GRANNY ANNEXE SPECIALISTS BASED IN ESSEX & HERTS

Installing a bathroom in your annexe is a serious undertaking and can be deceptively tricky. It requires quite an array of fittings and technical skill, often in a very compact space. For this reason, carefully planning from the start will prevent costly mistakes and changes down the line.

Assess your bathroom needs Begin by working out your key priorities. A family bathroom or spa-style sanctuary will require a long list of specifications and fittings that could include a bath, separate shower, double basins, and heaps of storage, while an en-suite or guest bathroom may just require a shower and loo.

Next, ask yourself what sort of space you hope to achieve. Are you seeking a haven to escape to, or are you more of an invigorate-and-energise kind of person? This will affect the fixtures, fittings and colour scheme you choose. Forget about how you currently use your bathroom, and instead imagine how you would like to use it. Draw on your experiences when you’ve visited great spas and visualize how you would like your new scheme to function.

Plan a bathroom layout If your layout isn’t quite right, think about the ways you might be able to make small but effective changes. Rehanging doors or fitting sliding ones is an excellent way to gain space, for instance.

If you do plan to change your layout, measure your bathroom carefully. Note the position of doors windows and any pipes. It might help to draw an outline on graph paper, or use an online design tool.

It’s also a good idea to visit a local bathroom showroom for advice, as its designers will have plenty of experience in maximising space while at the same time minimising costly mistakes.

Finally, bear in mind how your needs might change in the years to come. Just because you don’t need a bath in your life right now… it might not always be the case. Your family might grow, or indeed you might be selling, in which case a bath will have broader appeal.

Seek out inspiration Choose your style early on as this will help narrow down the choice of fittings to consider. Your main options are period style, classic or a contemporary look. Hotels, particularly small boutique ones, are a fabulous source of design inspiration, so scour their websites for looks you love. Quite often they’ll feature a lot packed into a compact space, so you’ll probably pick out a few layout tips, too.

Flick through interiors magazines to gather tear sheets and try to bring together a visual checklist of what appeals to you, whether that’s an Eastern-Zen look, or something more Scandi-inspired. This will really help formulate your ideas for the look. It’s easier to show someone a mood board to express your vision.

Talk to friends who have completed similar projects about what they love about their new bathroom, and to discover the pitfalls and problems they may have encountered along the way.

Be realistic about your space There’s no point pining for his-and-her sinks, a statement walk-in shower or a double-ended roll top if they won’t fit. The truth of the matter is it isn’t going to be possible in the most UK bathrooms the average footprint is about the same as a king-size bed.

Don’t cram in fittings as this will only make the room feel smaller and research products that will help you make the most of your square meterage, such as wet-room style showers or Japanese-style square tubs.

Remember, ventilation is important People overlook the ventilation in their bathroom, only to regret it later. It’s so important in a bathroom with furniture, as condensation can damage wood, an open window alone is not enough.

You certainly don’t want the bathroom to become damp, especially an en suite placed so close to the bedroom, which is why extraction needs to be considered. Make the room well ventilated, as you certainly don’t want steam flowing in to the bedroom. Nor do you want your extraction to be too loud.

Factor in storage Storage is the key to a successful bathroom, a minimal glass shelf won’t be enough! Toiletries never display well, nor do shampoo bottles standing on the floor of the shower. A substantial vanity with space for extra towels is a smart buy.

Mirrored cabinets will allow for you to store products, as well as charge toothbrushes and electric razors. Niche storage in the walls will also ensure that you can store bottles discreetly when in the shower.

Consider your bathroom lighting As bathrooms are often placed next to the bedroom, lighting should be considered carefully. You don’t want bright lights flashing on in the middle of the night as it’s not comfortable for the person taking a trip to the bathroom, or for the person asleep next door bedroom.

I would suggest that you consider having different levels of lighting. Then, if you’re taking a late-night trip to the bathroom, you can turn on the low level lighting without waking up others. Some of the lighting could be operated by a motion sensor, meaning there is no fumbling around for a light switch.

Tiles are the easiest way to follow trends Surfaces make or break a bathroom: there’s little that feels more dated than cruddy, worn-out vinyl. One current trend is for graphic ceramics – say, a patchwork of decorative geometrics or a striking hexagonal design. You’ll achieve maximum impact with a floor-to-wall seamless feature, but you can also opt for a feature wall or floor. Think about your room proportions before choosing your tiles. Very decorative designs can be too busy for a small space, whereas they could be an ideal way to add interest and warmth to a large bathroom.

