Our new bathroom expert Leigh Moffat shares his dos and don’ts of bathroom design – practical advice drawn from years of experience, whether you’re renovating a Victorian terrace in Bathgate, a new build in Livingston, or a family home anywhere across West Lothian.
The Bath
DO choose a material that enhances your bathing experience: Solid-surface designs are prized for holding warmth for longer, while metal baths heat up quickly, meaning they respond fast to hot water but may need topping up to maintain temperature over time.
DO check your water pressure and capacity early on: A generous bath calls for a system that can keep up, and there’s little pleasure in a beautifully designed piece that takes an age to fill – so it’s worth understanding your home’s pressure, tank size, and hot water supply before committing to a larger format. This is especially worth checking in older West Lothian properties, where gravity-fed systems are still common and pressure can vary from room to room.
DON’T overlook how the bath will reach the room: Access can quickly become complicated with heavier or more sculptural pieces, so measuring routes, doorways, and staircases beforehand will pay dividends later. Narrow staircases in traditional stone-built homes around Bathgate and Whitburn can catch people out here.
DON’T assume a freestanding bath is the only design-led route: A built-in bath with a thoughtfully tiled surround can feel just as striking, offering an opportunity to introduce texture, colour, or pattern in a way that feels more integrated with the overall scheme.
Layout
DO create a focal point: Whether it’s a statement vanity, freestanding bath, or feature tiled wall, a clear focal point gives the eye somewhere to naturally land. Without one, a bathroom can feel flat or visually busy, whereas a well-considered feature brings a sense of intention and distinction.
DO consider how doors and cabinetry open: Think about the placement and swing direction of your bathroom door, shower door, and cabinetry. This can make a big difference to how well the layout works, helping to avoid awkward spaces, restricted movement, and potential clashes.
DON’T prioritise style over practicality: Beautiful but impractical choices can impact everyday usability. Design the space around how it will actually be used, rather than creating something that requires compromise later on.
DON’T forget about cleaning access: Hard-to-reach areas can make ongoing maintenance more difficult. Ensure layouts and fixtures allow for easy cleaning and practical long-term upkeep.
The Basin/Vanity
DO get the proportions right: Ensure the vanity depth suits the room – typically 45cm–50cm. Oversized units in small bathrooms can feel overwhelming, while undersized basins in larger rooms can look lost. Also consider height, as it’s key to daily comfort. A vanity usually sits at around 85cm–90cm, but this can be tailored, for example if you’re tall, or it’s primarily for children. Wall-mounted vanities offer flexibility, allowing you to adjust the height for a more bespoke feel.
DO allow for a ‘landing zone’ right next to the basin: Even in compact areas, leaving a dedicated area next to the basin ensures there’s room for daily items without cluttering the overall design.
DON’T overlook tap and basin compatibility: It’s important to pair the correct tap with the basin style and size. A tall mixer with a shallow basin can cause splashing, while a short-projection spout may not reach far enough into a larger basin, affecting usability.
DON’T ignore spacing around the vanity: Avoid positioning a vanity too close to walls or other elements that will make the layout feel tight. Leaving adequate breathing room, ideally at least 8cm–10cm either side, gives the overall scheme a more resolved, high-end feel.
Surface Finishes
DO choose finishes that will age well: Bathrooms are hard-working spaces, so it’s important to select materials that will wear gracefully over time rather than show every mark or feel tired quickly. Large-format wet wall panels are worth considering here – grout-free, waterproof, and far easier to keep looking fresh than heavily grouted tiling.
DO use wallpaper selectively and in the right areas: Wallpaper can add softness and character, but it’s best kept to drier zones such as cloakrooms, or areas away from direct water exposure, where it can be appreciated without compromising longevity. A coat of decorator’s varnish will also help protect it against occasional splashes.
DON’T introduce too many competing finishes: Using multiple colours, materials, and textures within one bathroom can quickly feel fragmented – a more edited approach will always feel more timeless.
DON’T treat paint as an afterthought: The tone and finish of paint has a huge impact on how a bathroom feels, so it should be considered alongside other materials from the outset, particularly in relation to light and surrounding spaces – something worth bearing in mind with Scotland’s softer, cooler daylight. Also opt for water-resistant paint finishes such as eggshell and ‘soft sheen’ to help prevent mould, mildew, and peeling.
Finishing Touches
DO incorporate softer decorative elements, such as fabric lampshades on wall lights around a vanity; they’re a simple way to introduce colour, pattern, and warmth, helping the space feel more considered.
DO dress windows: Relaxed Roman blinds in linen or patterned fabrics, or woven bamboo styles, will add softness and a sense of comfort that elevates the overall scheme.
DON’T use traditional rugs, as they don’t cope well with moisture: Instead, opt for bath mats or more hardwearing, water-resistant alternatives, such as synthetic polypropylene rugs, recycled plastic rugs, teak or bamboo mats.
DON’T over-furnish the space: Too many pieces of furniture can make a bathroom feel cluttered or overly bedroom-like, rather than calm and functional.
The WC
DO box in smartly to make the WC zone work harder: Wall-hung toilet frames conceal all pipework within the wall, making the space feel larger and more considered. The boxing also unlocks the opportunity for recessed shelving or a niche above the cistern, so rather than losing space, you’re actively gaining it.
