Designer advice: Design hacks

Here, Senior Designer Alfie Guard from Ripples Beaconsfield shares his top 10 design hacks for making simple but effective design decisions when it comes to your bathroom project.

Design hack 1

Building wall niches can be a great way to create additional storage space or display areas within a bathroom. Commonly used within a shower area or above a bath, niches offer the perfect place to store shampoos and body washes. They’re also incredibly effective around the basin area as they clear your countertop and reduce the clutter.

Design hack 2

Large mirrors are a great addition to any bathroom, big or small, as they bounce light around the room and add depth. Mirrors can also be a great way of creating a statement within a room and when placed in front of an ambient strip light, create an elegant hotel-inspired look. 

Design hack 3

Introducing full or half-height partition walls within your bathroom offers the opportunity to neatly zone the space. Partitioning works particularly well in large rooms which can sometimes look sparse when left completely open plan. Partitioning not only creates areas of interest within the bathroom but also offers a level of privacy. If done correctly, stud walls can even be strategically placed to fit around standard-size furniture, giving the aesthetic of wall-to-wall bespoke furniture, without the cost investment. 

Design hack 4

When building out stud walls to conceal cisterns and pipework, why not introduce inbuilt storage units to make use of the space in the walls and reduce clutter on the floor? You can house toilet rolls, a toilet brush and even a laundry basket within wall niches, creating a sleek aesthetic. 

Design hack 5

Don’t forget that your windows are an important part of your bathroom design. Windows are often a neglected area and can have a negative impact on the overall aesthetic if not addressed. If you are blessed with a beautiful view, you may want to design your room to create different vistas for you to enjoy it. However, if this is not the case, a beautiful blind or shutters can help elevate the room.   

Design hack 6

Consider dual-purpose products and accessories as they’ll reduce clutter in your bathroom. Shower WCs are a great example as they free up floor space where a bidet would usually sit. There are also many nifty dual-purpose accessories available, such as shower shelves with in-built squeegees and mirror cabinets with integrated charging points. 

Design hack 7

Including multiple lighting sources within your bathroom is not just practical but also helps to create atmosphere. Ambient glows help create a spa-like environment or a more directional light integrated within a mirror to offer practicality.  

Design hack 8

Invest in sustainable products to make sure your bathroom doesn’t have a detrimental impact on the environment. Opting for a ‘smart shower’ can be a great way of monitoring water usage as it allows you to track what is used and restrict supply within your household. Not only is this better for the environment but it also offers a range of different settings to create the perfect showering experience. 

Design hack 9

Don’t be afraid to use paint within your bathroom as it’s a great way to customise your bathroom whilst keeping the costs down. Painting gives you the chance to be more adventurous with your colour choices, and if you don’t like it, you can simply repaint the walls. 

Design hack 10

Explore different ways of laying your tiles to create more interest and add flair to your design. Herringbone, chevron, basket weave and vertical stack are just a few ways of laying metro tiles...just make sure you have a good tiler! 

For more bathroom advice from our team of specialist bathroom designers, download or request a copy of our free Style Guide.

Here, we ask Faye, Senior Designer at Ripples Bournemouth to give her advice on the key areas tech can be incorporated within bathroom design.