When shopping for your new shower tray there are several options in terms of style, size and material. The first step is to determine the space available and what sizes you can work with.

The larger the shower tray, the larger your showering space will be which will provide a more comforting and spacious area to shower in comfort. Once the size has been determined you have got to choose the shower tray which is right for your installation. Many manufacturers make stone resin trays as opposed to acrylic or foam filled trays as they are renowned for their durable and strong properties.

The stone resin trays are available in both flat to floor and raised installation designs. Adjustable steel legs add to the strong properties of this type of stone resin tray which enables the pipe work to run underneath the shower tray. Stone resin trays supplied is commonly coated in an acrylic surface which again helps the durability of the shower tray and gives it a longer lasting finish.

Stone resin shower trays which feature tiling upstands are great to create a watertight sealant underneath the bathroom tiles. This is great for installation although they are not available on every shower tray. The shower trays are available in different colours as well not just the white finish you commonly see in bathroom showrooms.

There are a range of shapes to choose from including square, rectangular, quadrant and offset quadrant trays. There are hundreds of sizes and styles to choose from to cater for your bathroom. The profiles of the shower trays can also vary from the normal 80mm height to the low profile 40mm which often people like as it gives the bathroom a more contemporary feel .

Now is the time of the year where the weather remains colder and duller. It can be quite depressing so why not update your bathroom creating the ultimate relaxation and refuge at the end of a hard day.

If you are planning to redesign the ensuite it should ideally match the adjoining room’s design. Look at the colours of the room and match these in with your chosen scheme in your bathroom.  If possible opt for a freestanding bath with feet rather than a built in bath design. A freestanding bath will make it appear larger in a smaller bathroom space. Both traditional and modern baths create a statement centerpiece for visitors and you to enjoy on a day to day basis.

Basins add elegance and style into the bathroom, setting your basin into a worktop adds a touch of glamour into the room. Semi pedestal designs will also create more space in the bathroom. Bathroom vanity units which feature basins and drawers combine both storage and practical washing areas. A pretty bathroom mirror above will work well to create a touch of drama and interest. Lighting can be used with the mirror to add additional lighting where needed.

Keep your bathroom clean and get rid of the smelly carpet! Replace the flooring with bathroom tiles or use wet wall panelling on the walls, making it easy to clean and maintain.  There is no compromise on style as there are over thirty different colours to choose from to match with your modern bathroom design.

The bathroom should be all about you and your needs. Self indulgence and time spent on you is important to relax and give you a better feeling about yourself. Different people like different methods of relaxation and it can be achieved in many forms and ways depending on your personal needs. Some people like scents others enjoy relaxing jets in the bath, whichever way is best for you look into the options available.

Drench shower heads are the perfect way to relax in the shower if your bath is no longer used. The large fixed shower head will shower above your head giving your head and body a relaxing massage. It isn’t an expensive option and will add style as well as a contemporary focal point in the bathroom. Many bathroom are now trying to replicate the style seen in hotel suites, why is this? This is because when we stay at hotels we feel relaxed and hotels are a haven when we go on holiday. This is why many homeowners try and represent the same luxury in their own bathroom styles. Adding luxury fluffy towels and white robes are another way of introducing the hotel spa like feel into the bathroom.  A spa always has excellent storage so robe hooks and hangers are practical additions to the bathroom. Heated towel rails are great to warm the robes and towels whilst taking a soak.  Bathroom mirrors are fantastic to give yourself abit of self esteem and are a good place to sit and moisturise in comfort. Including a sound system in your bathroom can be relaxing and give you a good feeling whilst you bathe and shower. Reading whilst bathing is great to relax the muscles and unwind, catch up on celebrity news and chill. Storage for all of your books and mags is essential so include bathroom shelves into the bathroom design. So go and enjoy some quality me time in your bathroom and relax in the comfort of your own home.

When selecting a new toilet for your bathroom there are a few points to remember to choose the right one for your bathroom.

There are many toilets in the market all of which are similar in size, unless you need one for a smaller bathroom installation. Compact toilets can be purchased to save valuable floor space. Elongated bowls provide a more comfortable place to sit but this isn’t always the best solution in smaller bathrooms. Toilet heights can very also, new to the market leaders such as Rak Ceramics introduced the higher WC solution which is ideal for mobility issues and taller people as the user doesn’t have to bend their legs as much.

