Meet the studio, understand our process and discover how we move from first conversation to finished space.
Design the Bathroom Around the Routine
A bathroom has very little tolerance for bad planning. A vanity can look beautiful and still block the door, a shower can feel generous until the glass clashes with another fixture, and expensive stone cannot compensate for poor drainage, weak task lighting or nowhere to keep daily products. Bella plans the bathroom around movement, wet and dry zones, storage, privacy, lighting and maintenance before the finish palette is finalised.
We design primary ensuites, guest bathrooms, family bathrooms, powder rooms and compact apartment bathrooms for new homes and renovations. Depending on the brief, the scope can cover layout, vanity and storage, showers and baths, sanitaryware, lighting, mirrors, tile and stone, plumbing coordination, waterproofing interfaces, FF&E and fit-out support.
Start With the Friction, Not the Tile
Tell us what is difficult now. Perhaps the shower feels cramped, the vanity has no usable drawers, the toilet is the first thing you see from the bedroom, the mirror lighting is unflattering, or the room looks cluttered even after it has been cleaned. Those problems tell us much more than a Pinterest board full of marble.
We test whether every fixture genuinely needs to stay. Floating vanities, wall-mounted sanitaryware, clear glass, recessed niches and a better door strategy can recover visual and physical space without pretending the room is larger than it is.
We review grout quantity, stone sensitivity, shower-screen geometry, vanity gaps, ledges and hardware finishes so the material palette suits the amount of cleaning and maintenance you are prepared to live with.
We manage the entry sightline, WC position, glazing, vanity orientation and lighting so the bathroom can feel connected to the bedroom without exposing every function from the doorway.
What Makes a Bathroom Work
Bathroom design is unusually technical for such a small room. Fixture spacing, water movement, ventilation, electrical coordination and surface durability all affect whether the room remains comfortable after the first few months of use.
We establish fixture positions, door movement, shower entry and clear floor space first. NKBA's published bathroom planning guidance recommends about 30 in / 762 mm of clear floor space in front of fixtures as a useful planning target, while its cited minimum code references are lower. We use the recommendation as a design benchmark, not as Abu Dhabi code.
A walk-in shower is not just glass and tile. Drain position, falls, waterproofing, thresholds, niches, mixers, screens and floor junctions all need to be resolved together before finishes are installed.
A bathroom needs more than a bright ceiling. We separate useful face light at the mirror, general ambient light, shower or bath lighting where appropriate, and lower-level accent light so the room can work both at 7 AM and late at night.
Different Bathrooms Need Different Priorities
The number of users, storage demand, privacy, plumbing positions and daily routine change the design more than the room name alone.
A primary ensuite often needs two-person use, more storage, better grooming light and a stronger relationship with the bedroom. Where space allows, we can separate shower, bath, vanity and WC functions while keeping the room visually calm.
A shared bathroom needs durable finishes, accessible storage, straightforward controls and enough clear floor space for people to move without colliding with doors or drawers.
In a compact bathroom, wall-mounted fixtures, a shallow vanity, recessed storage, clear glass and an outward or sliding door strategy can preserve floor area. The goal is not to add every luxury feature—it is to keep the room comfortable and easy to clean.
A powder room has fewer functions and usually no shower, so it can carry stronger colour, stone, wallpaper, mirror or lighting choices. We still protect handwashing comfort, door clearances and useful storage for basic guest essentials.
What Bathroom Interior Design Can Include
Tiles and sanitaryware are only the finish layer. A bathroom also needs plumbing logic, waterproofing coordination, drainage, ventilation, electrical planning, fixture clearances, storage and installation sequencing.
We establish who uses the room and which fixtures are genuinely required.
The grooming zone is designed around daily products rather than an empty countertop.
The wet zone is resolved around use, water movement and maintenance.
Hidden work is treated as part of the design because failures appear after the finishes are complete.
The bathroom needs clear task light and appropriately coordinated wet-area services.
Where appointed, the design is carried into technical information and execution.
The proposal confirms the exact deliverables. Structural engineering, specialist MEP design, slab cutting, drainage-stack alterations, authority submissions, contractor execution, building-management fees, waterproofing warranties and specialist ventilation calculations are included only when expressly stated.
From Bathroom Brief to Handover
Bathroom renovation becomes expensive when plumbing, waterproofing or electrical decisions are changed after demolition or after tile has been ordered. We resolve the hidden layer before the decorative layer is released.
