When fitting out a new bathroom, most people believe their options are limited to the typical bathroom suite unit, which must be purchased from their local bathroom store and fitted with store-bought labour. The fact of the matter is, this is no longer the case, and bathroom suites are now not the only option for the homeowner looking to refit a bathroom within their home. Rather than pursuing the traditional route, there are now a number of more effective and less expensive ways to refurbish your bathroom, drawing on modern style elements and contemporary design without relying on the more cost-intensive, orthodox approach. And because bathroom suites are capable of increasing the value of your home, it’s a worthwhile investment of your time and money.

Rather than buying and installing a bathroom suite with shop bought labour, a more cost effective alternative might be to do the installation work yourself. Grab a few of your friends and neighbours (if they’re willing to help) and get stuck in about the installation process yourself. And you can afford to buy a personal gift for every one of your helpers, as well as an end of project meal at a fancy restaurant for less than you would otherwise have to pay for the costs of installation. Alternatively if you’re feeling brave, you could tackle the project on your own, although it will probably take longer than were you to opt for the friends and family approach.

An alternative approach to purchasing a bathroom suite is to go for a piecemeal approach, buying bits and pieces to build up the bathroom of your dreams. Without buying a suite, it can be more of a challenge to find all complimentary units, but with a bit of attention to detail, you should be able to create your own unique suite through buying individual parts. This can also work out cheaper than buying a bathroom suite, and you have full freedom over how much you spend to put together your suite and cost savings can be achieved by purchasing a slimmed-down suite designed to fit your bathroom needs.

Bathroom suites used to be the only practical solution to refurbishing a bathroom. Now, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be more discerning and choose your individual parts, before piecing them together and installing within your bathroom at a lower cost and increased efficiency. While it might take more time to go it alone, the benefits make it a worthwhile way to refurbish any bathroom.

Replacing a bathroom can be a costly business. Whether you’re buying a singular suite or you’re opting to create your own suite by mixing and matching individual items, the costs of buying bathware can seem prohibitive. However there are a number of simple ways in which the cost of bathroom suites can be significantly reduced without having to end up with second best.

Buying End of SeasonBathroom design moves in phases, or rather the bathroom suite retail market moves in phases. For the most part, this is a very gradual process unlike the perception garnered from monitoring showrooms nationwide, and buying an end-of-line suite can lead to a lighter bill without jeopardising the quality and stylishness of the particular bathroom you’ve opted for. Ask your retailer for details of his end-of-season designs and see if you can take advantage of clearance stock bargains.

Piece by Piece - Suites Without LabourIf you’re willing to put in a bit of hard graft, you can save a fortune on the installation of your suite. Whilst this isn’t exactly a way to find discount bathrooms it is certainly a way to cut down on the normal costs associated with replacing your bathroom suite.

Buying Bathroom Suites OnlineIt is possible to buy discount bathrooms online, although the process is somewhat more risky than with other online transactions. The difficulties lie in the inability of the customer to gauge the dimensions of his particular room, and without an in-depth understanding of the floorspace you have available it can be extremely problematic to buy having not physically seen the particular furniture you are buying.

Provided you understand your measurements and have a good concept of spatial awareness, there are savings to be made on retail prices from shopping online, although it is nevertheless important to factor in the costs of delivery and the potential implications of returning damaged goods.

Buying and installing a bathroom suite is all well and good, but it’s nothing without the finishing touches and an attention to detail. For the most part, that will mean buying items of furniture and accessories that both keep to your style scheme and fit in well with your particular space requirements. Unlike buying other items of household furniture quality isn’t as crucial a factor in making your decision. More than that, your first filter should be style and appeal, before deciding whether or not a particular item is good enough to feature within your bathroom, or whether or not it is good enough quality to merit its asking price.

Considerations When Buying Your Bathroom FurnitureBuying bathroom furniture is an exercise in accessorising more than it is to do about quality. Having said that, at the same time it is important to make sure that anything you do buy is of satisfactory standard to ensure it lasts and doesn’t look too cheap. Before you buy you should have an idea of the kind of style you’d like to adopt in decorating your room. Are you going for that rustic look, or are you trying to create a contemporary living space? Are you looking to create a fresh, breezy feel or are you after a somewhat more sensual look? These will all be factors in helping you decide the type and styles of furniture to buy for your bathroom.

