Three Easy Upgrades for Small Bathrooms

So you’ve just moved from a flat into your very first free-standing home. Congratulations! While there’s nothing like the thrill of finally having a place to truly call one’s own, many new homeowners find themselves going through a crash course in how to maintain a home and perform any necessary upgrades during the months leading up to and immediately following their first home purchase.

This applies in particular to homes more than 40 or 50 years old and which may be in need of a new roof, electrical upgrades or something as simple as a kitchen or bathroom upgrade to make the space as liveable and user-friendly as possible. The good news is that even a relatively small bathroom can be improved upon without spending an exorbitant amount. Following are just a few examples of how this can be done:

Smaller vanity
If the bathroom in your new home is rather small, then the first thing you will want to consider is the amount of space taken up by the vanity or any other ground-level bathroom furniture. A well-appointed bathroom is for nought if it’s impossible to move around in, so ask yourself if there are ways in which to create more space. If the vanity takes up a significant amount of space at ground or waist level, consider replacing it with a narrower one with a basin above the countertop.

These increasingly popular models, available from bathroom supply companies such as Vitra bathrooms and Hansgrohe bathrooms, take greater advantage of vertical space than many of the more common designs. Many early adopters have even found the height of the basin more user-friendly in that one need not bend as far forward to rinse after brushing teeth or washing hands.

Shelving
Even if space at waist level is limited, the total amount of usable space in your bathroom need not be. Although smaller is better when it comes to bathroom furniture which may have potentially impede movement within the bathroom, this typically means having less space in which to store essential items within those pieces of furniture. One overcomes this problem by maximising the use of the available wall space with shelving and attractive cabinetry. By taking advantage of spaces above toilets and even inside the shower cubicle, you will be able to store everything from bath towels to shaving cream to any decorative objects you may wish to include to make the space more inviting. If they fit the colour scheme, the added shelving and cabinets themselves will also make the space more attractive.

Lighter colours
There’s nothing like an outdated wallpaper pattern to make a bathroom – or any other room in the home – seem small, uninviting and perhaps even unsanitary. Luckily, this is generally one of the easiest problems to solve in a bathroom. In this case, the simple solution is to use lighter colours to brighten the space, create the illusion of a larger space and even make it feel cleaner and more inviting after, say, a strenuous workout at the gym or an afternoon of toiling away in your new garden. A couple of coats of high-gloss paint are all it takes! If you feel more ambitious, consider covering most or all of the wall space with light-coloured tiles or another wall covering which will help to prevent the growth of mould and mildew.

P.T. Ranson has been in the business of luxury bathroom upgrades for over 15 years. Our vast range of products, including Vitra bathrooms and Hansgrohe bathrooms, will give bathrooms of any size the facelift that they need so that you can enjoy this all-important space to the fullest and be in a good position to sell should the day ever come.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us today on 0191 4696999 or visit www.ptranson.com