights too close to water zones without checking IP ratings. Choosing cool white LED when warm white provides better ambience and more flattering task lighting. Not including a dimmer on the ceiling circuit. Installing lights at Zone 2 or closer without confirming IP compliance. Shop bathroom lighting at Bathroom City Bathroom lighting is one of the areas where an investment makes a difference to how the room feels and functions. It changes how you use the room, how well you can carry out grooming tasks, and how the room presents itself as a space rather than just a functional necessity. Related: The Perfect Bathroom Accessories Guide Browse our full range of bathroom lights, our illuminated bathroom mirrors or our bathroom accessories to complete your space. For advice on planning your bathroom lighting scheme, visit our Birmingham showroom, book a consultation, or call us on 0121 753 0700

A family bathroom needs to do a lot. It has to work for toddlers and teenagers, cope with morning rush hours, and still look good doing it. Whether you're planning a full renovation or just want to make your existing space work better for your family, getting the design right from the start saves you a lot of frustration later. This guide covers family bathroom layouts, decorating ideas, and practical tips to help you create a space that works for everyone who uses it, every day. What is a family bathroom? A family bathroom is the main shared bathroom in the home, typically including a bath, a shower (separate or over the bath), a washbasin, and a toilet. Unlike an ensuite, it's accessible from a hallway or landing rather than through a bedroom, so every household member can use it independently. Family bathroom layout ideas Getting the family bathroom layout right is the most important decision you'll make. A well-planned layout makes the room feel bigger, keeps users out of each other's way, and means every fixture is easy to access. 1. The classic linear layout The most straightforward family bathroom layout places all fixtures along one or two parallel walls. The bath typically sits along the longest wall, with the toilet and basin on the opposite or adjacent wall. This layout keeps plumbing runs short and simple, reducing installation costs. It works well in a standard rectangular room of around 2.4m x 1.7m or larger. For a coordinated finish, consider a bathroom suite with matching fixtures. 2. The walk-in shower layout If your family showers more than it bathes, replacing a separate shower enclosure with a walk-in shower frees up significant floor space. This layout works especially well in a longer, narrower room where a traditional enclosure would eat into the walking space. Floor-level drainage removes the step-in threshold, making it a practical choice for all ages and removing the trip hazard. You can still include a bath on the opposite wall if you have the space. Read our walk-in shower ideas for more inspiration. 3. The L-shaped layout with separate zones In a larger family bathroom, an L-shaped layout lets you create distinct zones: a wet area for the bath and shower, and a dry area for the basin and toilet. This is one of the most practical family bathroom layout ideas if you have two people needing the space at the same time, as one can use the basin while the other showers. It also helps add a little more privacy. If your budget allows, a double sink vanity unit in the dry zone makes the morning routine considerably smoother. 4. The shower bath layout One of the most popular small family bathroom ideas is to replace a standard bath with a shower bath. A shower bath is wider at one end, giving more room to stand under the shower without giving up the bath entirely. They’re great for bathing little ones, giving you the convenience of a showerhead to rinse shampoo off easily. A shower bath fits a standard bath space (typically 1700mm x 700mm), so no structural changes are needed. Pair it with a hinged bath screen rather than a curtain for a cleaner, more durable finish. 5. The corner shower layout Fitting a quadrant or offset quadrant shower enclosure into a corner is one of the most effective small family bathroom ideas for opening up the central floor area. The curved front keeps the room feeling less box-like and gives you more usable space in the middle. Offset quadrant models are particularly useful if one wall is longer than the other, as you can prioritise floor space or shower size depending on which matters more. 6. The back-to-wall toilet layout A back-to-wall toilet unit conceals the cistern behind a fitted panel or wall, removing the bulky cistern box from view and making the room feel more open. They can also be installed at your chosen height, allowing them to be placed slightly lower down for better access for children. The clean front profile is easier to clean around, too, which matters in a busy family bathroom. This layout pairs well with a wall-hung vanity unit for a consistent floating aesthetic. 7. The fitted furniture layout In a larger family bathroom, fitted bathroom furniture runs the length of one wall and integrates the basin, storage and any appliances into one cohesive unit. It eliminates awkward gaps between pieces, looks considered, and provides far more storage than individual freestanding items. This is a great modern family bathroom idea for families with a lot of bathroom clutter to manage, as you can design the interior of the units to suit exactly what you need to store. 8. The compact family bathroom layout For genuinely tight rooms, good zoning makes all the difference. Place the bath or shower at the far end from the door, with the toilet and basin closer to the entrance. This keeps the wettest area away from door traffic and gives each zone a natural boundary. A small bath (from 1200mm or 1300mm) combined with a wall-hung basin and a slim close-coupled toilet can make even a very small room fully functional.  Read our guide to small bathroom storage ideas for more help with compact spaces. Family bathroom decorating ideas Style and practicality don't have to pull in opposite directions. These family bathroom design ideas cover everything from a full redecoration to small changes that make a real difference. 1. Create consistency with classic white sanitaryware White ceramics never date. A white basin, toilet and bath give you full freedom to change the wall colour, accessories and furniture finishes over time without replacing the main fixtures. It's the most practical base for a family bathroom because it's easier to see when things need cleaning. 