Think about the space you have and what shape would work best. There are four common types:

• • Square shower enclosure – these are ideal for fitting into a corner.
  • Rectangular shower enclosure – great for larger spaces as they can be longer.
  • Quadrant shower enclosures – a triangular-shaped shower that fits into a corner. You can also get an offset quadrant shower enclosures, which is slight longer.
  • D-shaped shower enclosure – similar to quadrant enclosures, but with just one flat side that sits against the middle of a wall rather than a corner.

Most shower screens and trays come in set sizes. You can get bespoke ones made, but will cost more.

Consider how much room you will need inside the shower – you don’t want to end up banging your elbows every time you wash.

Don’t go too big and make the rest of your bathroom feel cramped. We’d suggest marking out the space to see how it will feel.

Think about its position, too. Will it go into a corner, is there a designated space or walls it can go into, or would you like to have it in the middle of a wall with three sides, making a feature of it?

Shower screens

The type of doors you have will impact the position too. Sliding doors are great for saving space, while hinged/pivot and bi-fold doors will need enough room to accommodate them.

Don’t forget about the thickness of the glass. This ranges from around 4mm (curved screens tend to be thinner) to 10mm. The thicker it is, the more durable it’s likely to be. Toughened safety glass is a particularly good choice if you have small children or a walk-in shower.

You can also get glass with a special coating to help reduce build-up from soap. Frameless glass will give you a sleek finish but can be more liable to chip, so not a great choice for a family bathroom.

Showers

You’ll also have to choose the type of shower you want – electric, power, mixer or digital – and the shower head. To learn more about the different types of showers, explore our guide to the best showers

Choosing a bathroom sink

Bathroom sinks come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and designs, including:

• Freestanding sinks with a full pedestal
• Sinks that are fitted into a cupboard or storage unit, usually called vanity units
• ‘Vessel’ or counter-top sinks sit on top of a counter – this could be an open stand with shelving, a floating top or a cupboard, specially made or converted from other storage
• Wall-hung sinks that don’t have a base, but you can choose ones with half a pedestal
• Most sinks are ceramic, but you can get ones in stone, marble and even treated wood

Consider your sink’s height and position – you don’t want to have to stoop down to it, for example, or for it to be somewhere awkward to access.

Don’t just be swayed by the look. Think about how easy it will be to clean, particularly if you live in a hard water area.

If you have a smaller bathroom, steer clear of wide or deep sinks that take up a lot of room. You can also get corner sinks that make the most of awkward shapes in your bathroom.

Wall-hung (or ‘floating’) sinks are often set into a wall or a unit, saving space. A vanity unit could also be a good option as it means incorporating the sink into a cupboard.

Remember that the taps you choose will have as big an effect on the look as the sink itself – statement taps can be an affordable way to make a feature of an otherwise basic sink.

Double bathroom sinks

Double sinks come as one unit where the two bowls are part of the same mould, or you can get two separate sinks. The latter are usually counter-top sinks, mounted on a unit.

You could also consider an extra-wide, trough-style sink with additional taps that two people can use.

Choosing a bath

Freestanding baths come in a variety of designs, from traditional claw-footed, roll-top tubs to minimalist, modern styles.

Fitted baths tend to be more practical if you have less space and are usually cheaper than freestanding baths.

If possible, it’s a good idea to get into the bath you like and try it out in the showroom before making your decision. You may feel silly but you’d feel sillier if you spent hundreds of pounds on a bath you’re uncomfortable in.

Shop around so you end up with the highest-quality bath you can afford.

If space is at a premium, you may choose to ditch a bath entirely in favour of a large shower unit.

Choosing a toilet

It may not be the most glamorous aspect of designing your bathroom but, over the years, your toilet will get a lot of use, so it’s important to buy the right one. Here are the most common types.

Close-coupled toilet

Closed coupled is the most common type of toilet. It’s essentially where the cistern and toilet bowl are together in one unit – as opposed to traditional-style toilets where the cistern is sat high above. They come in a huge range of styles, from sleek, modern designs to more traditional shapes.

Back-to-wall toilet

A back-to-wall toilet offers a more modern look as the workings of the toilet are set into the wall. Check whether the cistern is included in the price or sold separately.

Bathroom vanity units with a toilet

Toilets incorporated into a vanity unit are essentially back-to-wall units that allow you to hide the workings of the toilet but still give you an additional work surface for storage.

Bathroom sink and toilet unit

Some bathroom furniture incorporates both a sink and toilet cistern in one tidy-looking unit. These are good if your bathroom is small as they make use of often-wasted space between a sink and toilet.

They can also hide ugly pipework, although they do make it trickier to access plumbing if there are issues.

Toilet seats and flushes

Check whether your toilet comes with a seat when buying it, as not all do. You can buy soft-close loo seats that won’t slam down when you close the lid.

Toilets can come with a dual flush, power flush or gravity flush to name but a few, and this will affect your water use, as well as how powerful and effective the flush is.

Choosing bathroom taps

You’ll need taps for your sink and the bath if you’re going to have one. Taps can make a big difference to the look of your bathroom.

Types of bathroom taps

Your first choice will be whether to go for separate taps for hot and cold water – called pillar taps – or a mixer tap that delivers both together.

There are two main types of mixer tap: an individual tap that has just one handle and automatically mixes the hot and cold water, and double-handled taps that allow you to choose the amount of hot or cold water you run.

Other types of bathroom tap to think about include:

• Wall-mounted taps – where as opposed to sitting on your basin or bath, they are mounted on the wall.
• Freestanding tap – these reside on the floor or countertop, adding a sense of grandeur or drama.
• Waterfall bathroom tap – where the water flows over the top of the spout, for a contemporary look.

Your tap choice might be determined by the basin or bath you choose as some come with pre-drilled holes for the taps, so think about this when buying.

Also, check what your house’s water pressure is like as not all taps will work with all systems, particularly low pressure (0.5 – one bar) ones.

Think about how high the tap sits on the basin to ensure it’s not too cramped when washing your hands.

Lastly, look for taps with ceramic disks instead of plastic washers – this newer technology tends to be more reliable.

Black bathroom taps

Most taps are chrome-coated solid brass, but you don’t have to follow the crowd. Opting for a black tap can be a simple way to add a statement to your bathroom.

They come in all types and sizes, so the choice is endless. You could also consider other colours or finishes, such as copper or rose gold for a decadent look, or even bright-coloured taps in orange or yellow.