We discuss who uses the room, whether people use it at the same time, storage needs, shower versus bath preference, accessibility considerations, maintenance tolerance and the level of renovation required.
Output: bathroom-use brief and project scopeDoor swing, vanity, WC, shower, bath, clear floor space and storage are tested against the actual room before finishes are chosen.
Output: preferred bathroom planWater supply, waste positions, drain strategy, waterproofing extents and any approved relocations are coordinated with the selected fixtures.
Output: wet-services and waterproofing strategyVanity, mirrors, lighting, tile, stone, sanitaryware, metal finishes and colour are developed together around the room's scale and maintenance requirements.
Output: material and lighting conceptTile setting-out, niches, glass, mixers, access panels, ceilings, ventilation, electrical points and joinery are aligned before site installation.
Output: coordinated design informationWhere included, sanitaryware, mixers, tile, stone, glass and vanity fabrication are confirmed in the order needed for installation.
Output: procurement / fabrication readinessWaterproofing, drainage, tiling, sanitaryware, glass, lighting and joinery are installed in sequence, followed by functional checks and snagging within the agreed scope.
Output: completed bathroom ready for useThe Bathroom Technical Layer
The figures below come from NKBA's publicly available bathroom planning guidance and are used here as professional planning references, not as Abu Dhabi statutory code. Project-specific authority requirements, accessibility needs and manufacturer instructions take precedence.
NKBA's published guidance recommends about 30 in / 762 mm of clear floor space from the front edge of bathroom fixtures to the opposite fixture, wall or obstacle. We use that as a comfort benchmark and increase it where the room and user needs allow.
NKBA recommends at least 18 in / 457 mm from the toilet centreline to a wall, fixture or obstruction; its cited minimum code reference is 15 in / 381 mm. For Bella projects, this is a planning reference only—local and project-specific requirements still govern.
NKBA's published guidance recommends an interior shower size of at least 36 × 36 in / 914 × 914 mm; the document cites 30 × 30 in / 762 × 762 mm as the referenced minimum code size. A larger shower may be needed for comfort, doors, benches or accessibility.
NKBA recommends at least 36 in / 914 mm between the centre lines of two lavatories, while its cited minimum code reference is 30 in / 762 mm. We also check drawer width, elbow room, mirrors and where personal items actually sit.
A curbless or open shower depends on coordinated falls and continuous waterproofing. Drain location, threshold, glass, tile thickness and adjoining floor build-up must be resolved before the wet-area construction is closed.
High humidity and wet zones require properly coordinated extraction and suitable electrical equipment. Final ventilation rates, equipment and electrical protection are confirmed through the relevant specialist and applicable local requirements.
When a Bathroom Refresh Becomes Construction
A like-for-like vanity, sanitaryware or finish refresh is very different from moving the toilet, cutting a slab, changing drainage, creating a curbless wet room or altering walls. The deeper the intervention, the more important specialist coordination and approval become.
Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport identifies non-structural interior or exterior modifications, general maintenance and interior finishes among categories covered by its simplified minor-works framework. That does not mean every bathroom alteration is automatically permit-free; the exact route depends on the property and scope.
In managed apartment buildings and communities, the owner or management may also control contractor registration, wet-area work, drainage changes, working hours, waterproofing documentation, service access, protection and deposits. Those requirements are checked before demolition starts.
Choose Materials for Water, Cleaning and Touch
Natural stone, porcelain, terrazzo, microcement-look finishes, timber-look surfaces and painted joinery all create different maintenance profiles. We discuss staining, sealing, slip resistance, grout, cleaning products and repairability before finalising the palette.
Large-format tile can reduce grout lines and create a calmer surface, but it also affects handling, cutting, wall flatness, falls and labour. In a small bathroom, the largest slab available is not automatically the most practical choice.
Warm minimalism and spa-inspired bathrooms work best when texture replaces clutter. A controlled combination of stone or tile, timber tone, matte metal, glass and soft light can feel richer than using several competing premium materials in one small room.
Budget & Programme
The UAE ranges often published online combine cosmetic refreshes, full strip-outs, slab work, luxury sanitaryware and contractor packages into one broad number. We do not present those figures as a universal Bella rate. The meaningful budget question is how deeply the existing bathroom is being changed.
For a meaningful quote, share the bathroom dimensions or plan, current photographs, property type, whether fixtures will move, and whether you need design only, a finish / fixture refresh or a complete strip-out and fit-out.
Bathroom Decisions in Real Spaces
These temporary references were selected specifically for bathroom conditions: master ensuites, compact showers, floating vanities, double basins, freestanding tubs and material detailing. They can be replaced later with Bella project photography without changing the template.