Tiling is a great look for any bathroom or kitchen area, and they’re also very easy to clean. When it comes to fitting tiles however, that’s another story. Bathroom tiles might look pretty, but unless you understand the precise skill of getting them up there it can be a nightmare. From buying the right style and quantity of tiles through to cementing, getting the spacing right and finally grouting, the process is one that definitely requires practice although is by no means unattainable on your first attempt. Let’s break down the process into more manageable sections.

What You Will Need

Next, ensure that there is no left over cement from the last tile fitting before starting to think about the next move. With the rough sand paper, ensure the wall on which the cement is to be placed is a rough surface - this will promote better a bond for the tiles. Starting in the nearest corner, insert the first tile applying a liberal amount of cement to the back of the tile before fixing to the wall. After each tile insert a spacer at each free corner to ensure that you are maintaining a uniform distance in all dimensions. Carry on filling up the wall space, taking care to cut the final tiles in a uniform manner to ensure a close fit should you be tiling up towards a corner.

GroutingAfter installing and cementing the tiles it’s time for arguably the most important part of the process - grouting. Having left the tiles to bond to the wall, remove individual spacers as you begin to fill the gaps with the grout. Ensure you cut the tip of the grout bottle at a forty-five degree angle for best results. Run an even amount of grout between the gaps taking care not to leak excess onto surrounding tile faces - this is easier said than done. Should you end up with too much grout or grout on a tile face, simply run the damp cloth in one direction over the excess to remove. After the grouting process is complete, leave it all to dry overnight to ensure everything settles down and is ready for day to day use before resuming normal bathroom service.

Buying a new bathroom suite is a cost effective, straightforward way to improve your home and increase its resale value. However it is not without its own intricacies, and in particular the process of installing a bathroom suite is one that either requires professional help or a skilled hand and a willingness to learn. Installing the suite is a combination of carpentry, plumbing and general labour and it takes professionals years to hone their skills and become confident to refit an entire bathroom. For the DIY enthusiasts the process may take much longer, however it is possibly more rewarding and certainly less expensive than hiring in a professional hand.

Remove The Existing SuiteBefore you can begin to install your new bathroom suite, the first obvious step is to remove your existing one. Before you begin to get images of an enjoyable, destructive process, this is more like a careful operation than a free-for-all. Before you start anything to do with plumbing works it’s imperative that you turn off the water supply at the mains. This will prevent any nasty surprises later down the line when you come to remove the individual aspects of the bathroom.

When removing items plumbed in to the house it’s a good idea to take your time to ensure that everything is disconnected properly. Avoid being rough with the piping - no good can possibly come from an aggressive approach. Your patience will be rewarded with an easy disconnection and reconnection, rather than utter chaos and major setback. Also take care not to damage your old suite - you might find a use for that old wash hand basin or bathtub later down the line.

Once you’ve stripped the room bare, it’s time to measure up and plan the layout of your new suite, and begin to get started on the next part of your project.

The InstallationFirst off, start by positioning and fitting the bathtub. The reason for this is that by fitting other aspects of the suite first, you will impede access to the tub which will only serve to make the process more difficult. Fit the tub where it’s going to go and connect that to the mains pipes, remembering not to turn the water on just yet. Make sure all connections are secure to avoid leaks, and then position the bath panel to cover up the unpleasant underside.

From there you can begin to plumb in the toilet and wash hand basin before moving on to finish off the room decor, tiling and flooring. When it’s all installed, it’s time to turn on the water again and hope for the best - all going well, you won’t end up with a soggy floor.

The FinishArguably the most important aspect of fitting a new bathroom is the way in which you finish it. For your interior you’re looking to go for a minimal, tidy design that comprises just a few natural focal points and avoids too many conflicting colours. If opting for pastels you may also like to consider a flash of subtle colour here and there, such as a green or royal blue. Furthermore colour themes can be accentuated by tiling, and wooden flooring is usually the covering of choice if you’re looking to make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

The way your bathroom appears to potential home buyers is crucial if you are to have any chance of successfully selling up for the highest possible price. Studies have shown on a consistent basis that the size and style of the bathroom are amongst the most significant factors in improving resale values, and even if you don’t intend to sell your home just yet it might be a wise investment for the future to ensure your design is both contemporary and neutral. To keep you on the right lines, here are a few tips on what should and should not feature in your bathroom design to improve the value of your home and increase your chances of a sale.

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