Every bathroom needs the basics: a toilet, sink and bathing facility. Lighting helps, too, especially after dark; but what's missing in too many bathrooms that every bathroom really needs? In a word, it's a touch of style. Too many homeowners settle for standard fixtures in the bathroom. What they get for their efforts is a standard, utilitarian bathroom. While you may save a little money by sticking with standard, just a few of these more stylish bathroom fixtures and accessories can give your bathroom the "Wow!" factor your bathroom needs.

Frameless Shower Screens

If your bathroom feels cramped and small, you probably could use a frameless shower screen. Take down that framed, frosted glass shower enclosure and replace it with a clear glass frameless shower enclosure and you'll be amazed by the difference it makes. There's really no excuse for not having one, since so many different styles are now available:

• Choose a space saving corner model for a smaller bathroom. For an extra touch of style, you might even want to choose a semi-circular model with curved glass panels.

• If you like the extra privacy frosted glass affords, but don't like that claustrophobic feel, check out some of the partially frosted glass shower screen styles on the market today.

• For the 'wet room' look without getting the whole room wet, consider having a glass panel installed instead of an entire shower enclosure.

Heated Towel Racks

When you step out of your new frameless glass shower, why spoil the feeling by grabbing a cold, damp towel? Heated towel racks are an affordable luxury and something every stylish bathroom needs. Even if you never actually plug it in (though why wouldn't you?), heated towel racks are designed with the discerning homeowner in mind. Unlike the boring towel rack you have been using for years, some of these are more like floor or wall mounted modern sculptures than mere racks or rails.

A Custom Made Vanity

Okay, a custom made vanity is going to cost you more, but it's going to be worth it. More than any other single feature, it is the vanity cabinet that defines a bathroom. It's the first thing that catches your eye when you walk in the room, which is probably why so many vanities are so bland looking: the designers want them to fade into the background as much as possible. Take a look at any interiors magazine and if there's a featured bathroom in it, it will have a designer sink mounted on top of a stylishly made vanity. In the background will be the toilet, bath and shower, but you'll only notice those if you force yourself to because your eyes will be fixated on the sink and vanity. If the tiles and colours in your bathroom suit you, but you feel there's still something missing, a custom made vanity is your answer.

While you're at it, think about getting a decent looking mirror to hang above your new vanity. Both you and your bathroom will look a lot nicer and if you add a mirror demister, you'll won't regret its modest cost. Also consider getting your electrician to add a pair of stylish light sconces to each side of your mirror. Now that there is no more mist on your mirror, you'll want to have the best light possible for applying makeup or shaving and the soft side light of sconces will eliminate the shadows created by overhead lighting.

Of course, if you're considering doing a full bathroom renovation, you'll also need to think about tiles, colours and other details. Why not get your bathroom design ideas by browsing the photo section on our site for some visual inspiration?