DO look beyond the basics when choosing your toilet: Rimless bowls, soft-close seats, quick-release hinges and whisper-quiet flush mechanisms all make a genuine difference to daily life, and to how easy the space is to keep clean. Don’t discount smart WCs either – there are many affordable and intuitive designs on the market now, with features including ambient underlighting, integrated cleansing functions and touchless flushing.
DON’T treat the WC as a lesser space when it comes to fixtures: The toilet is the most-used fixture in any bathroom, yet it’s often the last to receive a considered budget. A well-proportioned pan, a refined flush plate finish and a quality seat can be transformative.
DON’T let mismatched hardware undermine a well-designed scheme: A beautifully specified toilet can be let down by a mismatched flush plate, an ill-fitting seat, or a toilet roll holder that belongs to a different decade. In a small zone, every detail is visible, and hardware inconsistencies are the first thing the eye picks out.
Lighting
DO swap harsh overhead lighting for warm, layered illumination: Using multiple light sources ensures you can choose different levels depending on the time of day – you’ll want a softer, more atmospheric glow for winding down in the bath, whereas you’ll likely need brighter light for getting ready on those dark West Lothian winter mornings. Also, make sure your overhead and wall lights are on separate circuits, controlled by individual switches.
DO pay attention to bathroom zoning: Choosing fittings with the right IP rating is essential, as it determines how resistant a fitting is to dust and water. Think of IP ratings as little superhero badges for your lights: IP44 can fend off everyday splashes, while IP65 laughs in the face of shower jets.
DON’T overlook cordless lighting, however: Battery-powered lights operate at very low voltage, so the usual IP requirements are largely irrelevant. In practical terms, a rechargeable wall light doesn’t present the same electrical risk as a hard-wired one. That said, common sense still applies. Positioning a battery light by a mirror is absolutely fine, particularly if it’s more than 60cm away from taps or direct water spray.
DON’T leave planning to the last minute: Poor planning leads to renovators struggling to incorporate lights retrospectively. In an ideal world, you need to consider placement of wiring early on in the renovation process.
Brassware
DO consider your finish in context: Metal finishes should be chosen with both the environment and lifestyle in mind. Polished nickel and chrome are typically lower maintenance, while unlacquered brass will develop a natural patina over time. If you prefer to retain a brighter finish, it will require more regular care – though the good news for homeowners in Bathgate, Livingston, and across West Lothian is that Scotland’s naturally soft water is far kinder to metal finishes than the hard water found further south.
DO allow for lead times and coordination: Brassware is often made to order, with multiple components forming a single system. Factoring in lead times early – particularly for handmade pieces – and ensuring all elements are specified together helps avoid delays and inconsistencies later on.
DON’T overlook positioning: The placement of taps, valves, and outlets should feel resolved within the overall scheme. Poor positioning can disrupt both function and visual balance – for example, placing shower controls directly beneath the rose can result in an unwelcome burst of cold water when turning it on.
DON’T neglect the finer details: It’s often the smaller things that make the biggest difference. From the configuration of controls to the choice of handles and spouts, ensuring each element is carefully considered and cohesive will result in brassware that feels both intuitive to use and visually resolved.
Plumbing and First Fix
DO have detailed plans and elevations ready before the first fix begins: Precise drawings showing tap centres, waste positions, valve locations, shower set heights, and niche placements are essential for your builder and plumber. This stage is where costly mistakes happen, so clear technical plans will save time, money, and unnecessary rework later on.
DO secure brassware and concealed elements early: Items like in-wall shower valves, flush plates, thermostatic mixers, and specialist wastes often have longer lead times than expected. Ideally have them on site before work starts or, at the very least, ensure all relevant first-fix parts have arrived so progress is not delayed waiting for hidden components.
DON’T have everything delivered to site at once: Bathrooms involve a surprising number of boxes, fittings, and fragile finishes. Sending all first- and second-fix items together can create chaos, damage risk, and lost parts. Phase deliveries sensibly, with first-fix items first, then sanitaryware, furniture, and final finishes closer to installation.
DON’T forget future access to concealed fittings: Hidden valves, pumps, stop taps, and cistern mechanisms still need maintenance over time. Always plan discreet access panels or removable sections, so essential components can be serviced without damaging tiles or joinery later on.
The Shower
DO choose minimal framing for longevity of design: Bulky framed shower screens accumulate limescale and can quickly look tired, whereas a sleek, frameless enclosure keeps the look clean with far less effort.
DO let the layout lead the shower enclosure type: In larger bathrooms, a fully frameless walk-in panel creates an uninterrupted, spa-like flow. In tighter rooms – and plenty of West Lothian family bathrooms fall into this category – a sliding door or inward-opening option keeps the surrounding floor area free and avoids situations such as a hinged door swinging into a basin or toilet.
DON’T allow the glass to become a visual barrier: Opting for low-iron glass, particularly in smaller or darker bathrooms, dramatically increases transparency and sense of lightness that standard glass can’t match. Where the shower is a key feature of the room, low-iron glass lets beautiful tiling, stonework, or careful lighting shine, rather than being dulled by the green tint of standard glass.
DON’T overlook the shower niche: Built-in recesses for toiletries are often an afterthought, but planning them at the design stage avoids the clutter of corner caddies and hanging racks. If a stud wall is being built to square the room or conceal pipework, this is the ideal opportunity to add one.
Planning a renovation of your own? Victory Bathrooms is a family-run team of bathroom specialists based in Bathgate, fitting bathrooms across West Lothian and Edinburgh for over 25 years. Book a free design visit and we’ll talk through your ideas, measure up, and give you a fixed quote that never changes.
