There’s a lot more to designing a bathroom than choosing taps and tiles (as fun as that part is). Get it right, and you will have a beautiful, functional space that you will enjoy spending time in every day. Get it wrong, and you could end up with a bathroom plagued by impractical niggles or, worse, that needs to be completely refitted. Watch out for these common mistakes and designing your dream bathroom needn’t become a nightmare.

We’ve all been there: falling in love with glorious waterfall showers, statement sinks and enormous soaking tubs after a trip to a glamorous bathroom showroom. In reality, these room sets have been designed around the suite with perfect proportions, so it’ll never feel cramped or ‘too much’. Put that oversized bath in your average family home though and it soon becomes an albatross. Too often it becomes a glorified towel holder, filling it up takes forever and it’s too big to get children into and out of safely. You’re better getting something more suited to the space that you’ll use every day.

 

If you’re in your ‘forever home’ then think about setting up the bathroom to be safe and functional as you and your family get older. Non-slip surfaces, grab handles, flat walk-in showers and swapping twisting knobs for lever taps can make the transition a little easier. If you’re not quite ready for that, think about leaving space to add these details in later.

If you have any inkling that you might move to a new house in the next five years, then you’d do well to keep your bathroom a neutral and bright space that won’t alienate future buyers. Grey and white suites will all stand you in good stead and are easy to personalise with your favourite colours in accessories and furnishings. Consider applying a bathroom wallpaper or add artwork and greenery to make the space yours without jeopardising a future sale price. When you're ready to sell-up, it's a simple repaint job to get it viewing ready.

While too much clutter is unsightly you should account for creating a little bit of counter space around a vanity unit. Whether it’s a place to put a make-up bag while you’re getting ready or somewhere to park your morning coffee, if you don’t add in a little bit of table-height surface you’ll regret it.

Well-chosen accessories can make or break any design scheme, and the bathroom is no exception. Treat yourself to some top-quality towels – organic cotton towels feel luxurious and are eco-friendly, too. If you’re short on hidden storage, consider decanting shampoos and shower gels into attractive bottles. Small soaps and bath salts can be stored in glass Kilner jars. 

For more money-saving style tips see these budget bathroom ideas. 

Future maintenance can cost thousands if there are problems that can’t be quickly fixed, such as inaccessible taps or pipework, which means you must rip up flooring or damage walls if problems occur. Use fixings that can easily be unscrewed if necessary or perhaps create a false tile or bath front that’ll give easy access to a plumber.

The height of a towel rack, the depth of a bath and a slightly too low showerhead can mean the difference between an average bathroom and a brilliant one. Think about the tallest and the shortest person in the house, and that could include small children, before deciding where things should go.

There could be an opportunity to add character to your bathroom by removing a drywall or false ceiling and expanding upwards into the rafters. An eaves space is fabulous over a bath, as is adding a skylight, which allows you to watch the weather while enjoying a soak. It’ll also add value to your house, too.

At some point during your bathroom project, the water will have to be switched off. How long it’s switched off for depends on the scale of the works you’re undertaking, but if it’s anything longer than a day or two you’re going to need somewhere else to shower and go to the loo. Now might be a good time to go on holiday or visit friends. If you stay at home, then a Portaloo might be a good investment, and you may find yourself using the gym (and its showers) a lot more than usual.

One of the biggest nightmares a homeowner can face is springing a leak in the bathroom. Luckily, there are a few things to do when you’re installing to protect yourself against any future disasters. The bath overflow needs to be checked when its plumbed in and if you half-fill the bath with water before applying your sealant, it will account for the extra weight and flex which should stop cracks appearing. 

 

When it comes to a practical space like a bathroom, function has to come before form. Make sure you allow enough space between sanitaryware so people can move around and sit or stand comfortably – for example, there should be at least 60cm between the toilet and anything that’s in front of it. Towel rails should be fitted within easy grabbing distance of the bath or shower and cupboard and shower doors need to open without obstruction.

Feeling inspired? See more small bathroom ideas in our gallery.

But before planning your layout, there’s a more important underlying issue to address first: where are your pipes going to go? Start with the soil stack, the wide pipe that carries off waste water from your sanitaryware. Your loo needs to be a maximum of 6m from the soil pipe to allow for proper drainage. Showers, baths and basins should be a maximum of 4m away. Consider how smaller pipes will reach the soil pipe, as this may be affected by the layout and condition of your underfloor joists.

If you’re renovating an existing bathroom and the layout already makes sense, think carefully before switching sanitaryware around. Moving pipes can quickly become expensive and can raise more problems than it solves. If you do want to switch things up, make sure you consult a plumber first to make sure your plan is feasible.

Your ideal bathroom may include a roll-top bath, walk-in shower, twin basins and oodles of storage but you have to work with what you’ve got or risk ending up with a cramped, impractical space. Pick just one of your dream items – the roll-top bath, for example – and keep everything else compact. If your bathroom is really tiny, add luxe touches in your finishes instead.

Towels, shampoo bottles, toothbrushes, spare toilet rolls – you’ll need to find room for all these things and more in your bathroom. If possible, include a mixture of open shelving for attractive toiletries and accessories, and hidden storage for more day-to-day bits and pieces. A mirrored cabinet with integrated electric toothbrush and razor charger is a neat storage option, while built-in shelving, cupboards and drawers will help you make the most of every inch of space.

Love this? You've got to check out these ingenious bathroom storage hacks.

If you have a large bathroom or live in a poorly-insulated house, chances are a single heated towel rail won’t be enough to keep your bathroom warm, especially in winter. Work out exactly how much heating you need using a British Thermal Unit (BTU) calculator, such as the one on the B&Q website. Underfloor heating is a great space-saving option for a bathroom and will make dark, chilly mornings that little bit more bearable. 