2. Choose durable, easy-clean wall finishes Tiles are the proven choice for wet areas. Porcelain is harder and less porous than ceramic, making it more resistant to staining and moisture over time. Bathroom wall panels are a grout-free alternative that's genuinely easier to clean and increasingly popular in family bathrooms. Large-format tiles and panels both reduce the number of joints where mould can take hold, which matters a lot in a room that sees daily steam and splashing. 3. Use neutral or earthy tones for longevity Nature-inspired colours age well. Warm ochres, sandy beiges, soft greens and dusty earthy tones work across traditional and modern family bathrooms and are easy to refresh with new accessories or towels. If you want a bolder colour, use it on one wall or in the tile grout rather than throughout the whole room. That way, it's straightforward to update without a full redecoration. Keep wall finishes consistent across the room to make the space feel larger. 4. Add a statement mirror A well-chosen mirror does more than reflect. It adds light, creates a sense of depth, and can anchor the whole decorative scheme. Round mirrors soften a room full of hard angles, while oversized rectangular mirrors make a compact room feel noticeably more spacious. A mirrored cabinet is the most practical option for a family bathroom as it combines the visual benefits with concealed storage behind the glass.  Read our bathroom mirror cabinets buying guide for more help choosing. 5. Layer the lighting Most family bathrooms rely on a single ceiling light, which is rarely enough. Recessed downlights above the shower, a mirrored cabinet with integrated LED lighting above the basin, and an overhead bathroom light that covers the full room between them give you much better visibility for grooming, getting children ready, and creating a calmer atmosphere in the evening. Dimmable lights are a genuine improvement if you or your family use the bathroom for baths in the evenings. 6. Coordinate your taps and accessories Matching the finish of your taps, towel rails, toilet roll holder, and other bathroom accessories is one of the simplest ways to make a family bathroom look more considered. Chrome is the most forgiving to keep clean. Matt black and brushed brass both work well in modern family bathrooms but show water spots more easily. Pick a finish and stick to it throughout the room rather than mixing. 7. Introduce wood tones through furniture Wood-effect finishes on vanity units, mirror frames or bathroom cabinets add warmth to what can otherwise be a cold, hard room. Oak effect and walnut tones pair well with white sanitaryware and neutral tile colours, and work in both traditional and contemporary schemes. Just make sure to choose furniture with a moisture-resistant board, as solid timber can warp over time in a bathroom environment.  8. Use a heated towel rail as a focal point A heated towel rail is both a practical necessity and a decorating decision. A ladder-style rail in a contrasting finish (brushed nickel against white tiles, for example) draws the eye and adds structure to the wall. Designer radiator styles are available if you want something more unusual. Place it where towels are most needed: beside the shower or bath exit. It's one of the easier upgrades in an existing bathroom and makes a noticeable difference to how the room feels. Tips for making a bathroom more functional for every family member Good family bathroom design ideas go beyond aesthetics. A bathroom that works well for a four-year-old, a teenager, and an adult with different morning routines requires deliberate planning. Here are the practical adjustments that make the biggest difference. Install wall-hung units at a height that works for children: Wall-hung vanity units can be fixed at any height. Fitting the basin 750–800mm from the floor (rather than the standard 850mm) means younger children can reach it without a step stool, and it's still a comfortable height for adults. Choose lever taps for easier use: These are more manageable for small children and older family members to operate than a standard round head. A single-lever mixer is the most accessible option, as water temperature and flow are controlled with a single movement. Install a thermostatic shower valve: A thermostatic shower valve fixes the water temperature and prevents dangerous hot or cold surges if someone elsewhere in the house flushes a toilet or turns on a tap. They’re essential in a bathroom used by children. Add a height-adjustable shower handset: A shower riser rail with a sliding bracket lets you set the shower head at the right height for whoever is using it, from young children to tall adults, without removing and refitting anything. Fit a soft-close toilet seat: A soft-close toilet seat prevents the seat from slamming, which matters a lot with children in the house. It also lasts considerably longer than a standard seat because the hinge mechanism absorbs the impact rather than the plastic. Plan storage at different heights: Put everyday items children need within their reach on lower open shelves or a low floor-standing cabinet, and lock medicines and cleaning products in a high wall cabinet or mirrored cabinet with a catch. Use non-slip flooring: Wet bathroom floors are the most common source of household slips. Textured porcelain tiles with a good slip-resistance rating (R10 or above) or bathroom vinyl flooring with a non-slip surface both provide grip without compromising the look of the room. Add a second towel rail or extra hooks: One heated towel rail is rarely enough for a full family. Adding a secondary rail, a row of hooks on the back of the door, or a towel ring for each person eliminates the daily battle over whose towel is whose. Choose rimless toilets for easier cleaning: A rimless toilet has no inner ledge for bacteria and limescale to collect. In a family bathroom that sees heavy use, the difference in how easy it is to keep clean is significant. Most modern designs are available as both close-coupled and wall-hung options. Invest in adequate storage to keep surfaces clear: A busy family bathroom quickly becomes chaotic without enough storage. A vanity unit, a tallboy and a mirrored cabinet together give you enough capacity for most families without the room feeling cluttered. Read our bathroom storage ideas guide for more tips. A well-designed family bathroom balances practicality, comfort and style, creating a space that works smoothly for every member of the household. With the right layout choices, durable finishes and thoughtful storage, even the busiest mornings can feel more manageable. To explore the different options in person, visit our Birmingham showroom, where you can see the pieces up close and speak to the team who can help you plan and create the perfect family bathroom for your home.

