It's a very exciting prospect to be completely renovating a bathroom, particularly if you have had to live with a dated, old or just generally unattractive bathroom for a while.

The initial decisions on what to include in a bathroom are relatively easy – these are the essential building blocks of any room that you want to be pleasant to use. Does the bathroom need a new window, for example, or is it a cold space so also needs the heating upgraded and it will almost certainly need the lighting upgraded if it is old to take advantage of the low energy LED down-lighters and LED strip lights that can really add some glamour when combined with luxury designer tiles and fittings. So before choosing all the exciting bits make sure it will be a warm, well-lit space.

The next decision is who should do the installation. If you are competent at DIY then you should be able to tackle most of it, such as laying ceramic or porcelain tiles. But if you are moving pipes or installing new pipework it is usually best to get a qualified plumber in as you don't want to take any chances with water – a leak could ruin not just your new bathrooms but other rooms in your home too.

So the next decision is whether to simply replace the sanitary ware in its existing locations or completely re-design the room. If it is a small space the chances are that there are very few options for moving the sanitary ware but if you are replacing a bath with just a shower or creating a wet-room style bathroom then plan it from scratch. Remember though that moving the soil pipe can be difficult and expensive and definitely a job for the professionals.

Bathroom showrooms and most DIY stores offer a bathroom design service (usually free) so take advantage of this to rethink your layout if possible within the constraints of your space.

Removing a Bath Tub

If you are thinking of removing the bath tub altogether think very carefully about the decision. If that is your only bath tub you may miss being able to have a long, leisurely bath, even if you only find time for it once a month. Showers are great in our busy lives but sometimes you need a relaxing bath. If you need any more convincing take a look at some of the freestanding tubs in the bathroom showrooms; some are truly beautiful. There are also eco-friendly styles which take less water to fill than traditional baths and think about whether the lack of a bath could affect the value of your home, especially if it is a family type home that might be sold on to a family with young children, who usually prefer a bath.

The Shower

It is easy to fall in love with the huge walk-in showers in so many showrooms with their frameless slabs of glass and enormous rain showers but most of us cannot accommodate those in our homes and smaller versions just don't work as well. Walk-in showers which are not well-enclosed  with a large section of glass will definitely lead to a wet floor. Some people can live with that but not everyone. If your space is small consider one of the fully enclosed cubicles that are almost frameless (Majestic, for example) to keep the water in the shower area. It may not look quite as swish but it if far more practical.

The Walls and Floor

For the tiling porcelain tiles on both floor and walls are a great option; for a really on-trend look have the tiler (or you if you are doing it yourself) lay them in a brickwork fashion, or better still an offset brickwork pattern where each tile is offset by a third from its neighbour above or below. This gives the tiling a less harsh layout but still a very contemporary look. Natural stone tiles are also very appealing but once installed have to be sealed and then regularly maintained. With natural stone tiles you will also have to be careful with the types of cleaning product you use. With porcelain tiles you can just install them and forget them except for an occassional wipe over  and they will look just as good after 10 years as they did when they were first installed, although the grout might not.