Expert Tips on Tiling and Flooring in the Bathroom

Flooring can have a big impact on the overall interior look of your bathroom. Do you go bright and colourful for an energising design full of personality or do you choose muted colours for a sophisticated, Scandinavian feel? With so many options available, we went to four experts in bathroom flooring and tiling for tips on how to get this very important design feature right.

What are the current trends in bathroom tiling and flooring?.

The London Tile Co.

"Stone and wood effect tiles have been popular for a while but are definitely getting more realistic looking. They allow you to get a natural look with none of the maintenance of wood, marble or stone. We're also seeing a lot more metallic finishes, which I think really add a wow factor to bathrooms.

Grey is another trend that seems to be here to stay. It's neutral but feels a little more modern that beige or white".

Sphere8

"A consistent trend over the last few years that shows no sign of waning is "polished concrete" - or the environmentally friendly and more comfortable alternative that we offer. Our floors are poured in grey pigments that replicate the effect of concrete without any of the associated dangers of cracking etc, and they are warmer/softer for bare feet!

Image Copyright of Sphere8

... Also, definitely second The London Tile Co. that wood effect tiles are increasingly popular - we have even created a resin flooring system called Teaksphere that mimics the effect of wood without any danger of warping etc.

In the last few years, we've also seen more and more clients go for standout bathrooms - so turquoise walls and floors in one wetroom!"

Image Copyright of Sphere8

Stone Age

"Subtle contrast and mixed patters/textures/materials. Geometric shapes are very popular at the moment.

'Belgian Blue Limestone Hexagonal Tiles' Image Copyright of Stone Age

Book-matched marble or marble-look porcelain

'Carrara Gioia Walls and Etna Floor' Image Copyright of Stone Age

... Most of our bathroom projects currently use a mix of two carefully selected and complimentary materials. Neutral tones and natural materials are always very popular."

Sabbini & Co. Tile and Stone Merchants

"Large format tiles is a fast growing trend recently. 60 x 60 will always be popular but we see more and more clients opting for sizes such as 60 x 90 and 60 x 120, especially for hallways, kitchens etc, but they can also be used in smaller rooms such as the bathroom, which also helps to give the impression of a larger space. In fact, we have even supplied tiles to a commercial client as large as 1000 x 3000! Don't think the tiles were that keen though..."

What is important to consider when choosing bathroom tiling and flooring?

The London Tile Co.

• Slip-resistance - this is very important in areas that might get wet
• Material - porcelain is much more suitable for floors and is very hard-wearing
• Waterproofing - tiles and grout are not 100% waterproof - some tanking may be required
• An uncoupling layer may be required to protect your tiles from cracks
• Pick a grout that is easy to keep clean and has anti-mould properties
• Consider underfloor heating to warm tiled floors

Sphere8

"I think, given you are always barefoot, it's comfort and warmth! Porcelain, tiles, stone can all be very cold underfoot and uncomfortable! Our resin is made from a natural biopolymer and so it's consistently warm underfoot and is also compatible with underfloor heating if you want (although it's not necessary.

A solid subfloor or subwall is vital (we survey all our sites a couple of times before installation to make sure everything is up to scratch) and adequate waterproofing/wetroom-tanking-membranes etc are all very important."

Stone Age

"Sealers are also important considerations if you are looking for natural materials. We protect our stones with impregnated sealers.

The most important thing for sure though is whether you really love the material. Your bathroom should be a sanctuary, a place where you can relax and unwind. The bathroom isn't a room that you will be re-tiling often so it's important to invest in a good quality material that compliments your lifestyle and taste."

How can you make your bathroom tiling/flooring unique?

The London Tile Co.

"Co-ordinating tiles throughout the bathroom always looks great, particularly in wetrooms. You can use different sizes/formats for different areas to add interest while still creating a sleek and modern look.

Zoning - using different colours or tiles to separate areas within the bathroom, e.g. a contrasting feature strip from floor to ceiling around the sink or in the shower.

Patterns - using patterned tiles can be a bit much in a bathroom but creating patterns using the layout of your tiles is a great way to get a unique look. Herringbone is a great choice for the floor. Picking a contrasting grout will highlight this even more.