Whether you're working with a compact ensuite or a full family bathroom, bathroom storage that actually works comes down to one thing: making every centimetre count. The right combination of wall-mounted cabinetry, built-in furniture and floor-level storage can take a cluttered room and turn it into something that feels considered and calm. This guide covers practical storage ideas for bathrooms of all sizes, to help you organise your space. Bathroom wall storage ideas Using vertical space well is one of the most effective ways to add storage without touching the floor plan. 1. Hang open shelves Open shelving is one of the most flexible creative bathroom storage ideas you can add to a room. A few well-placed shelves above the toilet, beside the basin or in an alcove give you space for everyday products without closing the room in. Keep them tidy with matching containers or small baskets to group items together. Shelves work especially well in smaller bathrooms where a full cabinet would feel heavy. 2. Fit a mirrored cabinet A mirrored cabinet does two jobs at once. It replaces the bathroom mirror you'd have fitted anyway, and gives you a concealed storage space behind it for medicines, toiletries and anything else you'd rather keep out of sight. They're particularly useful above basins where counter space is limited. Most models come with adjustable internal shelves, so the depth works for everything from cotton pads to tall bottles. For more help choosing, read our bathroom mirror cabinets buying guide. 3. Add a wall-hung cabinet A wall-hung cabinet sits flush to the wall, keeping the floor beneath it clear and making the room feel larger and much easier to clean around. They're a good option if you want enclosed storage without the footprint of a freestanding unit. Available in a range of widths and finishes, they can sit alongside a vanity unit to create a coordinated look or function as standalone storage in a spare bathroom. Check your wall type before fitting to make sure your wall can handle the weight. Read our guide to wall-hung vanity units for more information. 4. Use a tallboy unit A tallboy is a tall, narrow cabinet, usually around 300–350mm wide, designed to slot into tight spaces. The narrow footprint means it fits between a toilet and a wall, in the gap beside a basin unit, or at the end of a run of fitted furniture without taking up much width at all. Despite its slim profile, the height provides a surprising amount of internal shelf space. They’re a good option when you need more storage but genuinely have very little room left to work with. 5. Consider a wall-hung vanity unit Wall-hung vanity units fix directly to the wall, leaving the floor beneath completely clear. That gap makes the room feel bigger and makes mopping the floor considerably easier. It also means you can set the height to suit whoever uses the bathroom most, which is a practical advantage over floor-standing units. These need a solid wall behind them (or a stud wall with the right support in place), so check before you commit. Our wall-hung vanity units guide has everything you need to know about fitting and specification. 6. Add a towel rail A heated towel rail does the obvious job of keeping towels warm, but the right model can hold multiple towels at once on separate bars, reducing the need for additional hooks or rails elsewhere in the room. It also keeps towels off the floor and off chairs, which makes a genuine difference to how tidy the bathroom looks day to day. They’re available in chrome, black, brushed nickel and gold finishes, so there's a style to match most schemes. Bathroom cabinet storage ideas Cabinetry is where the real storage work happens. Getting the specification right, not just the style, is what makes the difference between a bathroom that functions well and one that looks good but frustrates you daily. 7. Choose a vanity unit with integrated storage A vanity unit combines your basin with a cabinet beneath, which is the single most efficient use of that space in the room. Drawer-based designs are more practical than door-and-shelf combinations as they let you see and reach everything without rooting around at the back. If space allows, go wider: a 600mm or 800mm unit will hold noticeably more than a compact 400mm option. Read our guide to vanity units for more details on the different options. 8. Use a corner vanity unit A corner vanity unit fits into the corner of the room and makes use of a spot that would otherwise sit empty. They're a clever solution in smaller bathrooms, freeing up the main wall space for other fixtures while still giving you a basin and storage in one. If you're working with a cloakroom or compact ensuite, this is often the most efficient layout choice available. See our small bathroom storage ideas guide for more on getting the most from a compact space. 9. Organise cabinet interiors with dividers and tiered trays Even the best cabinet becomes a jumble if the interior isn't organised. Tiered shelf inserts, pull-out trays and drawer dividers mean every product has a place, and you can find things without emptying the whole unit. Group items by use and put the things you reach for daily at the front. Bathroom floor space storage ideas Free floor space in a bathroom often goes unused. Strategic placement of the right products can add significant storage without making the room feel busy or cramped. 10. Make use of the space at the end of your bath The floor space at the end of a freestanding or built-in bath is an overlooked storage spot. A low stool, a small shelf unit, or a bath caddy are all practical ways to keep towels, products, and accessories within easy reach without adding wall fixtures. If your bath has a panel, the space beneath it is worth considering as well. Read our bath panel ideas guide for more inspiration. 12. Place a slim floor-standing cabinet or caddy in a tight gap The narrow gap beside a toilet, between a shower enclosure and a wall, or at the side of a bath is often exactly the right width for a slim floor-standing storage unit. A unit 150–200mm wide can hold a reasonable amount, including rolled towels, spare toilet rolls, bottles and cleaning products. Look for units with adjustable shelves so you can fit taller items when needed. 13. Utilise space underneath cupboards The gap beneath a wall-hung vanity unit or wall-hung cabinet is easy to overlook, but it's genuinely usable space. A row of small baskets on the floor directly beneath a floating unit keeps rolled towels, spare products or cleaning supplies within reach without cluttering the worktop. Hooks fixed to the underside of a cabinet work well for hairdryers, straighteners or hanging wash bags, keeping leads off the floor and surfaces clear. 14. Use accessories that work harder Bathroom accessories like shower caddies, toilet roll holders and towel rings all take up wall or floor space, so it makes sense to choose ones that carry more than one function. A shower basket with multiple tiers holds far more than a single-shelf option and keeps the shower organised. A toilet roll holder with a storage shelf on top keeps spares accessible without needing a separate unit. They’re small choices, but they add up across the whole room. Good bathroom storage doesn't have to mean starting from scratch. Solutions that fit your space and routine, and make smarter use of what you already have, can go a long way. If you need more help planning your bathroom design or want to explore storage options in person, visit us at our Birmingham showroom, where our staff will be happy to help.