Finalise a budget Deciding on a budget in advance means you can prioritise where to spend and where to save. And the good news is that it doesn’t have to cost thousands to create a spa feel. Invest in just one beautiful piece, such as a freestanding bath which you can pick up for under £500 and show it off against a more budget-conscious backdrop. Bear in mind you also need to allocate some money to practical elements. You might need a larger water tank if you are planning a rainfall shower, and a water softener can be a smart idea to prevent the build-up of limescale.

Decide what level of service you need This will largely be dictated by your budget. Some bathroom companies offer a turn-key solution, with everything from planning and installation to decorating included in the price. While this isn’t the cheapest option, it can repay in terns of the speed and ease of your project. Alternatively you can design the space yourself, buy your own fittings, and hire a plumber or builder to work to your plan. While you have to ensure you get the layout right, and it will take more time to source products, it should work out cheaper in the long run.

Of course, nothing beats seeing products in the ‘flesh’ so put time in to visit plenty of showrooms. Don’t be afraid to get in the bath and test it for comfort right there in the showroom, and feel for furniture and taps for build quality.

Organise your tradespeople Get recommendations from friends and family about fitters. Always ask for references and make sure the person you choose is some one you trust and – importantly – like, as they will be in your home for a week or so. Remember, the best price might not always result in the best service.

Buying your suite and fittings through your builder might allow you to take advantage of trade discounts. Some bigger bathroom suppliers offer significant savings to the trade, as well as fast delivery and product support. Don’t forget, though, that your fitter will probably take a small cut for the time and effort of ordering for you.

Regardless of whether you are buying from a high-street store or a high-end brand, factor in delivery times. Big name manufacturers might take three or four weeks to deliver, while luxury brands can take around eight weeks.

When placing your orders, don’t forget the peripherals, such as waste traps for the bath and sinks and try to schedule delivery to coincide with when the builder is on site otherwise you could have items cluttering up the house. Or, worse still a builder with nothing to fit. Give yourself plenty of wriggle room to avoid having contractors twiddling their thumbs on site.

Survive the work How long you’ll have to cope without a shower or bath depends on the scale of the work – a spruce job might only take a matter of days, but if you are planning to move fittings or relocate plumbing, account for significantly longer.

You’ll also want to take steps to minimise the inevitable mess. Cover stairs and hallway floors with old dust sheets to protect them while products are being taken through the house. Ask for any cutting of tiles and plasterboard to be done outside to minimise dust, and seal off doors to any bedrooms using masking tape to keep them pristine.

It’s usually the smallest room in the house, but that’s no excuse for failing to make a statement with your annexe cloakroom.

Style it with confidence, display treasures, find space for storage, add lighting and cosy warmth, and you might end up spending more time in there than you ever imagined.

Desperate for the loo The benefits of a cloakroom are many; useful for children, easy access for elderly relatives, within handy reach of the garden, and less wear-and-tear on the main bathrooms and en-suites. But where to put one? To save costs and disruption, site one within easy reach of the existing water supply and soil pipes. You might section off the end of a long hallway. Experts suggest that for a toilet and basin, you need a space measuring at least 80cm x 140cm. If you’re superstitious, never put a lavatory adjacent to the front door. Feng shui practitioners believe it’s bad luck; your good fortune is literally in danger of being flushed away.

Maximise the space Have the door opening outwards, or sliding or folding to make the least impact in the room. Choose a triangular-shaped or wall-hung corner toilet if you can, box in the cistern if feasible and opt for a small corner or rectangular sink. Keep taps unobtrusive, and avoid ‘waterfall’ models in such a limited area; unwary guests could cause a flood. Boxed-in storage or a wall-mounted vanity unit should hide essential supplies.

Keep it tidy However, such a small space is still a magnet for clutter. Invest in wall-hung soap dispensers and toilet roll holders, and a small bookshelf at just the right height for reading material. Utilise the space well and it can double up as a mini boot room. It’s a good idea to fix pegs around the walls to hang coats, hats and scarves. Don’t forget about shoe storage too. You could create customised cubby-hole style shelving to keep pairs together and store other items such as shopping bags and umbrellas.

