Jo Edwards, Channel Director – Residential and Trade at Ideal Standard explores the evolution of bathroom furniture – function, flexibility, and personalisation
With smaller bathrooms becoming more common, the importance of furniture for potential homeowners has increased, as they look to keep these spaces clutter free. This increased demand for furniture has coincided with a desire for greater personalisation, with colour and design variety playing a key part.
Cabin(et) fever
Homeowners are increasingly looking for new homes and developments that make the most of their bathroom, with furniture like wall-mounted vanities, corner units, and mirrored cabinets that offer more than just storage. When specified thoughtfully, these pieces also add to the overall design and functionality of the space. Manufacturers have responded to the spike in demand by diversifying their portfolios, introducing new colours and launching furniture ranges that seamlessly combine practicality with aesthetics.
Collections designed for small spaces provide an important starting point for designers, specifiers, and installers as the footprint of modern homes continues to shrink. These space-saving ranges often feature some of the most innovative designs, both aesthetically and practically, offering solutions that housebuilders can leverage. A great example is Ideal Standard’s i.life S range, which blends sleek, modern designs with functionality, making bathrooms feel more spacious while remaining practical.
Function AND form
Regardless of room size, bathroom furniture is no longer just about function, it plays a vital role in creating a stylish, cohesive space.
Bathrooms have evolved from purely functional spaces to personal retreats, and furniture now plays a critical role in creating a cohesive, attractive design that complements the homeowner’s style. Whether the desired style is modern and streamlined or traditional and bespoke, providing a range of options can help differentiate a property and enhance its market value.
In fact, nearly one in five homeowners now opt for semi-custom or fully custom vanity units, with colour playing a key role in creating personalised bathrooms.
Whether it’s bold, vibrant hues or soft, neutral tones, colour has become a powerful tool for self-expression in bathroom design. Given their large surface areas, furniture pieces serve as an ideal canvas for adding a splash of colour. A great example of this is Ideal Standard’s Conca range, which offers flexible designs that can be personalised with different finishes, colours, and configurations. With modern lines and high-quality materials, the Conca range allows housebuilders to create unique, stylish bathrooms that seamlessly combine practicality with personalisation. For housebuilders, offering customisable options – whether through a choice of finishes, storage configurations, or additional features like integrated lighting and mirrors – can enhance the appeal of a space to potential homeowners.
Accessing the full portfolio
As consumer demand for personalised, design-driven bathroom furniture continues to rise, there’s also a growing need for a more streamlined specification process for professionals.
With manufacturers offering total bathroom solutions, including a wide range of flexible configurations and readymade options, housebuilders and developers can source all their products from a single supplier, simplifying the process and ensuring cohesive designs throughout the bathroom. Opting for products designed to work seamlessly together from a single manufacturer gives designers and specifiers the freedom to create unique, cohesive bathroom spaces without complicating procurement or installation.
This approach not only streamlines the entire process but also delivers cost and time savings for housebuilders. For installers, it reduces complexity while ensuring dedicated technical support for a smooth, efficient installation. With the Singular™ process from Ideal Standard, professionals can access a wide array of bathroom solutions from a single supplier and point of contact. With the right tools, housebuilders can offer bathrooms that meet practical needs while exceeding design expectations.
Meeting demands
The evolution of bathroom furniture into a central design feature mirrors the broader trends of personalisation, efficiency, and style. Housebuilders must stay ahead of these shifts by providing versatile solutions that cater to modern homeowners’ demands.
By embracing flexible offerings and simplifying the specification process, housebuilders can ensure they meet the changing expectations of today’s consumers, creating bathrooms that areboth functional and visually striking.
To learn more about Ideal Standard’s Singular™ philosophy, visit www.rdr.link/dbf037