Questions Bathroom Clients Usually Ask
These answers focus on decisions that materially change a bathroom: layout, shower size, vanity spacing, waterproofing, lighting, small-room planning, materials, cost and approvals.
Depending on the appointment, bathroom interior design can include layout planning, sanitaryware, vanity and storage design, showers and baths, mixers, tile and stone, mirrors, lighting, electrical and ventilation coordination, waterproofing interfaces, technical drawings, procurement support and fit-out coordination. Your proposal should state exactly which responsibilities are included.
There is no single best layout. The right plan depends on the room dimensions, door, windows, drainage, number of users and whether you need a bath, shower, double vanity or private WC. We usually protect clear floor space first and keep major wet services close to sensible existing routes unless moving them creates a meaningful benefit.
NKBA's publicly available planning guide recommends about 30 in / 762 mm from the front edge of fixtures to the opposite fixture, wall or obstacle as a comfortable planning target. The document also cites lower minimum code references. We use the recommendation as design guidance, not as a substitute for Abu Dhabi regulations.
NKBA recommends at least 18 in / 457 mm from the toilet centreline to a wall, fixture or obstruction; its referenced minimum is 15 in / 381 mm. Where space allows, more clearance can improve comfort and accessibility.
NKBA recommends an interior shower of at least 36 × 36 in / 914 × 914 mm, while its cited minimum code reference is 30 × 30 in / 762 × 762 mm. A larger enclosure may be more appropriate for benches, accessibility, multiple shower fittings or a more generous master ensuite.
NKBA recommends about 36 in / 914 mm between the centre lines of two lavatories; its cited minimum reference is 30 in / 762 mm. The final vanity still needs enough countertop, drawer width, elbow room and mirror spacing for the intended users.
Keep the floor visually open with a floating vanity or suitable wall-mounted fixtures, use clear glass where practical, reduce unnecessary changes in material, add recessed storage and control clutter. Architectural Digest's small-bathroom guidance similarly highlights floating fixtures, glass shower enclosures and storage that does not consume floor area.
They can be excellent in compact rooms because more floor remains visible and cleaning can be easier. They are not automatically right for every project: concealed cistern depth, structural support, service access, vanity storage and installation requirements need to be checked first.
No. A curbless shower needs enough floor build-up or slab strategy to create falls toward the drain while maintaining waterproofing and acceptable thresholds. In some apartments, structure, drainage depth or building rules can make a raised shower or another detail more practical.
The best materials balance appearance with water exposure, slip resistance, cleaning and maintenance. Porcelain, natural stone, terrazzo and other systems can all work when correctly detailed. Natural stone may require sealing and more careful maintenance; large slabs may also need specialist handling and installation.
It is critical. Waterproofing sits behind the decorative finish and protects adjoining construction from water penetration. The membrane system, corners, penetrations, niches, drains and floor-wall junctions need to be coordinated before tiling, with testing or inspection carried out where required by the project.
Use layers. Mirror or side lighting supports grooming, ceiling lighting handles general use, and accent lighting can add atmosphere at niches, vanities or baths. Wet-area fittings and electrical equipment need to be selected and installed to the appropriate safety requirements.
A vanity-and-fixture refresh, a full strip-out with new waterproofing, and a luxury ensuite with moved plumbing and custom stone are not comparable projects. The main cost drivers are demolition, plumbing movement, waterproofing, tile or stone, vanity joinery, sanitaryware, glass, electrical work and fit-out scope. We price after those responsibilities are defined.
The programme depends on demolition, approvals, plumbing changes, waterproofing, tile availability, vanity fabrication, shower glass and cure / testing periods. Because wet work needs to happen in sequence, a bathroom should not be compressed into an unrealistic generic timeline before the scope is known.
Some non-structural interior work and finishes fall within Abu Dhabi's minor-works framework, but plumbing, drainage, walls, slab work, ventilation or other technical alterations can change the approval requirement. Managed buildings and communities may also impose separate rules, so the project-specific route is checked before demolition.
Your Bathroom, Properly Briefed
Share the bathroom type, dimensions or floor plan, current photos and the main issue you want to solve—layout, shower, storage, vanity, lighting, materials, plumbing or a complete renovation.
If you already know the sanitaryware or fixtures you want to use, send the model information. Concealed cisterns, mixers, baths, drains and vanities can change wall build-ups and service positions, so confirmed data helps us plan accurately.