Be bold with decor Chances are the door to your cloakroom will always be closed, so it’s the perfect space to express your personality with a strong paint shade – such as purple or mustard – or extravagant wallpaper, like metallics and dramatic floral prints. You can go crazy with wall coverings and colours, but for a sense of harmony, tie in with the floor colour. To add depth and texture, you might consider tactile wall coverings such as cool cow hide tiles. Team with accessories such as a cow hide rug and your loo will be a talking point.

Reflect the light Play with perspective and introduce a large or ornate mirror. Position this on the back wall, likely to be above the toilet, and you give the illusion of infinity. Or opt to display a collection of smaller mirrors – perhaps vintage or with co-ordinating frames – arranged close together for maximum impact. Also, consider adding a niche behind the loo which you can light with a downlight. This will bring some indirect light to the space and adds depth to the room.

Choose oversized tiles Tiles keep walls and surfaces sparkling, but don’t go for the obvious. Opt for larger tiles than you first think because they create the illusion of a more luxe feel in a small space. People often make the mistake of using small tiles or even mosaics here. These can be useful to create intricate designs and patterns, but there are far more grout lines exposed compared to larger format tiles. This, combined with the heavy use the room gets means you will need to clean it frequently to keep the grout looking clean and fresh.

Take a comfort break There is nothing less welcoming than a chilly bathroom. A heated towel rail is useful. However, where wall-space is restricted, underfloor heating is the ideal solution – run it off the existing central heating system, or install an electric mat. If there is no window, a well-maintained ventilation fan is a must. If an extractor fan cannot hold a postcard it is not providing sufficient ventilation, ideally you should replace the unit or clean the filter.

Display traditional treasures Photographs, menu cards, cartoons and framed mementoes. The cloakroom loo has long been the place to hang cherished items with an ironic twist. It’s the idea of being amusing. An interior designer once told me that women always consign their husband’s previous life to the cloakroom, which is why you get certificates, awards, school photos and so on. You could streamline this classic idea by creating a montage of family snaps, or a visual history of your home in plain black frames.

Planning a new space can be a minefield of questions and tough decisions. But there are a number of things you should never do when choosing a bathroom.

Choosing a new bathroom poses a host of choices to consider. Do you need to redesign the layout and space? What order should the works go in? What comes first, lighting, plumbing or sanitary ware? And what are the things you really shouldn’t skimp on when it comes to the budget?

Rush the layout – or make do with the old one An effective layout that makes good use of the space available is the most important aspect of a bathroom. Yet so many of us will either rush and pick the first comnination we can think of, or worse, copy the old one when it doesn’t really work.

The cost of a layout redesign is elevated due to changes in plumbing and electrics, however, it is needed in some cases.

Most traditional bathrooms were badly planned – storage was never considered, radiators were too big and not energy-efficient, basins were often placed under windows so that mirrors couldn’t be hung and the WC was in a separate room.

Rearranging the layout gives the possibility to incorporate design features that maximise space and functionality. A few examples are a freestanding bath that opens up the floor and gives the illusion of a bigger room, a wall niche that creates a sophisticated feature place to store bottles without taking up any more space, or smaller and more energy-efficient radiators that can be installed above the bath so that towels are easier to reach.

Put your towel rail too far from the shower When designing bathrooms, I always start with the layouts. Mostly this is dictated by were your soil stack is positioned for the WC and whether this can be moved or not.

The toilet has stricter limitations than moving pipework due to the fall of the waste. Once you know where this is positioned you can start to decide where the basin, bath and shower will go.

Pipework tends to be more flexible when it comes to repositioning. Once you have your layout, and therefore know how big you can have everything, the exciting part starts and you can begin to put together your mood boards and choose your product.

Top tip? Make sure you don’t forget about towel rails/heating when considering all of this. One big mistake we often see is once having left the shower, people have to walk across the bathroom to reach your towel.

Install everything in the wrong order With any bathroom installation, forward planning is key. Choose an experienced designer that can manage the whole process from start to finish and ensure they provide dimensional drawings to help you visualise the space.

• Plan the room so that all pipe work is in place and wall coverings need minimal cutting.

• Ensure supports are in their correct positions, taking into consideration the size of the wall coverings.

