Before you knock down a wall, repair a garage door, lay a tile or make any major purchases, you need to plan your bathroom on paper using a scaled graph. This will overcome the potential problems of buying a bath that is too big for the space, or finding you cannot actually open the bathroom door once everything has been installed after a bathroom remodel has been completed.
How to plan your bathroom:
Remodeling points to consider:
It is important to remember that while sizes are roughly standard when it comes to bathroom suites, there will be slight size differences from style to style and from one manufacturer to another. Be aware that certain styles will not work well in some rooms. A chunky Art Deco-style suite is bigger and will take up more room than a streamlined suite. So if you have a tiny room, you will probably have to rule out certain styles of suite, or risk having your room looking overly cluttered and cramped.
Bear in mind that most manufacturers have space-saving alternatives to the standard suites - and again these may vary in size. If space is a problem, look out for baths with tapered ends, smaller-than-average wash basins and narrow toilets. Also consider:
The Basin: Make sure there is sufficient space for washing and shaving in comfort with adequate elbow room and enough space to end over the basin.
The bath: Allow enough space alongside the bath for getting in and out. If you plan to install a shower over the bath make sure you have sufficient headroom to stand up comfortably while showering. We can help with any bathroom questions.
The shower: Give yourself enough space to step in and out with ease and dry yourself, and allow for an opening shower door if necessary.
Storage and shelving: Finally, be careful where you fit wall-hung shelving and storage units, particularly when positioning them over baths, toilets and bidets, where somebody standing up quickly could get a nasty bang on the head. More Remodel Tips>>
How to plan your bathroom:
- Start by measuring each wall of your bathroom. Transfer the dimensions on to a piece of graph paper, working to scale
- Once you have drawn the outline of your bathroom depicting its size and shape, mark the immovable features of the room - the windows and doors. Remember to allow enough space for opening the door. It is also worth considering whether the door could be rehung to open the other way and give a few extra inches of space.
- Mark the existing plumbing and electrics, including the layout of water pipes, sewer outlets, ventilation ducts, wiring and light switches on your plan. Mark sloping ceilings if relevant.
- Decide on your ideal fixtures layout. Manufacturers usually supply exact dimensions of their products in brochures so you can plan each fixture exactly to size. Ensure you allow enough knee and elbow room and space for moving around each one. Try out several configurations before finalizing your plan.
- Mark in additional features such as towel rails, storage units, toilet roll holders and other fixed items like shelving. Make sure you have allowed enough space around cupboards and vanity units for doors and drawers to open fully, and that towel rails and toilet roll holders are within reach of features. Be sure to allow enough storage near basins and baths for soap, toothbrushes, shampoos, bubble baths and more.
- Think about your movements around the room. Ask yourself whether everything is placed conveniently Is the room easy and comfortable to use? Is it safe? Will it suit all the family?
Remodeling points to consider:
It is important to remember that while sizes are roughly standard when it comes to bathroom suites, there will be slight size differences from style to style and from one manufacturer to another. Be aware that certain styles will not work well in some rooms. A chunky Art Deco-style suite is bigger and will take up more room than a streamlined suite. So if you have a tiny room, you will probably have to rule out certain styles of suite, or risk having your room looking overly cluttered and cramped.
Bear in mind that most manufacturers have space-saving alternatives to the standard suites - and again these may vary in size. If space is a problem, look out for baths with tapered ends, smaller-than-average wash basins and narrow toilets. Also consider:
The Basin: Make sure there is sufficient space for washing and shaving in comfort with adequate elbow room and enough space to end over the basin.
The bath: Allow enough space alongside the bath for getting in and out. If you plan to install a shower over the bath make sure you have sufficient headroom to stand up comfortably while showering. We can help with any bathroom questions.
The shower: Give yourself enough space to step in and out with ease and dry yourself, and allow for an opening shower door if necessary.
Storage and shelving: Finally, be careful where you fit wall-hung shelving and storage units, particularly when positioning them over baths, toilets and bidets, where somebody standing up quickly could get a nasty bang on the head. More Remodel Tips>>
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