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Bathroom alterations and renovation

Reading Time: 5 minutes | Article from 12.8.2025

Comprehensive bathroom renovation: tips, ideas and guides

Whether you want to freshen up your bathroom or have just bought a house and are planning to carry out renovations, a bathroom refurbishment project needs careful planning. It’s perfectly possible for you to refurbish your bathroom yourself.

Collaro vanity unit with Venticello vanity washbasin and More to See Lite mirror in an industrial chic bathroom by Villeroy & Boch.

Inspiration for bathrooms from Villeroy & Boch

When you renovate a bathroom, you are generally limited by the existing floor plan and plumbing connections already fitted in the room. Nevertheless, you can incorporate new ideas when updating the bathroom to tailor the result to your individual taste. We can also provide you with inspiration for your new bathroom design!

Bath and shower

The bath or shower forms the centrepiece of most bathrooms. Do you intend to replace the bath with a shower as part of your bathroom renovation?

Replacing the bath

You will no doubt opt for new bathroom ceramics when updating your bathroom. First, decide whether you prefer a bath or shower. A floor-level shower is particularly suitable for an accessible bathroom, to ensure optimal comfort and convenience.

Sealing a shower

Silicone is generally used with sealing tape to seal the edges of a shower or bathtub. It prevents mould growing. Proper sealing is therefore all the more important when installing a walk-in shower.

Look at our flush-fitting shower trays

Installing shower fittings

Add a sophisticated style with a modern tap fitting from Villeroy & Boch. When installing, check whether the tap and shower need one or several connections.

Discover our shower systems

A black and white bathroom with a glass shower cubicle and a Squaro Infinity shower tray.

A black and white tiled shower with the Wallway shower system by Villeroy & Boch.

An Infinity Showers shower tap in a bathroom with black walls and a wooden floor.

Renovating the toilet

You may need to renovate a toilet one day. You may want to update the style or design, or your renovation may be for practical reasons. For example, you may decide to switch from a floor-standing to a wall-mounted toilet. Or perhaps fit a shower toilet?

Replacing a toilet

When renovating a toilet, it is important to take great care over the work. Regardless of whether you opt for a floor-standing or wall-mounted toilet, ensure its stability during installation to guard against accidents.

Replacing a toilet

Wall-mounting a toilet

Wall-mounted toilets are increasingly popular for their stylish and modern look. The floor underneath and around the toilet is also easier to clean than with a floor-standing model.

Deciding on the right height for your toilet

There are not really any standards for the dimensions of the toilet. You have a certain amount of leeway, especially when it comes to height. Depending on how high the wall connection is, you can install the toilet at a height that suits you.

A bathroom with a Venticello toilet, vanity unit and Squaro Infinity shower.

Black toilet and black control panel in a simple modern bathroom.

Finion toilet and bidet in white by Villeroy & Boch with stool and slippers.

Washbasins

You will need one or two washbasins, depending on how many people use your bathroom. Villeroy & Boch offers a wide selection of built-in, surface-mounted and wall-mounted washbasins. Pair the washbasin with your favourite tap fitting.

Modern bathroom interior with a rectangular black Artis surface-mounted washbasin on a marble countertop, a black tap and a mirror on the wall

Installing a washbasin

Ideally, your new washbasin can be fitted directly to the existing connections. The distances should be identical in this case. Refer to the assembly instructions to find out how far apart the connections are on Villeroy & Boch washbasins.

Browse our washbasins

Installing and sealing a siphon properly
After wall mounting, you will need to install and seal the siphon on your new hand washbasin. Use rubber washers to prevent water leaks.
Dispose of your old washbasins correctly
When renovating an old bathroom, you will need to dispose of the old sanitary fittings afterwards. How you do so will depend on the material used. Classic washbasins made of enamel or metal can be taken to a recycling centre.

Bathroom renovation

When you embark on a bathroom renovation, you will probably start by asking how long it will take. The duration of your bathroom renovation will depend on various factors. If a number of different tradespeople are involved, it may take longer, so you can save time by refurbishing your bathroom yourself.
The cost of a bathroom renovation project also depends on how much work you take on yourself. The materials for a new shower cost between £400 and £1,200, while a toilet and washbasin cost between £80 and £400 each.

A tile-free bathroom

Updating to a tile-free bathroom will introduce a modern, stylish feel with fewer opportunities for mould to form. Design a tile-free bathroom using plaster or decorative panels.

A grout-free bathroom

A complete bathroom refurbishment

If you want to completely renovate your bathroom, you can upgrade everything to bring it into line with the latest standards and your personal taste.

Partial bathroom renovation

If you only want to update certain aspects of your bathroom, you can follow our tips and tricks for bathroom refurbishment here. With just a handful or resources, you can create a brand new look!

The procedure and steps for a bathroom renovation

Planning is the be-all and end-all when renovating a bathroom. These planning tips from Villeroy & Boch will help you proceed in the right order, from dismantling the old bathroom to installing new tiles, new bathroom ceramics, bathroom furniture and lighting.

A modern bathroom with two washbasins and black taps from the Antao collection by Villeroy & Boch.

View from above of a modern complete Villeroy & Boch bathroom with blue walls

A bathroom with red walls and an Artis washbasin by Villeroy & Boch.

A bathroom with a Subway 3.0 washbasin, mirror and cabinet and a red wall.

Repairs and disposal

As well as the bathroom renovation work itself, you will also need to ensure that any damage is repaired in good time and that the old, unwanted items are disposed of correctly. Issues such as blocked drains, faulty fittings or water damage can arise from time to time, especially in the bathroom.

Dealing with water damage

Disposing of taps