Open plan bathrooms…and other bathroom design mistakes to avoid
If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll know that we’ve recently been horrified by the concept of open plan bathrooms. Open plan bathrooms, in case you were wondering, are bathrooms if walls were not invented and basic human concepts such as privacy and modesty ceased to exist. Everyone can see you having a shower, getting ready or whatever else you might be up too. It’s a small mercy that most open-plan bathrooms have walls covering up the toilet.
You might think that no-one in their right mind would consider an open plan bathroom but luxury hotels across the world are adopting the design and it’s bound to become a big trend once the world’s elite designers get their hands on it.
We’re all for innovation in the bathroom at Illuminated Mirrors, but open plan bathrooms might just be a step too far. Here are some other bathroom design ideas we reckon you should be avoiding too…
Carpeted Bathrooms
Most of us probably haven’t encountered a fully carpeted bathroom, and for good reason too; carpets take ages to dry if they get wet (which, unsurprisingly, happens a lot in the bathroom) and are an absolute nightmare to clean should you drop toiletries on them.
Still, some people still persist with carpeting their bathroom. Why? We’d guess to be different but, to be honest, we’d ask them.
Instead: Invest in a nice set of bath mats for post-shower foot warmth. Not only are they a lot more resilient to water than your average carpet, but they’re simple to clean and quick drying.
Lack of space
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a sprawling bathroom, yet many people fill their bathroom with so many gadgets and accessories that they end up having no space to use their bathroom comfortably.
A poor layout can also lead to a lack of space in a bathroom; for instance, sticking a freestanding tub dead centre of a tiny bathroom and leaving little room for the sink, toilet and bathroom mirror cabinets.
Instead: Plan your bathroom meticulously, accounting for the size of everything you’re planning to put in there – if need be, call in the help of a professional designer. If you find that you don’t have enough room for everything you need, cut back on non-essential items.
Following trends too closely
Dedicated followers of fashion will be able to relate with the phenomena of looking incredibly stylish one year and looking ridiculous the next; as with clothing, design trends are fickle and don’t often last long.
And, while clothes can easily be replaced, ripping out your bathroom and starting again a couple of months after a refit just isn’t an option, leaving you with an outdated design that’ll stick out like a sore thumb.
Instead: Stick to the basics of bathroom design. Choose neutral shades that’ll never get out of style like white and cream. Don’t go too crazy with your accessories; a toilet based on principles of surrealism might seem appealing one year, but you’ll soon regret it!
No ventilation
It’s not the sexiest of bathroom considerations, but ventilation is arguably the most important part of any bathroom. Without it, steam and condensation will absorb into your walls, leading to some nasty mould and fungus problems. Not only does mould look unsightly and smell bad, but it’s also a nightmare to clean.
Instead: Make sure that you have an extractor fan; if you live in rented accommodation, ensure that your landlord installs one!
Lack of storage
Storage is one of the most important things to consider when designing a bathroom, especially if you’re designing a family bathroom. Not having enough storage leads to windowsills becoming filled with toiletries and other things you’d rather not share with the world being left out in the open!
Instead: Try and include storage wherever you can; bathroom cabinets, Wicca cases and a shelf over the toilet cistern are all good ideas.
If you want to make a stylish addition to your bathroom, no matter what the design, you can’t go far wrong with one of our LED mirrors; check out our full range now! And don’t forget to get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+!
