Selling your home in the UK at the moment is something which most of us would prefer to put off. House prices are low, mortgages are difficult to obtain and there simply are not very many homes on the market. So if you are in a position where you must sell your home, you will want to make the most of what you have. To get the best value for your home you need to ensure that you have installed the best and most practical bathroom you can afford.

Many potential buyers cite a new kitchen and bathroom as being the essentials they expect in any home they might like to buy. The reason for this is that moving home is already very expensive and the extra cost associated with refurbishing these important rooms can be beyond the budget. So preparing your bathroom is one of the first steps you should take if your home is going on the market this spring.

Of course you will want to ensure that you keep the cost of this refurbishment to a minimum, but that the result is practical and modern to appeal to the majority of purchasers. The following tips should help you to get the price your home deserves, while still allowing you to hold back some of your moving budget for finding your dream home too.

• Think white. A white bathroom suite is essential these days. If you currently have an avocado bath or a pale blue sink, you will need to change them as a priority. White looks clean and fresh and will immediately give your bathroom an updated look.
• Edit the highlights. If you already have a white bathroom suite and feel that you can get away with a simple spruce-up, you can save plenty of money by investing in new bath and sink taps, a new shower head and perhaps a new mirror. Having these shiny new bathroom extras will really make your old bathroom look new.
• Re-tile and save the rest. Sometimes all it takes to revamp a bathroom is to re-tile it. You will need to take extra care when removing the old tiles as it is easy to damage the walls, but the addition of large modern tiles, such as natural stone, can really improve even the oldest bathroom.
• Add some storage. Bathroom storage is something which is sadly lacking in many bathrooms these days. But even the smallest bathroom can accommodate wall shelving, cupboards and under sink units. This will set your bathroom apart from others and will help people to visualise how they will use it.
• Clean and accessorise. If your bathroom is looking tired and you really can’t afford to refurbish it, your best option is to clean it thoroughly. This may include whitening the grout, repainting the walls and ceiling and replacing old shower curtains. For just a few pounds you can also add some lovely fluffy towels and some nice bath products. Sell a lifestyle if nothing else.
• Don’t forget bathroom lighting. Once your bathroom is looking its best, you will want to show it off with the best lights you can get. Spots placed in the right positions can mean that the light bounces around the room creating a feeling of space. Don’t forget above the bathroom mirror as lights placed here will also add a glamorous touch.

Selling your home can be stressful, but putting in a little effort to get your bathroom up to scratch can mean that your home might just become a favourite compared to others which are up for sale. Give yourself the best possible chance with a cheap bathroom make-over – you won’t regret it.

Once upon a time, you went out to the privy in the back garden and the warmest thing in the cold, cold place was the wooden toilet seat. But it was probably untreated so there was always the danger of splinters that would have a modern Health and Safety officer put a Closure Order on it,

Then came the modern, more hygienic plastic seat, but it was cold and hard compared to its predecessor. And over time it would go brittle or discolour.

Fast forward to today and you are spoiled for choice.

Real Wood is back, now with safe easy-clean coatings, or you can opt for wood-look from the likes of Ideal Standard. The bewildering choice extends to bamboo, pine (a sustainable choice), oak, beech, maple, walnut or just painted. Bemis have a moulded shell-shape lid in plastic that sits atop a wooden painted seat, so you might consider it the best of both types.

MDF used to be a non-no for bathrooms because it swells in contact with water but hi-tech treatments now allow it to be carved into smooth painted toilet seats.

Plastic these days has moved on and you are normally looking at models made in thermoplastic for a softer feel and resistance to cracking or discoloration: if you wish you can even get anti-bacterial seats. More and more of these seats are now fitted with a soft-close feature.

Designer seats use colourful lifelike printed images (stones, fish, whatever you can imagine) printed and then encapsulated in melamine for a long life. They certainly brighten up a dull WC. Or if that is a seat too far, there are coloured seats in toning colours like soft cream, or black for contrast.

Child seats mean they can safely use the same loo: their smaller-aperture seat hinges up and in some models will be secured out of the way by magnets under the lid, when adults go to do their business.

