What's the most important thing a bathroom should have?

8 years ago

We asked you what a bedroom should have, but what about a bathroom?

Some say shower, some say baths, and we're wondering if anyone will say bidets - what's the most important thing a bathroom should have?

Shabby-chic Style Bathroom · More Info

Featured Answer

Jo DP

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

"Shabby chic"..? Two words that make me cringe, after so much misuse, by women who get a ghastly piece of furniture & put annie sloan paint on it, rub it off in obvious places & then try to sell it! Please don't call authentic distressed furniture shabby chic, can we think of something else, now..please?!

(sorry to digress.)

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Comments (34)

headers13
8 years ago
The basics etc obviously hot water, bath & shower etc ! Then good storage is essential. Plenty of space for all those lotions & potions. Good lighting.
minnie101
8 years ago
Definitely not that art, those pants should be banned! I think a powerful shower and storage
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PRO
Amber Jeavons Ltd
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hello Tom,

I'd say apart from running water... good ventilation.. Interesting aesthetically.... with no mirrored cabinets and boring vanity units.. Simply ghastly.. Think,....Wet room, concrete, textured woods... Marble... unique and interesting baths more like small soaking tubs... Beautiful taps... Unique placement and function. interesting storage... ... Bidet? Good to soak an indoor plant! Or one's ballet shoes and clothing..... Oh and sore feet after many hours of training.. That is how I remember the bidet.. : ))
Clare Ainsworth
8 years ago
I agree with headers13 - after all the essentials, definitely storage!
Emmanuelle
8 years ago
A bathroom should have clean lines, plenty of storage (to avoid the bottles on window sill!) and be practical. Should be tanked too if you have 3 splashy kids like mine.
trashsparkle
8 years ago
A bathroom with the magic powers to vapourise all toothpaste smears that teenage boys leave on the taps, the mirrors, the floor..... ;)
annelorraine99
8 years ago
Again apart from the basics and storage, a must for us is a bidet. Also hooks for bathrobes.
k11agl
8 years ago
A window please... Three out of four of my bathrooms don't have a window and I don't like it!
philip mills
8 years ago
Power shower just don't like showers with not much water coming out of it
sykeseric
8 years ago
We had a bidet in a house a long time ago but did not find it useful when there is a good shower anyway. It just took up space. A friend of mine has just installed into both bathrooms and the downstairs cloakroom, loos with plumbed in bidet features included. She says they are brilliant. Don't know what they are called officially. I havent had the nerve to try one out yet!
User
8 years ago
After all the standards like good storage and ventilation etc there is one thing that I'm still longing for......A bath that has heating elements within it to keep the water at the perfect temperature so you can have an uber long soak without having to keep topping up on hot water.
fincahouse
8 years ago
Good storage, heated mirror to avoid steaming up, good lighting and ventilation. And a bidet.
PRO
William Holland Ltd
8 years ago
A good comfortable bath and shower (either separate or combined) let's face it we're all a bit fickle when it comes to this and like to have the choice depending on mood :)

Hi, fizzfan54 - our baths may not have heating elements, but being made of single skinned pure copper they warm up and maintain the water temperature far longer than other materials. It's a myth that they lose heat - we have even had clients say that they stayed so warm they even felt like it was getting hotter :) If it's a long warm soak you require then copper baths are a good way forward!
Melanie Machin
8 years ago
love the sound of those copper baths Marc!
trashsparkle
8 years ago
Jo DP - the word could have been "vintage" instead, but that too has been hijacked by the CathKidstonCupCake Brigade......
Jo DP
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hah! trashsparkle. You are so right & I know exactly what you mean by the cathkidstonCupcake/bunting-brigade. "Pre-loved" & "upcycled" are now subject to abuse, too, & are beginning to irritate.

I am now, officially, a distressed, vintage, shabby, pre-used , Grumpy old woman (in need of up-cycling) !
Pam Hill
8 years ago
a door. with a lock.
kit_chamberlain99
8 years ago
three towel rails
marthamhanlon
8 years ago
A toilet ...
biigem
8 years ago
Essential to any bathroom design and construction: a window. I have yet to find an extractor fan that can provide the ventilation to rival an open window and effectively remove all condensation, vapours and smells produced in bathrooms, wet rooms and kitchens. It is alarming that new builds do away with windows in bathrooms and kitchens. We should not accept this trend.
Vanessa Schon-Bolesta
8 years ago
Definitely a bidet. Excellent lighting not just overhead.
PRO
Hippo heating
8 years ago
Classic style that won't go out of fashion. Something that suits you and the style of your home rather than something faddy that will not age well.
redpuma
8 years ago
Good ventilation a must as builders never seem to instal adequate fans.
jenniwatson
8 years ago
A soft carpet or rug, and curtains ! There has to be an escape from all that white shiny coldness.
lorraineledwith
8 years ago
I want a heated towel rail that doubles up efficntly as a radiator...finding it impossible to find a rad that is stylish yet that I can hang towels above or near to dry....
PRO
Stanza Design
8 years ago
Most of the elements have been covered already but I would say, first and foremost, storage. Get all the unattractive bottles and bits put away. The second is a large duel fuel towel rail. Summer in the UK isn't always that warm but may not be cold enough for central heating. To keep towels dry I install towel rails that are heated by the gas central heating system in winter or switched to electric for the summer months. There are good looking modern stainless steel towel rails that also act as radiators.

If there is adequate space: a large bath, a large shower and a bidet or a WC/bidet combination. In addition, excellent lighting - both task and mood as well as underfloor heating. Definitely NO carpets and NO shower curtains but bath mats that can be washed and glass shower screens.

By the way, Japanese baths have integral heating units but are deep and square so you have to sit with your knees up but you get constantly warm water up to your chin.
G W
8 years ago
A very powerful shower and a clean loo!!!
Marina
8 years ago
A ledge in the shower to put my feet on when shaving legs. I´m getting too old to play flamingoes!
gillcarrier
8 years ago
A wet room, forget about showers and shower trays that eventually get mouldy. Tiled floor with underfloor heating and a good towel rail. Storage too and some recesses in the wall for the essential items like shower gel, shampoo & conditioner. Finally good lightening, even some LEDs in the recesses.
Melanie Machin
8 years ago
Marcia. ..Couldn't agree more with the no carpet part - nothing worse than a stinky difficult to clean floor covering around a toilet! And aside from the sitting with your knees up the Japanese baths sound fab!
PRO
Mellow Duck
8 years ago
Ambience - nothing worse than going for a lovely long soak....in a boring, bland, harsh, tiled cell! Time to get some soft furnishings, pops of colour and interest back into bathrooms - the one and a half years spent there by the average person in a lifetime should be enjoyable!
Andrew Millar
8 years ago
bog roll
User
8 years ago
A deep and comfortable bath

What's the most important thing a bathroom should have?

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