There are different styles of toilets, close coupled, wall hung, back to wall. Close coupled toilets are the more common in UK bathrooms with the cistern sits on top of the bowl. These tend to be more affordable as they do not need a frame to fit pipe work into, it comes supplied complete. Wall mounted toilets are popular for compact bathroom spaces, the wall hung design allows for easy cleaning underneath the pan. The illusion it creates gives a more spacious feel as you can see more floor space rather than a traditional toilet design. Installation can be more tricky as wall hung designs require a thick wall to mount onto and a frame to mount the cistern behind the wall. Back to wall toilets again are space saving choices as there is no cistern to accommodate freeing up some space.

The flushing technology of each toilet is important as well. Flushing is important to prevent accurate water control and provide an efficient design. Soft close toilet seats are the last finishing touch for a luxurious toilet addition, giving the bathroom a more modern bathroom design.

How to impress your loved one this valentines day? Do those jobs that they have been pestering you to do for a while and make them smile this Valentine ’s Day.

Paint the bathroom walls: This is a quick and affordable way to update your bathroom giving it a new lease of life. Neutral colours will make the bathroom appear larger. Not only the bathroom walls but you could try updating the bathroom furniture with a lick of paint giving existing doors a new look.

Add more bathroom storage: If the bathroom cluttered then opt for more bathroom storage to create a stylish clean cut design. This will create a clutter free space to enjoy.

Replace the mirror: Replace the old mirror with a stylish chrome addition. A large square or round mirror will add a glamorous touch to the bathroom design. Some bathroom mirrors also incorporate lights giving a “Hollywood” style feel. Updating the bathroom accessories with new fixtures and fittings will enhance a modern bathroom design.

Clean and make it gleam: Give your bathroom the best clean it has ever experienced, a shiny clean bathroom will make anyone relax and unwind. Buy some new fluffy towels and place them on the towel rail so they are nice and warm ready for a relaxing bath time.

Set the scene: If you are really wanting to impress then run a bath and set the scene with a few rose petals. Light a few candles and create a relaxing atmosphere so your partner can relax at the end of a long day.

These simple steps will make a happy valentines, it is not always about the presents but the effort you make to keep a loved one happy.

There are a number of steps that you need to carry out in order to keep your shower head clean and here are a few tips in order to reduce lime scale and unblock the shower head.

The first step is to unscrew the handheld shower from the flexible shower hose. Doing this will make it easier to clean whilst not having to stand in the bath at the same time. The cover of the shower head can unscrew to help access the shower head. Removing this will allow you to clean inside the shower head more thoroughly. If the shower head cannot be dismantled don’t worry the shower head can still be cleaned. Soaking the shower head in a bowl of white wine vinegar for around 15 minutes will help loosen dirt and limescale. An old toothbrush can be used to scrub the shower head and clear the nozzle holes to clear them for water to get through. This process may need repeating if necessary to clear the head from any dirt.  

Shower heads in a range of shapes and sizes are available if you need to replace them. Square and round shower heads are available to match bathroom taps and other bathroom accessories.

Bifold shower doors have many advantages and save a whole lot of space. The inward opening reduces water dripping onto the bathroom floor and are available in small sizes which make them great options for smaller openings.

Bifold shower doors are easy to install and like other doors they are available in different finishes. A bifold door, if you think about it, combines both a sliding door and pivoting door design. Therefore it is essential that the rollers are durable and robust to with stand the constant pulling and pushing. Bifold shower doors run along a track situated at the bottom of the shower door and as it pushes to one side it opens a large entry into the shower cubicle.

The track will need cleaning every now and again to stop dirt and debris collecting. Bifold doors are usually the cheaper door options hence why they are so popular. They can be used with the relevant side panels as well to create the perfect shower enclosure size. From small to large widths there are a huge range of options making bifold shower doors versatile for many installations.

The framework of each shower door will allow adjustment to cater for out of true walls in some designs such as the Aquasata giving up to 60mm adjustment, ideal for the installer. The shower doors will feature toughened safety glass as required and the normal thicknesses for a bifolding door tend to be 4mm and 6mm as a general rule.