• Position underfloor heating so that no fixings can damage it during the installation process.

• Choose products that incorporate two-part installation, like our eco waste that is fitted before the bath.

• If you opt for a freestanding bath, make sure it is the last thing to be fitted, as it reduces the risk of damage.

Only install one light As with most areas within a house, good bathroom lighting can transform the look and feel of the space.

Task lighting needs to be considered around mirrors so that you have plenty of light when shaving, cleaning or flossing your teeth or applying make-up etc. You should always choose lights that will illuminate without causing shadows. for example, a single strip above the mirror or wall lights situated either side of the mirror.

If you use the bathroom late at night then low wattage floor lighting is recommended so that you can see where you are walking without having to turn on the general lights which can be difficult for your eyes to adjust to and may inhibit your ability to return to sleep.

Put everything on one lighting circuit Bathroom lighting is as important as positioning the sanitary ware. The overall mood and atmosphere of the bathroom is dictated by this and this should be decided prior to signing off any designs. Make sure you consider lighting without relying too heavily on downlights.

Although these are fantastic at giving an even covering of light, they are not the most sympathetic and can often take the charm out of a room, leaving it looking clinical. Try using two lighting circuits, one for the downlights and another which includes more inventive feature lighting. Such as recess lights, under basin lights, wall lights and marker lights fitted to the floor to up light the bath.

Forget about IP ratings When choosing your lighting, you need to consider the IP rating, which is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies like moisture.

Always check that the fitting has an IP rating that is suitable for the intended zones.

Zone 0: inside the shower or inside the bath. Any light fitting in these areas must be a minimum rating of IP67 (which is completely immersion proof) and must be low voltage.

Zone 1: directly above the bath or shower. Any lighting fitting here must be a minimum rating of IP65. This means that they are dust-tight and are protected from low pressure jets and that no water can seep into the fitting itself.

Zone 2: either side of the bath or shower or a radius of 60cm from the sink. Any lighting fitting here must be a minimum rating of at least IP44 which will protect from splashes of water.

Add too many separate elements While a family bathroom should be practical and versatile enough to cater for everyone’s needs it doesn’t have to impact on style.

Simple additions to the suite can make it more functional without the need for separate installations which is something we consider as part of the design process.

For example, adding a bath screen to a standard straight bath provides a fully functional shower bath, utilising the space in a practical, yet unobtrusive way.

Skimp on brassware The brassware is the most important part of any bathroom renovation. As these are the working parts they have continuous water flowing through them and because of this are used the most and have the highest potential to break.

Most often, people’s fear of renovating their bathroom is stemmed from leaks etc and really this comes down to investing in a high quality brassware fitting that stand the test of time without breaking.

Another reason to invest in top-quality is that the brassware is often fitted into the wall, meaning there is no direct access to fix them; because of this, you need to ensure that what is in the wall is of a high quality or face a bigger job later on.

Neglect your wall space Position elements of your bathroom wisely. For toilets, make sure you keep 40cm of clear space in front and 20cm either side. For showers, allow 80cm of floor space, keep towels this distance for easy reaching too.

When adding furniture, lift items off the floor where you can. For example, opt for a wall-mounted towel rail, which frees up floor space by sitting flush against the back wall. Likewise, installing a vanity unit under your basin streamlines furniture by utilising otherwise dead space.

Make it hard to clean and keep tidy There are often lots of bottles and products in a bathroom that can end up creating a cluttered look. To avoid clutter, create a neat and tidy space by choosing wall mounted storage accessories around your basin to keep all your bits and bobs to hand, which has adjustable baskets, shelves and other solutions that you can add to depending on your storage needs.

The products you choose when installing a bathroom can cut down cleaning time in the long run. For example, rimless toilets have less places for bacteria to hide and can be wiped clean in a matter of seconds.

A shower room is a fantastic way to save space in a small bathroom. Removing the bath and building a large shower enclosure will give you plenty of room to move around, making the area look bigger than ever.

Every bathroom, no matter how small, can be transformed into a beautiful shower room. Intelligent design will mean you can enjoy a comfortable space the whole family can use – plus, clever storage solutions will create a clutter-free haven, where everyone can move around freely.

Be in control By installing the shower controls on the wall opposite the shower head you can make sure the water temperature is just right before you step under it. A wall nook is a far better idea than a shelf too as it doesn’t protrude.

