HOW TO
One of the most important
considerations when decorating your bathroom is the flooring you use. Not only does it need to look good, but it
also should be nonslip, durable, easy to clean, comfortable to walk on bare
feet, and, most importantly, moisture- and humidity-resistant.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE LOOK FOR THE FLOOR?
Wood, tiles, and seamless
flooring can all look contemporary, while the former two are better choices for
a period-style room. Tiles and seamless
flooring stand up better to moisture; wood is less water-resistant, but is a
viable option if you love the look.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE MATERIAL FOR
BATHROOM FLOORING?
What you choose depends on whether you prefer the classic look and feel of tiles or something softer, like vinyl or rubber. If you are having underfloor heating installed, check which materials are suitable to use with it first.
TILED
Floor tiles come in a range
of materials including porcelain,
ceramic, and vinyl and colours and sizes. Although tiles may seem like an
obvious choice, they are hard and cold underfoot, so might be best if teamed with underfloor heating.
SEAMLESS
Vinyl and rubber sheets are
a popular seamless flooring for a bathroom,
although poured resin is also a good option. Ideal for small spaces, its lack of joins gives it a neat
finish. However, if the floor becomes damaged,
the whole floor has to be replaced.
WOOD
The colour and texture of wood
create a nice contrast to sleek plumbing
fixtures and give continuity if wood floors are used elsewhere in the house. If your bathroom gets wet
and humid, avoid solid wood and opt for laminate,
engineered wood or vinyl look-alikes.
SEAMLESS
Vinyl and rubber sheets are
a popular seamless flooring for a bathroom,
although poured resin is also a good option. Ideal for small spaces, its lack of joins gives it a neat
finish. However, if the floor becomes damaged,
the whole floor has to be replaced.
CHECKLIST FOR LAYING TILES ON
FLOOR
If you are laying tiles,
you can tile directly onto concrete or existing tiles (provided they are sound and level), but be aware that doing this will raise the level of your
floor significantly, as will underfloor
heating. You may have to remove and shave the bottom of the door before rehanging it.
A wood-framed floor must
have a subfloor installed over it before
you can tile it. The simplest way to achieve this is to screw down marine plywood boards.
Make sure that any gaps
between planks or tiles are well sealed
to stop water from seeping through to rooms below.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE MATERIAL FOR
LAYING FLOOR TILES?
What you choose depends on whether you prefer the classic
look and feel of tiles or something softer,
like vinyl or rubber. If you are having underfloor
heating installed, check which materials are suitable to use with it first.
TILES
PORCELAIN
Porcelain is a versatile, very hard-wearing choice in a range of prices
and designs, including mosaics. Seal unglazed
tiles before and after grouting.
CERAMIC
Cheap compared to natural stone and porcelain, ceramic tiles are a good choice
for larger areas, They are also hard-wearing
and won’t need sealing.
QUARTZ COMPOSITE
Expensive quartz composite has a luxurious look and is available in a wide range of colours, including black, white, grey, red, and blue. It rarely chips or cracks.
TERRAZZO
High-cost terrazzo (marble chips set into the cement with a colour pigment added) comes in many colours and finishes. When wet, this surface may become slippery.
VINYL
Available in a range of patterns
and prices, vinyl tiles are water-resistant so are ideal for a bathroom. More expensive vinyl is best left for a professional to install.
RUBBER
Medium-priced rubber tiles are available in a huge range of colours and different textures. These tiles are a good choice for family bathrooms.
SEAMLESS
RESIN
Poured resin, available in a
range of colours, is highly contemporary. It is laid directly onto concrete subfloors or special marine plywood, but not floorboards.
RUBBER
A practical choice, medium-priced rubber is hard-wearing and warm underfoot and comes in a range of colours and textures. Low-profile textures provide extra grip.
VINYL
Low- to medium-priced modern sheet vinyl comes in a range of designs that reproduce the look and texture of materials such as wood, stone, metal, and glass.
