Tag: bathroom decor

6 best options for bathroom floor coverings

6 best options for bathroom floor coverings

If you’re renovating your bathroom, one of the most important decisions to make – after choosing the suite – is what kind of flooring to lay. There are lots of different types out there but you will need to decide on the one that will work best for you; your taste, your budget and your DIY skill level. Following are some of the best options for bathroom floor coverings – and we’ll point out some of the pros and cons for each choice.

Vinyl flooring

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is one of the most affordable choices of material. It’s sold in either rolls or tiles and can be laid by a confident DIYer, eliminating any labour costs. It is a very versatile material; it comes in lots of different colours and patterns and is suitable for tiny or expansive bathrooms in equal measure. It can mimic the look of wood or stone at a fraction of the price. Vinyl is a warm material and often has a foam or padded underside, making it extra comfortable when walking on it barefooted.

Black rubber flooring with raised circular patterncredit

Rubber

Rubber flooring is available with a raised, patterned surface which makes its textured finish very slip resistant. Similar to vinyl, rubber is sold in rolls or as tiles in a huge array of colours. Again, it’s a warm material that stands up well to a wet environment such as a bathroom. Rubber flooring requires specialist installation knowledge, so it’s probably best to get the experts in to lay it.

MArble floor in vaulted bathroom

Stone

Manufactured stone flooring can be either ceramic or porcelain – the latter is more suitable for bathrooms as its composition is denser and therefore less porous. Stone floors also encompasses naturally occurring materials such as marble, slate, granite and limestone. Generally available as tiles in various sizes, stone floors are cold surfaces so should be laid in conjunction with underfloor heating. Stone floors look amazing but can be the luxury choice. Stone tiles need to be cut and laid by expert fitters and can be expensive to buy, especially Calacatta marble and Jura limestone. However, reclaimed tiles and flagstones can be bought from salvage companies at a much more affordable cost. Although a very durable material, some stone floors can stain easily and often require a lot of specialist maintenance such as cleaning using specialist products and regular sealing.

Concrete floor, bath and twin hand basinscredit

Concrete

Concrete is a relatively cheap material, so a good choice if you’re on a limited budget. Like stone, concrete can be cold underfoot, so it should be poured on top of pre-laid underfloor heating. Concrete can be painted in an almost endless array of colours or polished to a fine finish. It’s one of the most durable flooring surfaces if maintained properly.

Planks of bamboo flooringStilfehler – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, credit

Bamboo

Bamboo is a grass so it’s a natural, renewable resource and is therefore a good, environmentally-friendly choice. Although a more unusual material choice, it’s becoming more popular and easier to find. Treated bamboo flooring is more water resistant than many wooden floors. Bamboo flooring comes in click-to-fit planks so can be easily fitted by a proficient handy-person.

Herringbone cork flooringcredit

Cork

Cork flooring is available in rolls or as tiles in a variety of colours. Cork is a natural, renewable material taken from the bark of tree trunks; so this makes it another of the eco options. It’s slip resistant and water resistant – perfect for a room where there will be wet feet and possible puddles. Cork is also a sound deadening substance; a great advantage if you live in an upstairs flat.

Now that you know a little more about the possibilities of bathroom floor coverings, you can make a much more informed choice about which one is best for you.

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Towels with a twist

Stack of grey towels | H is for Home

We were sent a bale of grey towels from the Zero Twist Towels range from The Towel Shop. We’d collaborated with them previously and were really impressed with the quality of their products.

Grey bath towel and bath mat | H is for Home

They’re made from 100% cotton and include face cloths, hand towels, bath towels and bath sheets; all available in a range of 5 colours. The ‘zero twist’ feature gives the towels an added layer of softness.

Adelle wearing a towelling dressing gown | H is for Home

As well as the towels, we received a super-soft bathrobe and absorbent bath mat in tonal grey shades.

Detail showing pocket on the dressing gown | H is for Home

There’s pretty piping detail on the sleeves and patch pockets and you can choose to have a shawl or hooded collar. The bathrobe is available in 3 sizes and 4 colours.

