A bathroom is a place to relax, unwind and let the troubles of the day wash away yet many designers don’t take this into account, allocating it the smallest space they can in a house and equipping it with only the bare essentials.

There are many ways to create the perfect, relaxing bathroom through good design and layout, whether you’re starting from scratch in a new build, extending a bathroom space or remodelling an existing one in a set space.

The use of 3D CAD bathroom design software simplifies the task of designing a bathroom no matter which type of build you are doing, as it allows for easy modification and gives you a much better picture of the finished room.

Remodelling an existing bathroom in a fixed space is the most difficult task but there could be scope for moving or removing walls, moving windows and, of course, fitting a new suite does not mean placing the bath, shower, sink, toilet and other fittings in exactly the same places.

There are certain stages to go through when designing a new bathroom. These are:

– Measuring up and recording placement of existing services
– Creating an initial layout, marking the position of fittings
– Deciding on any necessary structural work such as moving of walls, doors and windows
– Deciding on changes to water and electricity supplies in terms of placement

Once you have decided on the above work you can make a start on the fun stuff of choosing the fixtures and fittings.

Start by making a list of the items you want. You will, no doubt, need a toilet, sink and bath. Additional items may include a separate shower stall, bidet and heated towel rails.

You will also need to think about things like storage, bathroom cabinet, mirror, shaver point, extractor fan, lighting, seating and laundry basket. All of these items are optional, but can add to the ambience and usefulness of the bathroom. If you have the space, why not use it?

This is where the CAD bathroom design software comes in very useful. You can play around with the positioning of everything you decide to include until you are happy with the positioning. Consider space as well as just fitting in everything you desire – a spacious room will be more relaxing than one crammed with fixtures and fittings!

Once your layout is decided on you can get started on any required structural work and moving of water and electrical services if necessary while you begin deciding on your colour scheme, decor, flooring, lighting, and wall coverings.

These are all a matter of taste and very subjective, of course, but there are some things you should bear in mind. A bathroom does not have to be clinical, you can use warm colours if the natural light of the room allows and the addition of plants, small pieces of furniture and pictures on the walls can make the room more comfortable. Adding mirrors will make the room seem a lot bigger too – never a bad thing.

Always remember that a bathroom is a functional room as well, so whatever ‘extras’ you decide to incorporate need to be able to stand up to the rigours of water, steam and constant use as well as add to the overall ambience of the bathroom.

Author Bio: Ian Grainger is writing on behalf of Nexus Design Software, developers of 3D CAD bathroom design software.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: bathroom design, bathroom planning, 3d cad, bathroom design software