How To Design A Bathroom Fit For Purpose

Are you keen to have a new bathroom you’ve designed for your purpose?

Designing a bathroom involves balancing aesthetics, functionality, and practicality. This property blog considers what’s required to achieve all three requirements to get the perfect new bathroom.

Budget

Let’s first talk about the budget. Starting over in the bathroom is not cheap, just like creating a new kitchen is not cheap.

FastExpert’s blog says a medium-range bathroom will set you back nearly $60,000, and if you want premium fixtures and features, expect to need a budget closer to $100,000.

Ensure you have a healthy budget and always get quotes so there are no hidden surprises. Avoid choosing the cheapest contractor and plumber; instead, go with a referral or one you’ve had success with previously.

Designing your bathroom from scratch ensures a new layout that efficiently uses space. Thousands of bathroom fixtures and fittings can also work with small spaces, so you can get more functionality.

Consider online purchases from wholesalers using your contractor or builder to source the product. Research and information pay off here, and doing it could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on your bathroom project.

Designing A Bathroom Key Factors

What do you need to consider when designing your bathroom?

• Functionality
• Safety
• Features and fittings
• Water and energy efficiency
• Future-proofing
• Layout and spaces
• Lighting
• Ventilation
• Style

Function

When considering your layout, you should consider functionality first and foremost and definitely before personal preferences.

While we all like to think of our homes as ours forever, they will probably outlive us. So, it always pays to consider what future homebuyers want and ensure essential spaces like the kitchen and bathroom match their expectations.

When deciding on the layout, consider the bathroom’s primary purpose and how often it’s used. For example, if you’re designing the main bathroom and the house only has one bathroom, it must function well for everyone. If your house is a good family home suitable for children and older adults, the bathroom will need to meet their needs, even if your home doesn’t have young or older folks in it.

Young children, elderly

You may add double sinks or a separate toilet area if the bathroom is shared. This way, more than one person can get ready in the bathroom simultaneously.

If you want to resell your home, your bathroom plan should include a tub. Families with small children prefer homes with this feature. Depending on personal preferences and your space, you can install a separate tub or a shower-tub combo.

Another overlooked feature is storage and how cleaning products are stored. Adequate cabinets and high-level shelves can help use the wall space.

Layout and spaces

The amount of space you have to work with may impact your design decisions. For example, a standard tub is 15 square feet, but you can save space by installing a shower-tub combo.

Ensure there’s enough space for comfortable movement. Consider the “work triangle” for efficiency, especially if the bathroom is shared.

A walk-in shower is better if you’re redesigning a small bonus bathroom. This leaves more room for people to move around and get ready.

If you have a large principal suite tub, you may want to install a soaking tub or whirlpool ba. Whirlpool tubs are harder to clean, and some home buyers don’t like them.

Single Vanity or Double Sinks

A single vanity takes up less space and looks stylish in a small bathroom. However, a double sink may be the better option for a shared bathroom.

Double sinks benefit larger bathrooms because two people can get ready simultaneously. There is also more space on the counter for personal items. This decision depends on the room size, personal preference, and the number of bathrooms.

Separate Toilets

Another factor to consider is whether you want the toilet separate or not. Bathroom configurations that separate the toilet in another area allow for more privacy. However, dividing the toilet may make the room look smaller, so consider the size of your space first.

If your toilet is separate from the rest of the bathroom, you must also consider where to place the sink. Keeping the sink with the toilet is more hygienic, but consider plumbing layout and cost first.

Safety

Regarding safety, bathrooms are wet spaces, even the parts that are not supposed to be. Did you know that two-thirds of accidents in the home occur in the bathroom? Slips and falls on wet floors are the most common, so choosing non-slip flooring is right.

Style

It’s your home and bathroom so that you can choose an agreeable style for you and most homebuyers. Consider a color designer to assist with the color palette, and for small spaces, use larger mirrors and tile patterns to make the space feel larger.

Materials

Choose the best materials you can afford with the most extended warranties. For example, bathrooms are high-use rooms, so you will want taps and other chrome fittings to last the test of time in function and aesthetics.

Higher quality finishes look new for longer and should be easier to clean and maintain.

Bathroom Plans with Extra Features

Are you going for luxury or simplicity? Your bathroom design plans may be impacted by your future plans for the home and the area.

A bathroom with many high-end finishes looks excellent, but it may not make sense, depending on your area. Do your research and consider resale value before deciding on any luxury features.

For example, these bathroom upgrades increase the value of your home and modernize the room.

Here are other features you may want to consider for your bathroom:

• Heated floors
• Marble floors and countertops
• Skylights
• Heated towel racks
• Spa-style bath
• Attached dressing room
• Jacuzzi tub
• Bidet toilet
• Smart toilets

If you plan on spending many years at home, you can add personalized touches without worrying too much about resale value. If you’re unsure how long you’ll stay, it’s best to keep it simple. Invest in upgrades that are appealing to both yourself and other home buyers.

DIY or Professional

Once you have your bathroom layout ideas, decide whether to do the job yourself or hire a professional. Each has pros and cons, and it comes down to your budget and skills.

You can DIY a bathroom remodel, but there are risks involved. Hiring labor to tackle the job is costly but may be safer, especially if you encounter problems. You can always negotiate prices and get a free consultation.

Bathroom design involves careful measurements, plumbing, waterproofing, and electrical work. One wrong move could end in a costly disaster. For example, you may find rotting subfloors or rusted pipes, so call the professionals in doubt.

Ready to Design Your New Bathroom?

Bathroom remodels don’t have to be intimidating as long as you plan. Consider your space’s needs and research before finalizing any bathroom plans. Once you have a solid design and a budget, decide whether to tackle the design yourself or call in a professional.

Do you have a question about bathroom redesign or other home improvement topics? Visit our discussion forums and join the conversation.