Before choosing a bathroom colour or tile, write down what the room must do and what is currently going wrong. A planning brief should distinguish an appearance preference from a repair or installation question. The example here helps you request a useful proposal; it does not diagnose damp, design waterproofing or specify building work.
Make a morning-and-evening record
List who uses the room and the actions that compete for space. A fictional two-person household might need the basin while the other person reaches stored toiletries. Record the difficulty precisely: “The open drawer blocks the position used at the basin.” That is more actionable than “The bathroom is too small.”
Sketch the existing room and label measured dimensions. Include the direction of door and drawer openings, windows and any access that needs to remain available. Do not move fittings or conceal an access panel on the basis of the sketch. Ask the person specifying work to verify the dimensions and relevant constraints.
Put each request in the right column
| Observation | What you want | Question for the person specifying work |
|---|---|---|
| A drawer blocks another user | Better access to everyday items | Which storage arrangement fits the measured openings? |
| A finish is hard to clean | A simpler cleaning routine | What product and care method are suitable for that exact location? |
| Moisture keeps returning | Identify and address the cause | What investigation or repair is needed before decoration? |
| A sample looks different at night | A colour you like in ordinary use | Can you view the actual sample under the room's lamps? |
Keep observations separate from guessed causes. “Water remains here after use” records something you can show. “The wall needs a particular treatment” is a conclusion that may require expertise you do not have.
Moisture comes before a new finish
EPA guidance explains that controlling moisture is central to controlling mould and that painting over a mouldy surface does not resolve the underlying problem. A recurring moisture problem belongs in the investigation or repair part of the brief. This page does not prescribe a cleanup method or decide whether an affected room is safe to occupy.
Compare tile, trim and paint as a specified system
Ask which products are proposed for which surfaces and how adjoining edges will be finished. A colour match does not establish compatibility. Request the care instructions, access arrangements and any limitations in writing. If the proposal involves electrical, plumbing or waterproofing work, have suitable professionals specify it under the applicable local requirements.
When comparing appearances, use the same lighting and fixed surface with each sample. Change one variable at a time. A photograph can record which sample you preferred, but keep the product reference because the photograph is not a reliable colour or technical specification.
A complete request you can adapt
We want to improve [specific daily difficulty] in the existing bathroom. The room is used by [relevant household pattern]. We plan to retain [items], subject to your assessment. We have observed [moisture or repair issue] and need that assessed before choosing finishes. Please distinguish investigation, preparation, installation, products, disposal and exclusions in your proposal. Please also identify any measurements or permissions still to be confirmed.
Remove any statement you cannot support. Do not attach photographs that expose medication labels, family documents or personal belongings unnecessarily. A useful brief gives the person assessing the room enough information to ask the next question.
Before accepting a proposal
Check what has been verified and what remains provisional. Identify who will resolve each open question, which documents describe the work and how a substitution would be agreed. A complete bathroom plan is more than a set of matching samples; it is a clear record of the actual room, the work and the decisions still outstanding.
The worked record at a glance
Read the worked record as text
- Observe
- Open drawer blocks basin access
- Separate
- Storage choice / moisture investigation / finish
- Request
- Measured proposal with inclusions and open questions
Source and scope
EPA: moisture and mould. Checked 14 October 2026; used for the specific safety point in this guide. The numerical and household examples are fictional planning examples.