Such are the choices before you: but before you dive in and order, consider certain practical factors to avoid a wrong choice.

Many older toilet bases were constructed in Imperial sizes when it comes to the distance between the middles of the fixing holes (‘the centres’). The replacement seats you might order will have a degree of flexibility built into their fixings but this varies widely: you will find some that can cope with 110-200 mm centres: others only 145-155 mm: and most are somewhere in between.

Next, all of the popular models that are mentioned above are designed for bottom fixing (if you will forgive the term) which means they will fit typical close-coupled or high-cistern models but not the increasingly popular wall-hung or back-to-wall toilets.

Sit up straight

Long-suffering toilet users (that will be all of us) know the annoying feature of seat slippage, when brackets fail to hold you securely. You will find models with plastic fixings, but you may want to pay a bit extra and get a model with chrome-plated brass attachments. Better yet are models like those from Greenwich that have a bar linking the two hinges for extra security.

In this and other ways, don’t stint on your seat. It can be a place of low deeds and high thoughts, affording you a chance to read the paper or pause for reflection. You should at least be comfortable in your contemplation.

With wheelchair users, the elderly and people with limited mobility, time spent in the bathroom isn’t always plain sailing. It can be extremely difficult to do simple things that the rest of us might take for granted, and a bathroom that’s not equipped to suit specific needs can end up making time in the bathroom feel a little short on dignity.

With enough space, it’s not all that difficult to fit a bathroom suited to guests who might struggle with traditional bathroom fittings. All you need is a ground-floor room, a lift or a stairlift, and a few carefully-chosen accessible bathroom furnishings intended to make life easier for everyone.

The right pieces of equipment don’t have to cost a fortune. You can start making useful adaptations with just £15. Choose white or chrome grab rails to offer a little extra support for people that need it, or spend a little more to add a support bar to the wall beside the toilet. These little adjustments can allow people to raise and lower themselves with ease onto the toilet or into a bath. They’re a big improvement for a very little price.

Of course, the ease of toilet use isn’t the only thing worth considering when you’re fitting the perfect bathroom for someone with difficulty standing or walking. It can be hard for people to use a shower effectively, and a wall-mounted shower seat can be an excellent provision for people who need to sit as they shower. They fold away so they’re not intrusive for people who don’t need them, but they offer a little more freedom for people who do.

Also worth considering are bath seats that fit easily over the top of a bath giving people the option to sit at a higher level. It can be hard to lower yourself into a full-sized bath, or to get back out once bathing is over – a bath seat is a simple addition that requires no permanent fixing, but will make things much easier for disabled and elderly bathers if you don’t have a specially adapted bath.

For people who might struggle with even slight steps and changes in floor level, you can’t beat a luxury walk-in shower enclosure like the one pictured below. With tiled, water-resistant floors and an effective draining system you’ll be able to make these a part of your wetroom-style bathroom giving family members the ability to make their own way in and out with ease.

Of course, walk-in shower enclosures are just that. They require you to walk in, and some people might struggle to make the move from a wheelchair into the enclosure. Fortunately, with a similar drainage system you’ll be able to fix many showers without enclosures, giving easy access for users confined to a wheelchair. An excellent choice for this purpose, the Aqualisa Axis Digital Standard Shower features a ceiling-mounted shower head for ease of use, and comes complete with a remote switch that can be mounted anywhere for easy use straight from a wheelchair. The switch can be put at a low level for seated users, or can be placed next to their bed allowing them to switch the shower on before they reach the bathroom. Safety features available on such showers ensure the water will never come out too hot or too cold, so they’re a great choice for individuals who might struggle with delicate temperature controls.

A bathroom should be a place your whole family can enjoy. Simple adaptations turn any ordinary bathroom into a relaxing retreat for users who require a little extra support. The simplest of changes won’t have a big impact on your bank balance, but they provide dignity and freedom for those usually unable to make use of bath and shower facilities.

In a bathroom, shower room or toilet it is always difficult to find space for a radiator, and you may be fitting a new ensuite into a place that simply cannot have one. Electric heaters are expensive to run and bulky. Look instead at the option of underfloor heating.

