As the mornings turn colder, the bathroom is the room you notice it in first. A cold floor, a chilly wait for the shower to warm up, and windows that stream with condensation. Early autumn is the ideal time to sort all of that, before winter properly arrives and while any small jobs are still easy to book in.
Here are seven updates that make a real difference. If you want to jump ahead, our heated towel rails, radiators and bathroom extractor fans collections cover the big three, and our showers range handles the rest.
1. Sort the heating
The most obvious one, and the most worth doing. If your bathroom never quite gets warm, autumn is the time to upgrade. A well-sized radiator or a designer vertical model transforms how the room feels on a cold morning. Our guide on bathroom radiators explains how to size one properly so it actually warms the space. Browse radiators to start.
2. Add a heated towel rail
There are few better small luxuries than a warm towel on a cold morning. A heated towel rail warms both the room and your towels, and a dual fuel model lets you run it in summer too without the central heating on. Our guide on choosing a heated towel rail covers the detail.
3. Beat the condensation
Colder weather means more condensation, and more condensation means damp, mould and that musty smell. A good extractor fan, ideally with a humidity sensor, clears the moist air before it can settle. Our guide on stopping damp and condensation walks through choosing the right one. This is the single best defence against winter bathroom problems.
4. Upgrade the shower
Nobody wants a weak, lukewarm shower in January. If yours underwhelms, autumn is the time to fix it. A good thermostatic shower valve holds a steady temperature even when the heating is working hard, and a quality shower set makes the daily routine something to enjoy. Our guide on choosing the right shower for your water pressure helps you pick well.
5. Warm up the lighting
Darker mornings and evenings mean you rely on bathroom lighting far more from now on. Warm, well-placed bathroom lighting makes the room feel cosier, and an illuminated mirror gives you clear, shadow-free light for the dark half of the year.
6. Check the small things before they become big things
Autumn is a good moment for a quick maintenance once-over. Reseal any tired silicone around the bath and shower before winter damp gets in, check for dripping taps, and replace worn spares and consumables while jobs are small. A little attention now saves a cold-weather emergency later.
7. Add cosy finishing touches
Finally, the easy wins. Fresh towels, a warmer colour palette, and quality bathroom accessories like a new soap dispenser and robe hooks make the room feel considered and warm for the season, with very little effort or cost.
Get set for winter with Empress
We have spent over 40 years helping people get their bathrooms right for every season, and a little preparation now makes all the difference once the cold sets in. If you would like a hand choosing heating, ventilation or a new shower before winter, our team is happy to help, and you are welcome to visit our Finchley showroom.
Browse our radiators, heated towel rails and bathroom extractor fans collections to start, and remember delivery is free on UK orders over £499.
