Learn What Goes Where In A Bathroom Layout

The first thing homeowners must decide when remodeling a bathroom is where everything will go. The existing floor plan may have worked for a couple, but feel cramped and inefficient for a family of four. Moving around the sink, toilet, shower or tub might seem like fun, but homeowners should put some serious thought into their bathroom floor plan. The wrong design could lead to wasted space or a costlier renovation.

Bathroom layout basics

Bathroom Layout Design Strategy — A perfect strategy for bathroom remodeling design can be to convert the bathtub to a shower.

Before sketching out a floor plan, think about the basic items needed in the room. Will there be a walk-in shower or a shower/tub combo? One sink at the vanity or two? Once a homeowner decides on the must-have items, it's a matter of moving the pieces around to see which design works best.

Keep in mind, the bathroom's existing plumbing and wiring will have a big influence on floor plan, especially when it comes to the toilet. While you might want to move the commode clear across the room, toilets require a large stack pipe that's difficult to move. Doing so can add considerable cost to a bathroom remodel.

Converting from a tub to a shower is another favorite project. What is often overlooked is that the code-required shower drain is a 2" pipe, while a tub uses 1 1/2" pipe. So usually that means the entire pipe must be re-done all the way back to the main stack, with drywall patching in the room below or floor system removal to work within the bathroom.

Behind the walls of a bathroom layout

Master bathroom air tub and shower — An efficient layout with curvy design flair: the air tub surround s-curves into the shower as a bench seat. Round mirrors continue the theme.

The electrical work, ventilation, water supply lines and other "guts" of the bathroom are often overlooked by homeowners, but play an important part in determining floor plan options. Consider how many outlets the bathroom should have to meet your needs. Minimalists may want to keep outlets limited to over the vanity, while those who use multiple shaving and hairstyling gadgets should add more. Ventilation is another important feature to protect the remodel from model and mildew. An experienced bathroom contractor can tell you what kind of fan and ventilation is needed based on the size of the space. Click here to view a page devoted to bathroom floor plans by Kohler.

How Is The Bathroom Used?

How a bathroom is used is unique to every individual. Some take a 10 minute shower religiously every day, while others spend the most time at the vanity applying make-up, hairstyling and getting children ready in the morning. Is bedtime a crunch of bodies fighting over one sink, or are you always fighting for counter space atop a tiny vanity? As a homeowner, think about how you use the existing bathroom space and how you could improve it with a new bathroom layout. Are there minor aggravations caused by the size of the vanity or positioning of the toilet? Does the shower door open in an inconvenient way?

When homeowners do this kind of thinking, they often realize the features that seemed vital when they bought the home aren't the most used. Many people are ditching the large Jacuzzi tub and using the space for added room at the vanity or a luxurious walk-in shower. Others are looking for more privacy as their family grows and opts for a separate toilet area.

Who is Using The Bathroom?

Specialty Home Design Build Construction Madison WI-3.jpg — This glamour room isn't the average bathroom. Rather, it supplements the adjacent bathroom that 3 teenage girls share.

Is the newly remodeled bathroom part of a master suite or one the whole family uses in the main hall? If it's one separated from other rooms, think about having a changing area where family members can stash robes and clothes and hang up towels after bathing. This is also an opportunity for bold colors for those who want to make a statement, or making the space a cool and calming retreat outside the hectic hallway along the kids' corridor.

Remodeling a master suite bathroom should be considered along with the entire suite. Keep a similar color palate and style between the two rooms. Building a dressing room or master closet at the entrance to the bathroom is also a popular option, offering a buffer space between the bathroom and bedroom for more privacy, and convenience in the transitions from bed to day and back to bed.

More storage

Sleek and stylish bathroom layouts typically have plenty of space to hide away toilet paper, towels and shampoo not in use. When imagining the ideal floor plan, consider how much storage is required to meet your needs. Also, find unique ways of seeking out more space in unusual places, like creating a nook within the bath wall for soap and toiletries, or built-in shelving, cabinets and other smartly placed storage spots.

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 2/14/2018.

About Degnan Design Build Remodel
Since 1981 Degnan Design Build Remodel has provided home improvement and construction services to customers throughout Greater Madison, Wisconsin. Our goal is to WOW you with a "Designed For Your Life" solution using a process that will transform your home into a beautiful living space, delivered on time, and on budget. We are known for our communication, respectfulness, and a commitment to our customers and our community. Contact us to speak with one of our designers about your home improvement project.

An Above the Garage Master Suite Addition Remodeling Project

We recently completed an addition for our clients, John and Amy, a professional couple with young children living in the Blooming Meadows neighborhood in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Their home featured three bedrooms on the second floor. The existing master bedroom was outdated and impractical for modern living, and with three young children, two needed to share one of the two remaining bedrooms, and all three kids shared the second-floor bathroom. Another problem the family needed addressed was that John needed a private home office, and the one they currently had was a shared space that did not work well for his job.

Let's take a look at our creative solution for this young family!

A New Private Bathroom for the Adults!

One of the major elements on John and Amy's wish list was a private bathroom space just for them. They wanted plenty of space to get ready in the morning, away from the kids, and we delivered! The bathroom features a handcrafted Amish custom double vanity with a tower cabinet in alder wood, stained Carbon Gray. The contrasting Linnstone Quartz Calcutta pattern countertop brightens the space and ties in visually with the elegant tile work in the spacious walk-in shower. We added custom alder wood framed mirrors stained in the same Carbon Gray as the cabinets to complete the vanity. Over each of the mirrors, we installed Quoizel 2 light vanity fixtures to provide plenty of warm light.

In the shower, the 21st Century Tile 12x24 floor-to-ceiling tiles in Tivoli Silver give the room a bright and modern feel, and the low entry shower makes entering the shower safe and easy for the couple. We included a helpful niche in the shower for shampoo and other toiletries and, for contrast, used a beautiful hexagon mosaic accent tile. The glass doors give the space an open feel, making it bright and inviting. The Arbor Hills luxury vinyl plank flooring in timber adds a warm feel, giving the room a natural look with the benefit of waterproof LVP.

The Result

The final result of this second-floor master suite addition is a home that fits John, Amy, and the kid's needs and lifestyle perfectly. John now has the perfect private office space. Since John and Amy now have their private master suite, and each of the kids has their own bedroom giving them their own space to grow as they grow, their home is more comfortable and functional. And on the exterior, you can't even tell there's been an addition!

Are you considering an addition or other home improvement project? Let us help you design the perfect finished space! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.