The starting point is choosing a bath with wow-factor.

Choose a gorgeous free-standing bath – either a roll-top or a more modern, simple shape –and position it in the middle of the bathroom. If you like you can even tile the floor in a different colour tile underneath the bath, or embed spotlights in the floor around the bath.

If space is a little too tight to put the bath in the middle of the room then put it against a wall and tile the wall behind the bath in a different type of tile from the ones being used in the rest of the room. For a luxurious look you could go for iridescent or metallic tiles  – so it looks like the bath is a cherished item that needs to be ‘framed’.

Iridescent can very effectively make a bath look special

We love the way this bath has been set back from the bathroom and the space edged with this fabulous metallic tile from Villeroy & Boch, for example.

Putting your bath on a pedestal is also an effective way to showcase it. This works really well if you have a recess to put the bath in, having it elevated will draw the eye to the bath and when you’re bathing in it, you’ll feel pretty special. Tile or clad the side of the bath in quality treated wood to finish the look.

Wherever you’re positioning your bath in the room, you can use lighting to make the bath the centre of attention – you could consider embedding spotlights in the ceiling, or hanging a bathroom-safe chandelier over the bath which will draw the eye to that area of the room.

Ball foot bath in black from BathEmpire

A final idea is simply to choose a stunning bath that is naturally going to steal all the attention in the bathroom – for example, a vintage-style roll-top bath with a beautiful black tub on white claw feet, just like the one we sell at BathEmpire. This bath would make a real statement in an all-white bathroom.

Prespa L-shaped Shower Bath, by BathEmpire

Benefit both worlds

The trend in recent years has turned mainly to showers, with baths being seen as more of a luxury treat at the end of a hard week at work. Yet, when considering the resale value of our property, we are constantly reminded that a modern bath is needed to sell the idea of a ‘family’ home. Therefore, why not gain the benefits of both worlds, and merge the two in a shower bath.

However, if space is really at a premium, then a wet room presents a solution. With a stylish glass screen sealing the shower area, a wet room allows maximum use of the central space in a room, as other essential items can be placed around it.

Space Savers

Holt Counter Top Basin, by BathEmpire

As mentioned in our earlier post on large bathrooms, dark furniture is definitely making a comeback.

You can finish the contemporary look with some Lassen Wenge furniture, such as this floor standing cabinet. The integrated basin stands securely above the deep drawers, which benefit from soft-close technology meaning the sharp sound of slamming cupboards is now a thing of the past.

As an alternative, should you fancy a more open look, then you may be suited to this Holt counter top basin. Combined with the powerful angular design of the Canim mixer tap and the Virginia tower radiator, this look will be equally elegant.

For further products suited to urban bathrooms, be sure to check out the range at BathEmpire.

Once you’ve bought the bathroom though, you’ve got a choice to make… do you DIY or call on the services of a qualified tradesperson?

Hiring a professional could be the best way to make sure your bathroom looks this good

Recent research from the Halifax has found that 13% of people ask for help from friends and family to complete their bathroom makeover, instead of paying for professionals.

If you’re considering following their lead though, the same research may make you think twice.

Halifax found that, on average, more than one in six DIY jobs goes wrong, with a typical cost of £426 to put botched bathrooms and kitchens right again.

So choosing to DIY could be a false economy, and end up taking you longer.

We always like to be helpful, so we’ve thought of a list of things to consider if you’re getting in professional tradespeople to install your BathEmpire bathroom.

1. Will the work be done in one go?

Having a bathroom fitted can be a disruptive, so you ideally want it to be done as quickly as possible.

By choosing tradespeople who have plumbing, electrical and tiling skills, if all are needed, or at least ones who work with colleagues with the skills they don’t have themselves, you’ll save time, money, and there’ll be less disruption.

2. Are they qualified?

Renovations need to conform to the building regulations. These cover everything from ventilation, to drainage and waste, energy conservation and electrical safety.

If you employ a builder, confirm that he or she will be responsible for compliance but remember that it’s still important for you to know what’s required because as the building owner you’ll have to put things right if there’s a problem.

3. Get a comprehensive quote

One of the main things that people are worried about when hiring tradespeople is that the cost will spiral out of control, so try to make sure this doesn’t happen to you by getting three comprehensive quotes for the job.

If one quote is vastly lower than the others then you may be right to be suspicious that the cost will be revised once the job has begun, so perhaps choose the mid-level quote, or at least get the quote in writing to protect yourself.

Another good idea is to ask for references from previous customers – good tradespeople should be happy to oblige.

Also, get a price for the whole job, rather than a day rate – otherwise the incentive is for the work to be dragged out over more days than necessary.

Make sure all of the following is included in your quote if needed:

• Removal of old tiles (and disposal of them)
• Removal of old bathroom suite (and disposal)
• Making good of walls for re-tiling
• Any initial electrical work needed
• Fitting of skirting
• Installation of new suite
• Tiling of walls
• Tiling of flooring or laying of other floor covering
• Plumbing in of taps
• Painting of walls
• Second fix electrics

Is there something we’ve forgotten? Are you a professional tradesperson who has advice for homeowners wanting to install a new bathroom? We’d love your opinions

If you’d look at the bathroom and think: “Well, that will have to be replaced” then that’s got to be a bad thing.

Buyers are likely to find a shabby bathroom more off-putting than other flaws like untidiness (they know you’ll be taking everything with you) and even dirty carpets, an overgrown garden or walls that need painting, because these are seen as simple jobs they can do themselves.

The thing is, installing a new bathroom is a major hassle that new property owners would rather not have to deal with.

They’re going to have all the upheaval of moving in their furniture and all the admin that comes with changing address and the last thing they want is to be calling plumbers and having the mess and inconvenience of a bathroom installation as well.

That’s why fitting a new bathroom is a particularly savvy home improvement to make before you put your house on the market.You take on the hassle and it’s very likely that you’ll get back more than you spend when you sell up.

Buyers will be much more attracted to a property that already has a stylish, clean and well-laid out bathroom than one with a dodgy avocado suite, peeling wallpaper and mould. Eugh!

Cahora freestanding bath from BathEmpire

Now, if I was a buyer, and I saw a property on the market for say £200,000 that had a disgusting mould-ridden bathroom with an old, chipped bath, stained sink and toilet and little space for anything, and then I saw another property for £210,000 which had a gorgeous, up-to-date, neutral bathroom like the one on the right… well, I know for sure which one I would pick.

So installing a new bathroom really can mean that your is the property that sell instantly, with others languishing on the market.

And the thing is, a new bathroom needn’t cost you that much at all. At BathEmpire we have baths from as little as £219.99, roll top baths from £249.99, full-sized sinks from £59.99, shower enclosures from £129.99 and toilets from £69.99.

Your property particulars can mention that a new bathroom has been installed and the photographs of your property on-line will be much more appealing.

As any interior designer will tell you, if it’s saleability that you’re after you can’t really beat a plain white suite – that way the buyer can stamp his or her own personality on the room without too much difficulty.

Plain white suites will attract buyers

Sure, a gold bathtub or a grey suite might be trendy, but if it alienates even 25% of your potential market, then you may end up taking longer to sell, or having to drop your price.

So install a plain white bathroom suite from BathEmpire; use tiles in neutral tones such as stone, slate or white; dress the room with simple accessories such as fluffy white towels and bathrobes and a vase of flowers, then sit back and watch the offers come rolling in.

When you get to your new property visit us again – we know you’re going to want to recreate the look!

For sale image courtesy of efffective.com