The art of bathroom design: Style, comfort, and clever planning

When it comes to thoughtful design, bathrooms are one of the most important rooms in the home to get right. They’re where we start and end each day, a place for relaxing soaks, brisk morning showers, brushing teeth, and storing all those essentials. It can be a challenge to pack all of that into a space that’s warm, easy to clean, and above all, private.

The best bathrooms feel like personal sanctuaries, calm, practical, and tailored to your style. Achieving that means thinking ahead about the less glamorous (but crucial) details: pipe runs, ventilation, lighting, ergonomics, and of course, your own tastes.

When refitting a bathroom, you can save money by keeping your new suite in the same spot as the old one. But that might mean missing a golden opportunity for a more stylish and practical layout. Sometimes, moving a pipe or shifting a door is the change that transforms the whole room.

In smaller bathrooms, simple changes can make a big difference, such as running the bath across the width of the room.

Opening up an older bathroom to a separate WC can create a sense of space. Or, if you’re feeling bold, turning an unused bedroom into the bathroom (or merging a small bathroom with an adjoining bedroom) can feel like pure luxury.

With today’s vast choice of suites, fixtures, and finishes, even the most uninspiring bathroom can be transformed. All it takes is some thoughtful planning, a dash of creativity, and the courage to reimagine your space and you can turn your bathroom into a blissful retreat.