Do

Be sure to install the appropriate pump if you decide on a power shower.

Consider a fixed-head shower - it looks much neater than the flexi-hose type that moves up and down a rod on the wall.

Scrutinise plenty of good bathroom fittings brochures, rather than rely on spotting things you like in showrooms. Some of the most handsome pieces of white porcelain never seem to be displayed.

Spend as much as you can afford on taps. In terms of looks and durability, you get pretty much what you pay for.

Write down exactly you want. It's the most crucial thing of all, so that the builder has something more to go by than a half-remembered conversation. Draw, sketch, scribble - no matter how badly. Or get an architect to do it for you.

Don't

Underestimate the amount of water power showers guzzle. If several people need to shower in quick succession, you may require a bigger hot water cylinder.

Forget that most lavatory cisterns are fairly ugly items. A cistern concealed in a cupboard or under a counter may be the answer.

Neglect the lighting. It needs to be soft, not neon-harsh - yet bright enough for shaving and make-up.

Be mean about small things that can make a huge difference to the overall look - like door knobs, face cloth hooks, towel rails, shower racks. Furniture shops like Foko, Habitat and Minima may be better for these little extras than bathroom specialists.

Spend a fortune on needlessly expensive things like custom-designed bathroom mirrors. To achieve a more dramatic effect for a fraction of the cost, buy a large, wide picture frame, spray it silver (or whatever colour you like), have it fitted with mirror glass and mounted to the wall on batons.