You may not know it, but ensuring that you have an up-to-date and fashionable bathroom is becoming an increasing priority amongst British homeowners. This was one of the major findings from a recent survey of more than 2,000 UK homeowners into their home improvement habits by the Utopia Bathroom Group.
The study reveals some fascinating insights into what British homeowners want from their bathrooms. From design to construction, as well as specific requirements the survey gives a wonderful snapshot of the ideal British bathroom. Let’s take a closer look.
Staying Fashionable
Just under a third of Brits (29%) want to keep their bathroom up-to-date with the latest styles and trends.
Fashions come and go. The days of avocado suites or brown floral patterns in the bathroom are long gone for many; instead, choosing neutral colours for a longer lasting style seems to be very on-trend. That said there’s still a wide range of bathroom furniture, perfect for giving your bathroom its own identity and character. From sleek contemporary designs to traditional and even timber furniture, there’s a lot from which you can choose to make your bathroom fashionable.
Over a third of Britons (36%) think that bathroom is the most important room to keep up-to-date
Of all the rooms in your home, over a third of people surveyed believe that the bathroom is one of the most important to keep updated. The only two rooms more important for Brits are the kitchen and the living room – a telling statistic which reveals a lot about the importance of the bathroom for UK homeowners.
Adding Value
66%of Brits have identified themselves as improvers not movers
With a large number of Brits unable to move as a result of the rise of living costs and negative equity, almost two-thirds have identified themselves as improvers, not movers. As a result, they are looking to make changes to their home, to help enhance its value. 35% believe updating the bathroom as the best way to improve a home’s value. As the old saying goes, kitchens and bathrooms sell homes – a saying that many estate agents swear by.
Average Spend
The majority of Brits (72%) are willing to spend, on average, between £1,000 and £5,000 for a new bathroom. This includes furniture, installation and tiling etc. Whilst style is important, it is clear that budget remains a priority for many homeowners; that said, Brits are willing to shell out and ensure what they are buying is of good quality.
This is further highlighted when those surveyed were asked, ‘what is the most important purchasing decision for you when deciding to buy a new bathroom?’ The results are quite telling as 4 out of every 10 Brits feel it is most important for their new bathroom to fit within their budget, whilst having quality goods that will last is also very important.
Bathroom Furnishings
For many Brits, the most popular items of a bathroom are of course the standard toilet (93%) and sink (91%). However, an increasing number of people are turning to shower equipment, either above their bath tubs (61%) or as a separate shower (24%). The statistics also show that 4% now have a wet room. Whilst the tub is popular for a long soak, with financial and environmental concerns, it appears that the shower is becoming a preferred option; it’s quicker, cheaper and greener, and with a variety of different shower and wet room designs from which to choose, you can achieve that stylish and modern look effortlessly.
So what is the Ideal Bathroom?
Armed with the aforementioned statistics, it is clear that the ideal bathroom in Britain must be stylish, following the latest trends and fashions. It must also be of quality, where the majority of Brits are willing to spend up to £5,000 using the very best quality goods on the market; but it should also help to enhance of home’s value, ideally by featuring the latest trends and styles.
This Guest Post was written by Carl Darby, IT Manager The Utopia Bathroom Group, a leading manufacturer of complete bathroom solutions.