LINOLEUM
Made of natural and sustainable ingredients, this medium-priced floor is easy to clean and naturally resistant to bacteria and fungus, so is an ideal choice.
WOOD
HARDWOOD
A hardwood floor must be installed perfectly, with no gaps for moisture. It is not a good option if the floor will get very wet. It is medium to high in cost.
ENGINEERED WOOD
The construction of this medium-priced wood (layers of hard and softwood boards topped with a layer of hardwood) means it is less likely to warp.
BAMBOO
Medium to high in price, bamboo has moisture-resistant qualities and does not shrink, expand, or warp. It’s eco-friendly, too. It should be sealed before use.
LAMINATE
Some laminate wood planks are designed for bathrooms and have a moisture-resistant
core, although they are still not moisture-proof. Laminate is low to medium in cost.
VINYL
Wood-effect vinyl will give
an authentic look and is easier to care for than real wood. Prices depend on the brand; cheaper versions are self-adhesive.
HOW TO CHOOSE WALL COVERINGS FOR THE BATHROOM?
Decorated
bathroom walls, particularly around wet areas, need to be water-resistant and
easy to clean. However, you don’t have
to stick to one material—for example, wallpaper can be combined with tiles to good effect. In small bathrooms, think, too,
about ways to stretch the space visually.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE MATERIAL FOR THE BATHROOM WALL?
If your bathroom is very
small with no window you can open, your choice must be practical and
water-resistant; if you have more space
and ventilation, why not choose less obvious materials with which to decorate
your bathroom.
TILES
Tiles are the most practical
choice for a bathroom, especially on the
walls of shower stalls and around bathtubs and sink backsplashes. Choose from porcelain or ceramic,
glass, natural stone, and mosaics.
PAINT
Although you shouldn’t paint
areas that are going to get wet— where you
shower, for instance—paint is a good way to add colour to your bathroom, and can be changed fairly quickly
and easily when you want to update the look
of the room.
WALLPAPER
Use wallpaper only on walls
that don’t come in direct contact with water.
Look for a paper specifically designed for use in bathrooms. Alternatively, consider
using wallpaper behind a sheet of clear glass, which will go some way toward protecting it.
PANELING
Wood or MDF panelling itself
is not water-resistant, but if you coat it
with tough paint suitable for woodwork in bathrooms, it can withstand a high degree of dampness and some minor
splashing. It is ideal for creating a period feel.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE TYPE OF MATERIAL FOR
BATHROOM WALL TILES?
If you want to choose a mixture
of different materials for your bathroom walls, consider each one in combination
with another material. Will the tiles you
choose complement the panelling you like, or will paint walls work with the tiles
you prefer?
TILES
CLASSIC
Square ceramic or porcelain
tiles can be used in any bathroom. Those
on a budget can opt for plain white, but
a huge range of colours and patterns are available.
SUBWAY
Typically made of ceramic with
a gloss or matte surface, medium- to high-priced subway tiles have a straight or bevelled edge and come in a variety of colours.
MOSAIC
Medium- to high-cost mosaic
tiles come in a range of materials, including
natural stone, ceramic, travertine, and glass,
and a variety of finishes such as silver and
mirror glass.
LARGE FORMAT
To use large-format (31 x
31in/80 x 80cm) tiles you need flat walls.
This tile is better in a medium- or large-sized
room since its size dwarfs the proportions
of a smaller room.
PAINT
KITCHEN & BATHROOM
This medium- to high-priced
paints are made to withstand moisture and
often mould, too. They are available in a
limited number of colours.
MATTE
If your bathroom is well ventilated
and the painted walls won’t get splashed
with water, using a water-based matte emulsion
shouldn’t be a problem. Prices vary greatly.
SATIN
You can use medium-priced satin
paints if your room is well-ventilated. The
subtle sheen of these paints can help to
reflect light in small or dark bathrooms.
EGGSHELL
Medium-priced eggshell paint
can be used for walls and for woodwork and
metalwork such as baseboards and radiators.
It is washable and has a near-matte finish.
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