Whether you're starting from scratch or rethinking what you already have, getting your bathroom layout right is the most important decision you'll make in the whole renovation. Before you choose tiles, taps or a vanity unit, the position of your fixtures determines how the room functions every single day. This guide covers bathroom layout ideas for different room types, with practical step-by-step instructions on how to design a bathroom layout that works for your space. 10 bathroom layout ideas for every room type 1. The single-wall layout Everything, including your bath, toilet and basin, runs along one wall. It's the most straightforward bathroom layout design and suits narrow or compact rooms where plumbing can be kept to a single run. Fitting all three on one wall reduces pipework, which can lower installation costs. The trade-off is that it can feel tight if the room is very narrow. This design works best in bathrooms roughly 1.5m wide and at least 2.5m long, where there's enough floor space to stand and move freely. 2. The wet room layout The shower is open plan, with no tray or enclosure, and the entire floor is waterproofed and drained. A wet room bathroom layout works well in both small and large rooms. In a tight space, removing the enclosure frees up valuable floor area. In a larger room, it creates a genuinely open feel. However, sloped floors and adequate drainage are non-negotiable. Wall type matters too. This bathroom layout requires solid masonry or properly tanked stud walls. Explore our range of walk-in showers or read our walk-in shower ideas guide for more inspiration. 3. The small bathroom layout with a separate shower and bath Fitting both a bath and a shower into a compact room is one of the most common challenges in UK homes. The key is choosing the right fixtures. A shower bath with a fitted bath-shower screen can replace a standalone shower enclosure entirely, saving significant floor space. Alternatively, placing a small bath along one wall and a compact quadrant shower enclosure in the corner opposite can work well in rooms from around 4m². Read our guide to designing a small bathroom with a shower and bath for more ideas. 4. The long, narrow bathroom layout A long, narrow bathroom layout typically means a room that's around 1.6–2m wide and 3m or more in length. The most effective approach is to place the bath at the far end, on the short wall, the basin in the middle and the toilet nearest the door. This creates a natural flow without the room feeling like a corridor. Wall-hung fittings help here. A wall-hung basin and wall-hung toilet keep the floor clear, which makes a narrow room feel noticeably wider. 5. The L-shaped bathroom layout An L-shaped bathroom layout uses two perpendicular walls to separate wet and dry zones. The shower or bath sits in the longer arm; the toilet and basin occupy the shorter return. This works particularly well in rooms that have an awkward corner or recess. It's also a practical way to create a degree of privacy between the toilet and the rest of the room without adding a partition wall. An L-shaped bathroom suite can simplify the planning process if you're starting fresh. 6. The rectangular bathroom layout A rectangular bathroom layout is the most common room shape in UK homes and gives you the most options. The two most practical approaches are: a bath on the long wall, with the toilet and basin facing each other on the short walls; or a bath on the short end wall, with the toilet and basin lined up along the length. The second arrangement tends to feel more open. In a generous rectangular room, there's space for a separate walk-in shower alongside the bath. This is the bathroom layout with a bath and shower setup that most homeowners opt for. 7. The ensuite floor plan Space is almost always the constraint with an ensuite. Most ensuite floor plans work within 2–4m², which usually means choosing two or three fixtures rather than all four. A toilet, basin and shower are the typical combination. Compact wall-hung toilets and corner basins free up floor space considerably. A bifold shower door folds flat against the frame rather than swinging into the room, which matters in a tight space. Find more ideas in our guide to ensuite bathrooms. 8. The master bathroom layout A master bathroom layout typically has the luxury of more floor space, often 6m² or more. That opens up options: a freestanding bath as a centrepiece, a separate double-width walk-in shower, a double sink vanity unit, or all three. Zone the room deliberately. Place the bath where it'll be seen first when you walk in. Position the shower where it's private but easy to access. Keep the toilet in a corner or partially screened if the room allows. Good storage matters too, making sure the room doesn’t look cluttered or cramped. Read our bathroom storage guide for more guidance on making the most of your space. 9. The square bathroom layout A square room is one of the more flexible bathroom layout shapes, but it can be wasted if fixtures are simply lined up along one wall. The better approach is to use opposing walls. Place the bath or shower on one wall, and the toilet and basin on the wall directly facing it. This opens up the centre of the room and creates a clear route through. In a larger square room, a freestanding bath positioned away from the wall entirely becomes a practical option, not just an aesthetic one. Square rooms also suit a symmetrical bathroom layout design particularly well, where paired wall-hung basins or matching storage units sit on either side of a central mirror. 10. The cloakroom layout A cloakroom is often a very small room measuring around 1.2m x 1.6m or thereabouts, and typically contains only a toilet and basin. Every centimetre counts. A cloakroom suite is the most efficient purchase, as the toilet and basin are sized and designed to work together in a compact footprint. Placing the basin on the wall adjacent to the toilet, rather than opposite it, leaves more clear floor space to stand. Wall-hung options are particularly effective here, too. How to design a bathroom layout Good bathroom layout design doesn't start with choosing products. It starts with understanding what you're working with. Follow these six steps, and you'll avoid the expensive mistakes that come from guessing. 1. Measure your space Get the exact dimensions of the room in millimetres, not centimetres or approximate feet. Measure the width and length at floor level, and note the position of every door, window, and radiator. Measure door swing too, so you know how much clear space you need at the entrance. These numbers are the foundation of your bathroom floor plan. If they're wrong, everything built on them is wrong. Take measurements at least twice. 2. Find out where your soil pipe and drains are This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that causes the most problems later. Your soil pipe (the large pipe that carries waste from the toilet) is fixed, and moving it is expensive. Your existing drain positions also affect where the bath and shower can go without major groundwork. The toilet must be within a certain distance of the soil pipe, typically no more than 6 metres for a standard gravity-fed system. Knowing where these are before you draw up bathroom layout plans saves you from designing something you can't actually build. 