Blog Post

Your Ultimate Guide to the Different Types of Bathrooms & How to Design Them

Kay Dymond • May 03, 2021

Discover the three different bathroom types, their meaning in the home, and how to make the right design decisions for your ideal bathroom space. 


When considering the three bathroom types - family, downstairs cloakroom, and ensuite - each room has a different meaning in the home, which impacts how we look to design them.

Family Bathroom
The hub of the home, used by family, friends, and overnight guests. It is generally decorated in a contemporary style with practicality and functionality to cope with lots of visits during the day. It generally has both a shower and a bath and is used by children for their nighttime routine. 




Downstairs Cloakroom

The downstairs cloakroom, or the ‘forgotten room’, is a cosy small space – a room that is there for that quick toilet break and is in constant demand. It is great for decorating with a quirky style and being experimental with colours and tiles.





The Ensuite

The ensuite is the ultimate in home luxury; simply being able to slip from your bedroom straight into your beautifully designed haven. The room allows personal space away from the hubbub of family life and any house guests. It also gives you freedom to experiment with different styles and funky tiles.



So now you know the difference between all the main bathroom types - but where do you start with choosing the right design for you? What do you need to consider to ensure your bathroom serves both functional and luxurious purposes? 


How to pick the right components for all types of bathrooms


The components of the bathroom such as the shower, basin, toilet and radiator are all counted as furnishings for your room. The more you put into your bathroom, the more you impede on the overall space.  Select carefully and think about what you actually need. 


As this is a private room, there will be items that are very personal to the occupants. Therefore, storage will be key and kept to a minimum if the room is small. Clever niches in the wall can act as storage or for decoration purposes.


Depending on size, a freestanding bath can make a beautiful focal point in the room, or you can introduce a walk-in shower. Both will look equally as stunning.

Accessorise with your favourite brand of shower cream and soap, a bright towel, and a few candles to help you relax after a long day. 


Lighting is key, so think about different times of the day. Bright and functional in the morning but relaxing in the evening. Try subtle lighting around the mirror and lighting in the niches.


This room is your private space so create a room that makes you want to spend time in.


Start your bathroom design journey with us by visiting
our showroom or contacting us directly. 


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By Caitlin Davis 16 Jun, 2020
For those who no longer wish to meet with designers in person or visit our showroom, we have created a new three-step design process which ensures you can achieve your dream bathroom without leaving your home. We feel it is important in bathroom projects that communication is clear and consistent, so that we can create the most gorgeous and suitable room for your needs and tastes. So that is why our new virtual design process has been cultivated to ensure that you are aware of all the options available to you and the choices we recommend at all times. Step One We have a new form on our website where you can send in images of your current room, including sizes and dimensions. When we receive your images, we will give you a call to discuss your requirements and what you hope to achieve from the room. Step Two Then, we'll get to work drawing up your new design using our CAD software. Step Three When your design is complete, we will give you a call to arrange a time when you can be sat in front of a suitable device; a desktop, laptop or tablet, where you can easily view the designs. During the arranged call, we will email you the images we have created, and we will discuss what we have designed, how we've designed it and how you feel about it. Then, when you're ready, we'll switch to video and give you a tour of our showroom , explaining what we have here and discussing things in further detail. Once we've come to the necessary decisions, we'll make a plan for the next step. Follow our Instagram ( @optionsbathtile ) to keep up-to-date on our latest designs, and to hear Steve talk through our design process! Ready to begin your project? Just click here to go to our form and commence with Step One!
By Chris Lunn 15 Jun, 2020
We're delighted to say that as of today both our bathroom and tile showrooms have re-opened to the public. Safe to say we are following the latest government guidance closely and as such we recommend contacting us to arrange an appointment to come in. We are limiting the number of people who enter at one time so arrange a time will ensure you don't need to wait to enter and can enjoy browsing all of our displays at your leisure whilst also having time allocated with one of our experienced designers. We look forward to seeing you soon. Contact us to book an appointment or discuss our virtual design service.
By Chris Lunn 10 Apr, 2020
Whilst our showroom is temporarily closed we have launched a new free design concept creation for all projects with a total order value including fitting and VAT of £15,000+ (for homes within a 25 mile radius of our showroom in Ascot, Berkshire). Due to the current COVID-19 situation and restrictions for meeting face-to-face in the showroom, this can be completed virtually by submitting a form and booking a follow-up call / virtual design consultation with one of our designers. Click here to find out more.
By Chris Lunn 03 Jan, 2020
On behalf of all of the team here at Options Bath & Tile Studio, happy new year! We return to work next Monday and will be available to discuss your plans to update your home with a new bathroom, wet room, cloakroom or tiles throughout. The showrooms are up-to-date with our latest display ranges and our designers are on-hand to give you their expert input to create that dream space. To book an appointment, contact us and we look forward to seeing you soon.
By Chris Lunn 11 Apr, 2019
Just to let you know, our showroom will be closed over the Easter bank holiday weekend so if you would like to arrange an appointment, please contact the showroom to arrange one just before or just after. Good Friday - 19 April: Closed Saturday 21 April: Closed Easter Monday - 23 April: Closed We hope you have a great Easter weekend and look forward to seeing you soon.
By Chris Lunn 30 Jan, 2019
In this day and age, it’s no secret that the online space is a big competitor to visiting a showroom in person but as a leading retailer, we feel there are many points of difference which can be overlooked when researching online. We thought we’d take a few minutes to write this blog and help you understand the true value of coming to a dedicated bathroom showroom (like ours for example!) and affording yourself the chance to see everything in real life, speaking to experts to help inspire you as well. Firstly, we believe the experience of buying a brand new bathroom is all about ‘feelings’ both in terms of how relaxed certain styles and materials can make you feel in addition to colours and lighting. The power of a great showroom is the ability to let you experience the bathroom as if it were actually in your house - you can walk around it, interact with it, and generally get more out of it than simply looking at a static image on a screen and forming an instant opinion. Additionally you have somewhere to return to and see how you feel the second or third time you see something before you commit. It’s all about crafting an experience for the customer - one thing we believe our showroom is particularly good at.
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