Bathroom planning guide

As life would have it, I’ve done an absurd amount of home building and remodeling in the last dozen years. Chinese grandmas don’t spend lightly, and I thought I’d share some tips on bathroom planning culled from my research. Remodeling or building a home can be exciting, but it is an enormous investment of time, money and effort. Careful planning is essential to a happy result that lasts for years.

Bathroom planning is complex. This post will cover layout and planning issues, and I’ll follow with a second post on materials and finishes. Design inspiration can be found at Pinterest, Apartment Therapy and all over the web, but here I’m just aiming to help you craft your dream bathroom wisely.

Sketch it out – Bathrooms are the most flexible rooms from a planning standpoint. Odd spaces in your floor plan can fit a toilet stall, a sink alcove or an irregularly-shaped shower. And a well-planned bathroom can utilize space very efficiently.

It helps to measure your space, sketch it out on graaph paper and cut out sink, toilet, bath and/or shower sizes so you can play with different configurations. Kohler has a fantastic collection of sample layouts that can help you envision your own space.

Bathroom vanity vs pedestal/console sink? – A pedestal sink (one thick leg) will take up less room, but it also has no storage and usually very little counter space. A console sink (two to four legs) sometimes has a low shelf, and the one in the red powder room below even has a small drawer.

Bathroom vanities, with a countertop above and cabinetry below for storage, are most practical for bathrooms next to bedrooms.

One sink or two? – Two sinks are handy for shared bathrooms, but the extra sink will require a sacrifice of counter space and cabinet storage. Also remember that sinks typically have a mirror above, so make sure your wall allows for one over each, or a large one spanning both.

This double sink has only one mirror due to an existing window. But the convenience of a second sink outweighed the unconventional look. This vanity was just wide enough to fit two sinks and space for drawers between.

Shower or tub? – Personal bathing preference is the primary factor, but other considerations include kids, guests, safe access for seniors and resale value. Cost is also a concern, as tiled shower stalls with glass shower doors are more expensive than a tub or pre-made shower stall and a curtain rod.

Whirlpool tubs, with generous space and bubbly jets, are a common dream bathroom indulgence. But the chinese grandma in me sees a maintenance hassle that takes forever to fill. Luxury to me is a beautiful, practical soaking tub.

Door in or out? – Don’t forget to think about which way the bathroom door will swing and to consider the space needed for clearance. Bathroom doors will usually stay open, so also make sure the door will have a conveniently empty resting spot.

I’m always tempted by pocket doors to economize on space, but they are noisy to open and close and do not provide as much privacy as regular doors. Also for bathrooms in bedrooms, keep in mind that the pocket doors slide into a wall and think about whether someone is sleeping next to that wall.

The door in this bathroom barely clears the toilet. But barely is enough.

Separate toilet stall? – If you have space, a separate toilet stall can be a nice privacy option. A small space can feel tight, but you can mitigate the claustrophobia effect with a window, a half-wall or no door. When deciding on separate stall, consider light sources in your bathroom and the impact of extra walls.

This under-the-stairs space makes a logical toilet stall. Another door would have been too much in this small space.

Storage – Planning for ample and convenient storage is critical to keeping a mess of stuff from cluttering your dream bathroom. Keep in mind that bathroom cabinetry can fit on odd walls. The black cabinet in the toilet alcove pictured above fits under a sloping ceiling.

Shallow storage is ideal for bathrooms and can squeeze in tight spaces. My clever friend David made this wall-to-wall cabinet just deep enough to fit a double-size roll of toilet paper. It’s an enormous amount of storage and poses no head-bumping risk to users of the toilet below. (Note that bathrooms are not the place for glass cabinet doors!)

What other planning issues have I missed? Feel free to share yours in the comments below.