Sphere8

"Resin floors and/or wall are pretty unique anyway as an alternative to standard bathroom tiles. Our floors and walls are also available in an almost infinite range of colours, which gives you the opportunity to be really creative and unique in your choice of colour!

We do bespoke floors as well - featuring bespoke patterns and designs, gold glitter floors, bespoke swirled floors in various colours - the possibilities are endless!"

Stone Age

"Combining different materials opens up unlimited options for experimentation and creativity. Try combining different formats and shapes, different textures and colours or maybe add some pattern. The most effective designs can be really subtle."

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Thank you to our experts, The London Tile Co, Sphere8, Stone Age, and Sabbini & Co Tile and Stone Merchants, for their contributions. You can find their websites here:

The London Tile Co.

Sphere8

Stone Age

Sabbini & Co Tiles and Stone Merchants

If you are giving your bathroom a whole new look and are looking for a stand-out shower to go with your stand-out flooring, check out our Collections here.

For pricing enquiries, please contact us through your showroom, designer or contractor.

2017 | Feel Better

Wellness Shower Systems: feel uplifted in mind and body.

Our shower systems are designed to relax your mind and awaken the senses.

Connect body and mind with the Wellness Set. Composed of an aromatherapy diffuser and stereo audio system with bluetooth, you can enjoy the scents of citrus and cinnamon, myrrh and precious woods, vanilla and mint while relaxing to your favourite music played direct from your phone or tablet. Install as part of your current shower system or integrate into a bespoke shower system design courtesy of Smart Showers' Bespoke to You service.

The Loop E 350 combines a flush-fit shower head with 108 rain jets, 6 atomiser jets, 2 chromotherapy lights and an optional aromatherapy diffuser. Feel the stress wash away and re-energise with stunning coloured lights and an option of either relaxing rain jets or soft, velvety water from atomiser jets .

Make 2017 is the year to take care of you and your well-being.

Bring On The Bronze

According to leading kitchen designer, Neil Lerner of Neil Lerner Kitchen Design, metallic is going to be "the next big thing" in kitchen doors. Finishes including titanium, gold and bronze are set to be the trends of 2017.

And how better to complement your bronze kitchen doors than with a bronze kitchen tap?.

Pictured above is the Charlie Classic, a single control mixer tap with swivelling spout available in bronzed finish. It is a rustic design that makes an impression, adding both a sense of warmth and glamour to the kitchen interior. Keep worktops classic white or, as Lerner suggests, neolith porcelain with marble effect graining. Walls are best coloured with neutral tones to give the room cohesion. Darker hues, taupes and golds can then be used as accent colours for plates, towels and vases.

If you prefer a tap with a more industrial or contemporary style, there are a number of options available with bronzed (+ copper and chromed) finishes including Charlie Pro, Charlie Curve, and Charlie Classic Pro. Both Charlie Pro and Charlie Classic Pro come with a two-jet directional shower head for easy dish cleaning.

So, bring on the bronze! 2017 is the year of metallics - embrace it with style.

Discover Charlie Kitchen Taps here.

Bringing the Spa to your Shower Space

Innovations in water technology have seen the shower transform from a bathroom fixture focused purely on function to a homely space of luxury and relaxation.

Shower manufacturers have been inspired by the concept of "wellness", a methodology promoted by spa resorts. The International Spa Association defines spas as "places devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.".

Through the inclusion of new shower technologies such as chromotherapy, aromatherapy, integrated bluetooth speakers and multifunctional jets, today's showers function as therapeutic, mood-enhancing devices that can be made bespoke to the individual.

To design your own bespoke shower system, fill in this form.

Tips on Renovating the Bathroom

Renovating the bathroom can be a daunting experience. You've got to think about plumbing and water pressure as well as storage, aesthetic and lighting but, when done well, your new-look bathroom will not only add value to your home but become your go-to space for pampering and relaxation.

Here are some tips from experts in the design and construction industry on how best to go about renovating your bathroom...

