Space Planning is Essential When Creating a Functional Bathroom – Here Are My Top 5 Tips

Despite the fact that every home has at least one and we all make use of them for many different functions, bathrooms are often poorly designed with very little space planning consideration. A bathroom should be an inviting space that is organized, easy to clean and accessible by the whole family. Due to the high volume of questions I get about redesigning bathrooms, I thought I would share my top five tips for creating a functional bathroom for your lifestyle.

1. Storage: This is one of the most important aspects when creating a bathroom plan that works for your family and lifestyle. At the beginning, I consider who will be using it and what items they need to be able to store in their bathroom. Once this is determined, we can decide if a custom vanity is required, or if open shelving should be incorporated for easy access.

2. Finishes: Although natural stone might be a gorgeous finish, the maintenance involved in keeping it that way may not be realistic for your lifestyle. I assist my clients in choosing finishes that are practical, yet beautiful. There are many products today designed for high-end looks but are lower maintenance for busy families.

3. Lighting: Different levels of light in the form of wall sconces, pot lights or a ceiling fixture can all be combined to create great lighting that can be adjusted to suit any task from precisely applying make-up and getting your children ready for school to relaxing in a soothing bath at the end of a long day.

4. Fixtures: While a bathtub is essential for bathing kids and for keeping your resale value high, if space warrants, a standalone shower can be an excellent way to add value and function to your bathroom. Similarly, choosing a slide bar shower head is great for washing kids and pets, while making cleaning a breeze. Fixtures can make a big difference in efficiency for your bathroom.

5. Space: Space planning is an important consideration when creating a functional bathroom. There has to be ample space at the vanity for personal grooming, around the tub if you’re kneeling to bathe your children and a transition area where there is room to dry off with a fluffy towel after your bath or shower without worrying about bumping into anything.

For what is typically a small space in a home, your bathroom has a lot of functionality that has to be carefully thought out for it to be a space that works for you. If this has inspired you to revisit the layout of your bathroom and you want to improve its usability, space planning is where we should start!

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 Space Planning