Frame the area Black shower fittings, dark grout and patterned tiles really give this shower room stand-out style. It also means two people can use the bathroom at the same time.

Room to dry A wooden stand provides a convenient space to dry off before stepping out of the shower and a curved glass panel keeps the water in the shower tray.

Go for spa style White metro tiles and fixed glass panels give a simple yet smart look to a shower area. Installing a huge rain shower head will bring a spa-like feel to your morning routine, to get your day off on the right foot.

Spread out If you have a bath elsewhere in the annexe, sometimes you just want a shower room that’s stylish, practical and pretty.

Using the full width of the room means there’s plenty of space to walk into the shower without the need to move any doors or screens.

Add a little bling to your shower room Turn an all-white shower room in to something special with glamorous gold tiles and shower fittings. White is great in a compact room as it makes everything light and spacious, while gold adds an instant warming effect.

Be elegant with marble The natural veining of marble makes for a stunning backdrop to a walk-in shower. Go for a large-scale tile for the best effect and choose varying colours to create a beautiful patchwork.

Using the same tiles from floor to ceiling makes the shower look almost seamless. Here, a small step has been added to accommodate practical drainage, but in fact it only adds to the luxurious feel.

Pick a cool pattern Impact your flooring. A pattern adds loads of character to a space and helps to define the shower area, with its plain white shower tray.

Marble wall tiles can pick out the grey tones of the flooring, too, and add a luxury feel to the scheme. A full-length mirror at one end is great for reflecting light and making a room feel larger than it is.

Do it the country way Shower rooms are often seen as more modern than country. But this beautiful scheme manages to achieve a country-chic look without compromising on contemporary comforts.

Limestone tiling, plus plenty of wood finishes bring elements of the outdoors inside and create a relaxing space that has nature at its heart.

Style with graffiti Try a sleek shower with a cool update with Banksy-inspired tiles. Sure to be a talking point, tiles are anything but dull and add loads of colour to a neutral space. Grey floor tiles offer an easy-to-keep-clean option that doesn’t interfere with the arty wall.

Think outside the box We all know how popular white metro tiles are, but for those of you who want something a little warmer, grey could be the colour for you. Grey looks great with wood and also lends itself well to colourful accents, such as the yellow.

In terms of the shower, the key to its success is its position. It’s a relatively narrow enclosure, but clever planning means there’s a roomy feel to the shower area and therefore also the entire room.

Use every bit of space Want a cloakroom shower? Consider a wet room design that takes advantage of even the tiniest of spaces. Without any need for a shower screen or shower tray, you will easily be able to squeeze in a shower.

Other clever tricks include a space-saving basin and a recessed shelf that keeps all the potions you need easily to hand. Walnut-effect boarding also makes an interesting departure from ever-popular tiling.

Indulge your senses If you like a steam room. Then a marble bench offers the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the benefits of all the steam accumulated after a long wash.

A combination of a rainwater head and handheld fittings mean you have all the showering options you need, plus it makes it easy to keep a large enclosure like this clean.

Create a stylish en suite This en suite benefits from a generously proportioned shower. With the door opening near to the enclosure, many people might assume it’s impossible to have a spacious shower.

If it won’t work facing one way, try pointing your shower in another direction until you get the spacious design you crave.

Go for dramatic black Choose striking black tiles for the ultimate contrast to white bathroom fittings. Pick an assortment of sizes and styles, from high gloss to slate effect.

The shower area can be marked out with small rectangular tiles and these have been broken up with larger-format neutral tiles to lighten the space and avoid it looking too heavy.

Enhance a narrow roomWith the shower, loo and basin are all right next to each other.

A bath wouldn’t fit, but because the shower enclosure runs from wall to wall, it is far larger than a standard cubicle. Mosaic tiling creates a hotel-style feel and recessed shelves mean there’s no need for unsightly storage racks.

Mix light and dark Choose a combination of light and dark tiles for a balanced look in your bathroom. Using black marble tiles on the walls looks fantastic but also offers a happily practical benefit: water stains and limescale will be almost invisible.

If you want to cover a large space, marble-effect tiles made out of porcelain offer a budget-friendly option that looks really realistic.

Want a wet room, but not sure whether it will work in your annexe?

