A bathroom is much more than where you go to the toilet. For most people, it is where the day begins, whether that involves taking a quick shower before work or spending time on skincare, before getting ready for the day. Having a bathroom that is organised and designed around your actual needs rather than just looking nice can make getting ready feel much easier.
If you’re in the process of a renovation, it might be slightly easier to be able to create the required space for things like storage however, if you’re just wanting to make a few upgrades to your current bathroom, that’s perfectly fine too. Simple but thought-out changes to lighting, storage and the layout can make a big difference. Whether you are planning a new bathroom or simply want to improve your existing space, here are some ideas to help you create a bathroom that makes your daily routine nice and smooth.
Start With Good Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important features in a bathroom, particularly if you tend to apply makeup or style your hair in the bathroom. If your bathroom is too dark, it can make simple everyday tasks unnecessarily difficult, while very harsh lighting isn’t always ideal either.
Natural light is a great starting point, so make the most of any windows your bathroom has. When choosing artificial lighting, consider having more than one source. Ceiling lights can provide general illumination, while lighting around or beside a mirror can be useful for tasks such as shaving.
Placing lights on either side of a bathroom mirror can also help reduce shadows across the face. Choosing a mirror with integrated lighting is another option, particularly if you want to achieve a clean and modern design.
Create a Dedicated Getting-Ready Area
This might not be possible for every bathroom, however, if you are lucky to have enough room, think about creating a specific area for getting ready. A vanity unit with a large mirror can provide a perfect place for skincare, makeup and grooming products while keeping everything you regularly use within easy reach.
You don’t need an enormous bathroom to achieve this. In a smaller room, a floating vanity can provide useful surface space without making the bathroom feel overcrowded. A mirrored cabinet can also serve two purposes by giving you a practical mirror and hidden storage.
Think about how you actually use your bathroom when deciding where everything should go. Products you reach for every morning should be easy to access, while occasional items can be stored elsewhere.
Keep Everyday Products Organised
Clutter can very quickly make a bathroom feel smaller than it is and make getting ready more stressful than it needs to be. Good storage is therefore an essential part of creating a functional bathroom.
Drawers, baskets, shelves and cabinets can all help keep different products organised. You could have separate areas for hair products, skincare, toiletries and cosmetics, for example. Small drawer organisers are particularly helpful for preventing smaller products from disappearing into the back of a cabinet.
Keep the items you use as part of your everyday routine together. If you regularly apply moisturiser, SPF and face primer before doing your makeup, having them stored in the same accessible area can save you from searching through drawers every morning.
Make Your Storage Work Harder
If you have limited space, you need to look beyond the average bathroom cabinets. Think about the area above the toilet, the backs of doors and unused wall space; they can all provide additional storage space.
Wall-mounted shelves are an affordable way to add extra storage without sacrificing valuable floor space. They can be used for towels, toiletries or attractive storage containers. Hooks and rails can also provide convenient places for dressing gowns, towels and hair tools.
Built-in storage can be particularly useful if you are renovating. Recessed shower niches, for example, provide somewhere to keep shampoo and shower gel without requiring a separate shower caddy.
Choose Easy-to-Clean Surfaces
This is why practicality should be considered alongside appearance when you are choosing materials for the room. Large-format tiles, for example, can reduce the amount of grout that needs cleaning, while wipeable worktops make it easier to deal with the makeup, toothpaste and water splashes that are almost inevitable in a busy bathroom.
Storage helps here as well. The fewer products you have sitting on your surfaces, the quicker those surfaces will be to wipe down.
Then there’s ventilation, which can sometimes be overlooked when focusing on how a bathroom looks. An effective extractor fan helps reduce condensation and excess moisture. That matters, as too much moisture can contribute to mould and mildew.
Give Yourself Enough Mirror Space
Positioning is just as important as size. Ideally, your mirror should be somewhere with good lighting, with enough room in front of it for you to comfortably complete your routine without feeling squeezed into a corner.
If you still need more storage a mirrored cabinet can be a great suggestion. Everyday items can be stored close at hand behind the doors rather than covering the countertop, while the front still gives you the mirror space you need.
Conclusion
Creating the perfect bathroom for getting ready is about more than appearance. It needs to work well too.
Good lighting, accessible storage and an organised vanity area can make everyday routines much easier, while a few thoughtful finishing touches can transform the bathroom into somewhere you genuinely enjoy spending time. What works for one household won’t necessarily work for another, which is why your own routine should play such a big part in the design.
