Bathroom

Renovation or new installation, what changes

A renovation project and a new build do not follow the same logic, and the difference lies in what you can move.

In a new installation, everything is open. Water inlets, drains, and electrical conduits are placed wherever you decide, which allows for a freestanding bathtub, a ceiling-mounted faucet, and systematic recessed fixtures. The constraint is the schedule: every decision must be made before the screed is poured.

In renovation, existing networks dictate the layout. Moving a drain means breaking the floor; moving an inlet means opening a wall. The right method is to precisely measure the existing setup before choosing anything, then working within that framework.

Where to start: the order that avoids mistakes

Equipping a bathroom follows a construction logic, not a catalog logic. Three steps, in this order, and each constrains the next.

1. Sanitary fixtures determine the networks. Bathtub, shower, sink: their location determines where water inlets and drains come up. This is decided during the screed phase, never after.
2. Furniture determines the heights. The type of sink determines the height of the vanity, which determines the height of the mirror. A mistake here is visible every day and can only be fixed by dismantling.
3. Accessories are installed last, but planned first. Towel racks, hooks, sockets: they require drilling that you don't want to do in new tile.

The most expensive mistake is choosing the vanity before the sink. A standard 85 cm vanity topped with a 15 cm vessel sink places the edge at 100 cm from the floor, an uncomfortable height for an adult and inaccessible for a child.

The eight worlds of the bathroom

The eight worlds of the bathroom

Each world serves a specific function. Here is where to start depending on what you are looking for.

What we do not sell, and why you should know

Let's be clear: our range covers equipment and faucets, not structural work. You will not find shower trays, shower screens, cabins, tiles, or custom vanity tops here.

These items should be ordered from a sanitary supply store or a home improvement center, and they should be chosen first since they set the dimensions. Knowing this saves you time and prevents you from looking for a shower tray on a site that sells columns.

Once you have decided on the tray, screen, and tiles, come back for the faucets, furniture, and finishes. That is where we are useful.

The cheat sheet for measurements

These heights appear on every job site and no one gathers them in one place. They are all measured from the finished floor, with the covering installed, never from the raw slab.

The finished floor is the reference everyone forgets. Tile on a screed represents 2 to 3 cm, floating parquet 1 to 1.5 cm. A layout done on a raw slab shifts all measurements downward, and for an outlet placed at the regulatory 5 cm, the installation falls below the authorized minimum.

Shower room or bathroom, the difference

A bathroom contains a bathtub. A shower room does not; it is equipped with a shower. This is the only criterion that distinguishes them, and it has consequences far beyond vocabulary.

The distinction matters on three levels. For sale, a property described as having a bathroom must actually have a bathtub. Technically, electrical protection zones are not defined the same way around a bathtub and a walk-in shower. In use, a shower room requires less space, starting from 3 m² compared to 5 m² to comfortably accommodate a bathtub.

Accessible and ADA-compliant bathroom

The 90 to 130 cm range that appears on all orders is not an aesthetic convention; it comes from housing accessibility regulations. It ensures that a device remains reachable whether standing or sitting.

These choices are not visible and cost almost nothing if anticipated. They cost a complete renovation if they have to be added ten years later. An accessible bathroom is also more comfortable for everyone, including children or after an injury.

Designing a small bathroom

Below 5 m², every centimeter counts, and the trade-offs are not where you think. It is not the width of the vanity that is the problem, but the circulation in front of it.

• Reduce depth before width. A 35 cm vanity instead of 50 cm frees up 15 cm of passage, which changes everything in a hallway.
• Suspend everything that can be. The floor visible under a vanity visually enlarges the room and makes cleaning easier.
• Go vertical. A 30 cm wide column offers more storage volume than a vanity 20 cm wider.
• Choose recessed. A recessed mixer, shower column, or towel warmer steals zero centimeters from the room.
• Count on 70 cm of clearance in front of the vanity, to stand and open a drawer.

Harmonizing finishes and style

This is what distinguishes a successful bathroom from one that is simply equipped. The rule is one sentence: align accessories and fixtures with the finish of the faucets, not the furniture.

Furniture, wood, and tile play on the register of materials; metal plays on the register of finishes. Chrome with chrome, matte black with matte black, brushed brass with brushed brass. A standard white switch next to matte black faucets cancels out the desired effect, and it is the element you notice first when entering.

If you mix and match intentionally, limit yourself to two finishes and assign each to a function. Three finishes in a 5 m² room is just clutter.

Trends and inspiration 2026

Four directions dominate bathroom decoration, and they have in common being choices of material more than color.

• Warm metallic finishes. Brushed brass, copper, and satin gold are gradually replacing chrome on faucets and accessories.
• Systematic recessing. Mixers, shower columns, and towel warmers disappear into the wall, leaving only the plate visible.
• Organic shapes. Mirrors with irregular contours, oval sinks, softened lines that break the geometry of the room.
• Natural stone and wood. Marble and travertine on sinks and vanity tops, oak and bamboo on furniture, with each piece being unique due to its grain.

An honest caveat about trends: they age. The sleek line without visible handles and polished chrome stand the test of decades because they don't date. A very bold gold will be noticeable in ten years. Decide based on the lifespan you expect for your installation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a shower room and a bathroom?

A bathroom contains a bathtub, a shower room does not and is limited to a shower. The distinction matters for the sale of a property, in the definition of electrical protection zones, and in the required surface area, 3 m² versus 5 m².

How to design a small bathroom?

Reduce the depth of the vanity before its width, suspend what can be, go vertical with a column, and favor recessed equipment that steals no space. Count on 70 cm of clearance in front of the vanity.

What are the bathroom furniture options?

The under-sink vanity, single from 60 to 90 cm or double sink from 120 cm, the compact 40 cm hand basin for a secondary shower room, the tall storage column, and the medicine cabinet that combines a mirror and closed volume.

How to choose a bathtub?

Start from the standard 170 x 70 cm format for about 160 liters, and compare to your space. Go down to 140 cm for a small room, up to 180 x 80 cm for comfort. Check that your hot water production matches the chosen capacity.

What accessories for a bathroom?

Four are enough to equip a functional room: a soap dish or dispenser near the sink, a toilet brush holder, a hook within reach of the shower, and a towel rack. The rest is a matter of comfort. Position matters more than quantity.

How to optimize space in a bathroom?

Suspend furniture to free up the floor, recess faucets and towel warmers, go vertical rather than horizontal, and prefer drawers to doors that require clearance. Trace the footprint on the floor before ordering.

What are the bathroom trends for 2026?

Warm metallic finishes like brushed brass and satin gold, systematic recessing of faucets and heating, organic shapes on mirrors and sinks, and natural stone on vanity tops.

In what order to equip a bathroom?

Sanitary fixtures first, they set the water inlets and drains. Furniture next, it sets the heights. Accessories last during installation, but planned from the start because they require drilling that you don't want to do in new tile.

What budget for a bathroom renovation?

For equipment alone, count on €1,500 to €4,000 for a complete room in the mid-range, excluding tray, screen, tiles, and labor. The most variable item is furniture, from €106 to €1,299 depending on format and material.

What measurements for an accessible bathroom?

A rotation space of 150 cm in diameter, a sink at 85 cm maximum with 70 cm of clearance underneath, long-lever faucets, a grab bar at 80 cm, and a walk-in shower without a threshold. Controls remain between 90 and 130 cm.