If you are laying down a completely new solid concrete floor base, you can build a piped underfloor hot water system into it. Normally you would use a kit like the JG Speedfit, with special 15mm barrier pipe and a blending valve and pump. Hepworth have produced a pack for new rooms (including conservatories and extensions) using a 5-layer co-extruded pipe and sensor controls on the return water temperature that remove the need for a separate pump. You just add it to a central heating system. These systems are powerful and can be the only heating source for quite large rooms.

In most cases though, you may be working with existing rooms and/or you cannot dig down to create the space for pipework. In an upstairs room with wooden joists, for example, or in any case where there are issues with maintaining floor levels more or less even with adjacent rooms, you need to be using electric underfloor heating.

Electric systems come in three main types.

Foil Heaters are for wood or laminate floors. They have the thin heating elements encased in a reinforced aluminium foil mat. This can be carefully cut to allow you to install around loos, baths and other irregular shapes but you must not nick the element and you must make good the aluminium using tape to cover any exposed wire. To be effective it needs to cover at least 80% of the floor area. Note that these are gentle warming devices, because wooden flooring cannot take extreme heat without warping. You may need other heating sources for the room.

Undertile Heating Mats are for use with ceramic tile and natural stone floors. By their nature these are denser and require more heating power, and they can take the heat for these 150W to 250W per m² units. Manufacturers like Warmup and Vitrex make thin but tough fibreglass mesh carpets that protect the dual-core heating element. You can lay the carpet and then tile directly over it. These mats are not normally made to allow cutting, so you need to plan where the mat or mats will go and buy accordingly – sizes of 0.5 to 10 m² can be bought. You cannot run these systems up walls or under any solid fittings.

Loose Wire Systems are ideal for irregular areas and again, only for ceramic or stone tile finishes. Without the protection of a mat they obviously require even more care, but all these units should be installed by professionals who are used to handling underfloor installations.

What else do you need? Well, all heating requires a thermostat and you can choose from manual controllers or digital ones like the Warmup XSTAT that is programmable for times, days, and even self-learns what is required.

Insulate your investment

Another essential, if you don’t want your new system to take hours to reach full temperature and waste a lot of energy in the process, is to install insulation under the elements. Using specially-designed insulating board like the Warmup tiles can cut warming time from 2 hours plus to at little as 20 minutes. It makes the difference between having to have a radiator as well, and being able to use underfloor as the only heat source.

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Perfomance

Regardless of the type of system, it is always the case that underfloor heating is something that requires forward planning (and make absolutely sure when you lay it that you have a plan of where it lies, and that you are avoiding any spot where someone might come along with a drill or nails to attack the floor base). It is not a retrofit product, unless you are tiling over existing tiles. Think about floor levels and build it into your project, and you can reap the benefits of a toasty walk to the sink every morning.

Every bathroom, ensuite or cloakroom needs a washbasin. It is pretty much essential for washing hands and faces and brushing teeth. Something all of us do twice a day as a minimum. So choosing the right washbasin or sink is important.

There are number of things you will need to consider before you hit the shops to buy your bathroom sink. You may be buying it as part of a bathroom suite or it may be a stand alone item. Either way the following points should be kept in mind.

Space

Your first consideration when it comes to your bathroom sink is how much space you have. Obviously if you have a large bathroom and it will be used by a number of people you may decide to get two matching sinks which you can place side by side.

Alternatively smaller bathrooms may benefit from sinks which are different from standard, such as bowl sinks which stand on plinths. These are generally much smaller and can be placed in a corner.

A washbasin will usually come out from the wall by around 50cm, but smaller ones designed for cloakrooms are also available. These can be too small for a family bathroom, but could also be suitable for an ensuite.

Basin types

There are three main types of washbasin which you can choose from:

Pedestal washbasins: These are the most common type of sink and have a pedestal which hides the plumbing from view. They will range in price from around £20 and upwards. They usually come in two sections – the bowl and the pedestal which slot together. You can also buy sinks which have a shorter pedestal. These need to be attached to the wall, but have the added benefit of somewhere to hide the pipework.

