Remodelling the bathroom can be a fantastic way to improve the appearance and value of a house overall. However, whether it’s due to a tight budget or time constraints, it is not always possible to renovate the entire bathroom. If this is the case, then purchasing new bathroom furniture, or remodelling pieces you already have, can be a good alternative to renovating the entire room.

If your bathroom is on the smaller side, then built in furniture pieces are a fantastic way to save on space whilst still maintaining a certain amount of storage area in the room. Cleverly designed bespoke pieces, such as shelving around the nooks and crannies of the sink and toilet area, won’t cost much to install, yet will provide valuable space for keeping toiletries and towels neatly stored.

Remember to take plenty of measurements before committing to any new pieces of bathroom furniture. Larger units, even if they technically fit in to the space, can overwhelm the room and make it feel slightly claustrophobic. Take the time to consider which pieces of furniture will suit both the bathroom and your lifestyle. If you tend to get ready quickly in the mornings, then too many small drawers and fiddly pieces of shelving may be unnecessary and even annoying. One simple set of shelves may be a better option if this is the case.

The style of the bathroom as a whole needs to be considered when purchasing furniture too; in a sleek and minimalistic bathroom, the furniture chosen should match and be of similar in size. On the other hand, a bathroom with a quirkier style might look great with some mismatched pieces, which add to the eclectic feel of the space.

One item of furniture that can transform the appearance of almost any bathroom is a vanity unit. These units feature cupboards surrounding a built in basin and are perfect for storing toiletries and beauty products. The great thing about a vanity unit is that it can be customised to fit the style of the room when designed by a bespoke specialist; the shape, material and colour can all be made to one’s specifications. To create the look of a luxury bathroom without renovating the whole room, you can add a second sink to the vanity unit; this is a good idea for couples who find themselves battling for a space in the bathroom in the mornings.

The materials of the bathroom furniture one chooses should also be given due consideration. Wood is a popular choice nowadays, as it is such a versatile option; whether you want a chic, modern look or a rustic, vintage appearing in the bathroom, wood can be a suitable material. However, there are many other options out there for pieces such as vanity units, all of which add a certain air of luxury to the room; marble, granite and stone are all possibilities. These materials are also very easy to clean and care for.

The theme of the bathroom is the first thing to decide on, before purchasing any bathroom furniture. A room with mismatched wall colours and a collection of random trinkets is the result of not choosing a theme before decorating. A space with a central colour and decor scheme will have a chic and elegant look. Whether you select a typical sea colours theme or floral decor, it’s important to think outside the box when it comes to the details.

The colour of the bathroom furniture, the walls and the furnishings can change the look of the room entirely and paint is probably one of the most budget-friendly ways to spruce up old furniture and drab coloured walls. For a shabby chic look in the bathroom, try your hand at some faux painting; you can give plain, generic looking furniture a new lease on life by using the right sanding and paint scraping techniques.

The material of the furniture in the bathroom should be carefully selected. Different materials are suited to different themes; for instance, wood works very well with a shabby chic theme and is a good choice for those who like to change their colour schemes often, as it can easily be painted over. Marble is an excellent choice for those who want a luxurious look in their bathroom, however ceramic and glass are best for those with larger households, as these materials are easy to maintain and keep clean.

When choosing the furniture pieces and accessories for the bathroom, bear in mind that less is always more. Filling a bathroom, particularly a small one, with too many wall hangings, shelves and knickknacks will simply make the room look cramped and messy. One or two well chosen paintings, along with cleverly designed storage units and shelves that do not take up too much space, are a much better choice. Make sure that the accessories and smaller items in the room compliment the overall theme.

Lighting should be chosen in conjunction with the furniture for the bathroom. The right lighting will highlight any feature pieces in the space, such as an elegant sink and counter unit, or a beautiful claw bath. Of course, the lighting fixtures need to be functional as well as decorative. Install the basic light fixtures before any decorative ones, for instance, an overhead ceiling light and a light around the bathroom mirror are essential for everyday use. To create a more relaxing ambience in the bathroom, you can change the standard light bulbs to those with a softer hue or coloured glass. This type of bulb will give the room a soft glow and generally create a cosier atmosphere.

The soft furnishings and accessories, such as the rugs and towels, are as important as the furniture. These finishing touches, if chosen with care, will enhance the look of the furniture. They needn’t match the room perfectly, but should have a similar colour palette as the bathroom theme.

A person’s bathroom should be a reflection of the type of decor that they find most calming. For many people, the simplicity and authenticity of the rustic countryside is the ideal concept of a peaceful environment and so a bathroom decorated with rustic bathroom furniture is often a popular choice for those who are redecorating.

Storage space in a bathroom is essential, so why not make it a visually pleasing feature of the room? Store towels and toiletries on a set of rustic, countryside-inspired wooden shelves that are bark edged and have a wonderfully aged appearance. This style of shelves can be hand crafted by specialists and add a special touch to any room. In a rustic bathroom, matching the furniture is unnecessary, as mismatched, vintage looking bathroom furniture will only add to the appeal of the room. The idea behind this style of decor is to keep things as natural as possible; natural surroundings are not uniform in appearance and so it should follow that a bathroom decorated in this style should be in keeping with this idea.

A wooden or ceramic free-standing bath is another great piece of bathroom furniture, which can be a wonderful focal point for the room. A claw-footed or free-standing bath is very reminiscent of ‘old world’ decor and will add that touch of vintage countryside luxury to an otherwise plain bathroom. A mirrored shelf above the main sink is a practical idea, but this basic piece can be styled into something more striking quite easily by adding a shabby chic frame to the mirror. This can be vintage frame or a hand crafted wooden frame.

With the right furniture in place, adding some carefully placed accessories to the room will enhance the beauty of the bathroom furniture and add an elegant, yet welcoming, touch to the overall ambience of the room. A vintage style, floral shower curtain and a pair of similarly styled curtains will draw together the style of the room, particularly if one is using mismatched rustic pieces of furniture. Little accents such as woven baskets or a vintage vase filled with fresh flowers will brighten up the bathroom as well. Of course, plants would also be a great finishing touch in this rustic style of bathroom.

For those who want to go all out in terms of this kind of theme for their bathroom, then faux wooden beams are a fantastic choice; having aged looking beams installed across the bathroom ceiling will give the appearance of a typical country house from the last century. This type of project can be made by bespoke specialists. To achieve a truly authentic look, look for recycled pieces of wood, which will naturally have that vintage appearance. This type of installation can look beautiful and be a very effective method of creating a rustically themed room. However, if the bathroom in question is smaller in size, heavy, dark beams may make the room feel even smaller. This particular project is best left for more spacious bathrooms.