After buying their four-bed detached Edwardian house in Essex five years ago, the owners set about tackling its dated decor, room by room. 'The bathroom was the last thing to be done – and on the smallest budget,' admits the owner.
Get your space looking its best with our brilliant bathroom ideas
'It’s not a big space, so we couldn’t change the layout. The loo was the only thing that was reasonably new and in good condition, so we kept it, but everything else had to go.'
'Once I had put in the basics – the sanitaryware, vanity unit and tiles – I felt that I had a base to build on,' says the owner. 'I wanted to add colour with wallpaper – so I designed some myself. I’m inspired by tropical greenery and just love the combination of pink and green. It’s more like a mural, really.’
'I did think about hanging loads of real plants in here, but the wallpaper is actually more practical. You just need to varnish it after hanging – it’s easy to do it yourself.'
Get the look
Buy now: Straight 1600mm bath and screen, £159, Soak.com (opens in new tab)
Buy now: Palm wallpaper, £165 for 10m, Lucy Tiffney (opens in new tab)
'I was pleased to find the vanity unit, which is much more streamlined than the old basin and we can fit so much into it,' says the owner. Despite its ample storage, it doesn’t jut out too far into the narrow room, making it extremely practical.
‘I think the floor should be darker than the walls in a bathroom. I love flowers and nature, so searched online for floor tiles that form flower patterns,’ says the owner.
Get the look
Buy now: Atelier Geo floor tiles,
£26.75 per sq m, Tile Devil (opens in new tab)
Buy now: Melbourne vanity unit, £159, Soak.com (opens in new tab)
The owner spent a long time choosing the shower. 'Our old one had been so feeble,' she explains, 'so I was determined to get something more powerful. It's been paired with a super-wide screen – an essential if you're going for a shower with real oomph!
Her green metal caddy was a vintage find from eBay. ‘I’m not sure what it was originally used for, but it makes a great toilet-roll holder,' says the owner.
Like the idea of wallpaper in the bathroom? Bathroom wallpaper ideas that will elevate your space to stylish new heights (opens in new tab)
‘I love a bargain and am a real scavenger,’ says the owner. ‘I salvaged the set of colourful hooks on the back of the door from a beach hut that was being torn down. I love the colours of the knobs.’
Get the look
Buy now: Similar hammam towels, from £25, Hammam Havlu (opens in new tab)
‘This bathroom really reflects me,’ the owner admits. ‘I'm really pleased with the wallpaper, the way the plants echo it, and how additions such as charity-shop glass, pottery and colourful toiletries bring the whole look together.'
-
New build garden ideas to fill a new outdoor space with colour and characterStop your new build garden looking the same as your neighbours with smart planting and design ideas
-
This TikTok dishwasher tablet sofa cleaning hack is going viral - and we see why
At this stage, we're just rethinking everything we thought we knew about cleaning
-
What is the Enough is Enough campaign, and how can you support it?
With reported support of over 200,000 people, what is the Enough is Enough campaign and what are its demands?
-
Homeowner saved £1000s on this Scandi-look bathroom makeover
You won't believe the difference some self-adhesive tiles made
-
Before and after: an extension creates space for a stylish monochrome en suite
Tired of sharing a bathroom with their teenage sons, the owners extended to gain a spacious bedroom with en suite
-
Before and after: Blue bathroom makeover inspired by a plush Italian hotel suite
Bright blue patterned units were the starting point for this vibrant new bathroom
-
See how The Holiday’s Rosehill Cottage inspired this stunning bathroom makeover
This chic country bathroom looks straight out the idyllic cottage from the festive film
-
Before and after: homeowners transform bland bathroom to chic retreat
When the time came to redecorate their bathroom, the owners used what they already had – making small changes to create a fabulous new scheme
-
Before and after: from dated, damp bathroom to flexible, family space
Shots of mustard bring the fun in this smart makeover
-
Before and after: from bland bathroom to industrial-style space brimming with character
Getting creative kept costs low for this owner
-
Before and after: ditching the bath made all the difference in this now spacious bathroom
It's no longer cramped and bland
