We’re not sure if there is anyone on this earth that doesn’t love a spa day. If you are looking to update your bathroom or opting for a complete bathroom renovation, then why not bring that spa like experience home with you. With a smart layout and key design features, you can create a custom bathroom that will become a daily private retreat. 

Our team here at Balnei & Colina have been renovating bathrooms since 1997. We‘ve helped thousands of homeowners transform their living spaces to create beautiful, functional, resilient, and sustainable rooms that suit their styling preferences and budget. The bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in the home; from showering, brushing teeth to applying make-up it’s estimated that you’ll spend approx 2 years of your lifetime in the bathroom, so why not make it as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

In this month’s B&C Home Journal we show you how to create a bathroom renovation that will look and feel like a spa sanctuary. Relax & Enjoy!

Robert Fonti,  Director, Balnei & Colina

Gladesville bathroom renovation by Balnei & Colina

 

6 easy ways to add a relaxed spa-like feel to your bathroom renovation

A bathroom renovation is a major undertaking, but with some clever design elements you can create a custom bathroom that’s luxurious, inviting, and comfortable. Here are some simple bathroom design tips for the perfect bathroom sanctuary.

 

Sans Souci Bathroom Renovation by Balnei & Colina

1. The right layout

Before planning your vanity unit or selecting wall tiles, you will need to design an effective floor plan for your bathroom. Open plan layouts are the most common choice for bathroom renovations. And to create a room you’ll enjoy working in, an open plan layout works for both those who have a large space, and those who don't.

At Balnei & Colina, our bathroom designers always commence with the allocation of ‘wet zones’ within the bathroom space. These are showering/bathing areas vs your toilet and vanity areas. If you are renovating an existing bathroom, it may not be feasible to move your existing plumbing, but if you really want to adjust your layout, be sure to consult with a specialist bathroom renovation team like Balnei & Colina renovations first.

After determining the location of your 'wet zones’, it is time to consider the placement of your fixtures. Position your shower in a corner of the bathroom for ease of movement, and if your room is small, consider using a transparent glass shower screen to give the illusion of greater space. Locating your toilet in a discrete area and hidden from your line of sight, especially upon entry, will help support the visual appeal of the room.  

Design Tip: When designing your custom vanity think vertical, under storage and upper shelving above can make a world of difference.

Chatswood bathroom renovation by Balnei & Colina

2. Earthy Finishes 

Choosing out the right surface materials for your bathroom is a vital step in the bathroom renovation process. For optimum longevity, select surfaces that will be hard wearing while also in keeping with the aesthetic of your overall bathroom style. For a spa style bathroom, opt for tiles, splashbacks and flooring in neutral or monochromatic schemes to keep the bathroom feeling fresh.

Include natural elements in the space such as stone, and timber look finishes for a more organic feel. Opt for a custom vanity with a timber look finish, and dress with plenty of greenery! Team these natural finishes with organic decor and select soft calming colours, for a refreshing clean look. 

Marble and stone are popular surface and tile material choices for bathrooms. With a luxury spa feel, marble and stone are durable and versatile, supporting almost any style preference from traditional to contemporary. Marble or stone with bold patters can also add greater visual interest to your space.

Don’t forget the ‘concrete’ look as an alternative. The raw look of concrete lends itself to a more organic theme and has various applications from countertops, to floors and walls. The ‘concrete’ look has become an increasingly popular trend in bathroom design. When paired with steel and wood, concrete works to create a more inviting feeling.

Bonus Tip! – Have some additional funds to invest in your bathroom renovation and an outdoor space adjacent to your bathroom? For the ultimate spa experience, consider taking your tub or shower outdoors! 

Interesting Fact: 51% of People take 10 minutes or less in the shower. 55% of women take longer than 10 minutes in the shower.

Image credit: Photo by Maree Homer

3. A hero bath

After establishing the right floor plan for your bathroom renovation, it's time to consider the style of fixtures you would like to include, and what the focal point of your bathroom will be.

