From using the correct colour palette to choosing the best material, a bathroom often ends up an expensive affair. Because of this, bathrooms often bear the hallmark of the era they were designed in. This is where the term “capsule bathroom” comes from.
That being said, designing a bathroom from scratch essentially requires a professional touch in order to save yourself from making lasting and expensive mistakes. We’ve spoken at length about the professional approach to the centrepiece of your home – the kitchen, and we have embellished upon bespoke bedroom designs.
Now, we employ the architect’s critical analysis of the most utilised room in the home – the bathroom.
Bathroom design rules – The basics
Bathroom necessities and accessories are constantly evolving and updating. From stylish Italian tiles to recessed basins, the professional’s first piece of advice is to never look at designing a “timeless” space. Why? Because a vaguely defined theme will often leave your bathroom looking bland and uninspired.
Rather stick to a design theme that suits you. Do you enjoy classic Georgian, or are you more of a fan of clean lines and neutral colours? Always focus on one particular style and stick with it.
Bathrooms are defined by three distinct features. Your basin, your shower or bath, and your toilet. Once you’ve carefully considered these three elements, you are halfway towards a sublime space that speaks to your personal taste.
- Choosing the right basin
Before shopping around for your basin, architects recommend a thorough consideration of your bathroom layout. These considerations include the dimensions (size), the placement of other features, plumbing, and most importantly, budget.
That being said, the most popular basins are made using ceramics. This is because they’re easy to mould, clean, and suit a variety of budget demands. However, if you prefer a cleaner and more modern approach then consider solid surface basins which employ a minimalist style and are also easy to clean.
Finally, metal finishes for your basin are excellent additions that make them stand out and are great for contemporary bathrooms. Just be sure to keep them well maintained.
While it’s common knowledge that showers are far more efficient than baths, it’s always important to have a tub in at least one of your bathrooms. Not only do they offer you a luxurious getaway on Sunday afternoon but are also extremely practical for bathing kids (and pets).
To truly make the most of your bathroom extremities, corner baths are an excellent alternative to the more popular alcove shape. Not only do you have the freedom of defining custom shapes, but they also only require two vertical walls as opposed to three.
When selecting a shower, you usually have a choice between three design types. These include Electrical Showers, Digital Showers, and Mixer Showers. Choosing the correct style often depends more on your geyser and water pressure set-up than just on aesthetics. If you’re looking to install a walk-in power shower for example then you will need higher pressure to maintain flow.
How do you know what system you have? Older properties generally work off gravity geyser systems so if you’re planning on installing a brand new bathroom system with a power shower, it’s probably best to have a pump installed to regulate pressure.
- Choosing the right toilet
With so many different toilet designs to choose from, selecting the right one is often based on practical concerns. For example, most people choose toilets with elongated seats for comfort. However, for a more modest bathroom, it’s more beneficial to go with a rounded or squared-off design.
Once you’ve discovered your design, it’s important to install a flushing mechanism that is both efficient (water-wise) and effective. Low flushing toilets are an excellent and sustainable option that use either gravity or power flushing systems that utilise half the amount of water as their regular counterparts. Despite a few snags in their early days of development a decade ago, modern-day low-flows work extremely well and save water while doing it.
The addition of colour
Now that you’ve garnered a deeper understanding of your bathroom layout and design, it’s time to start considering the finishing touches. While bathrooms aren’t necessarily our first consideration in interior design, they are definitely places we spend every day in. Why then would we not want to make them look and feel just as inviting as the rest of the home?
Interior design experts recommend that you keep your bathrooms simple by utilising whites and creams as your primary palette. Add in a contrasting cool primary such as dark blue or green with either paint or wall panelling for extra dimension and added texture.
For a creative and distinctive look and feel, consider utilising the decorative appeal of Sonae Arauco’s Innovus Decorative Products’ Unicolour Category to achieve both your neutral and primary palettes. What makes wall panelling more appealing than painting is that decorative finishes can be applied to achieve a distinctive look and feel.
With the right decorative panelling, essential pieces, and bespoke finishes, you are well on your way to finalising your ultimate bathroom.
For more information on our wood-based decorative panels and services, visit us at https://www.sonae.projects.coppertable.co.za/