Be inspired by this colourful modern bathroom

The owners of a four-bedroom property in Cheshire were keen to remodel their bathroom, which featured a bidet and a huge corner bath that took up a lot of space in the room.

What they wanted was a light, bright space that, while modern, would still work for a growing family. They were keen to include a spacious walk-in shower and to add lots of decorative interest so the room didn't feel too stark and clinical.

Getting the layout right was vital and the owners decided to locate their new bath under the window, making room for a shower where the old bath had been. The loo could then move further along the wall, ensuring there was no need for costly additional pipework, while the space between the bath and shower provided the perfect gap for a vanity cabinet and basin.

Before work began, the owners spent weeks browsing items online, always with their vision for a low-maintenance, contemporary finish in mind. They decided on a minimalist shower enclosure with child-friendly curves and a sleek built-in bath.

A smart wall-hung vanity unit was chosen for its generous storage, but it is the statement tiles that really bring the scheme to life. 'I got a sudden enthusiasm for colour and pattern,' says the owner, 'but I just wanted to be more adventurous. In the end we decided to use them on both the floor and a feature panel in the otherwise plain shower area.' It took time to arrange the tiles in a pleasing patchwork, but the results are well worth the effort.

1/6 Bright white bathroom with colourful patterned tiles

'A few vibrant towels and simple wire storage completed the transformation,' say the owners, 'and it's now a bright and airy family bathroom with ample space and real wow factor.'

Patchwork tiles
Arcadia Tiles
Similar bath, basin and drawer unit
Better Bathrooms

2/6 Walk-in shower

The owners chose a curving, walk-in shower enclosure that is perfect for their young children. A feature strip of patterned tiles adds wonderful decorative interest inside the cubicle and continues the patchwork tile floor. 'The frameless finish on the glass shower creates a sleek and seamless look,' say the owners, 'while the wall-mounted vanity unit helps open up the space and provides plenty of storage.'

Shower enclosure
Victoria Plum
Shower
Screwfix

3/6 Bath bridge

Accessories channel some of the colours featured on the patchwork tiles. The owners have brought in towels, toiletries and decorative pieces in fun orange and vibrant blue and the chrome finish of the bath rack, shown here, nicely mirrors the finish of the mixer taps on bath and basin. 'This simple addition means items are always close to hand.'

Similar bath bridge
Wilko
Towel
Dunelm

4/6 Bathroom windowsill

Use a window sill to good decorative effect, continuing a colour scheme on to blind fabrics and vases. Here the owners have chosen an orange/blue design for their blind and deep blue ceramics and glassware for potted plants and display. 'Pretty details in different blue hues brighten up the white space.'

Blind fabric
Scion

5/6 Bathroom loo

The space at the end of the bath provides the perfect spot for the loo and some basket storage. A wall-mounted chrome towel rail is a handy addition. 'Shopping online for fixtures and fittings made life easier and kept costs down,' say the owners.

Similar loo
Better Bathrooms

6/6 The bathroom before the makeover

Although the original bathroom was a generous size, the existing design made it feel small and cramped. The awkward bath and makeshift shower weren't practical with small children. 'As well as being in desperate need of modernising, it didn't work for us as a family,' say the owners. 'The huge corner bath meant there was no room for a separate shower.' The new, revamped space is now a world away from its previous incarnation.