Bathroom renovation - tips & tricks
Good to know before you start with your bathroom renovation
To renew the bathroom is often of top priority. Here are some tips of how you can avoid some common mistakes in order to succeed with your renovation.
-
Step 1
Think carefully about the family's needs
What kind of features do you expect from the room? How do you plan to use it? Our tip - divide the room into three different functions:
1. One for the toilet
2. One for the whole body - shower and bath
3. One for self-care - hands, teeth and face
Measure and make a plan where all the different functions should be placed.
-
Step 2
A big family could use a separate toilet
Is there an unused space in your home which could be suitable for a separate toilet? If not, a toilet in the same room could be separated with help from a partition wall.
-
Step 3
Should the bathroom have a bathtub, shower, or both?
Young people tend to occupy the shower. Is it possible to construct a separate one?
-
Step 4
Start with the size of your bathroom and continue with questions like:
- Where can I change diapers?
- Where can I put the dirty diapers?
- Do I have to make space for both washing machine and clothes dryer?
-
Step 5
Do not forget the lighting!
A too dim or strong light makes the bathroom environment dull. At least one lamp for general lighting and one for the face is a good rule. Include mirrors in the light-calculation, they reflect light which enhances the feeling of the room's volume.
-
Step 6
Move sewer installation, floor or wall?
You can get wall-hung porcelain even if the room has a had a floor drain connection previously.
-
Step 7
The ventilation is important!
Good ventilation - preferbly in combination with underfloor heating - quickly dries the bathroom and reduces the risk of moisture damage.
-
Step 8
Piping and plumbing
During work in the floor and walls, proper piping and plumbing work is essential to avoid moisture damage in the future. We recommend you hire a professional to find the best solutions.
-
Step 9
Choose the right colour
Light colours make the bathroom feel larger - and dust, soap dirt and water spray less visible.
-
Step 10
Search quality certified craftsmen
Always ask for quotations from different companies. Then, it is very important that you make an agreement in writing with the chosen company, preferably with a fixed price!
Bathroom product
Product considerations
Your choice of products is crucial when you are planning a bathroom to thrive in for many years. Before starting your bathroom renovation, read through our considerations listed below. Keep in mind that a number of processes have to be carried out by professionals. Do not “risk it” yourself – it could cost you dear.
WCs
Which model suits you best? Do you want the water trap concealed or visible? Do you prefer wall or floor-mounting? Stable seat in rigid plastic or wood? If your home is to have two toilets, why not choose different seat heights for you and your children?
Bidets
When bathrooms are renovated, the bidet is often not the first thing to be considered. But when it comes to intimate hygiene, bidets are unbeatable. If you think that it would “steal” space, why not choose a washbasin mixer with a separate hand shower that you can then use while sitting on the toilet?
Faucets
A mixer should be pretty to look at, but what it has inside is what makes all the difference. Go for quality. At Gustavsberg, you will find energy and water-saving technology in even the most well-designed mixers. Do you have young children? Then choose a thermostatic mixer that regulates the water temperature and eliminates the risk of scalding.
Bathroom sink
Installing two washbasins cuts down on queuing – and generates a sense of togetherness – for large families. Think about whether you want to conceal the water trap in a bottom cabinet or behind a pedestal or cover. If a standard size washbasin takes up too much space, there are smaller models and washbasins designed for corner installation to choose from. Our Logic range is designed precisely to free up space.
Showers
Make sure that the walls and floor of your shower area are made of materials that are suitable for wet-room environments. This determines whether you can have shower walls or need a shower cabin. Then there are a lot of options to consider. In small bathrooms, a shower corner with a door that also opens inwards is a good solution for gaining more space.
Bathtubs
Big or small? Built-in or free-standing? Enamel or acrylic?
Bathroom furniture
Shelves or cabinets? Both options help you to better organise your bathroom. Cabinets keep the dust off and help hiding your personal items. Shelves provide easier access and allow you to display your “trinkets”. Whatever you choose, make sure to include a lot of storage space – even if your bathroom is small. For example, there is almost always room for a cabinet under the washbasin.
Bathroom accessories
Gustavsberg offers a well thought-out selection of accessories. They are well-designed and will last for years.
Handicap accessible bathroom
It may be that you need to think about setting up your bathroom with an eye to the future – to the time when you may not be as mobile as you once were. It is often the small details that make the bathroom much safer: a support rail by the bathtub and a non-slip surface on the bathtub floor, for example. Or perhaps a support rail by the WC or a raised WC seat. An extended lever on a standard mixer or a sensor-controlled mixer will also make things easier for people with reduced hand strength. Our range contains numerous products that have been adapted for both children and adults with special needs. For more information, visit our product pages.