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Four Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
When designing a bathroom, balancing style and functionality is crucial.

Hi Interior’s Enthusiast!
The last few weeks have been rather full on with client projects coming to a head at similar times. Meaning I’ve been pulled from pillar to post with endless questions from “how high would you like these wall lights?”, to “oops sorry, we messed up the wallpaper and need more but now it’s discontinued”. It's safe to say this job is NOT all glamour.
However amongst the madness on site I’ve been keeping up with the 30 tips in 30 days on my socials, if you’ve not seen them please do go and check them out. It takes a lot of effort so we’d be super grateful for some love!
Anyway, onto what you came here for, some bathrooms tips…
Four Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
When designing a bathroom, balancing style and functionality is crucial. Here are four common mistakes to avoid:
Slippery Floor Tiles
A critical error in bathroom design is choosing inappropriate floor tiles. Many select tiles based on appearance, overlooking their suitability for wet environments. Always check the slip rating before installation. Many tiles are designed for wall use only and lack necessary grip for wet floors. Choosing wrong can pose safety risks and lead to costly replacements.
Unsealed Porous Tiles
Using porous tiles, like encaustic tiles, without proper sealing is another frequent mistake. These visually stunning tiles require special care to maintain their appearance. They must be sealed to prevent staining, cracking, and texture changes. Factor in the additional cost and labour for sealing when choosing these tiles. Some suppliers offer pre-sealed options, but most require on-site sealing after installation.
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Black Fixtures and Fittings
Black fixtures, while trendy, often prove impractical. They show water marks, scratches, and limescale buildup easily, especially in hard water areas. The constant maintenance to keep them pristine can be frustrating. Consider more timeless and practical finishes that withstand daily use and changing design trends.
Inadequate Lighting
Lighting is frequently overlooked in bathroom design. Many rely solely on harsh overhead spotlights, creating unflattering shadows and insufficient coverage. Incorporate multiple light sources on different circuits instead. A central pendant, wall sconces near the mirror, and accent lights in shower niches will set you up well. Multiple circuits allow better control, creating the right atmosphere for any time of day or night. And don’t forget the dimmer switch!
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30 Tips in 30 Days
Today marks day 19, so there are just 11 days left in the series, so if you have anything that you'd love to be answered then please reply to this email and let me know.
Here's a video that got a lot of people talking, let me know in the replies what you think.
@oliviacaplandesign 30 Interior Design tips in 30 days! Tip 16- Avoid the cheap metal thresholds if you can, go for something chunkier or wooden to bridge the... See more
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