8 Key Design Elements for a Family Bathroom
Don’t forget these essential items to ensure your family bathroom works well for the whole household
If you’re planning to renovate your family bathroom, there are a few must-have design elements that will make life easier for you and your kids. Take a look at these tips to find out how to design a bathroom that works for everyone.
2. Consider your bathing options
If space isn’t an issue, it makes perfect sense to have a separate bath and shower enclosure. However, there isn’t always room for both, so many homeowners choose to ditch the bath in favour of a shower.
Before you decide, though, it’s important to consider the pros and cons, and think about how your family uses the bathroom. For example, it’s often easier to wash smaller children in the bath, while older kids might prefer a shower.
You don’t have to compromise on style if you combine the two, as this compact space shows. The shower rose and hand-held shower head combination has a minimal design, and the frameless door adds to the streamlined look.
The Best Shower-Bath Combos for Smaller Bathrooms
If space isn’t an issue, it makes perfect sense to have a separate bath and shower enclosure. However, there isn’t always room for both, so many homeowners choose to ditch the bath in favour of a shower.
Before you decide, though, it’s important to consider the pros and cons, and think about how your family uses the bathroom. For example, it’s often easier to wash smaller children in the bath, while older kids might prefer a shower.
You don’t have to compromise on style if you combine the two, as this compact space shows. The shower rose and hand-held shower head combination has a minimal design, and the frameless door adds to the streamlined look.
The Best Shower-Bath Combos for Smaller Bathrooms
3. Avoid bathtime arguments
If your children share bathtime, it’s worth considering a tub with a tap and plug positioned centrally. This should avoid any squabbles about whose turn it is to sit next to the plughole.
This design has wall-mounted taps and a pull-out shower head, which help keep the bath clutter-free.
If your children share bathtime, it’s worth considering a tub with a tap and plug positioned centrally. This should avoid any squabbles about whose turn it is to sit next to the plughole.
This design has wall-mounted taps and a pull-out shower head, which help keep the bath clutter-free.
4. Tap into safety
When it comes to choosing taps, go for a single mixer design rather than separate hot and cold fittings. This will help prevent children scalding themselves by turning on a very hot tap.
Lever taps, like this one, are ideal, as they’re easy for children to operate. Small hands can pull up the lever and keep it set in a central position.
When it comes to choosing taps, go for a single mixer design rather than separate hot and cold fittings. This will help prevent children scalding themselves by turning on a very hot tap.
Lever taps, like this one, are ideal, as they’re easy for children to operate. Small hands can pull up the lever and keep it set in a central position.
5. Make cleaning easy
In a busy household, the bathroom will probably see some wear and tear, so choose surfaces that are easy to keep clean and well maintained.
Go for flat-fronted, handless cabinets, so dust and grime don’t gather around small details, and opt for wipeable tiles on the walls. Grout has a tendency to show up dirt, so large-scale tiles with minimal joints are a good option.
12 Steps to a Deep Bathroom Clean That Lasts
In a busy household, the bathroom will probably see some wear and tear, so choose surfaces that are easy to keep clean and well maintained.
Go for flat-fronted, handless cabinets, so dust and grime don’t gather around small details, and opt for wipeable tiles on the walls. Grout has a tendency to show up dirt, so large-scale tiles with minimal joints are a good option.
12 Steps to a Deep Bathroom Clean That Lasts
6. Focus on flooring
Floors, too, should be simple to clean, so choose a surface that’s water-resistant and easy to mop. If you’re after a timber floor, for example, go for wood-effect porcelain tiles that won’t be ruined by damp.
If you have small children, it’s worth opting for a softer surface to avoid any injuries if they fall. A vinyl floor like this one is ideal, as it’s cushioned and has the added bonus of being easy to clean.
Floors, too, should be simple to clean, so choose a surface that’s water-resistant and easy to mop. If you’re after a timber floor, for example, go for wood-effect porcelain tiles that won’t be ruined by damp.
If you have small children, it’s worth opting for a softer surface to avoid any injuries if they fall. A vinyl floor like this one is ideal, as it’s cushioned and has the added bonus of being easy to clean.
7. Include hanging space
If you want to avoid tripping over wet towels in your bathroom, ensure you have sufficient hanging space to dry them. The key to a tidy family bathroom is to make it easy for children to hang up their bath linen, rather than leave it strewn at ground level.
Install hooks at a height they can reach, or go for a heated towel rail with bars at different levels.
If you want to avoid tripping over wet towels in your bathroom, ensure you have sufficient hanging space to dry them. The key to a tidy family bathroom is to make it easy for children to hang up their bath linen, rather than leave it strewn at ground level.
Install hooks at a height they can reach, or go for a heated towel rail with bars at different levels.
8. Squeeze in a perch
If you want to avoid sitting on the floor or the loo lid while your kids have a soak, it’s a good idea to have a seat handy in your bathroom.
An extra piece of furniture like this can also present an opportunity to bring in some vintage character to your space. Here, the chair gives a shabby-chic look to the sleek, grey bathroom.
If you want to avoid sitting on the floor or the loo lid while your kids have a soak, it’s a good idea to have a seat handy in your bathroom.
An extra piece of furniture like this can also present an opportunity to bring in some vintage character to your space. Here, the chair gives a shabby-chic look to the sleek, grey bathroom.
Your turn
What other bathroom essential could you not live without? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to revitalise your home beyond the bathroom? Read about How to Freshen Up Your Home Storage
What other bathroom essential could you not live without? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to revitalise your home beyond the bathroom? Read about How to Freshen Up Your Home Storage
When a number of people are using a bathroom, there will inevitably be more things to accommodate. With children, there’s the added challenge of mixing safe, out-of-reach storage with some they can access easily.
Place open shelves or a cupboard at ground level, where kids can take out and tidy away toys or fresh towels. Combine this with higher-level storage for toiletries and medicines that could be unsafe for young children.
Here, the designers have also incorporated linen baskets – a good way to encourage everyone to throw in their dirty laundry.
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