Wet rooms are becoming more and more desirable, and they’re a great way to add value to your home. But how exactly do you go about designing a wet room?

Can anyone have a wet room? Wet rooms are basically shower rooms that do away with the shower screen and tray, and have an open, fully tiled shower area. If your bathroom is on the small side you probably will need to include a shower screen to prevent everything getting sprayed.

Water drainage Installing a wet room is a job for the professionals, as a gradient needs to be created along the floor to channel the shower water into a drain and then the entire room needs to be waterproofed.

The most common method for creating a gradient is to install a sub-floor made from WBP Ply which is a type of plywood, which is then tiled over.

Another option is to install a ready-made sloping shower former, which is also then tiled over.

A final method is to use a bespoke floor in the non-porous material HI-MACS that slopes towards a drain, and can be fitted across the entire floor without the need for tiling over.

Waterproofing Waterproofing wet rooms involves priming the floor, the lower section of the walls and the whole of the wall area around the shower and then covering with a syrupy membrane. Once it’s set, the room is then tiled.

It’s also worth raising the bathroom door threshold by about 5mm from the floor in case the room fills with water. This will keep the water contained.

Advantages of wet rooms

• Wet rooms are super-stylish and perfect for creating a contemporary look.

• As a second bathroom, a wet room can easily increase the value of your home.

• Great for small bathrooms – removing the bath creates loads more space.

• Wet rooms are, in general, easier to clean. There’s no shower screen or tray to worry about and if you go for a wall-hung sink and toilet, it’s easier still.

• If it’s done properly, your floor i.e the bit under the tiles, is better protected than it would be in a standard bathroom.

Disadvantages of wet rooms

• In small bathrooms, watch out for wet towels and loo roll caused by spray from the shower.

• You’ll need a professional fitter to waterproof the room – if it’s not done properly, leaking water can cause damage.

• Wet rooms should be tiled from floor to ceiling – and that’s expensive. And if you go for porous stone tiles, they may need to be resealed every few months, which is hard work.

• Swapping a main bathroom for a wet room could make your home less saleable – buyers want at least one bath.

How much will a wet room cost? The cost of installing a wet room is usually between £5,000 and £10,000. If you are paying a company to waterproof and install a wet room, including floor-to-ceiling tiles, suite and shower, expect to pay more. Retailers such as Victoria Plum and Wickes may offer you some ideas or can sell you those little extras you need to complete your wet room.

What type of surface materials should I use in a wet room? Tiles are the most popular wall and floor covering, but you can opt for sheet vinyl for the floor, or even Corian, which is a seamless, non-porous material that is low-maintenance. Concrete and tadelakt a waterproof plaster from Morocco, will lend your wet room a rough luxe look.

If you are going to use tiles, choose non-porous bathroom tiles like ceramic or porcelain. Porous tiles, such as slate, marble and limestone need sealing every few months to prevent water damage. Only use floor tiles specifically for bathrooms on the floor so they aren’t slippery.

Can I install underfloor heating? Many fitters recommend installing underfloor heating as it keeps the tiles warm underfoot and helps to dry out the water on the floor.

Wet room decorating ideas to consider before you start Make sure you have thought through every element of your wet room scheme. From shelving to shower fittings, take your time in the planning stage to ensure that everything will be just as you want it.

Pick your shower fittings Decide whether or not you want shower valves to be exposed or concealed. Exposed shower valves work well in a modern country scheme and are also easier to install. But if you want a super-sleek look, a fixed rainwater shower head with concealed pipework can’t be beaten. If you only install a fixed shower head, it can be hard to avoid getting your hair wet – annoying if you don’t shampoo every time, and they’re not terribly useful for cleaning the shower. The best solution is to include a handheld shower as well.

Double up Side-by-side showers are perfect for bathrooms designed for sharing. It’s often a style you’ll find in luxury hotels and allows plenty of personal space while making a bold statement. Try pairing with a freestanding tub to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Choose sleek modern drainage Longing for an invigorating power shower? Then you’ll need to install a drain that can handle high water volumes efficiently. A flush-fitting, channel-style drain collects water across its full width, effectively preventing floods. Look for a drain with an easy access dirt trap to help keep the water running freely.

Create a natural partition without glass Many wet rooms have a glass panel for containing splashes, but that’s not the only way to section off the shower part of your wet room. A tiled partition wall is also a great way to stop water from flowing all over the room, while providing the easy walk-in access that makes wet rooms so popular.