There are three types of bathroom furniture to choose from stand alone, modular and fitted. Stand alone bathroom furniture is as the name implies it is designed to stand alone. Freestanding furniture gives the bathroom a more contemporary feel. Freestanding units offer a more streamline and minimalistic design as opposed to bulky modular furniture units. Vanity units are the more common additions to a bathroom, as they enable storage below the basin and takes up a minimum amount of space. This discreet storage is ideal for smaller bathrooms featuring internal shelving and cupboards.  

Modular bathroom furniture can still be used as stand alone furniture in most cases but it can be combined if need be. Modular bathroom units are used if there is a particular space to fill this may consist of a vanity unit, WC unit and storage cupboards. Modular bathroom furniture is usually supplied pre assembled for easy installation. There are various styles and finishes to choose from including white, wood and other modern furniture designs. Chrome handles incorporated give the furniture a sleek finish, ideal for any bathroom space.  

Toilets combined in WC units are a popular addition and usually offer a dual flush cistern design. Soft close toilet seats are the in vogue addition to toilets as they are excellent if children are using the toilet, avoiding any damage to the pan. When you are looking for bathroom furniture research the best options to suit your space, you will be able to fill the gap with the different sized units available

When it comes to installing a new bath into the bathroom you will find there are so many options you will be spoilt for choice. The design of the bath is very important however you shouldn’t buy a bath based on this alone. Baths are made from different materials and have different durability levels so keep this is mind. 

Baths have developed dramatically over the past ten years or so with both steel and acrylic materials now available on the market. So what are the differences, does it make that much difference? Here are a few facts for you to consider when shopping for your new bath addition.

Steel baths are renowned for their durability due to the overall thickness of the bath. They are hardwearing due to the robust manufacturing process and are not prone to scratches as much as acrylic bath materials are. Steel baths also retain heat a lot longer for a longer period of time thus reducing the need to refill the bath constantly. This will help your budget in the long run, as well as being more environmentally friendly.

Steel baths usually come with lengthy guarantees approx 25 years so this gives the buyer the reassurance of a quality bath purchase. Bathroom floors can take certain weights so ensure that your floor can take the weight of a steel bath and make sure it can handle the overall weight.

Acrylic baths are the more common addition in bathrooms and are cheap to buy. Acrylic is obviously not as strong as steel however it still durable for everyday bathroom use. Acrylic is non porous which means germs and bacteria. Acrylic baths offer modern styles and they also tend to be more traditional in their style. Double ended baths  are popular for two bathers. Acrylic baths can feel more hollow which can reflect a cheaper and less quality product.

There are so many baths to choose from take a look at the range of styles and decide which is best for you.

Bathrooms go as far back as 3000 BC; the first bathroom designs were not introduced with hygiene in mind. Water in the past had a strong religious presence so it wasn’t taken for advantage. Water was a purifying element used to purify the body and soul. Communal bathing took place in villages and bathing was done separate to the living quarters of the people living there. Bathing and water were seen to prevent evil spirits.

Roman baths are the most common idea people think of when thinking of past bathing history. Greeks and Romans recognised the value of bathing. Palaces have since been discovered to have had bath tubs and drainage systems in Greek cities such as Pylos and Tiryns. Greek paintings and vases illustrated that even the Greeks showered. Wealthier families had their own private bathing areas whereas the village people shared public bathing quarters. Water was eventually seen as a carrier of disease and so private bathroom took shape throughout the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th century. The bathroom rose to prominence within many households and mass showers were provided for the poor.

Britain’s first bathroom was recorded in the mid 17^th century. This was found in Bolsover in Derbyshire were Sit William Cavendish pioneered the leading trend for bathing rooms. Thomas Crapper is the inventor of the toilet, from Yorkshire (just like us!) and was born in 1836.

Baths were originally metal lined wooden designs that were brought into the kitchen for the weekly bathing event and filled with hot water. As plumbing techniques and peoples skills advanced so did the development of our bathrooms into what they are today. So there you go some fasinating facts about your bathroom, enjoy!