Bathroom layouts and the importance of a separate toilet
Bathroom layouts are incredibly hard to get right and its’ something that you don’t want to make a mistake on. Bathrooms are our thing. We really enjoy creating these visually pleasing spaces that turn into your own little sanctuary. Are baths necessary in all bathrooms? Are double shower heads necessary? Do you need to separate the toilet? What is the best way to hide it in the bathroom? All these questions and we have all the answers!
Take your time with the layout – perfection cannot be rushed.
You need your bathroom to have flow and cohesiveness. You want to walk into the bathroom without walking into anything, without having to squeeze through any strange corners or without having an incredibly tight and uncomfortable shower. Try and create as much space as you can, especially if it’s the main bathroom that the children are going to be using. Bring light into the room with a window which also acts as ventilation. Be able to access the vanity easily so guests aren’t having to walk past the bath or shower to access a sink. If something can’t fit, don’t make it. If you are working with a shell, think of recessing the vanity into the wall to create more space, and while you’re at it, make sure you recess the vanity mirror storage into the wall too. Nothing worse than having cabinetry become a hazard for your head.
Bath Tubs and Shower Heads
Like we said, if it can’t fit, don’t make it. You can combine your shower and bathtub and it still be on trend. You could maybe create more of a wet room area if the space will allow. These days everyone wants two shower heads, two vanity’s and a big bath but on a tiny budget. Budget… our favourite word. Not. When we have looked at bathrooms for clients in the past, and the client has an ensuite as well as the main bathroom but space is our enemy, we always suggest that in the main bathroom you try and fit a bath, one shower head, and one vanity basin. If you have the space and the budget for it, but all means go for gold and do it all! But make sure you think long term and if children are on the way, or if you are wanting to sell it down the track – baths do sell houses. We are the only team on The Block that had a bath in 3 of our bathrooms and the results speak for themselves. A large family bought the home and are now all enjoying the serenity of the bathrooms we created. When it comes to shower heads, make sure that if you are dropping the head from the ceiling that your ceiling height isn’t too high. This will create more of a splash from the shower area turning your entire bathroom into a wet room (not ideal). Also, if you are able to have a hand held in one of your bathrooms, do it! They absolutely come in handy. You can wash the dog, wash the kids when they get messy and even use the hand held to clean the shower screen and wall tiles.
The great toilet debate.
Should you try and separate a toilet from the bathroom? Well, most people will say YES of course you do. To be honest, we don’t think it’s too important. The main issue is, making sure you have one toilet in the house that can be accessed by guests (a powder room). If you can have a powder room, or one separate toilet in the house from the bathroom then to us, that’s a success. Not a lot of people get to enjoy that luxury and even when it comes to renovating, sometimes separating the toilet from the bathroom takes up too much square meterage. If this is the case, there are other options. Three bathrooms we completed on The Block had a toilet included in the space but we were able to hide them so they weren’t a focal point and you still would have privacy and not be seen from the front door (if any un-invited guests stormed in). Creating nib walls, hiding the toilet behind the vanity or even positioning the toilet behind the door can create a different space in the bathroom that will feel private enough. You need to think how often you are going to have people over, and others will be in the shower of both of your bathrooms and a guest needs to use the bathroom. We guarantee the answer is going to be almost never.
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