50 / AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
T
he bathroom is one of the home’s hardest-working
spaces, and increasingly a place for relaxation and
retreat. So how do you create a bathroom that is
ultra-functional and beautiful to boot?
Lighting When you’re shaving or applying make-up,
lighting should be even and come from the front. This can
restrict your design choices, however, since you’ll have to
either customise lighting into face-level storage or buy a
mirror with lighting built in. The next best option is to
position lighting over the tap, making sure the same amount
of light hits both sides of your face – either one light right
above the tap, or a pair of lights either side of the mirror,
an equal distance apart. This is your best opportunity for
even light: with the light coming from the front, and
reflecting off the mirror itself, you will have less shadowing
on your face.
Think about the position of lighting in the ceiling,
considering the other areas you need to highlight, such as
the toilet, a feature wall or bath as a whole, so that the
reflected ceiling plane looks good as well as being functional.
Having one downlight above the bath might seem like a
great idea, but staring up at it when in the bath will soon
put paid to relaxation.
Storage There are three types of bathroom storage:
face-level storage, under-bench storage and what I call
‘opportunistic’ storage.
Face-level storage is about functionality and convenience.
Some may not find a mirrored cabinet over the vanity
aesthetically pleasing, but the convenience of having oft-
used products to hand is invaluable. You can buy perfectly
good-looking mirrored shaving cabinets online or in
stores that simply slot into a cavity wall. Buying off-the-
rack saves on design and construction of custom cabinetry,
but bespoke joinery solutions will give you optimum
storage results.
Under-bench storage is a given. If possible, opt for large
drawers rather than cupboards. Drawers allow you to
pack every spot tightly while still being able to access
everything easily.
Opportunistic storage depends on your bathroom’s
layout. In previous homes, I’ve had storage included
behind the toilet so the toilet brushes and paper are out
of sight. In another instance, a cupboard above the pan
served the same purpose. Your bathroom will have itsBATHROOMS
MASTERCLASS #13
A well-designed bathroom
will deliver daily pleasure.
Follow Darren Palmer’s guide
to create a space that looks
good and works wonders.