It’s always exciting to take on a bathroom renovation in your home – picking out new colours, panels, fittings and such can be good fun.

However, whilst taking on any renovation, there’s always a few slightly less creative things to consider, too – and these are often elements that should never be overlooked.

In the case of bathroom renovations, one very important thing to consider is that you’ve accounted for enough ventilation or at least that your current ventilation system is in top working order.

Why is bathroom ventilation so important in the home?

Ensuring that your bathroom is properly ventilated is crucial for several reasons, all linked to preventing the development of damp.

Damp, caused by the trapping of moisture and condensation in a room, will quickly lead to the growth of mould if it’s left untreated – and mould comes with some very dangerous health risks.

According to the NHS website, inhaling or touching the spores produced by mould could lead to a range of different health problems, from inducing sneezing fits to causing skin irritation and even causing asthma attacks.

Some are more susceptible to these health problems than others, with children, the elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions amongst the worst affected.

However, anyone could suffer a dangerous reaction to household mould at any time, so it’s important that every homeowner takes mould prevention seriously.

How to ventilate a bathroom

If you have a window in your bathroom, then keeping your bathroom effectively ventilated is very simple!

In order to prevent the build-up of moisture or condensation, you should always open your window before bathing or showering.

Allowing steam to fill your bathroom whilst bathing or showering will almost certainly lead to damp and, in turn, mould.

Ensuring that you open the windows before using the bath or shower is an easy and simple way to prevent this.

However, we understand that not everybody has a bathroom window – and that, in some bathrooms, opening the window alone isn’t always enough.

Bathroom ventilation systems

The most common ventilation systems found in UK bathrooms are ventilation fans. These devices are most often installed on external walls but can be installed within ceilings, too.

These ventilation fans work by circulating fresh air from outside the home throughout the interior space, which helps to effectively disperse the steam and moisture building up in the room in very much the same way that open windows do.

A similar appliance is the extractor fan, though these don’t simply bring fresh air into the room.

In the same way that kitchen extractor fans extract smoke from the air in the room, bathroom extractor fans work to remove the moisture from the air.

Both systems are very effective and make a great addition to any bathroom – especially in the case of smaller bathrooms, as moisture will build up far quicker if there are no solutions in place to prevent this.

How to ventilate a bathroom without windows

If you don’t have windows in your bathroom are unable to install an extractor or ventilation fan, there are still solutions that you can use.

There are a number of portable ventilation solutions on the market these days, which can be placed in any part of your bathroom and used to disperse moisture without the need for installing a ventilation fan.

Portable extractor fans can be purchased for easy installation and use, whilst de-humidifiers are a good addition to a bathroom in need of an extra ventilation solution – just ensure you’re willing to invest in a high-quality model that will do the job correctly.

How else can I prevent damp and mould?

All walls and ceilings can develop damp if precautions aren’t taken, but plaster and wallpapered walls, as they use softer materials, are almost certainly more susceptible.

A quick and attractive solution to reducing the risk of damp and mould is to install more substantial wall panelling, much like the wide range of high-quality bathroom wall panels stocked here at DBS Bathrooms.

Our panels are easy to install, thanks to their simple tongue and groove system, and come in a wide variety of colours, patterns and textures – there’s something to suit every bathroom.

Whether you like the classic, simple look, want to go sleek and modern or are looking to give your bathroom a little elegance and glamour using marble panelling, there’s a panel for you in the DBS Bathrooms panelling range.

Why not browse the range today or request a sample? If you’re looking to transform your bathroom using wall panelling and need more info, be sure to get in touch today!