Store well Allocating a dedicated space for storing shampoo and soap inside your shower area is essential. One of the smartest solutions is niche shelving, which can be built into a stud wall at construction stage. Unlike chrome racks and rails, niche storage doesn’t encroach on your showering space. It’s important to tile the actual shelf on a slight gradient to prevent water from pooling at the back. Add discreet waterproof lighting to softly illuminate.

Enclosed by a glass panel but without a door, space-enhancing designs have the indulgent look of a wet room while keeping the water contained in your annexe.

Suit the space Many off-the-peg walk-in designs come with a low-level shower tray with a bath-sized footprint, making a bathroom-to-shower room conversion straightforward. But there’s also a vast array of tray and glass panels sizes to suit big and small spaces. And bespoke cut panels can fit the slope of a converted loft shower room perfectly.

Will it need waterproofing? Installing a walk-in shower involves less upheaval than creating a wet room, where the whole space needs to be waterproofed or tanked. For a wet-room effect you may decide to go without a shower tray. In which case, a seamless run of floor tiles will be fitted across the waterproofed floor and into the shower area with a slope towards a drain. Both suspended timber and concrete floors can be suitable, but space must be created beneath for a concealed shower tray or former and drainage.

Super shower heads An impressive, walk-in shower deserves a statement shower head. Oversized rain shower heads give an invigorating drenching. The latest walk-in designs include a shower head that’s neatly incorporated into the panel supports for a streamlined look. Consider adding body jets and a separate hand-held shower, which is useful for washing your hair. Hi-tech options include digital showers that can be switched on remotely to heat the water before you step in, and programmed with your preferred temperature settings.

Special effects

• Barely-there frameless panels are the ultimate in cool design. Investigate low-iron glass – it has a crystal-clear finish and no green tinge.

• For a space-enhancing, seamless look, tile the walls and floor with porcelain tiles in a stone-effect finish.

• Glossy glass, acrylic and laminated marine grade MDF (that clicks together like flooring) are smart alternatives to tiles and have no grout lines to attract mould and soap scum.

• Separate the loo from the shower area with a low wall, tiled to match the room.

• Underfloor heating is a must-have for drying out a wet floor quickly.

• Consider designs with spa-style LED lighting and built-in Bluetooth speakers.

Are you thinking about investing in a bathroom extractor fan for your annexe? When you have a hot shower then leave damp towels in your bathroom to dry out, the moisture they add to the air condenses on colder surfaces, encouraging mould and mildew to grow. Fitting an extractor fan will control this condensation and prevent damage and mould, which can cause health problems.

Do I you need a bathroom extractor? It’s not a must, but if your bathroom has little or no natural ventilation, and you want to enjoy hot showers without worrying about damage being caused by the steam, they’re definitely worth putting in. You can pick up a simple fan for as little as £20.

Other ways to help keep condensation at bay are to allow plenty of air to circulate throughout your home, so keep windows and doors open as much as possible; wipe down surfaces and walls to remove excess moisture and avoid leaving wet towels on the floor, as these will encourage mould growth.

What should I look out for in a extractor fan? You’ll see and hear your fan every day, so it’s worth paying more for a good looking model that’s quiet, too. Often fans are connected to the mains, so they come on when you turn the bathroom lights on. A fan with a separate pull switch could be more suitable if you’re showering during the day or worried about noise at night.

Where can it be positioned? You need to check your fan is safe for each ‘zone’. Zones 1 and 2 are in close proximity to the shower or bath, so you’ll need a SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage), 12v or LV fan, requiring a transformer housed outside the zone, or one that has an IP45-rated motor.

This means that all the electrical parts are resistant to water at all angles. If you’re replacing a fan for something similar, you could make the swap yourself, but ensure the mains power is switched off first, and that the voltage is like for like. Otherwise it’s best to get a qualified electrician to install it.

Do I need to fit a special extractor fan if I have a wet room? The build-up of moisture is greater in a wet room than a regular bathroom. Go for a humidity-tracking extractor fan, as they work continuously or incrementally with automatic extraction depending on how much steam is in the room.

