Designing a small bathroom takes careful planning, but when it’s also the only bathroom servicing a family of six – that’s when the real challenge begins! After facing just that challenge for one of my clients recently, here are a few tips:
1. Storage
Make use of the space above the vanity and install the largest possible shaving cabinet. It’s dual purpose (mirror plus storage) is an efficient use of space and the easy access prevents the need to leave toothbrushes and toothpaste on the vanity. The vanity also needs to be the largest size that is practical for the space – make sure there’s plenty of room to store a bulk pack of toilet paper.
2. Bath/Shower combo
In a large family there is bound to be at least one member (young or old) that enjoys the occasional bath – so provide both options with a bath-shower combo. (A bath always adds to your home’s resale value too).
3. Tile choice
A darker tile on the floor will hide the specs and hair on the floor in between cleaning days. Also, choosing large tiles mean less grout and less grout means less cleaning. Need I say more?
4. Quality fixtures
If something is broken in your one and only bathroom – everyone is going to complain about it. Spend the money upfront on quality fixtures and reduce the risk of having an out-of-action bathroom.
5. Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation
Did I mention ventilation? This is the most important tip of all. Install a good quality, high powered ventilation fan and install the largest window practical. Not only will this prevent lingering odours, it will prevent mould and mildew which is your biggest enemy in a small, high-traffic bathroom. Make sure you get an exhaust fan with self-sealing backdraft shutters, it will help keep drafts at bay making heating your bathroom more energy efficient.
6. Bathroom Privacy
When you can’t have a separate toilet, there will inevitably be times when someone needs to use it while someone else is having a shower. So to prepare for these moments, install a non-transparent shower curtain or shower screen. Also consider which way the bathroom door should swing to increase privacy for those common ‘walk-ins’.
7. A heated towel rail is a must!
In this case a regular towel rail simply won’t do. Lots of bunched up towels won’t dry and it’s hard to keep track of whose towel is whose – which also means you’ll end up washing and drying them way more regularly than you’d like. So to avoid this extra work, install a heated towel rail and get the biggest size that fits. You’ll have the added bonus of it gently warming your cosy, compact bathroom while spending less time with your washer and dryer.
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