Considerations In Designing Your Bathroom
What does your bathroom mean to you?
Everybody has a different perspective on what their bathroom means to them and then what they expect it to look like, therefore your choice of tiles and fittings is very important.
Purpose, Feeling and Impression
Bathrooms are like kitchens, everybody uses them, and while not everyone will be using it at the same time your bathrooms still get a lot of use. You may have one bathroom or several; you may have a main bathroom that most people in the house use and separate bathrooms for visitors or ensuites. Whatever the use, think of the purposes, the feelings and impressions you would like your bathroom to portray when choosing tile size, colours, mosaics and/or feature tiles and fittings.
If your idea of an amazing bathroom is one that looks like the ones in the luxury hotels then discuss this with the staff at the Tile Wizards stores as we have the tiles, feature tiles, mosaics and fittings to ensure you can create the bathroom/s that you would like at a fraction of the cost compared to what the hotels would have paid.
Because a bathroom is jam-packed with essential elements, your bathroom is one of the most important rooms to plan and lay out properly when remodeling. With a little creative space & planning, your bathroom can, not only fit in the requirements, it can also fit in a few (or more) luxuries to make your bathroom stand out and make a lasting impression.
Before You Start
Before you start planning you will need to know who is using the bathroom, when they will be using it and how they are using the space e.g. 3 children, main bathroom or an elderly couple, no kids, as a second bathroom.
From this information you can quickly decide whether you need double sinks, a shower, a shower/bathtub, or if you want to add a bit of luxury a double shower. If two people are getting ready at the same time, and both need the sink, then two sinks make sense.
Plan and Then Plan Again
Next, draw up a scaled plan of the space you have to work with. Get it laminated so you can draw and rub out any designs you are thinking of. Ultimately, your layout will depend on the constraints of your space – and your budget.
If you are renovating an existing bathroom, it will be a lot cheaper to place new amenities where the old ones were; the cost can skyrocket if you need to change plumbing in your bathroom. If you do have the luxury of being able to change the entire layout of your bathroom, then look at the desired dimensions of your shower, bathtub, toilet etc. and play with how you would like them to be set out. One main factor to think about is allowing the center line of your toilet to be at least 38 cm (15 inches) from any other bath fixture.
You should also allow enough floor space to comfortably move around in your bathroom. If you have questions about requirements or best practices see the staff at your local Tile Wizards store or ask your Bathroom Renovator.
Tip: to create a sense of privacy (when you can’t have a completely separate toilet space) position your toilet out of direct line of sight.
Making Your Bathroom Seem Bigger
Use light tones and colors on the walls and install large format floor tiles for a seamless look.
These days, many homeowners are trading their underused bathtub or tub-shower combo for a more luxurious walk-in shower. As long as you have at least one tub in the house, it’s okay for resale purposes to eliminate a second bathtub.
Other things to consider with a new bathroom:
- Even if replacing fixtures in the same position, check that supply and waste pipes don’t need to be extended or otherwise modified.
- Installing a new floor over the existing will increase the floor height, which may affect pipe positions. Flexible connector pipes will accommodate changes.
- If you are just replacing your fixtures, check the dimensions; don’t assume they are the same as the old. Fixtures can vary in size even if they look similar, especially when your old bathroom is more than 10 years old.
- Consider improving ventilation by installing a bathroom exhaust fan.
Remember, your bathroom can be a haven, a place to spend some relaxing thinking time or just chill out in the tub. That extra bit of planning will make all the difference.
For ideas on tile selection, browse through our bathroom tiles collection.
If you need more expert bathroom layout advice and design inspiration, visit one of our Tile Wizards showrooms in Brisbane, Adelaide, Coffs Harbour and the Sunshine Coast.
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