While a luxurious shower and side-by-side vanity basins are visually striking, a freestanding bath boasting clean lines and an opulent surface is the ultimate spa-like statement feature.

Opt for a hero bath with deep dimensions and a soft-to-the-touch finish. It’s ideal for a relaxing soak. A flush-floor finish and a clean, curved form, mean it will easily integrate into any contemporary-style bathroom.

Image credit: John Paul Urizar Photography

Image credit: Martina Gemmola Photography

4. Clear the Clutter

Create a relaxed atmosphere by de-cluttering your bathroom. Use custom bathroom cabinetry like bathroom drawer style vanities, and custom wall storage units, like shaving cabinets to help you keep bathroom items and accessories hidden from sight. Keep all your essentials on hand and make sure that you tuck everything else neatly away.

Bathroom renovations are a complex undertaking and is best left to the experts. When engaging a bathroom renovation expert, like the team at Balnei & Colina, to undertake your bathroom renovation project, the team will work closely with you to design and deliver a bathroom renovation solution that meets both your aspirations as well as your functional requirements. In addition to custom cabinetry, you can use floating shelves, custom drawer organisers to keep everything stored in an easy to access and orderly fashion. 

Design Tip: Decor like wicker baskets can support the overall spa theme of your bathroom and double as storage.

Image credit: Anson Smart Photography

5. Spotlight on Lighting

Good bathroom lighting is essential, so it’s important to create an effective lighting plan before taking on a bathroom renovation. Your bathroom renovation lighting plan choices should accommodate both mood and task lighting for eg applying makeup, shaving as well as pampering in both the shower or the tub. A Balnei & Colina bathroom renovation specialist will create a bathroom lighting plan especially for your new bathroom space to ensure adequate light whatever the task, whether your getting ready for work or having an indulging bath soak. 

Downlights, with bright white bulbs are a popular choice in bathroom renovation as they can be strategically positioned anywhere across your ceiling to light up areas above your head for general lighting. Install vertical light fittings, like sconces to ensure your face is evenly lit on either side of your vanity mirror.

Design Tip: Consider a statement bathroom pendant light (a bathroom trend we think is here to stay) to add a dash of personality and uniqueness to your bathroom renovation.  

Image credit: Armelle Habib Photography

Image Credit: Papworth Design

6. A touch of Nature 

A simple way to introduce colour and liven up your bathroom space, is to add greenery to your bathroom renovation. It not only helps support a healthy environment, but can add tranquility to a space. Discuss your requirements with the designers, and they can provide you with information about what types of houseplants will thrive in the environment. Carefully positioned flower arrangements and artwork can further enhance the natural look. 

Design Tip: If you prefer to keep your vanity countertop space free, you can add open shelving or a custom storage/ladder or cabinet. These are great as you can use them to store items at various levels, as well as creating a visual point of interest in your bathroom renovation.

Rozelle Bathroom Renovation by Balnei & Colina

Image credit: Armelle Habib Photography

BASIC BATHROOM STATS*

So how much time do we really spend in the bathroom?

Men 855.8 days (2 years and 125 days)

Women 770.8 days (2 years and 40 days)

Let’s break that down

Showering - Men 185.4 days (9 minutes per day)

Women 195.7 days (9.5 minutes per day)

Applying Make up - 14.5 mins a day

Hair Styling  Men - 3 minutes per day, Women - 15 minutes per day

What other things do we do in the bathroom?

56% of us read

43% dress

20% sing

15% talk on the phone

3% watch digital

Want to create a relaxing bathroom escape for your home but not sure how? Leave it to the bathroom renovation experts at Balnei & Colina.

For more information, feel free to contact Balnei & Colina at 1300 450 320. You can also send us your bathroom renovation project details via this contact us form.  

If you’re looking for bathroom inspiration and ideas, signup to our newsletter or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest design trends.

*All stats courtesy of infographics

Image credit: Brigid Arnott Photo

Image credit: Peter Clarke Photography

Image credit: Felix Forest Photography