Stack of grey towels on our guest bed | H is for Home

The colour is perfect for our spare bedroom, so we’re keeping them for when guests come to stay.

Luxury Egyptian cotton towel collection

Luxury Egyptian towels and bathrobe in latte | H is for Home

We’ve been sent a lovely towel bundle from The Bath Store. Their timing was perfect! We’ve just started the repairs and redecoration of the bathroom in our little Welsh cottage.

Framed original painting of a seascape

This beach-scape painting, which we really love, was the inspiration and starting point for our new scheme. We wanted to pick up all those complimentary tones of stone, charcoal, coffee, taupe and cream.

Wicker basket and pile of towels on a shelf above a painting

We have white stone painted walls and woodwork painted in Little Greene shades called ‘White Whisper’, ‘Dash of Soot’ and ‘ Rolling Fog’. There’s natural wicker and wood dotted throughout the space, aged metalwork, some hand-thrown pottery and grey Welsh wool blinds in the ‘Senedd’ pattern.

Label on toweling bathrobe

The towels are a wonderful addition to the room. They’re made from 700 GSM luxury Egyptian cotton in ‘Latte’… a perfect shade.

Bar of soap in a brass soap dish on a floded towel

In addition to being the ideal colour, they’re also lovely quality – plush and very absorbent.

Pair of bath towels and bathrobe hanging from wall pegs

The matching bathrobe feels soft and weighty – just what you need to wrap up in after a relaxing bubble bath.

Bar of soap on a pair of folded bath towels

We used to dread going in the old bathroom as it was cold and a bit bleak. It’s becoming much more inviting with each of the improvements that are made. There’s now heating and new fittings, redecoration is well under way… and that pile of warm, fluffy, Egyptian cotton towels to look forward to!

Surprising ways to create more space at home

Surprising ways to create more space at home | H is for Home

No matter the size of our home, we’d all like to have more space. But the good news is that there are a whole variety of different ways to create more space at home, no matter how big or small the house. You can use some of the accessories that you already have in your home to make them work better for you, as well as using them to create an air of brightness and lightness in your home.

When you feel overwhelmed with things in your home or feel cramped, then it can hinder your well-being and can even make you feel down. It’s important to think of ways that are simple but effective, that can create some more space in your life and home. Here are some of the things that you can do to make a difference and make your home a more comfortable and relaxing space.

Wall mirror above a dining table & chairs

Mirrors

Mirrors are great objects to have in the home because they serve a practical purpose as well as helping to create a bright and illuminating space. It’s recommended to position mirrors around the home so that they can reflect natural light. Therefore, mirrors hung opposite windows and across from other mirrors can make a difference and give the illusion of greater space.

Wall of white shelving

Build more storage

If there’s clutter around the home it can create the feeling of being disorganised, as well as make the space feel much smaller. Stacks of papers, books, clothing and just general ‘stuff’ can make a room feel unbalanced and really crowded. A quick fix could be to erect additional storage such as shelving, invest in a stack of storage boxes or create some under-stair storage. You could even investigate adding an outdoor cabin, shed or look at granny flats to have outside, as a way of boosting storage capacity. Of course, you’ll need the exterior space to do this, but it’s a great solution if you’re able.

Large piles of books held together with string

Declutter

If you have too many things in your home, and especially if it creates a lot of disorder, you should take the time to declutter it all. Obviously, you won’t need to add more storage if you subsequently have less items to put away! Therefore, one of the initial tasks to do is go through all your possessions in a thorough and systematic way and sell, give away or donate the things that you no longer need.

Grey buttoned ottoman

Clever storage in furnishings

If after you’ve cleared the decks, you’re still looking for extra storage, a good solution is multi-functional furniture; articles that do more than just be a piece of furniture. For instance, an ottoman bed, chair or footrest will help you to have a practical piece of furniture, but it means you also gain some hidden space to stash stuff.

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