3. Check what types of walls and floors you have Wall type affects what you can fix to them and how they need to be waterproofed. Solid masonry walls take most fixings without issue. Timber stud walls need noggins in the right places for wall-hung basins and toilets. Without them, the fixings won't hold the load.  Solid concrete floors don't allow for under-floor drainage changes without significant work. Suspended timber floors do, but they need to be assessed for condition and load-bearing capacity. Make sure you know what you have before finalising your bathroom layout design. 4. Decide what fixtures you want Once you know the constraints of the room, decide what fixtures you need and which you'd like but could drop if space doesn't allow. Start with the non-negotiables (usually toilet and basin), then work through baths, shower enclosures, and vanity units in order of priority. For a full overview of what to think about when choosing a bathroom suite, our buying guide covers it in detail. Having a clear priority order means that when space is tight, you know what to compromise on first. 5. Find out the dimensions of each fixture Every fixture you're considering has specific dimensions, and those dimensions need to fit your room with clearance space around them. Building regulations recommend at least 600mm clear space in front of a toilet and 1000mm clearance for a shower door to open fully. Standard baths are 1700mm x 700mm, but small baths start from 1300mm x 700mm, and shower enclosures range from 700mm x 700mm upwards. Don't assume. Check the exact product dimensions against your room measurements before committing. 6. Draw out a plan Once you know how big your room is, what will fit and where they need to go in line with your existing plumbing, draw out a plan. You don't need professional software. Graph paper works. Or use a free online bathroom floor plan tool. Draw the room to scale (1:20 is straightforward: 1mm on paper equals 20mm in real life). Mark the door, windows, soil pipe and existing drain positions. Then place your fixtures to scale and check that clearances work. A drawn bathroom layout plan will show you problems that aren't obvious in your head. Walk through the space on paper; can you open the shower door without hitting the basin? Does the toilet door clear the bath? Small issues on paper are easy to fix. The same issues discovered mid-installation are not. Getting your bathroom layout right at the planning stage can make all the difference between a space that works effortlessly and one that feels frustrating day to day. Take your time with the planning steps above, and if you need further help or have questions about our bathroom fixture measurements, get in touch with our customer care team or visit us in person at our Birmingham showroom.

Buying a bathroom is one of the most significant home improvement decisions you will make. There are more products, more decisions, and more opportunities to get things wrong than almost any other room in the house. This guide takes you through the entire process, from setting a budget and planning your space to choosing every product and understanding what installation actually involves. Use it as your starting point and refer to the specialist buying guides linked throughout for deeper advice on individual products. How much does it cost to buy a bathroom? Before you look at a single product, set a realistic budget. This is the one step that prevents overspending more than any other. Bathroom costs fall into two categories: the products themselves and the cost of installation. Most people underestimate how much installation adds to the total. A bathroom suite costing £800 could easily sit within a total project cost of £4,000–£7,000 once labour, tiling, flooring, and ancillary materials are included. Products (suite, fixtures, and fittings): Budget level Product cost Budget £300 – £800 Mid-range £800 – £2,500 Premium £2,500 – £6,000+ Total project cost (products plus full installation): Budget level Total installed cost Cosmetic refresh £2,000 – £4,000 Full renovation, standard bathroom £4,000 – £8,000 High-end or large bathroom £8,000 – £15,000+ Read more: How Much Does a New Bathroom Cost? Suite or individual products: which should you buy? This is the first product decision to make, and it affects everything else. Buying a bathroom suite means purchasing a toilet, basin, and bath (or shower enclosure) as a coordinated package. Suites are designed to work visually and structurally together, and buying as a package is almost always more cost-effective than buying individually. The components share a common design language, simplifying decisions on style, proportion, and finish. Buying individual products gives more flexibility to mix styles and sizes, but requires more time to ensure compatibility and visual coherence. It suits renovations where one or two elements are being replaced rather than a full room change, or where a very specific product specification is needed that no suite package provides. For a full bathroom renovation, a suite is the practical starting point. For a partial refresh or a room with unusual dimensions, individual selection may give better results. Browse our full range of bathroom suites or take a look at our bathroom suite buying guide. Planning your bathroom Measure the room first Before choosing any products, measure the room accurately. This sounds straightforward. It is the step most commonly skipped or done poorly, and it results in products that do not fit, enclosures that cannot open properly, and layouts that don't work in practice. Measure: length, width, and ceiling height. Then measure and mark the positions of every fixed element: the door and its swing direction, window position and reveal depth, existing pipe positions (soil-pipe centre, supply pipes), and any structural elements such as load-bearing walls or chimney breasts. Measure the finished dimensions, not the bare ones. A 1200mm shower enclosure ordered against a 1240mm bare wall measurement becomes a problem when 40mm of tile depth on each side reduces the available opening to 1160mm. Read more: How to Measure Your Bathroom Plan the layout Draw the layout to scale on graph paper or using an online bathroom planner before committing to any products. Place the toilet first, as its position is dictated by the soil pipe, and changing it is one of the most expensive decisions in a renovation. Then work everything else around it. Minimum clearances to work to: 600mm in front of every fixture (standing and use space) 300mm either side of the toilet centreline where possible 700mm between facing fixtures Consider the door swing. A shower enclosure door that cannot open fully because it meets the toilet is a frustration you will encounter every single morning. Mark the door swing on your plan before finalising anything. Consider sightlines. The toilet should not be directly visible from the door when it opens. In open-plan properties or bathrooms adjacent to living areas, think about sound as well as sight. Related: Bathroom layout ideas Know your water pressure Water