Hawk Interiors

"Space planning in a bathroom is particularly important as bathrooms are often one of the smaller rooms in the home. Enhancing the sense of space through installing wall hung units, using the same colour tile across walls and floors and allowing texture and light to take centre stage will create a bathroom that is both spacious and beautiful."

Tudor Design & Build

"Think about the design. Bathrooms look much better if the toilet isn't the first thing you see when you enter the room."

2020 Architects

"Throughout the world and in particular the UK, bathroom design is shifting in two distinct directions with one set of homeowners wanting to recreate the spa environment with a completely contemporary, sleek and refined space while the other group embraces imperfect elegance through the use of rough edges, exposed pipe work, rustic charm, timber and incorporating a pick and mix of contrasting materials. Top tip - keep your bathroom clutter free. Only keep essentials at the sink and everything else behind closed doors. If space is limited invest in a vertical towel rack or radiator, closed vanity or mirror units and use wicker baskets for essentials like shaving products"

Make My Blinds

"We have been dealing with a fair number of enquiries around what blinds to opt for in a bathroom. One of the main things we are focusing on as a company is our new Faux Wood range - these are PVC, won't warp or bend with the heat or humidity in a bathroom and maintain your privacy. All whilst looking very fancy. Our tip is to use a moisture resistant blind in a bathroom. That way, they will last for a lot longer than a non-moisture resistant blind [...] Also, if the customer is looking for a simple 2 tone colour scheme then pairing a bright coloured roller blind in with bright towels can help unify the room and give a co-ordinated look to it. E.g. white/light grey walls with a bright bold red or yellow roller blind + towels. Simple but effective in smaller bathrooms".

And a final tip from us: check the minimum flow rates of your bathroom fixtures against your home's average water pressure. A large shower head, for example, may require a minimum flow rate of 20 litres per minute. If your water pressure cannot supply this flow rate, the shower head will not work properly and may result in more of a drip than a shower.

If you are suffering from low water pressure, please call the Smart Showers technical team on 01793 822775 to discuss your options. Possible solutions include installing a boosting system or pressurisation unit in order to increase your home's water pressure and/or supply.

For pricing enquiries, please contact us through your showroom, designer, or contractor.

What Makes the Perfect Shower Experience?

The shower is a space of many functions: washing, relaxing, refreshing, thinking up new ideas.

In the words of entrepreneur Nolan Bushnell, "Everyone who's ever taken a shower has an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference". It is our view that every shower taken must be an experience, one that can relax, refresh and inspire in equal measure. So, what are the components that work together to create the perfect shower experience? We asked the experts on Twitter. Here is a quick round-up of their thoughts...

@DAY_TRUE_London 

"A heady combination of heat, water pressure, beautiful design, exciting materials and textures and enticing lighting!"

@2020Architects

"Lots of space for sure, plus we strongly believe wet rooms are the way forward. #design #northcoastarchitects #bathrooms"

@JagaSquad

"Enough pressure for the size of the head (sounds basic but essential, especially now it's getting colder!)".

To summarise, the perfect shower experience is achieved with excellent pressure, beautiful design, and moody lighting - all in an open-plan, wet-room-style space.

If you are suffering from low water pressure, please get in touch. Our technical team are here to help with many different boosting solutions at their disposal. Call 01793 822775.

Or, if you would like to discuss how to achieve the perfect shower experience tailored to you and your design taste, get in touch with our design team. Call 01793 822775 or head to our Bespoke To You page.

For pricing enquiries, please contact us through your showroom, designer, or contractor.

Smart Showers' Statement Shower Heads

Give your bathroom suite the "wow" factor with a statement shower head.

In recent years, the bathroom has transformed from functional space to luxury retreat, and what better way to rejuvenate your bathroom or en-suite than with a stand-out shower head? Large or small, any sized shower head (placed in the right setting) can add a real sense of your drama to your space. Add to that such features as light therapy and multifunction jets, and you have a shower head that not only delivers on style but performance too.

