Few rooms have undergone such a renaissance as the bathroom, this once simple closet for doing necessary ablutions has become one of our favourite spaces, suggests interiors writer Carol Burns, as she shares her tips on giving it a spring clean this season…
Most houses promote their bedrooms as an indication of value, but house-hunters increasingly look to the number of bathrooms with equal interest and they have a language, all of their own: family bathroom, shower room, ensuite and cloakroom – each one is different and has its uses, but the family bathroom is where you’ll find time for more than the basics.
If you’re heading for a spring clean this season, it’s worth knowing that some years ago, research revealed we spent around two years in the bathroom throughout our lifetime. That number has probably increased as our love of a good soak has grown. And with it the baths we can soak in.
Baths
Ellipse freestanding bath in custom colour Dutch Orange from watersbaths.co.uk
The central showcase item of any bathroom, the baths have become so ubiquitous they regularly leave the confines of the bathroom and find themselves part of the bedroom. And their emergence has created a cornucopia of shapes, styles and colours to choose from.
Baths are one of the few things – like beds – you should avoid buying online without testing it for comfort. There are plenty of different shapes as well as sizes and depths to choose from. There are corner baths, straight baths, P-shape, L-shape, freestanding, roll top, slipper and traditional…and then you can choose size and tap style.
Much of your choice will depend on what you are doing with it. Style gurus will undoubtedly go freestanding, with a rolltop. The intriguing slipper bath, with one side higher, is great for sitting and reading in. While a straight bath or corner bath might work if you like the idea of adding spa bubbles.
White baths have long been the only acceptable tone for a bath, with bathroom colour sticking to walls, tiling and the occasional framed picture. But Waters Baths of Ashbourne offer a cheeky bespoke painting service for their freestanding baths which includes dozens of colours on the outside of your bath. Of course, the only exception to the white bath is the copper one, famed for its luxury and reputed health benefits.
Shower
Village rose gold and carrara gold matt tiles from tilemountain.co.uk
Coastal inspiration for your bathroom
The wet room has become a watchword for luxury but was once simply about physical accessibility. Now we measure luxury in our shower by the depth of the shower tray (the lower the better) as well as the size of our shower head.
Modern showers will factor in water consumption with different settings and better design – if you are on a water meter it can be especially gratifying to get one, combining luxury with parsimony.
Lighting
Health and safety has necessitated quite unflattering choices over the years. But ceiling strips and spotlights can be unforgiving in more relaxed moments. For a spring clean and seasonal spruce up, candles and votives will bring down the brightness – but if you are looking at a new bathroom design, save something for the lighting.
Spring clean refresh to distress
An easy way to refresh your bathroom for a spring clean while keeping the fittings is fresh wall coverings, paint and tiles. Tiling was once a necessary and basic answer to the problem of wet walls. Today they can be chic – and cost more than the bathroom furniture. Glittery gold and metallic tiling can bring your shower stall to life, while simple stone or marble tiles can be very classy. Just make sure the tiling is done well.
Go brave with your colour choices. Blue remains our favourite colour in the bathroom, but greens, metallics and natural whites are close contenders. Easier still is changing out accessories.
New towels, mirrors and bath products in nice packaging can make your bathing into beauty. Lush greenery by way of a few well-placed tropical houseplants can add wonders. Happy soaking!