Their lack of regular power sockets and water hazards aplenty means annexe bathrooms haven’t always been the easiest place to enjoy your favourite tracks. But thanks to developments in wireless tech and speaker quality, you can up the tempo of your daily ablutions. And by streaming from services such as Spotify or Deezer, the options are virtually endless.

How can I get the best sound quality in my bathroom? If you’d rather soak in silence that listen to poor-quality sound, consider linking your bathroom to a home music system. Waterproof speakers are wired to an audio player and amplifier outside the bathroom – music can be controlled via a wall panel. Automation systems are available, with options to control your bathroom lighting from the same panel as your music to really set the mood. Alternatively, a waterproof remote control, can be used.

All bathroom electrics must conform to strict safety regulations – a qualified electrician should always carry out the installation and can advise you on what is and isn’t possible in your particular space.

Is there a cheaper option? Bluetooth speakers that stream music from a smartphone or tablet are our retro-fit friend. For safe bathroom use, they’re powered by waterproof low-voltage transformers connected to the mains. The most common are in-ceiling speakers and those in mirrors and cabinets. Bluetooth devices usually have at least a 10-metre range, so you can leave your phone or tablet outside the bathroom, safe from water, and the music will continue to play.

What choices do I have if I don’t want to rewire? Go for a portable solution. There are plenty of waterproof Bluetooth speakers available and the humble shower radio, now with vastly improved DAB quality, is always an option. Try UE’s fully waterproof speakers, which can survive a dunking in the bath and will still play music while it’s floating. Or Kohler’s Moxie showerhead, which hosts a wireless speaker that pairs to Bluetooth-enabled devices, delivering audio overhead.

Also, check out portable wi-fi speakers, like Denon’s Heos 1 HS2. WiFi has a greater range than Bluetooth, and your listening won’t be interrupted by calls or text alerts.

What’s the best way to control a bathroom speaker safely? To change tracks in the bathroom without fear of dropping your phone in the bath, go for a waterproof handset when you next upgrade. This year sees a whole host of launches from the likes of Sony, Samsung and Apple, using the latest nano-coating protection.

What is an IP rating? IP stands for Ingress Protection, and any source of music in the bathroom needs 
it. The last digit given indicates the water protection, 8 being the highest. Look for at least IP67 or IPX7, covering immersion – IP65 or IPX5, means splashproof. In-ceiling speakers not located above a bath or shower only need to be moisture proof so IP44 is sufficient.

Making the most of space in a annexe bathroom is vital so that it works efficiently and looks good.

Take your time, follow this advice and shop around to get the best use from your room.

• Draw up a plan of the room to try out different arrangements first

• Look for baths that are slightly shorter and narrower than average to fit a space. Choosing one less than 170cm long and narrower than 80cm could make all the difference between it fitting or not.

• Don’t skimp too much on the size of a shower enclosure. Go for the biggest you can manage but certainly no smaller than 90cm square. If your plan is not working out think about having a shower over the bath. A good quality shower door will make it look smart.

• A small basin with a cupboard under will keep your bathroom neat. Look for a wall hung version as it will make the room seem as spacious as possible and a matching wall hung WC will complete the illusion.

• Pale toning colours for walls and floor will also keep it looking spacious, especially if wall and floor tiles are the same or very similar colours.

Clear the decks It’s easy to let clutter dominate. Surfaces can become littered with toiletries, make-up, brushes and more, so reduce the amount on view and use storage to help you banish clutter forever. Leaving a few of your favourite accessories on display will personalise the space, but use surfaces that are out of the way like window ledges or shelves.

Keep it simple Keep patterns and elaborate designs to a minimum. Natural finishes like stone, pale wood and plain cream or white ceramic tiles are a good option. When planning your space, leave room to manoeuvre around furniture and fittings in comfort.

Increase light to enhance space Natural light reflects off surfaces and creates the illusion of a larger space. Allow in the maximum amount by using simple window treatments like a roller blind in a pale fabric or even frosted window film to add privacy without sacrificing any light. No windows? Then consider installing daylight-effect recessed spotlights, supplemented with a mirror that has integrated LED lighting.

Think outside the box Look out for furniture and sanitary ware designed to make use of awkward spaces, such as corner basins, baths and even WCs. A bathroom cabinet that fits neatly into a corner can also be useful. Fittings that are raised off the floor also helps create an illusion of space, so consider installing a wall-mounted basin, and WC.