1. Getting sprayed turning the shower on
If turning on your shower means stepping in and getting hit with a blast of cold water, something’s wrong.
The controls should be placed at the entrance to the enclosure, so you can turn it on without getting in the firing line.
It seems like a small detail but you’ll notice it every single morning.
Shower controls out of the firing line, featured in our Swithenbank ensuite project.
2.All statement no impact
A good bathroom design knows where to draw your eye. If everything is competing for attention – bold tiles, a statement bath, feature lighting, patterned flooring – it quickly becomes overwhelming.
Too many focal points means nothing stands out. The space loses impact.
One or two strong features will always feel more refined than five fighting for attention.
3. Lifeless lighting
You’d be surprised how much of an impact lighting has on a bathroom.
Flat, clinical lighting makes even the most beautiful bathrooms feel cold and lifeless. A well-designed space should have layers: ambient lighting to set the tone, task lighting for mirrors, and accents to highlight materials and texture.
When done right, lighting makes your bathroom feel like a luxury spa or boutique hotel.
Subtle and warm LED lighting brings to life the Little Garth bathroom project.
4. Underestimating airflow
Ventilation isn’t particularly sexy, but it matters. A badly ventilated bathroom will steam up quickly, leave mirrors fogged, and over time, lead to damp and mould.
It’s not just about adding an extractor fan – it’s about placing it properly and making sure it’s powerful enough for the space. Without good airflow, even the most beautiful bathroom will start to age badly.
5. Slippery, shiny floors
Glossy tiles might look sleek in a showroom, but they’re a disaster waiting to happen in a real bathroom.
Especially when wet, they turn into a slip-and-slide – not ideal first thing in the morning.
If you’re tiling the whole room in one material (which often looks great), we usually switch to a satin or matt version of the tile for the floor. It gives you the same cohesive look, without the ice-rink effect.
Verona kendal floor and wall tiles. Polished with an anti slip glaze – featured in our Swithenbank ensuite project.
6. Awkward layout
You shouldn’t have to shuffle sideways past the towel rail to get to the toilet, or worry about the door knocking into the vanity every time you open it.
An awkward layout makes a bathroom feel smaller, even when the room itself isn’t. Good design isn’t just about making things fit – it’s about how they work together.
7. Insufficient storage
It’s amazing how often storage gets overlooked in bathroom design. Everything looks clean and minimal – until real life kicks in and there’s nowhere to put anything. Suddenly, your beautiful new space looks messy.
You don’t have to choose between looks and practicality – you can have both. A well-designed bathroom hides the chaos without compromising the design.
A large storage unit looms above the toilet in the Swithenbank main bathroom project.
A bathroom isn’t just something to look at – it’s something you live with, every single day. And when the design’s off, you notice.
The best bathrooms aren’t just stylish. They’re considered, practical, and built around how you actually use them.
If you’re planning a bathroom and want to get it right, we’d love to help.
