Comment by Georgina Spencer, Marketing Manager, Roca Ltd

The general sales trend for sanitaryware for cloakrooms and ensuites has steadily increased over the last three years.  The on-going challenging economic climate means that an increasing number of households are choosing to refurbish their existing properties rather then relocate, investing in improvements such as extensions, additional bathrooms/ensuites or adding an extra WC as well as simply redecorating and updating bathrooms, cloakrooms and kitchens.

Roca is the leading global bathroom brand, renowned for its cutting edge design and technology and its continuous stream of innovative and on-trend products.

Roca’s furniture portfolio is particularly strong with a range that is as diverse as it is unique and stylish.  New for 2012 is an affordable, top quality furniture range, designed to complement Roca’s best selling Meridian-N and Meridian-N Compact sanitaryware. This new collection is available in Gloss White and Oak with sleek chrome handles.

Mereway Bathrooms offer a wide-ranging choice of mirror options to suit different furniture styles, room designs and personal tastes.

Frameless illuminated mirror cabinets are one of the latest additions to the range. The sleek wall mounted units come with discreet push button mechanism for lift up door, glass shelf, mirrored sides and shaver socket inside.

The UK’s leading fitted furniture manufacturer Symphony has launched a range of small wall hung modules and reduced depth floorstanding furniture in its Aquadi brand, ideal for small bathroom spaces.

To help make the most out of a small space 200mm deep fitted units are available with a wide range of unit sizes, gloss cabinets and glass shelves.

Making limited space work in a small bathroom or cloakroom is set to become a whole lot easier with the Cloakroom range from Ellis Furniture.

The slim 450mm wide and 255mm deep unit features a stylish integral rectangular basin which blends effortlessly with the single door unit beneath.

The range of bespoke sanitaryware manufactured by B.C Sanitan has been further developed to cater for ensuites and cloakrooms with the Nouveau collection.

The selection of products available in the range allows not only the family bathroom to be fitted with Noveau sanitaryware, but for the theme to be echoed in small wash spaces throughout the home, or even in boutique hotel rooms.

With wall-hung sanitaryware offering the perfect way of creating a luxurious, spacious bathroom design Geberit has launched its slimmest cistern yet, ideal for even the smallest of bathrooms or cloakrooms.

Requiring a depth of just 8cm the UP720 cistern is integrated into Geberit’s Duofix 1.12m frame guaranteeing a reliable and secure fit for wall hung WCs.

With demand for modular furniture set to increase throughout 2012, Shades bathrooms has launched a number of new on-trend modular cabinets and finishes that have been designed to suit the modern bathroom whilst giving the manufacturer a platform to offer greater flexibility to its customers.

Providing a stylish storage solution, modular bathroom furniture is perfect for small bathrooms and ensuites.

Myson, the first name in heating technology, has extended its range of Avonmore multi-rail towel warmers.

The new 400mm chrome, straight rail Avonmore adds to the already extensive classic range, giving an option which brings warmth and style to smaller rooms.

Market leading bathroom furniture and accessory brand, Dansani, have just launched a comprehensive new brochure encompassing, ‘Mido’, ‘Luna’, ‘Special Collection’ and ‘Zaro’ ranges.

Mido, which has a 5 day to order delivery / lead time is aimed at the lower end of the market sector, despite its high specification and offer vanity units in widths as small as 50 cm wide; perfect for the small or confined space. Whilst their luxurious and ultra modern, streamlined ‘Zaro’ range offers a new slim-line vanity up to 120cm in width.

In the trend of curvy units, Ambiance Bain makes the difference by launching TAVI for the new 2012 product portfolio, featuring a soft concave curve.

TAVI is a compact, modular range designed to fit into any recess or small space whilst offering ample storage, improved ergonomics and enhanced looks regardless of any constraints an awkward cloakroom or en-suite layout may present.

The Darling bathroom range has been refreshed and developed into a complete bathroom programme with washbasin through to whirlpool bath still upholding the essential idea of "plenty of design for little money".  Now with 25 different ceramic models and a total of 12 bath tubs, the visual leitmotif of "Darling New" is the exquisite rim combined with the harmonious circular form which has been retained from the original range, thus the washbasin is a circle within a circle.

