Building a new bathroom, or revamping an old one, involves many complex decisions from basic plumbing practicalities to aesthetics such as window treatments. Big decisions have to be made on how to create a space that is flexible, efficient and attractive, whether it's a large family bathroom or the smallest of cloakrooms practicality and good looks go hand-in-hand in the bathroom, arguably the hardest-working room in the house - and one that can be a major selling point when it comes to moving on .



First, consider who will use your new bathroom and how often. Are there any safety concerns to do with children, elderly people or disabled people? And what do you need in terms of fittings: a separate shower, double basin or extra towel holder, for example? What about access? Getting shower cubicles and baths up narrow stairs can be tricky.

Next, draw a scaled plan of the room on a sheet of graph paper, marking the positions of doors, windows, radiators and built-in cupboards as well as the bath, basin(s), showers, WC and any other fittings. Is there space for everything you'd like, or do you need to extend, put the WC in a separate room, choose compact fittings or make do with, say, a combined shower-bath?

Remember to allow activity space around each fitting - there's nothing more annoying that banging your elbow on a wall every time you brush your teeth, or stubbing your toe each time you step out of the bath.

Discuss the requirements of your hot water system with your plumber. You may, for example, need to upgrade your boiler or fit a pump to make your shower work effectively.

Will you want radiators or (for a more streamlined look) underfloor heating? If you're concerned about visible pipe work, it's usually possible to run pipes under floors and behind false walls.

Think about lighting at an early stage, too - there are special requirements for bathroom lights, and flexibility is important, to give you bright, directional light for shaving or putting on make-up, and a relaxing glow for reading in the bath.

You may wish to fit a combination of overhead and wall lights, perhaps even with special effects, such as a concealed light behind a mirror, or beneath a wall-hung vanity unit.

Storage is important - no one wants to see a display of spare loo rolls or toilet cleaners - and you'll need to decide whether you want to go down the built-in route, using recessed areas for cupboards and shelves, fitting a vanity unit around the basin and perhaps even installing wall and floor units (rather like a kitchen), or opt for free-standing pieces, such as cupboards, chests, trolleys and boxes.

However large or small your bathroom, you can never have too much storage. If you're constructing housing for a concealed cistern or a false wall to hide pipe work, consider building small cupboards or shelving into it.

This brings us to matter of style. Will you go for sleek and modern, something more traditional, or a pretty, country look?

The choice is vast, and it's not just determined by the sanitary ware, but other vital accessories that are fundamental to the over all look of a bathroom.