Ten ways to revamp your bathroom

Turning your bathroom into a calming haven need not be a huge job. A few easy, inexpensive changes will soon have you reaching for the bubblebath. Here are ten easy fixes…

1. Get scrubbing

Get out the scrubbing brush. Nothing says clean and hygienic like a sparkling bathroom, so scrub floors, tiles, walls and shower screens and get rid of all soap scum and build-up. Touch up grotty grout with a grout pen (from all DIY stores), or scrape out and replace; do the same with mouldy silicone sealant.

2. Update the colour

Update your colour scheme with paint. By going light and bright in small spaces you’ll make the bathroom feel bigger. In a larger area, opt for a more dramatic look – dark shades can look wonderfully romantic when illuminated by candles. Don’t forget to use a specialist bathroom paint, available in a huge range of shades from all major DIY stores.

Read our guide to choosing the right paint for the job

3. Replace taps 

Replace old taps and showerheads but do take into account water flow – low pressure doesn’t work with huge waterfall showers. Don’t want to replace them? Then give all metalware a good polish with a proprietary limescale remover to get rid of soap scum and mould.

4. Organise the clutter

Storage is key and the bathroom is often very small. Can you replace your basin with a vanity unit that includes under-counter storage? Ikea has a good budget range. Add wipe-clean shelves to walls for storing bathroom essentials.

Find out how to make the most of your space

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5. Lay a new floor

Flooring must be waterproof. Vinyl is always a good choice in a small area, comes in myriad designs and is relatively cheap to buy. Sheet vinyl needs to be carefully cut to fit but vinyl tiles are easier to lay. Harvey Maria has a fabulous range that includes designs from Cath Kidston and Neisha Crosland, from £42.95 per sq m.

6. Use mirrors wisely

Mirrors reflect light and are key to making a small space feel larger by bouncing rays around the room. Heated, condensation-resistant mirrors and/or illuminated mirrors are easily available but if you don’t want to go to the expense of wiring them in, a simple, wall-mounted, mirrored cabinet will do the trick and double as storage.

7. Invest in a new shower curtain

Invest in a new shower curtain. However careful you are, soap scum tends to stain the bottom and leaves behind streaky marks, even after washing. Shower screens are sleeker but a lot more expensive – and they only work if the rim of your bath is flat, which many older designs are not.

8. Brighten up the room

Good lighting is key in a bathroom. Too bright and you’ll be dazzled, too dim and you won’t be able to do your make-up. Victorian Plumbing has a specialist range to suit all tastes - but check out legal requirements first with your electrician, as what you can have where depends on how far away the light fitting is from a water source.

Read our guide to brightening a dark room

9. Update your towels

Treat yourself to a set of new towels. Next has a fabulous collection in jewel-like shades, £20 for a four-piece bale; and George at Asda has some eye-catching patterns, from £4.

10. Add some finishing touches

Add a few luxurious finishing touches. Choose a decorative glass jar to hold cotton wool balls, and treat yourself to a stylish soap dispenser and some nice smellies in pretty containers. Finally, introduce a calming scented candle – Zara Home’s delicious Ginger Lily candle, from £9.99, has complementary soap and body lotion – run yourself a well-deserved hot bath, lie back and relax.

Read our guide to breathing new life into tired décor

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