pressure determines which products you can install. Getting this wrong results in a shower that cannot deliver adequate pressure, or a mixer tap that performs poorly because it was specified for a system it is not compatible with. UK homes typically have one of three systems: Gravity-fed (low pressure): common in older homes, with a cold water tank in the loft feeding a hot water cylinder. Low pressure. Compatible with electric showers, power showers with an integrated pump, and separate hot and cold taps designed for low-pressure systems. Not compatible with most thermostatic mixer showers without a pump. Combi boiler (high pressure): no tanks required. Cold water is heated on demand. Consistent high pressure to all outlets. Compatible with thermostatic mixer showers, rainfall showerheads, and modern mixer taps and bath fillers. Unvented system (high pressure): mains cold water stored in a pressurised hot water cylinder. High, balanced pressure to both hot and cold. Compatible with multi-outlet shower systems, body jets, and wall-mounted taps. If you are unsure which system you have, ask your plumber before specifying any shower or shower valve. Moving pipework or adding a pump to compensate for a mismatched specification adds cost that could have been avoided. Choosing a bathroom style Style direction needs to be set before individual products are chosen. Without it, the bathroom ends up assembled rather than designed, and individual elements that look fine in isolation do not create a coherent room. Choose one: Modern and contemporary: clean lines, minimal ornamentation, concealed cisterns, wall-hung sanitaryware, and a restricted palette. Wall-hung vanity units, rimless toilets, frameless shower enclosures, and matt or brushed finishes are the typical product choices. Traditional and period: inspired by Victorian, Edwardian, or classic country-house aesthetics. Freestanding baths, slipper and roll-top baths, close-coupled toilets, chrome or gold fixtures, and traditional vanity units. The style rewards consistency – a single modern tap in a traditional bathroom reads as an oversight. Transitional: the broadest category, blending contemporary proportions with warmer finishes and some classical detailing. Suits most UK homes and ages well because it does not rely on trend-specific elements. Choose a finish and apply it consistently. Chrome, brushed brass, matt black, brushed nickel, or gold. Pick one and use it across taps, shower fittings, towel rail, and accessories. Mixing finishes across a bathroom creates visual clutter that is disproportionate to the cost of the individual items. With colour, white sanitaryware remains the most practical and timeless choice. It works with any tile, any paint colour, and any style direction. Grey, black, and gold bathroom furniture all offer strong style options without the inflexibility of coloured sanitaryware. Choosing your toilet Three main mounting types determine the look, installation requirements, and cleaning ease of the toilet: Close-coupled toilets have the cistern sitting directly on top of the pan. The most common type in UK bathrooms, straightforward to install and replace, and available at every price point. Back-to-wall toilets have the pan mounted against the wall with a concealed or semi-concealed cistern—a cleaner look than close-coupled, easier to clean around, and compatible with most standard bathroom layouts. Wall-hung toilets are mounted directly to the wall with no contact with the floor. The cistern is concealed within the wall behind a false wall or furniture unit. This must be installed during the first-fix stage of a renovation, before walls are closed. The pan height can be adjusted to suit the user. Floor cleaning is significantly easier. Rimless toilets have no hidden ledge under the rim where bacteria accumulate. They are easier to clean thoroughly and are worth considering across all mounting styles. Decide on the toilet type before the first fix begins. A wall-hung toilet requires a concealed cistern frame to be built into the wall. This cannot be added after tiling without significant disruption. Browse our full range of toilets or take a look at our toilet buying guide. Choosing your shower A bath or a shower is no longer a binary choice. Most bathrooms can accommodate both if the layout and budget allow. If choosing one, showers suit busy modern households where speed and convenience matter more than the experience of soaking. Baths suit households where that option is valued, particularly families with young children or anyone who will miss the bath within a year of removing it. Shower enclosures enclose the shower in a dedicated space, with a tray and glazed panels. Available in a wide range of formats: Quadrant enclosures: curved corner format, space-efficient Hinged enclosures: classic door format, suits larger enclosures Sliding door enclosures: no swing clearance required, suited to smaller bathrooms Frameless enclosures: minimal profile, high-end look Walk-in enclosures: open entry, no door required, suits larger spaces Confirm the exact finished dimensions before ordering tiles. The tile grid and grout lines need to work around the opening. Shower valves determine the showering experience more than the enclosure or showerhead. A thermostatic shower valve maintains a consistent water temperature regardless of pressure fluctuations elsewhere in the system. Available in concealed and exposed formats. Always confirm water pressure compatibility with your plumber before specifying. Electric showers heat water on demand from the mains cold supply, independent of the boiler. Suited to homes with low hot water availability or where reliability is a priority. See our electric showers. Related: Shower enclosure buying guide The bath is usually the largest item in the room and should be one of the first products confirmed. Its dimensions affect the layout of everything else. Inset baths sit within three walls with a bath panel on the exposed side. The standard choice for most UK family bathrooms. Freestanding baths require clear space on most or all sides and suit larger rooms. They are a strong aesthetic statement and work best when the rest of the room is designed around them rather than fitted around an existing layout. Shower baths have a widened end that creates usable standing space for showering while maintaining full bath length, the practical solution for smaller bathrooms where both functions are wanted in a limited footprint. Corner baths fit into a corner of the room and can work well in rooms with an awkward shape where a standard rectangular bath would leave wasted space. On materials: acrylic is lightweight, affordable, and retains heat reasonably well. Carronite baths reinforce acrylic with a composite backing for a more solid feel. Steel and cast iron baths are heavier but retain heat significantly better and have a longer lifespan. Confirm the bath dimensions against the finished room dimensions (after tiling) before ordering. Measure the access route from the front door to the bathroom, as large baths can be difficult to manoeuvre through narrow hallways or around tight stairwells. For help, read our bath buying guide or our standard bath size guide. Choosing