Homeowners should design their bathroom around one specific item that they admire, it has been recommended.

People who are completing improvement work on flue accessories and other appliances should find a style of tap or mirror that they approve of, before developing the room around that particular piece, Boundary Bathrooms has advised.

Jo Butterworth, marketing manager at the organisation, said: "If you like a tap that is very angular, then you know that you can go for a very angular looking bath and very angular looking pottery - you can keep everything in the same range."

Ms Butterworth commented that people still want to stay quite modern in how they style their kitchens, though traditional bathrooms are becoming more popular.

This month, research conducted by Ipsos MORI indicated that homeowners today are making cautious choices in regards to spending and saving.

People rated "fun" household spending like decor substantially lower than "boring but essential" maintenance, with them collecting 26 per cent and 58 per cent of votes respectively.