Here are some of the standards we use to ensure that any 'Lancashire Bathroom' is safe, efficient and enjoyable.

General Design:

The bathroom is usually one of the smallest rooms in the house. But you can make the space look bigger with clever use of colour and lines.

• For example, a bright-coloured bath or toilet (like black or fire-engine red) next to white walls will have more visual weight and could overpower a small room. Exposed shelving, conversely, has less weight and makes the space seem bigger.

• Keep vertical lines to a minimum; they add height to a room. Horizontal lines (vanity tops, cabinets and mouldings) visually expand the space.

• Light walls and floor make a room seem larger. Also, patterns made up of small elements give the impression of being farther away.

• Mirrors add length, depth and width. Consider an entire mirrored wall to double the size of the bathroom. Skylights, windows and glass block walls also add space.

• You need at least 21" of clearance in front of a lavatory. There should be a minimum of 15" from a lavatory centreline to any side wall and a minimum of 30" between two lavatory bowls.

• There should be at least 15" of clearance from the centre of a toilet or bidet to any obstruction on either side. Also, plan at least 21" of walkway in front of a toilet or bidet.

• Baths and showers need at least 21" of clearance in front of them.

Doors:

• Make sure no door interferes with a fixture.

Electricity:

• No switches/ outlets should be within 60" of any water source. Use moisture-proof light fixtures above the bath or shower.

Flooring:

• Be it ceramic tile, resilient vinyl or anything else, the bathroom floor must be made of slip-resistant material.

Storage:

• Provide enough counter and shelf space around the lavatory for toiletries, shampoo, etc., as well as towel hanging space.

• For those of you entering the world of bidets, soap and towels should be within easy reach of a person seated on the bidet.

• The ideal place for a paper holder is slightly in front of the toilet bowl edge, 26" up from the finished floor.

Baths and Showers:

• If you're planning to install a bath in a platform, there should be no more than one step leading to it. That step needs to be at least 10" deep and no more than 7 1/4" high.

• You should be able to reach the taps from outside the bath without any undue gymnastics.

• Install at least one grab bar to make getting into the bath or shower safe and easy.

• The usable interior of a shower should measure at least 32"x32", and anything bigger than that would be great for everyone.

• Install a bench or footrest within the shower enclosure. This becomes especially useful for washing and shaving legs.

• The shower door should swing out of the shower into the bathroom. That way, if a mishap occurs in the shower, people outside can get in to help the bather.

• Protect you and yours from sudden shifts in water temperature with a pressure-balance shower valve, temperature regulator or temperature-limiting device.

Ventilation:

• Steam is a major concern in the bathroom. If you just let it collect, it will encourage the growth of mould and mildew. If you have wallpaper glued to the wall, forget it; un-vented steam will strip it off in a hurry. Odours are an issue also. So you need a mechanical ventilation system. Minimum requirement is one fan, but you might consider having two: one over the toilet and one over the shower/bath.