your shower A bath or a shower is no longer a binary choice. Most bathrooms can accommodate both if the layout and budget allow. If choosing one, showers suit busy modern households where speed and convenience matter more than the experience of soaking. Baths suit households where that option is valued, particularly families with young children or anyone who will miss the bath within a year of removing it. Shower enclosures enclose the shower in a dedicated space, with a tray and glazed panels. Available in a wide range of formats: Quadrant enclosures: curved corner format, space-efficient Hinged enclosures: classic door format, suits larger enclosures Sliding door enclosures: no swing clearance required, suited to smaller bathrooms Frameless enclosures: minimal profile, high-end look Walk-in enclosures: open entry, no door required, suits larger spaces Confirm the exact finished dimensions before ordering tiles. The tile grid and grout lines need to work around the opening. Shower valves determine the showering experience more than the enclosure or showerhead. A thermostatic shower valve maintains a consistent water temperature regardless of pressure fluctuations elsewhere in the system. Available in concealed and exposed formats. Always confirm water pressure compatibility with your plumber before specifying. Electric showers heat water on demand from the mains cold supply, independent of the boiler. Suited to homes with low hot water availability or where reliability is a priority. See our electric showers. Related: Shower enclosure buying guide Choosing your basin The choice of bathroom basin and sink is closely tied to the storage decision. A pedestal or semi-pedestal basin looks neat but provides no storage. A vanity unit combines the basin with under-sink storage in a single footprint, making it the more practical choice for a main bathroom. Choose from: Wall-hung basins are fixed directly to the wall with no pedestal or furniture beneath. They create more floor space visually and make cleaning easier. Semi-pedestal basins feature a partial column that conceals the waste pipe without occupying the full floor space. A good middle ground between a full pedestal and a wall-hung option. Countertop basins sit on a surface or vanity unit rather than being integrated into it. A strong visual statement, popular in contemporary and luxury bathrooms. Size matters more than most people plan for. A basin that is too narrow for the space makes it difficult to use without splashing the floor or the wall. Choose the largest basin the layout can accommodate rather than the smallest one that technically fits. Related: Basin Buying Guide Choosing bathroom taps Taps are used multiple times a day, and the quality difference between a well-made tap and a cheap one is immediately apparent. Spend properly on taps relative to the rest of the bathroom; they are not the place to cut the budget. Basin taps are available as monobloc mixers (single-hole fittings with hot and cold mixed through one spout), pillar taps (separate hot and cold), or wall-mounted. Monobloc mixers require a single tap hole in the basin. Confirm the number of tap holes in your chosen basin before selecting taps. See our basin taps. Bath taps include deck-mounted (fitting through holes in the bath deck), freestanding floor-mounted (for freestanding baths), and wall-mounted options. For a freestanding bath, confirm whether you want taps through the bath or free-standing before ordering the bath itself – this affects whether tap holes are needed. See our bath taps. Choose one finish and apply it to all taps, the shower valve, the towel rail, and the room's accessories. A single, inconsistent finish in an otherwise coherent room is more noticeable than almost anything else. Note the water pressure compatibility. Mixer taps and thermostatic bath-shower combinations typically require a minimum working pressure to perform properly. Confirm compatibility with your plumber before purchasing, particularly if you are on a gravity-fed system. Related: Bathroom Tap Buying Guide Choosing bathroom furniture and storage Storage is the element most consistently underplanned in bathroom renovations. Toiletries, medicines, towels, cleaning products, hairdryers, and styling tools accumulate quickly. A bathroom without adequate storage looks cluttered within days of completion, regardless of how well everything else was specified. Vanity units integrate the basin with drawer or door storage underneath. Available as wall-hung units and freestanding vanities, in sizes from 500mm to 600mm and larger. For two-person bathrooms, a double sink vanity unit is worth considering. Read more: Vanity Unit Buying Guide Other bathroom storage includes: Mirrored cabinets serve double duty above the basin with a mirror and storage in one wall space. Tallboy cabinets use vertical space efficiently in rooms with limited floor area. Wall-hung bathroom cabinets keep the floor clear in smaller bathrooms and are available in a wide range of sizes. Fitted bathroom furniture creates a built-in look by running units across available wall space. Plan storage as part of the layout, not as an afterthought. Storage added after the room is completed rarely fits as well, costs more, and never looks as intentional. Related: Bathroom Furniture Buying Guide Choosing bathroom heating Bathroom heating does two things: it keeps the room comfortable to use, and it maintains a background temperature that controls condensation and dampness. Getting the heat output right for the room size is as important as the product's style. Heated towel rails are the standard choice for most UK bathrooms. They warm the room and keep towels dry and warm between uses. Available as plumbed (central heating), electric, or dual fuel. Dual fuel is the most flexible option – it connects to the central heating system in winter and runs on an independent electric element in summer without the boiler running. Bathroom radiators provide higher heat output than most towel rails and suit larger bathrooms where a towel rail alone cannot adequately heat the space. To help you find the one you need, you'll need to know the BTU output, which measures how much heat a radiator or towel rail produces. To calculate the BTU your bathroom needs, multiply the room volume (length x width x height in metres) by 153. Always check the product's BTU output against this figure before purchasing. Read more: Bathroom Heating Guide Once you find the one you need, be sure to position it on the coldest wall, typically external or under a window. The towel rail specifically should be within reach of the shower or bath exit, at a height where towels hang fully clear of the floor. Bathroom flooring and tiles Bathroom flooring must be waterproof or highly water-resistant and slip-resistant when wet. The main options: Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most durable and water-resistant option. Any floor tile in a wet bathroom must have a minimum R10 slip-resistance rating. R11 or above for shower enclosures and wet rooms. Order at least 10% more than the calculated area to cover cuts, breakages, and future repairs. Luxury vinyl flooring is softer underfoot than tile, completely waterproof, and