Ten ways to create a bathroom you’ll love

From architects to stylists to bathroom designers, our panel of experts share their tried-and-tested tips to help you create your dream space.

1. Perfect your preparation

In preparation for your project and your initial meeting with your designer, get a good idea of the style you would like — consider the style of the rest of your home, trends, your likes and dislikes (to) create your dream bathroom wish list.

Melanie DeMelt, Town & Country Designs at Home Base

2. Picture your perfect bathroom

Bring reference images to help communicate what look you’d like — speaking in pictures is a lot easier when you don’t know all the right lingo.

Rachael Cicciarelli, stylist, Myaree Ceramics

3. Start with a statement piece

Identify which area of the bathroom most of the family spends more time on, then make this area a feature. If your family spends more time (in) the bath, spend a bit for a nice freestanding bath with a feature tile backdrop. Or if you enjoy shower time, make your shower area large (and with) a handheld and overhead shower.

Joseph Calasara, designer, Webb & Brown-Neaves

4. Make life easier

Select materials that are easy to clean. For shower screens, using translucent rather than transparent glass has the advantage of water marks being much less obvious. For walls and floors, using large-format stone or ceramic tiles with tight joints minimises grout.

Sandy Anghie, architect

5. Treat yourself to a little luxury

Consider underfloor heating or heated towel rails to add ambience and warmth. There’s nothing more luxurious than stepping into a warm and welcoming bathroom retreat.

6. Make time for tapware

Invest in good tapware. It doesn't need to be the highest-quality German tapware (that will send you broke) but investing in tapware of a high quality will ensure longevity and also add value to your home. There is also now a huge range of different colours available ... black, gold, brass even rose gold ... and this can certainly add a bit of pizzazz to any bathroom. But always (consider) if this will fit in with other accessories in your home (door furniture etc).

Melissa Redwood, Melissa Redwood Interior Design and interior designer for Webb & Brown-Neaves

7. Aim for style as well as function

Finding the perfect mix between style and functionality may seem like a tricky balancing act, but you needn’t compromise on your dream bathroom. First, begin with functionality. Think about who will be using the bathroom, what space you have and what products will best serve your goals. If you want a shower, bath, and lots of storage, you’ll need to figure out which products will best suit the area. A freestanding bath can mould into a variety of small spaces. And perhaps look into a single glass panel to section off the shower — creating an open plan, wet-room style set-up.

Daniela Santilli, bathroom business manager, Reece

8. Keep costs down

Melamine and high-pressure laminates have come a long way in the past few years. They now offer a vast range of veneer-look prefinished materials all in an HMR substrate which can be used for doors and benchtops, reducing the spend on cabinetry and stone benchtops. A veneer-look high-pressure laminate ... (creates) a luxe furniture feel on a budget.

Kia Douglas, designer, Western Cabinets

9. Design with lighting

Feature lighting can add an extra layer of luxury and ambience to a bathroom, with diffused light from a decorative piece adding softness and texture. Whether it’s an antique metal pendant light, a crystal chandelier or a more contemporary statement piece, adding a dimmer switch means you can turn the lights down and relax in the soft glow. Just don’t forget to add downlights, such as starlights above the vanities, so you have task lighting where you need it.

Danielle Ellery, interior designer, Oswald Homes

10. Make room for two

His-and-her vanity basins are magic and will save valuable time in the morning rush. If you would like a floating vanity but have your plumbing going through the floor then putting a mirror laminate on the base can give the vanity a floating appearance but still cover your pipes.

Sue Jansen, Kitchen Capital WA