Bathroom Suites | SuiteBathrooms.co.uk

When children become teenagers, they begin to spend longer and longer in the bathroom, experimenting with hair dye colours etc.  If there is enough room in the home, a small space can be adapted to accommodate an under-sized bath, shower or just a  hand-basin and lavatory.  Teenagers like their privacy so this solution provides a way of relieving the pressure in the family bathroom plus allows teenage freedom.  Their bathroom can be decorated   tastefully with wall to wall posters of favourite idols or display themes such as collections of sea-shells, driftwood or even some home-made airkit aeroplane models.  Teenagers may like to have their own work or exam time-tables fixed to the tiles.  To do this, use a coat of clear varnish or transparent enamel paint which will hold the paper fast, make it water-resistant and durable.

Another way to transform a bathroom could be to crate a greenhouse effect, ranging from a few potted plants dotted around the shelves and the top of cupboards and window ledges to an abundance of vegetation squeezed into every possible space.  The warmth and moisture of the bathroom suit many types of plant, but it is best to check the plant’s label before buying.  Plants can be decorative, but some scented  varieties can also add to the enjoyment of a long leisurely soak by filling the warm, moist air with their perfume.  Bathrooms are sometimes windowless and therefore lacking the sunlight that most plants need, so if the plant begins to turn yellow around the leaf edges, it is best to remove it outside for a few weeks to recover.  All plants kept in the bathroom should be sprayed regularly – a rinse with the shower attachement should wash off dust and powder or spray residue that may have settled.  Pot plants can be attractively displayed in china pots or decorative containers, such as old tea-pots, jugs, bowls or large mugs.  Only tropical plants can cope with the temperature and conditions of a steam-room or a sauna but most others should thrive in a well-heated bathroom.

When our elderly relatives enter residential care homes, such as Nursing Homes, special bathroom facilities are required.  This group of people, along with the disabled, are vulnerable to dangers such as tripping and slipping, or worse, scalding.  Hospitals provide specialist facilities in their bathroom areas such as winches and maintain a room temperature that is comfortable.  When the body is warm after a balmy bath it is an unpleasant shock to the body to step out into a cold room to rub yourself dry.  Any rapid change in body temperature can be detrimental to the frail and elderly, and indeed to very young babies.  In the home, it is best to keep the temperature at a comfortable level for those who take longer to bathe and are more likely to be susceptible to feeling cold, such as those people who are suffering from illness.

Radiators should be plumbed into the main heating system – it is very dangerous to take free standing electric heaters into the bathroom, or to have loose wires and cables around.  A qualified electrician can install an electric power point for a razor or toothbrush.  Some radiators, which may be hot, start at skirting board level and could be accidently touched by bare skin, so it is advisable to cover them.  Heated towel rails should be carefully positioned to avoid the skin brushing them accidently.  Radiator covers can be made by boxing in around the sides and covering the front with a mesh or grid that will enable the warm air to circulate easily.  Some people place an item of sturdy furniture like a bedding box in front of the heater to keep a distance between the user and the heat source.  This works well if there is a toddler in the house, but there has to be adequate space.

Manufacturers of bathroom gadgets are aware of the hazards connected with bathrooms.  Grab rails on either side of the bath are easily fitted and a simple slip-resistant rubber mat with suckers on the back secure it to the bottom of the bath to prevent sliding and slipping.

Children’s bathrooms need to be hazard free and safe, but they can be a great place to decorate.  For instance, a themed bathroom based on a favourite nursery rhyme, or characters from a popular children’s Disney film, or cartoons or comic-book heroes are ideal   for creativity and can be tailored to suit children of all ages.  If free-hand painting is too complex, then transfers and stencils can be used to create a border. The bathroom suite can often be brightly coloured.

Bright, primary colours are best to use, especially with toddlers as this will coax them into the bathroom if they are reluctant to be washed and powdered before bedtime.  An interesting and entertaining bathroom provides a talking point for the adult in order to gain the child’s co-operation.  Bright accessories such as primary-coloured towels and toothbrushes will also add to the fun, and beakers and soap holders should be made from unbreakable plastic rather than china or glass.