more forgiving in terms of slip resistance. See our bathroom vinyl flooring. Engineered wood suits bathrooms where warmth underfoot is a priority, but requires careful sealing and is less suited to wet rooms or bathrooms with poor ventilation. Bathroom tiles with full-height tiling in wet zones (shower walls, bath surround) are the most durable and hygienic option. Half-height tiling with moisture-resistant paint above is common in drier areas of the bathroom. Wet zones must be waterproofed (tanked) before any tiling takes place. Bathroom wall panels are an alternative to tiles, with no grout lines, faster installation, and easier cleaning. Bathroom Lighting and ventilation Lighting Bathroom lighting is regularly cut from budgets and consistently regretted. A single overhead light creates flat, unflattering illumination and leaves the mirror area poorly lit – which is precisely where task lighting matters most for grooming. Plan a minimum of two layers: Ambient lighting: ceiling-mounted LED spotlights to illuminate the room evenly. All bathroom lighting must carry an IP rating appropriate for the zone: minimum IP44 for Zone 2 (within 600mm of the bath or shower), IP45 for Zone 1 (directly over). Your electrician will advise. Task lighting: a backlit mirror, illuminated mirror cabinet, or dedicated wall lights on either side of the mirror. This is the light you actually use to apply makeup, shave, or carry out a skincare routine. All electrical work in bathrooms must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations and be carried out by a qualified electrician who can issue a certificate on completion. Related: Bathroom Lighting: An In-depth Guide Ventilation Good ventilation prevents condensation, mould, and long-term damage to decorating, grout, and sealant. An undersized or poorly positioned extractor fan will not keep up with the moisture generated by a shower or bath. To calculate the required extraction rate, multiply the room volume (length x width x height) by 15 (the minimum recommended air changes per hour for a bathroom). A fan rated below this figure will not adequately ventilate the room. Humidity-sensing fans activate automatically when moisture levels rise, useful in en-suites and rooms where the fan is regularly forgotten. The fan must vent to the outside, not into a ceiling void or loft space. See our bathroom extractor fans. Bathroom accessibility and future-proofing Accessible bathroom features are worth considering at the renovation stage, regardless of whether they are needed immediately. Building them in during a full renovation costs very little. Retrofitting them later can be expensive and disruptive. Practical considerations: Walk-in shower enclosures with low or level-access thresholds are easier to use for everyone and essential for those with limited mobility. Comfort-height toilets are easier to sit and stand from for older users and taller people- Grab rails can be incorporated into the design rather than added as an afterthought. Blocking in the wall behind tiles during the first fix allows grab rails to be fitted later without needing to find studs. Slip-resistant floor tiles and non-slip shower trays reduce the risk of falls for all users. Lever-style taps and thermostatic shower valves are easier to operate for those with limited grip or dexterity. When to splurge and when to save Here is a practical way to think about where money is best spent: Spend properly on: The shower valve and showerhead: you use these every day, and poor water pressure or temperature inconsistency is a daily frustration Taps: quality is immediately apparent in weight, feel, and longevity The toilet: a comfort height, soft-close, rimless toilet is used multiple times daily by everyone in the household Tiles: the largest visual surface in the room; cheap tiles look cheap and date quickly The vanity unit: daily use, hundreds of drawer and door openings a year More cost-conscious choices are reasonable for: Bathroom accessories, such as toilet roll holders, robe hooks, and soap dispensers, can be replaced later without disruption Bath panels are functional rather than visible in daily use Standard pipework and fixings that are hidden within the structure The buying process: what to do and in what order Set your budget, including a 10–20% contingency. Measure the room accurately in finished dimensions. Confirm your water pressure and plumbing setup. Draw the layout to scale and confirm the toilet position. Decide on suite or individual products. Choose your style direction and fixture finish. Select products in order of size: bath or shower enclosure first, then toilet, then basin, then storage, then taps and accessories. Confirm all products with your fitter before ordering. Check lead times and order everything before demolition begins. Confirm your contractor and agree on the sequence of work. For a full stage-by-stage checklist covering every decision from budget to sign-off, see our bathroom renovation checklist or our bathroom renovation mistakes to avoid guide for help avoiding the most common mistakes. Buying a bathroom FAQs How much does it cost to buy a new bathroom suite? A bathroom suite (toilet, basin, and bath or shower enclosure) costs between £300 and £800 at budget level, £800–£2,500 at mid-range, and £2,500 upwards for premium products. These are product costs only. Total installed costs, including labour, tiling, and materials, typically range from £4,000 to £8,000 for a standard full renovation. How much does it cost to buy a bathroom? The total cost of buying and installing a full bathroom in the UK ranges from around £2,000 for a cosmetic refresh (new suite, same layout, no plumbing changes) to £4,000–£8,000 for a full standard renovation, and £8,000–£15,000 or more for a large or high-specification bathroom. Labour typically accounts for 40–50% of the total cost. What should I buy first when buying a bathroom? Set your budget and measure the room before buying anything. Then confirm your water pressure and draw your layout to scale. Products should be purchased in order of size – the bath or shower enclosure first (the largest item), then the toilet, then the basin, then storage, then taps and accessories. Confirm all products with your fitter before ordering. What is the most important thing to get right when buying a bathroom? The layout. Specifically, the toilet position (governed by the soil pipe), the clearances around every fixture, and the door swing. These decisions affect every other choice in the room and are the most expensive and disruptive to change once the build is underway. Measure twice, plan on paper, and confirm with your fitter before ordering a single product. Ready to buy a bathroom? Browse our full range of bathroom suites, baths, shower enclosures, toilets, basins, vanity units, and bathroom furniture to start building your specification. If you would like to see products in person before committing, visit our Birmingham showroom in Tyseley, call us on 0121 753 0700 or book a consultation to talk to our expert team for any help and advice. Our team has been advising on bathroom purchases since 1986 and can help you work through layout, product selection, and budget in one conversation.