RAK Ceramics has introduced a range of WRAS-approved rimless WCs to the Compact bathroom collection, including six toilets which feature a small footprint and curved design. In addition to standard formats for hygiene-conscious consumers, three extended projections are available for wheelchair users in both back-to-wall and close-coupled designs. All models comply with the Department of Health’s HTM64 Standard and will be showcased at KBB Birmingham 2012.

From bathroom accessory suppliers, HiB, come two new compact but elegant basins in the lustrous Mineral Marble.

Delta (40cm) and Swirl (50cm) are available as either wall hung, with attractive chrome rails, or fitted to storage. HiB’s latest designer furniture Solo, is designed to work with the two basins, giving an attractive, all-in-one solution.

Shine Xtra shower enclosures from Aqualux make installation even easier by increasing flexibility beyond the standard 22mm to 54mm. Side and extension panels also carry this extended profile feature, significantly enhancing the adaptability of the shower enclosures in the Shine Xtra range.

The sliding door enclosure is suitable for a recess fit or can be combined with a side panel to create a complete enclosure.

Showerwall has produced a free DVD for installers and bathroom retailers to demonstrate how quick and easy this 100% waterproof, easy maintenance decorative surface is to install in a matter of hours.

A case study was filmed in real time and edited to capture the key stages in three minutes. It shows a tiler installing 600 x 600mm Travertine stone tiles and someone installing the Showerwall panels in the Travertine design, demonstrating how similar looks can be achieved with the different products.

Demonstrating its versatility for the bathroom, Bushboard’s Nuance range has been used in a pilot project at a McCarthy & Stone development in Inverness to superb effect. The panels were used in the creation of a level access wetroom, underlining their advantage of being the only laminate product on the market guaranteed to be 100% waterproof.

Mereway Bathrooms are a model supplier when selling en-suite bathroom furniture. They offer a diverse range of cabinet sizes and configurations, specifically small units from as little as 150mm wide and 200mm deep.

Incorporating a round bowl manufactured from glassed steel and complementary compact furniture, Insert from Alape has been designed specifically for cloakrooms or en-suites where space is at a premium.

Impulse Bathrooms have developed a range of washbasins and WC’s especially to meet the demand for cloakrooms and en suites. They offer a variety of short projection close coupled WC’s which are typically around 60mm shorter than conventional WC’s as well as WC’s which fit snugly into the corner of the room.

Wall-hung sanitaryware is the perfect choice for the en suite bathroom or cloakroom, as with the floor kept clear it helps to create the illusion of space and is extremely easy to clean around. Creating the high-end Continental look in the en suite is made a simple task when fitted with a Duofix framing system from Geberit, as the WC is secured tightly to even a stud wall, while all fixtures and plumbing work is neatly concealed, leaving only a stylish flush plate on display, which can be used to gain access to all the parts should maintenance be required.

With a wide range of flexible, design-conscious products, Duravit offers the ultimate solution for cloakrooms, en-suites and small bathrooms.

The Starck 3 designer bathroom collection by Philippe Starck provides space saving solutions with an affordable price tag for wash basins, toilets, bidets, baths and shower trays.

Croydex’s Duo Combi Shower Sets offer a space-saving showering solution with added convenience built-in, perfect for the en suite bathroom. Available in a range of styles to suit any bathroom setting, the Duo Combi sets have a fixed overhead showerhead and a removable handset.

With many new homes or modern renovations now including more than one en suite bathroom, VitrA’s latest Shift range offers the widest scope for creating the optimum environment.

Designed by NOA Design Group, Shift is a flexible modular concept that allows total design freedom. Comprised of 12 washbasins, three WCs, two bidets and 160 furniture units - the permutations are endless.

The Gap from Roca is a comprehensive sanitaryware and furniture range to suit all sizes of bathroom. Combining functionality and versatility with contemporary styling, it offers a complete solution for modern bathrooms.

The Combi from Eco Bathrooms is an innovative 500mm wide modular unit comprising a WC with an integrated hand basin mounted above the cistern. It is available in a choice of colours and taps to suit diverse budgets and style preferences.

HiB’s latest brochure focuses on quality products for the en suite bathroom and guest cloakrooms, reflecting the importance of these spaces in the home as a place of privacy and pleasure rather than purely utilitarian.

Small bathrooms are always a challenge to design and decorate but with a few clever design choices it can help the smallest of cloakrooms and en suites feel beautifully luxurious. Although a small bathroom can quickly feel cluttered, selecting the right components will help to create a soothing and comfortable haven.