Renovating your bathroom is an exciting opportunity to transform how you use your space. As well as speeding up your morning routine, a beautiful new bathroom can provide a wonderful place to relax and can even make staying on top of chores easier. However, if your finished interior is to live up to expectations, you’ll need to choose the right people to help with your project. There are a few different approaches you can take to renovating your bathroom. We’ve put together this honest guide to help you make the right choice and find a bathroom company that delivers everything you’d hoped for and more.

What level of service do you require?

Traditionally, many homeowners will take responsibility for sourcing their bathroom products before enlisting a bathroom fitter to complete their installation. However, there are plenty of other options available which could better suit your requirements. We’ll look at the pros and cons of each approach below.

Bathroom fitting

If you feel confident managing your project and sourcing products, you might only require the services of a bathroom fitter. A good bathroom fitter should give you a few design tips and may be able to recommend and source some products. However, all final decisions will be your responsibility, as will any problems with orders or deliveries.

Furthermore, if you are considering a complete redesign it can be helpful to speak to a professional, as their expertise should guarantee you find the best practical solution for your space. Overseeing the design and ordering process yourself can reduce costs, but it can also increase the risk of mistakes and delays, which can be stressful and time-consuming to resolve.

Professional design service

An experienced, professional bathroom designer is undoubtedly best placed to help you get the most from your space. They should be able to call upon their creativity and years of experience to devise a stunning and highly functional scheme that’s tailored to your individual tastes and requirements. Their technical expertise and understanding of the products available should ensure your design maximises and is compatible with your space.

Whether your designer offers a design and supply or a design only service, you will need to take the time to find a reliable bathroom fitter. Unless you are already undertaking building work, in which case, you may be able to arrange this service with your builder. It is worth checking your proposed fitter has experience in similar projects to ensure they are capable of carrying out the work to the desired standard. Depending on the service provided by your designer, coordinating your project may still require work and can leave some room for error.

Fully managed design & installation service

Entrusting a single company to design, supply, coordinate and install your bathroom is, by far, the most convenient option. It offers you all the fantastic benefits of a professional design service with much less hassle. Unlike working with more than one company or tradesperson, all aspects of your project should be covered under one roof, so you can rest assured there will be no passing the buck should you encounter any problems further down the line.

What’s more, choosing a reliable and professional independent company should ensure each part of your project meets the very highest standards. However, this convenient, streamlined and hassle-free service will likely be reflected in the price. Operating an (often very helpful) showroom and managing a larger team understandably requires more investment than a one-man-band.

Check reviews & get recommendations

Whether you decide to opt for a simple bathroom fit, a design and supply service or a fully managed project, it’s worth doing some research to check you can trust your chosen company to provide the service you expect. Word-of-mouth recommendations are a good place to start. You can also look at a retailer’s reviews online.

Look at their previous work

Likewise, you should always take a look at the company’s previous work. Not just to check the quality of their bathrooms but also to see if their style aligns with yours. If a company’s previous work isn’t readily displayed on their website or social media, you should always ask to see examples before proceeding with their service.

Do you have a specific product or feature in mind?

If you are looking for a specific product such as a steam shower or have a certain design in mind, like a wet room or accessible bathroom, you will need to check whether the company can accommodate your needs. Again, it may help to look for examples where the company has done something similar. Some product manufacturers will also provide a list of recommended suppliers/fitters.

Can they cater to your budget?

Being honest and realistic about your budget from the get-go allows your potential bathroom company to understand the confines of your project and prioritise different products and aspects of your design accordingly. This should leave you with a realistic expectation of what your company will provide and what you can achieve. Your budget may also dictate which level of service is suitable.

Visit their showroom or arrange a design appointment

Once you have done some research, the next step is to visit the company’s showroom. If they don’t have a showroom, you should be able to meet them at your home for an initial design consultation. Meeting the team who will potentially take responsibility for your project is a great opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for their service. A good designer should listen to your ideas and offer guidance without overriding your suggestions.