Pat Elliott: ‘Choose a timeless design in white and add colour’

Although the approach of summer tends to turn thoughts to outside spaces, this can be an ideal time to plan and execute larger home-improvement jobs like bathroom revamps.

One of the fundamental principles here is to future-proof your design. Choosing a timeless design in white and adding pattern and colour through decoration and accessories is the sensible long-term option.

Styles of sanitary ware change with alarming frequency. The countertop basin so chic today (though often impractical for young children) may look dated in a few years’ time, just as a beautiful claw foot bath could be quite outré in the future. However, as long as you like the shape and style of fittings you choose, they fit the space and are not too extreme, your bathroom should have enduring appeal.

Something which will, undoubtedly, become more pertinent in years to come is the extent to which your bathroom incorporates eco-friendly and practical features. And, although Scotland’s water resource is more robust than elsewhere in the UK, water and energy-saving have become high on the environmental responsibility list. Built-in flow restrictors and temperature controlled showers are obvious contenders but consider the new electronic taps whose sensors cut out automatically after use.

Practical choices like easy-clean materials make sense for families. Options such as bathroom quality paints and toughened glass or one-piece splashbacks are sensible along with tiles or vinyl for underfoot. And after the expensive basics are in place, you can create whatever style you wish and then change it without breaking the bank.

Pat Elliott, The Borders Design House. Visit our website for design services, courses and workshops. Start a new career as a Homestyle Advisor or learn to ‘Be Your Own Designer’ with our distance-learning interior design course (07765 057409, www.thebordersdesignhouse.co.uk)