How To Do Bathroom Renovations That Balance Aesthetics & Functionality

Whether it’s a quick shower before you’re rushing out the door or having a long bath to relax, we can’t avoid spending lots of time in our bathrooms. That’s why it’s important to design a bathroom that looks stylish and functional, so you’ll enjoy your time spent there.

Choosing The Right Materials

To start with, there are a few material options for counters, walls and floors that are easy to clean and built to last, but also add a touch of elegance:

• Marble & granite – Offer a sleek modern style with durability and easy maintenance.
• Sealed wood – Provides a more classic warm style, but does need a little more upkeep.
• Tiles – Offer almost unlimited colour options and matte or gloss finishes, so they fit with most tastes and palette preferences, and they are easy to clean with limited maintenance needed.

When considering your design and budget, it’s also worth noting that moving plumbing can be costly, so if you have a lower budget, it’s best to work with the existing layout if you can.

Planning for Functionality and Flow

While you’re considering your material options, it’s also important to consider bathroom use and flow. If you have several people using the bathroom, or teenagers who take a long time to get ready, consider whether you have enough room for a double sink and/or vanity.

If you’re short on space or your family tends to rush through the bathroom, consider a shower over a bath or forego the bath completely and just have a shower cubicle. You could use a rainfall shower if you miss the luxury touch of a bath.

At this point, you should also be mindful of accessibility needs such as grab rails if someone is unsteady or wider doorways and transfer spaces for wheelchair users, to ensure everyone in the house can use the bathroom safely. To help stop water from accumulating and causing damage or a slip risk, make sure you’ve planned in some transfer space between the shower and the sink.

Creating Style with Restraint

Bold colours can make a small room like a bathroom feel crowded or dark, so it’s usually best to stick to a light neutral colour palette and clean lines to ensure your bathroom feels light, airy, and comfortable. Particularly if you have guests over regularly, having a focal point in the bathroom can be the best way to make a bold style instead of a colour palette. You could choose a unique tile pattern on one wall, a free-standing bath, or a statement mirror to draw the eye and create a little wow factor and help put your own personality on a room that offers fewer customisation options than other rooms. For those who like unconventional touches, it’s also possible to add shelves.

Storage Solutions You Should Include

Your bathroom can easily become cluttered if you’re not careful with makeup, cosmetics, and spare toilet rolls. The best thing about designing a bathroom from scratch is that you can clearly see on your design where all the potential storage spots are and making sure no space is wasted.

If you have lots of people using the bathroom, you’ll of course need more storage, so assuming it matches your design goals, consider vanity units for your sink choices. These shelved units hold a lot and are still customisable when it comes to whether the unit has feet on the floor or is floating attached to the wall, door colours, handles, and of course, the sink and tap itself. The area under a sink is often wasted space, so this solves that problem and hides the plumbing, offering both style and function.

Your mirror can also double as storage by choosing a mirror cabinet. The mirror will open either fully on a side hinge or from the middle and reveal a shelved unit within. These cabinets are limited in customisation, but there are a few different mirror shapes you can choose from.

If you like some more unique storage solutions, another area you could choose to shelve is the window. Adding some narrow shelves here offers storage; however, this design requires careful planning, as you don’t want to block too much sunlight.

Tips to Manage Ventilation and Moisture

Preventing Mould with Proper Ventilation

We’re sure you know this already, but high humidity is the perfect breeding ground for mould spores, so you’ll need to consider proper ventilation in your new bathroom design. You’ll want your bathroom to have plenty of natural light, so factor in large windows or skylights wherever possible. These can be opened regularly to clear steam and water droplets and ensure your bathroom is pleasant and functional to use.

For smaller spaces, consider placing mirrors to reflect light and brighten the room. If you don’t have room for any windows, or only small windows, a powerful ventilation fan will do the trick, and its best to have it running for a while after use to ensure proper airflow. If you have the electrical setup for a dehumidifier, this can help clear windowless bathrooms, too. Once your project is finished, don’t forget about placing a plant or two to help purify the air.

Lighting Considerations

As mentioned above, windows will help keep a fresh, bright light in your new bathroom. You’ll of course need a large overhead light and should also consider lighting around or under the mirrors to aid in tasks like shaving and skincare. Consider LED strips or backlit mirrors for this, as lights above the mirror will create harsh shadows. If you’re placing lights directly above the shower or bath, LED spotlights or lights built into safety covers are best to avoid any glass-related accidents.

At BY Projects Architecture, we specialise in creating quality designs that incorporate everything you need and want while considering energy efficiency too. To get started on your perfect bathroom design, have a look at our portfolio of residential projects and book a free consultation here.

By Barbara Yerondais
Oct 03, 2025