Older children enjoy boisterous baths with waves and splashes of water and this can be allowed if the bathroom floor is designed for easy mopping and cleaning.  A good, waterproof seal between the splashback and the side of the bath will help to prevent water seeping down to the floor boards below and causing damp or rot in a children’s bathroom.  Bath toys such as rubber ducks and boats, should be tidied away between sessions into compact storage units.  Colourful plastic stacking crates provide a suitable alternative if there is lack of cupboard space, and will not be affected by any water of dampness remaining in the toys.  Storage of medicines and cleaning fluids which could be harmful to children, should be well out of reach in a cabinet fixed high up on the wall and with a lock or child-proof catch.  If the bathroom is used to change a baby’s nappy, then a changing table or a mat on top of a cabinet will suffice.  Shelf space for talcum powder, creams and wipes should be close to the changing table and a good-sized waste bin for used nappies, cotton buds etc should also be at hand.

There are many styles to choose from when decorating a bathroom, but it is best not to mix styles. For example, a Victorian panelled bath will look odd if combined with high-tech chrome lever taps, and metal blinds will look out of place in a country-style floral bathroom, and a bright, primary-coloured, geometric tiled floor will be unsuitable for a pastel-coloured, traditional bathroom.  However, it is between the 2 extremes of contemporary and traditional that most bathrooms take shape.

The contemporary style, for instance, can be divided into 2 areas – modern and ultra-modern.  Modern bathrooms have the new shapes of bath, shower cabinet, toilet, basin and mirrored units that are decorated with a clean and uncluttered style.  The modern bathroom is sometimes all-white, clinical looking, while others may have a hint of colour, such as ice blue, pale yellow or the zesty shades of orange, lime green and citrus yellow.

The ultra-modern bathroom is usually architect designed and may feature a custom-made bath and units with chrome or steel fittings.  Inspiration for this style can come from Eastern countries, such as small tile mosaic walls and floors from a Turkish steam-room.  The clinical look with lever taps is similar to those in science or medical laboratories.  The surroundings in which the high-tech bath fittings are installed are often minimally decorated in monotone colours.  It is possible to change the mood of contemporary bathrooms from a functional, efficient cleansing early morning bathe to a restful haven of tranquility at the end of the day.  This mood change can be achieved by using a dimmer switch to control the lighting strength, or by simply using different towels: soft, deep-pile towelling bathsheets will make drying more leisurely and relaxing than a quick, brisk rub down with a white cotton towel.

Maximum efficiency to allow adequate space to move and dry with ease is of paramount importance when planning a  bathroom.  If, for example, the bathroom is to be used for a working couple who need to leave the house at the same time, there must be ample room for 2 people to use the room simultaneously.  An ideal bathroom would have a hand-basin each and of course a shower which is quicker and more invigorating in the morning than a bath and  is space-saving.

The bath, which may act like an over-sized shower tray in the morning, can be transformed into a place for massage and water therapy at the the touch of a control button that activates spa and jacuzzi fitments.  To achieve the water bubbling effect without replacing the bath, there are mats made of fine tubular plastic piping that can be placed in the bottom of the bath and will, when activated, achieve a similar effect to the built-in spa fitment. Other new technology which increases the efficiency of the bathroom can be seen in the variety of temperature and timing controls now on offer that programme a shower or bath to turn itself on at a given time, with water at a pre-set temperature.

Contemporary bathrooms owe much of their new style to the advances in materials from which baths and basins are currently made.  Acrylic baths now come in a comprehensive array of shapes and sizes, with variations such as corner baths with arm and head-rests.  Acrylic also has the advantage of being warm to the touch, keeping the bath water warmer for longer and being easy to clean.  But the surface is less durable, nd when it comes to cleaning an acrylic bath or shower tray, it is advisbale to use a cream cleanser and a soft cloth because an abrasive cleaner or cloth can scratch the surface.