If you're an old-fashioned kinda gal or guy, and you're thinking of refurbishing your home, a traditional bathroom might just be the thing you're after.
Victorian bathrooms and Edwardian styles have all stood the test of time, leaving many of us yearning for heritage bathrooms.
You may think that creating a heritage-inspired bathroom could cost you the earth, proving more expensive than a regular modern or contemporary design. However, heritage bathrooms can be planned and installed for much less than you think.
So, to help you on your way, we've come up with some handy money-saving tips, to leave you with a classic bathroom from a bygone era and old-fashioned prices to match.
Victorian toilet alternatives
If you're looking for a design that is authentic to the turn-of-the-century period, a high level victorian toilet would be your most likely choice. However, if you are working to a budget, you can't always splash out on your No 1 choice.
So why not go for a close coupled toilet? The Winchester, for example, features all those classic embellishments, like bevelled edges and a ceramic flush handle, yet costs a fraction of the price of a high level toilet. It's a good compromise that works well for heritage bathrooms.
With a painted white wooden seat, the Winchester traditional toilet is the perfect addition to heritage bathrooms
Buy tap sets
As with anything in life, buying in bulk will save you in the long run. The same can be said for heritage bathrooms and your choice of taps. If you are buying for both your basin and bath, it often pays to look for traditional tap packs rather than buying separately. This not only saves on money, but also gives you a coordinated look.
If you are installing a roll top bath, something like the Coniston basin tap and freestanding bath shower filler tap pack is ideal and will help you make some great savings.
Simple drilled mirrors
Rather than mirror cabinets, or even illuminated mirrors, why not purchase a couple of simple drilled mirrors? These can be used in much the same way that our ancestors did to bounce light around, enhancing the feeling of light and space.
Repanel your bath
If your existing bath is worth keeping, why not simply repanel it? You can choose from a superb range of traditional wooden bath panels in a variety of heritage-inspired colours. It'll save you the cost and inconvenience of ripping out your tub, and will look absolutely stunning.
Don't throw the bath out with the bath water! Simply rewrap it for a brand new timeless look
Quick and easy wood effect floors
One way you can really save on bathroom fitting costs is by doing as much of the job as you can yourself. If you're a DIY novice, you may baulk at this thought, but one area you really can save on is your flooring.
A wood floor is perfect for heritage bathrooms but can be very expensive to achieve and requires plenty of maintenance, especially in such a damp atmosphere. Wood effect tiles are great, but could mean hiring a tiling specialist. So to help you save money, why not use wood effect vinyl flooring?
Wood effect flooring, like the Krono Xonic Pennsylvania flooring pictured above, can really set the tone when it comes to your overall design
The revolutionary Krono Xonic flooring is quick and easy to fit, with instructional videos, so even a DIY novice could do it. It simply clicks together to give you a tough, durable and stylish watertight surface. It is self-levelling, easy to clean and comes in a range of wood effect and even tile effect designs, ideal for heritage bathrooms.
Traditional bathroom fittings
If you simply cannot stretch to all those heritage-inspired embellishments you really wanted, there are other ways to inject a touch of classic design into your decor. One idea is to add some traditional bathroom fittings. A towel rail here and a soap dispenser there will start to give your room a little more character.
The Camberley accessory range includes a variety of matching bathroom fittings, perfect for heritage bathrooms
Look for clearance sales
There are almost always traditional products included in bathroom clearance sales. If you're the type of person who has an eye for a bargain, clearance sales can be the perfect place to pick up a cheap bathroom item or two.
For heritage bathrooms that certainly won't break the bank, look no further than VictoriaPlum.com's wide range of traditional bathroom suites, furniture and accessories.
