
There’s more to designing a bathroom than just putting everything wherever. When designing a bathroom, there are many things to consider. The biggest thing that will change the design is the size of the bathroom you’re working with. Whether it’s a large bathroom or small, there are great ways to design that make an open, beautiful space.
Considerations
It is important to think about function first when designing a bathroom. Some important steps are to:
- Think about who will be using the bathroom
- How much storage is needed
- If you are moving plumbing
- What are the zoning requirements
Who will be using the bathroom
Who is the bathroom for? Depending on if your bathroom is just for you and your significant other, your kids, or guests will dictate some of the design elements. If you have several kids trying to get ready in the morning, you might want more vanity sinks and shower shelves to accommodate. If both you and your significant other get ready at the same time, then maybe have more sinks as well, or if space allows, have a separate make-up area. If it’s a guest bathroom, then you can maybe opt for function.
How much storage is needed
The size of your household and where your linen closet is will depend on how much storage you need. If you have a linen closet that fits everything your needs, then you are already set. If not, then you can have a vanity that fits most of what you need and use things like shelves and recessed spaces to accommodate it all.
If your moving plumbing
Moving plumbing will add cost to your remodel, but if you want to, it can allow for a better bathroom. Maybe the shower is stuck back in a narrow alcove, by moving it over, you can give more functionality to your space. Or maybe you want to hide you toilet behind the door so that the design focuses on the other elements of your bathroom.
What are the zoning requirements
The size of your bathroom will determine the zoning requirements of the bathroom. For smaller bathrooms, you may need to share open space. This means you can share the space in front of the shower and the vanity. Also, make sure that if you just have a shower that it’s big enough so you can use it comfortably. This can be done by maybe making the vanity smaller so you can increase the shower size. No matter what, your toilet should have 30” of clearance.
Small Bathroom
Small bathrooms can be more difficult to fit everything you need. This is where you may need to get clever. This is where you can build recessed storage spaces, especially if you can’t fit a vanity that doesn’t have storage. Shelves will also be your friend. Put more shelves in your shower, on the walls, and behind the toilet. Even if you don’t use them all for storage, they can be great for decorations. When looking at your sink, think about what will work for a faucet. You may want to go with a smaller faucet, so that it doesn’t look out of place on a smaller vanity.
Medium Bathroom
A medium sized bathroom gives you more options. You might have the space to have separate bath and shower units. Or you can separate the toilet by making a water closet or having a partition wall. For smart use of your space, you can still install some of the clever storage that you see in a smaller bathroom. When choosing the vanity and other layout options, remember to keep in mind who all is using the bathroom. If it’s for your kids, think about having two sinks. If it’s a master bath, maybe get some luxury additions, such as a separate tub or steam shower.
Large Bathroom
With a large bathroom, you have many options to create an amazing space. Separate vanities, water closet, large bath, steam shower, anything goes. Think about even having an alcove for a make-up station, making it easier to get ready in the morning without getting in your significant other’s way. If you like to unwind at the end of the day with a bath, then get a large soaking tub. You can also put shelves by it to have a place to put a drink, a book, or anything else that you want to properly unwind.
Check out this other article to see some great layouts for any bathroom size!
If you have been thinking about remodeling you bathroom in Lancaster County, PA, Shakespeare is here to help. We can design a functional, beautiful bathroom, no matter the size. Contact us today for a free estimate. We work along with StarMark Cabinetry, Extreme Enclosures, ProSource and other vendors to bring you a wide selection of design options to choose from.