Design Ideas to Make the Bathroom Work for Everyone
As families change, so do our bathroom needs. Because the bathroom is one of the most-used rooms in the house, it needs to be functional for whomever is using it. With current trends calling for people to want to “live in place”, or have extended family join them in their home, planning a bathroom remodel takes on another level of details. A professional designer knows what questions to ask to help you make decisions that ensure the finish project will not only meet your current needs, but will also work well for your future needs. If you are getting ready to start a bathroom remodel, here are some design ideas that may make your bathroom work better for everyone.
Start With Sinks
If you have multiple family members in the bathroom at the same time, especially kids, consider how the existing sink or sinks could be improved. You may have more options than you think. The most common change is to add a second sink when there is ample space in the bathroom for a double vanity. If there isn’t quite enough room for a double vanity with two sinks, look at the popular trough sinks and add a second faucet. Another rarely-considered option works when a bedroom is connected to the bathroom. Consider adding a sink to the adjoining bedroom by creating a space for it that serves as a hallway to the bathroom. If the bedroom and bathroom already share a wall with plumbing, adding an extra sink may be quite cost-effective. That extra sink could dramatically decrease traffic in the bathroom, both morning and night.
Storage
An ongoing issue in many homes is storage. This can be especially true with teenage girls and all their accessories. Consider switching out cabinets for drawers. Drawers can help organize necessities better than a large open cabinet. Other options would be to have a cabinet on top of the countertop extending to the ceiling, a cabinet above the toilet, or a well designed medicine cabinet recessed into the wall above the vanity.
Linen closets are another storage issue in many homes. You need a place for linens, but is a closet with shelving the best way to utilize the space? Linen closets tend to have small openings which render a lot of the space inside virtually unusable. Many cabinet lines have tall cabinets perfect for bathrooms and can include pull-out shelving or drawers. This helps you better use and access the entire space.
The Shower
A standard shower and tub measures nearly 3 feet by 5 feet, which can be a large percentage of the square footage you have to work with. Consider how often the tub is used for bathing. If it’s not very often or never, think about taking some of that space to address another need, like a second sink or storage space. Standalone showers can take up less space than a tub/shower combination unit, and still be functional. You’ll find that a 3-foot by 4-foot shower is very generous in size.
The Tub
Twenty years ago, having an enormous tub in a bathroom was very popular. These huge tubs take up a lot of space that could be used to create a bigger shower, add a double vanity, or add a beautiful run of linen towers with amazing storage options. Most home buyers look for a big shower, double vanity and storage, and not a huge tub. Making this change as part of your re-model will not only make the space work way better for you and your family now, but will add value and increase potential buyer interest when you eventually decide to sell your home.
Although most bathrooms have the traditional sink/toilet/shower layout, when you begin working with a bathroom remodeling company, think about your actual needs before choosing a layout. G.M. Roth Design Remodeling’s on staff design team members know how to listen to your needs and make the most out of the available space. If you are looking to add onto your home, we can do that too. Let us know what you need and we’ll come up with a design that will work for everyone in your home. Call (603) 880-3761 today!