Wall hung washbasins: These sinks are great in smaller bathrooms as they give the illusion of more usable floor space. The basin needs to be hung on a secure wall and the pipework is mostly hidden behind the wall. For this reason the wall may need to be built out slightly. Prices once again start at around £20 and can reach to well over £100.

Bowl washbasins: These modern options are great for contemporary bathroom. The basin usually sits on some sort of plinth or wash stand and has the appearance of being completely separate. They need to be sufficiently deep so that water does not splash as the diameter is generally smaller and rounder than the average sink. These are often more expensive at over £100.

Materials

Most washbasins come in the standard ceramic and are white. But these days it is possible to choose from a number of different materials which will compliment any bathroom. You can choose from granite, sandstone, marble or even onyx washbasins.

It is worth noting that natural stone basins can be very heavy. They need to be properly supported by a well built plinth or a bracket. The stone can also be used for a bathroom worktop for a seamless look. Other options include glass, stainless steel and even wood.

Storage

Under sink storage is a great idea in the bathroom. Not only will a cupboard hide the plumbing of your sink, it will give additional storage space in your bathroom.

You can choose to buy a pedestal washbasin with a separate unit which simply fits in underneath. Or you could choose a washbasin which comes as part of a vanity unit. This will also include a work surface which is perfect for further storage.

Washstands generally have some sort of cupboard underneath or a towel rail which is perfect for facecloths and hand-towels.

Whatever you choose for your bathroom you can be sure that your washbasin will come under heavy use. Luckily these are one of the few items in the home which can stand many years of use.

If you’re the type of person to own a weak shower, there’s a possibility you think all showers are the same. If you’ve been privileged enough to have used power showers all your life, you might be under a similar impression. If you’re anyone else, you’ll understand that finding the perfect shower can be harder than it sounds.

If you’ve got plenty of money for the perfect shower, you won’t want to waste it on anything less than the best. Choose the Mira Platinum shower pictured below if you want ultimate control thanks to a range of luxury functions you won’t get from the leaky shower currently hanging on your wall. It has a wireless controller so you can’t start it up from up to ten metres away, and it includes a warm-up mode and an ‘eco’ setting. If you’re the type of person that struggles to wake up in the morning, pick a shower that you can start from your bed and climb into for warm refreshment seconds later.

If you like the sound of starting the shower from the comfort of your bed, the shower above isn’t the only one that lets you enjoy such a luxury. Choose a wireless rain-shower like the one pictured below and you can put the controller wherever you like. This shower doesn’t have a ten-metre limit, so you can put the controls anywhere from the side of your bed to the front door. Rainshowers offer a refreshing and invigorating experience, and the Grohe Grohtherm Wireless Rainshower is one of the best.

If you have standard electrical wiring and don’t want the effort of having the house re-wired, you might be looking for a shower that’s simple and affordable, with no added features. Pictured below, the Mira Escape is an effective choice for a shower that does the job at a price that’s completely affordable with a simple start-stop button for none of the hassle.

With separate hot water and cold water feeds, the Aqualisa Axis Digital Shower is a modern, state-of-the-art choice for people wanting their shower straight from the ceiling, with complete power and a digitally-controlled temperature where your water is mixed to perfection and pumped out at a powerful rate, for constant perfection from start to finish. It again features a remote switch, but offers none of the hassle of digital controls thanks to a simple, one-touch system. Or choose a shower with a square multi-function shower head if you want something that’s aesthetically interesting as well as luxurious.

Of course, you don’t have to think of a shower as something intended only to clean, and if you’ve got the money you really can’t get better than an impressive steam cabin that will ensure you never want to leave the bathroom.  Enjoy all the functionality of a shower with the added luxury of steam jets and a seating area, with many options including in-built radios and lights so you’ll have an excuse to relax for hours, away from the world, at any time of the day or night. Sure, you have to walk to the bathroom to switch these ones on – but it’s a small price to pay for facilities you’d usually only enjoy at your local golf and country club.