The bathroom is the most humid room in the house, making it the ideal breeding ground for mould if you’re not careful. Invest in a good extractor fan that stays on on a timer after you’ve left the room. This is especially important if you have an internal bathroom with no windows.

Dream of starting the day being pummelled by a rainfall shower and massage jets? So do we, but before you go splashing out, make sure your water system is up to the job. Speak to a plumber or bathroom specialist to work out whether your current system can handle something like a power shower and be prepared upgrade your boiler, water tank or pump if need be.

Water is precious. Waste it and you’re not only pouring money down the drain, but you’re not doing the planet any favours either. Luckily there are plenty of tricks that can help you save water without having to ditch your daily soak in the tub or power shower. Start by fixing any leaky taps. Look out for showerheads with the water-saving WaterSense label, install a low-flush toilet, or pop a brick in the cistern if you have an older model – just check with your plumber before you try this!

While it’s OK to use ordinary wallpaper in some areas of a bathroom, you’ll need to make sure you have a top-of-the-range extractor fan to prevent it from peeling over time. If you’re using wallpaper in an area that’s directly exposed to splashing or steam, place it behind glass, or choose a waterproof wallpaper, some of which can also be used in wet rooms. As for paint, go for a bathroom-friendly option that resists damp and mould.  

Looking for more inspo? Take a look at these gorgeous wallpaper ideas 

Bad bathroom lighting is at best impractical and at worst dangerous. Make sure you layer up a mix of general lighting, task lighting (for make-up etc.) and mood lighting for unwinding in the tub. If you want to include statement fittings such as a chandelier or sconces, it’s essential that you choose an option with an ingress protected (IP) rating, which is safe to use in wet areas. Here’s a handy guide to choosing the right IP-rated lighting depending on what ‘zone’ you are using it in. 

It doesn’t matter how good your tiler is – leave them to tile your bathroom without giving them any guidance and you risk getting results you’re not happy with. Small details, such as making sure the tiles in a niche follow on seamlessly with wall tiles, will give your bathroom that coveted designer edge. Make sure you alert your tiler to any details like this, ideally by drawing up a plan of exactly how you would like your tiles to be laid.

This may sound obvious, but when you fall in love with a particular tile design it can be easy to overlook how suited it is for the task at hand. Always check whether a tile is hardy enough before using it on your bathroom floor, or you may find yourself living with unsightly chips before too long. Similarly, some floor tiles are just too heavy to use on partition walls. Many designs are suitable for both walls and floors but if in doubt, ask your tile supplier before you buy.

Plain tiles can be given an instant overhaul simply by choosing the right grout. A darker grout can create an eye-catching pattern in its own right, while a brightly-coloured grout will make an even bigger style statement. If you want your grouting to last and not leak, go for epoxy grout rather than cement grout, as it’s highly durable, waterproof and practically stain-proof. It's also a stylish way to add character to a white bathroom.

Unless you’re a seriously experienced DIYer, there are certain bathroom renovation jobs that are best left to the professionals. Getting your plumbing right is essential and can be easier said than done thanks to rules about pipe widths, angles and drainage gradients. Hiring a plumber could save you time, stress and money in the long run. For any electrics, play it safe and hire an electrician.

Even if your DIY skills are second to none, it’s still a good idea to consult expert advice before you start your project. Many high street and high-end bathroom stores have design teams who can help you iron out any flaws in your bathroom plan. In some instances, seeking advice is non-negotiable. If you want to knock down walls, move or add windows or install new joists, you’ll need to check with your local building control office about whether you need Building Regulation approval.

Builders’ quotes can vary wildly. The only way to get a sense of how much a project is really worth is to compare several quotes and query the builders about any discrepancies. Get at least three quotes, ideally based on personal recommendations, and always ask for references. It goes without saying that the best price may not give you the best result, so consider carefully before opting for a quote that vastly undercuts all the others.

Many suppliers offer considerable trade discounts to builders. Ask your builder about this before work starts and see if you can agree to split the discount, with you claiming part of it and your builder taking a cut for the time and effort of arranging the discount and placing the orders.

Your bathroom is perfectly planned and the builders are poised to make it become reality – but this is no use whatsoever if your sanitaryware, tiles and other fittings haven’t been delivered in time. Make sure you check the lead times for all items well in advance and place your orders accordingly to avoid paying workpeople to twiddle their thumbs while you’re left without a working bathroom until everything arrives.

If you’ve been super-organised and ordered your bathroom supplies well in advance, don’t just put them to one side until they’re needed. Unpack and check each item to make sure it’s exactly what you ordered and that nothing is broken. You may have a limited time window in which to return faulty goods.

Every building project generates dust. Hauling heavy equipment and products to and from the bathroom can also scuff up your floors. Minimise the damage by protecting floors of hallways and any other rooms used to access the bathroom with a temporary floor covering, such as Correx®. If your bathroom is an ensuite, cover bedroom furniture with dust sheets.

Bathrooms are notorious for harbouring hidden costs. Rusted pipes, rotting joists, dodgy electrics and endemic mould are just some of the nasty surprises you might uncover once you start lifting up tiles and floorboards. If at all possible, allow a 15 to 20% contingency fund so you’re prepared for the unexpected.

Use oversized tiles in a small bathroom and chances are you’ll end up having to cut the edge pieces down to size, which can look messy and awkward. But go too small, and your bathroom may feel too busy. Medium-sized floor tiles of around 45x45cm are often the safest bet in a small space. You can go a bit smaller on the walls, as long as you limit the pattern and colour palette. 

Read more: Affordable luxury bathroom ideas you can afford