So, what do we mean by "placed in the right setting"? Well, for a flush-fitted shower head such as Rock in the top left image, install the head in the centre of your chosen wall. You could even drop part of the ceiling lower to make the shower head a literal centre-piece. Or, as shown in the top right image of the Darwin shower head, fit the head into a partition wall, making the whole piece into a stunning feature.

All pictured shower heads (including Techno (top left) and Pop (top right)) form part of our carefully curated collections of beautifully crafted and contemporary Italian shower fixtures for the bathroom. These luxurious pieces reflect the craftsmanship and innovative styles of the Italian designers and manufacturers selected for the recent reinvention of the Smart Showers brand.

To find out more about Smart Showers' hand picked designers, click here.

To browse more Smart Showers statement shower heads, go to The Collections page.

An Alternative Way To Light Up Your Shower Space

Lighting is an incredibly important part of any room but especially for the bathroom where illumination can make the difference between a luxurious retreat of relaxation and a dark, uninviting cave.

There are many ways to light up your bathroom and shower space from ceiling spotlights to well-placed lanterns and low-level LEDs but we want to talk about an alternative technique.

Chromotherapy is more commonly known as a method of medical treatment using various colours to balance energy lacking from a person's body on emotional and mental levels. Our Italian manufacturers have taken inspiration from this method and implemented small chromo lights into some of their shower head designs. The result is an ambient shower space with a subtle wow factor.

                                                                                                                    .

In last week's blog, we asked some of our favourite traders and interiors designers "what makes the perfect bathroom?", and as this blog post is all about lighting, we thought we'd also include the comments given by The Lighting Company director, Lynne Hickin.

"A dream bathroom or shower room can be achieved with the addition of a few well chosen luxury items. A simple white suite can be enhanced with a well chosen piece such as a statement shower head or elegant taps, and it goes without saying good lighting. At The Lighting Company we’d suggest using experts to obtain a quality finish if the budget allows and light it well with lights suitable for bathroom use, not all are suited to wet environments your electrician will be able to advise. All to often a room can be ruined when lighting is an afterthought, as with all projects planning ahead and shopping for those special items makes a huge difference to the finished look."

Lynne Hickin (Director), The Lighting Company.

Find the whole range of our chromotherapy shower heads here.

How do you light your bathroom? Let us know on Twitter @SmartShowersUK

We look forward to hearing from you!.

Tips on Creating the Perfect Bathroom from the Experts

We asked some of our favourite interior designers and traders for tips on how to create the perfect bathroom, and they really delivered with some very helpful pieces of advice.

"Most of our clients opt for the perfect balance of luxury and practicality, great storage and quality products."

Brass & Rose Interiors (via Twitter).

"A dream bathroom or shower room can be achieved with the addition of a few well chosen luxury items. A simple white suite can be enhanced with a well chosen piece such as a statement shower head or elegant taps, and it goes without saying good lighting. At The Lighting Company we’d suggest using experts to obtain a quality finish if the budget allows and light it well with lights suitable for bathroom use, not all are suited to wet environments your electrician will be able to advise. All to often a room can be ruined when lighting is an afterthought, as with all projects planning ahead and shopping for those special items makes a huge difference to the finished look."

Lynne Hickin (Director), The Lighting Company.

"Sleek lines and good strong faucets set off a bathroom nicely"

Henman Dunn Ltd (via Twitter).

"A fabulous shower of course :)"

Hansgrohe (via Twitter).

"We are a kitchen company, but we have noticed in our clients’ houses that the best bathrooms are those which do not hold back with personality or bare minimalism. Our clients are contemporary thinkers, and they do not hold back on style. There is no in between. Bright colours that pop, dark colours that brood and encompass, or chic minimalism where almost all surface and texture is white.Whatever they do, they go for it full force. That would be our advice, as well as dream big, reap big rewards!"

Leicht Kitchens Design Centre.

"u2may grow old(er) or have granny/pa 2stay so remember grab rails, non-slip, thermostats, gd light/heat etc. Boring but safe"

Barbara Chandler (via Twitter).

What's your tip for creating the perfect bathroom? Let us know on Twitter @SmartShowersUK

We look forward to hearing from you!.