Neil Robinson from Gracious Living in Chingford on the five key things to consider when planning a bathroom makeover

Great British Life: Plan ahead and make sure you get the right layout, style and quality that you desire for the foreseeable futurePlan ahead and make sure you get the right layout, style and quality that you desire for the foreseeable future (Image: Archant)

Style comes first

Try and get an idea beforehand about what style you like, otherwise everything will be completely alien to you, and you may end up spending trip after trip just trying to work out what you like. Luckily there are so many programmes on TV that can help inspire you, whether you’re interested in traditional, contemporary or a mix. Design really isn’t as straightforward as it was years ago when you would just have to pick a bathroom suite from 20 colours. Nowadays there is masses and masses of choice for everything, even different types of taps! It really is worth having at least an idea of your style preference before you begin.

Utilise the space that works

Size is also another important thing to think about before you make any purchases. Some people will come in and say they want a shower and a bath but then when we go to look at the size of their bathroom we have to tell them: “Sure you can have that, but you won’t be able to move.” It’s all about giving yourself a realistic idea of what your layout can actually accommodate based on the size of the room. The bathroom needs to flow, and you definitely don’t want to walk through the door head on into a sink and then turn left and bang your head on a shower enclosure every day.

Great British Life: Give yourself a realistic idea of what your layout can actually accommodate based on the size of the roomGive yourself a realistic idea of what your layout can actually accommodate based on the size of the room (Image: Archant)

Be realistic

Pinterest can be both the greatest and the worst thing in the world! A lot of people will use the app for ideas which is great, but the problem is they get set on what they see despite it not being possible. Unfortunately, a lot of these Pinterest designs are based in America where they tend to have much bigger bathrooms. So, if you’ve got a bathroom that is 2m by 2m and the bathroom in the image is 5m by 8m then it just isn’t going to happen! Pinterest showcases many grand designs which is amazing, but it isn’t going to always work in everyone’s home. It’s a nice idea and should be used for inspiration, but don’t get carried away with it.

Don’t skimp on quality

When it comes to renovating you will quickly learn that there is a lot of rubbish out there, especially on the internet. In our store, we have 31 years of experience, so we know what we’re talking about. We are not high-end, and we are not cheap, we aim for somewhere in the middle which offers people a range of affordable products that are good quality. Realistically you have to spend a bit of money on the things you are using, especially on a daily basis. If you’re going to be opening a shower door 4 to 5 times a day then you should buy a decent one, and if you’re going to put a shower valve in a wall, then again, you should buy a decent make. We stock a lot of different brands that do lots of different things very well, but brands I recommend for shower doors and valves is Crosswater and Saneux because they are good quality.

Don’t rush the stages

People might get excited about the renovation and immediately go and buy tiles they like, but they really shouldn’t. Tiles are part of the finishings and not something to begin your renovation with, and so if you rush ahead then you might find they don’t actually fit in with the end result. Firstly, you should decide what you would like to put in the room, things like what type of storage or vanity unit you are after or whether you want a bath or a shower or both. Next find the items that will suit your style, and make sure they are the right size and colour. Then lastly, choose the tiles and colour scheme to complement the items in the room. Renovating a bathroom is a process that needs to be done in the right order.

Gracious Living, 440-448 Larkshall Road, Chingford, E4 9HH, 020 8523 3103, graciousliving.co.uk