A bathroom renovation is one of the most value-adding projects in a home. Done well, it improves daily life significantly and adds measurable value at resale. Done poorly, it creates a space that feels dated within years.
The choices you make around fixtures, finishes, and layout will define the bathroom for a decade or more. This guide focuses on the decisions that matter most — particularly how your tap and hardware choices anchor the whole design.
Start with a Layout Decision
Before selecting a single product, confirm the layout. The tap position is almost always fixed once the plumbing is installed and the walls are tiled. Consider:
- Basin position — Freestanding, wall-hung vanity, or built-in? Each has implications for tap type and installation.
- Wall-mounted or deck-mounted tap? Wall-mounted taps must be planned before tiling. Deck-mounted can usually be retrofitted.
- Shower position and type — Walk-in wet room, enclosed shower, or bath/shower combination? Confirm plumbing routes before finalising.
Choose Your Finish Before Anything Else
The single most impactful decision in a bathroom renovation is the metal finish. It connects the tap, towel rail, toilet roll holder, mirror frame, and any shelving hardware into a coherent whole.
Choose your tap finish first. Then match everything else to it. This is the one-finish rule — and it's the fastest way to make a bathroom feel considered rather than assembled.
Current favourites for bathroom renovation:
- Brushed Brass — Warm, contemporary, and highly versatile. Works with almost any tile colour and pairs particularly well with stone-effect and natural surfaces.
- Matte Black — Striking and graphic. Works best against pale or white surfaces where contrast is the intent.
- Brushed Nickel — Softer than chrome, versatile, and works across warm and cool colour palettes.
- Chrome — Timeless and bright. Still the most popular overall finish in UK bathrooms.
Wall Tiles: The Largest Visual Surface
Your wall tiles will occupy more visual space than any other single element. Choose them early and use them as the reference point for all other decisions.
Consider grout colour carefully — a dark grout on light tiles creates a visible grid; a matched grout disappears and lets the tile read as a surface rather than a pattern.
Lighting: The Most Underinvested Element
Bathroom lighting is consistently the most underinvested element in renovations, and the one that makes the most difference to daily experience. Aim for:
- Ambient light from the ceiling (recessed downlights or a fitting)
- Task light at the mirror level — ideally from the side, not above, to avoid shadows under the eyes
- A dimmer switch, if regulations allow, for evening use
Ventilation
Good ventilation protects your renovation. Damp is the primary cause of grout deterioration, mould, and paint failure in bathrooms. An extractor fan sized correctly for the room volume, set to run for 15 minutes after use, prevents the majority of moisture-related problems.
Sequencing the Work
The correct sequence for a bathroom renovation:
- Strip out
- First fix plumbing and electrics
- Boarding and waterproofing (tanking)
- Tiling
- Second fix plumbing and electrics (fitting the tap, basin, toilet, lights)
- Painting and finishing
- Accessories (towel rails, mirrors, accessories)
Taps and basin fixtures are fitted at the second fix stage — so they should be ordered and on site before this point to avoid delays.
Cortenvale for Bathroom Renovation
Our bathroom tap collection is available in 8 consistent finishes across both wall-mounted and deck-mounted styles — making it easy to specify a cohesive set of hardware from a single supplier.
Browse the full bathroom collection at cortenvale.com/collections/bathroom.