It is no secret that the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in a home. Aside from your bedroom and kitchen, this is one of the rooms in your home that gets the most foot traffic. It is said that a person on average spends 1.5 years of their life in the bathroom. Not only is the bathroom highly functional but it also adds to the overall aesthetics and value of your home.
Next to your bedroom, the bathroom is the first and last room you visit. After waking up, you go to your vanity, reach for your toothbrush and finish your morning routine. This morning routine is important as it sets the tone for the rest of your day. Right before going to be, your bathroom is also the place where you can finally have some time to yourself and complete your night routine.
The bathroom is also probably the only space in your home where you can completely relax and enjoy some alone time. It is where you are able to think to yourself and clear your mind. Some consider their bathrooms as their safe space as well. In times such as this when we are forced to spend more time at home, it is important that we create a space where we can escape even just for a couple of hours.
A bathroom can be that space for you. So whether you’re planning on building a new home or renovating and remodeling your current bathroom, we have come up with a list of things that you should definitely consider when planning your next bathroom:
1. The Layout
Before you even begin planning the interiors of your next bathroom, you must first decide on the layout of your bathroom. The layout of your bathroom will depend on a number of factors. The first factor is the actual amount of space that you have. It is important to consider who will be using this bathroom in order to determine the necessary fixtures and equipment that you’ll need in that bathroom. Will you be needing a bathtub? Will you be needing his and hers sink? Start thinking about these aspects.
You have to remember that your bathroom must first and foremost be functional. It is useless to create a layout that includes everything that you would want your bathroom to have if you are sacrificing your comfort and the overall functionality of the space. When deciding on the bathroom layout, think of your daily routine. What do you usually do first in the bathroom in the morning? Then think of the next part of your routine and start creating a layout that supports the flow of your routine.
2. The Plumbing
In line with the space planning, you have to consider the plumbing as well. In order to accurately plan the space, you have to know where the waterlines are. You can’t simply decide that you’d want your vanity near the window when there’s no plumbing installed near the window of the space.
Once you have carefully decided on the layout, you can now begin planning the fittings that you want to use. There are a number of trends when it comes to bathroom design and aesthetics and your plumbing fittings are a crucial part of this process. Do you want to have a modern bathroom that is clean and simple? Or do you want something more elaborate and flamboyant? The materials you use rely on this general idea. You can choose to have a matte black shower head if you want something more minimalist or you can choose to go with a copper or bronze if you want something different.
3. The Lighting
In every space of your home, lighting is important. Especially in a space such as a bathroom, installing the right lighting fixtures is crucial. Good lighting can immediately make a small and dark bathroom feel bigger and brighter. But before you start choosing your light fixtures, also consider the natural lighting of your bathroom. Ensure that you take advantage of the natural lighting. Not only will you be saving money on your monthly utility bills, but you will also save money by skipping the extra fixtures that are unnecessary.
The color of the light that you choose to install is also important. Warmer light is perfect for relaxation. If you’re going to have a tub in your bathroom, then a warm light is perfect for that. On the other hand, if you have a full vanity in your bathroom, consider placing brighter lights near it.
4. The Ventilation
Ventilation is something that is often overlooked when planning a bathroom. Most are under the impression that simply having a window in your bathroom should be enough but in reality, having a window alone is not enough. As there is steam created in the bathroom, without proper ventilation, that steam can easily slip into your bedroom and ruin your furniture.
5. The Storage
Another crucial part of planning your next bathroom is planning the storage. Like your kitchen, your bathroom also stores a lot of essential items that have to be easily found when needed. However, unlike your kitchen, your bathroom isn’t as spacious as your kitchen. Therefore, you must be smart when it comes to deciding on how to store your essentials and toiletries.
When working with smaller spaces, a great rule of thumb that you can follow is to always go up than out. Maximize the vertical space that you have instead of investing in horizontal pieces. Another tip you can follow is to invest in a quality vanity. Having a vanity that has a lot of storage is a great way of increasing both the storage and functionality of your bathroom.
Should you need more storage space, there are a lot of options for floating shelves that are readily available online as well. You can choose to have shelves that either match or complement the design of your bathroom. Having an organized and clean bathroom doesn’t mean that you have to store everything away. You can still choose to display a couple of pieces to free up space for items such as towels.
6. The Style
Probably the most exciting part of planning your next bathroom is deciding on the overall style. You can choose to hire a professional interior decorator or you can do it on your own. Nowadays, you can easily find inspiration on the internet. The important thing to remember in this aspect is that you would want the style and interior of your bathroom to match the rest of your home’s interior.
Matching the rest of your home’s interior can be in the materials you use. If your home is mostly made of natural materials such as wood, you can try to slip in a few wood elements in your bathroom. It can be something focal like your bathroom vanity or it can be something as simple as your soap dispenser. On the other hand, if your home is leaning towards a modern industrial style, you can choose elements that are made of steel such as your towel rack or showerhead.
Style isn’t limited to the materials that you choose to use. Style may also refer to the color scheme. Match your bathroom by choosing colors that either perfectly matches or complements the color scheme of your home’s interior. Is your home interior primarily composed of earth tones? Or does your interior use a lot of neutrals? There are a number of ways you can match the color scheme of your bathroom to your home’s interior. From choosing the right tiles for your walls or floor to the towels you choose to display in your bathroom.
7. The Budget
The final and most important part of your planning process is your budget. It is crucial that you are able to finalize a budget before you start making any purchases for your next bathroom. Your budget doesn’t really have to be big. The size of your budget will depend on both the space of your bathroom as well as the elements that you are planning to purchase and install.
Having an actual budget to work with will make the decision process a lot easier. When you’re familiar with your budget, you can easily decide on where you would want to spend that budget. This is where you have to classify the aspects that you want your bathroom to have from a need and a want. You may want to have lights that are statement pieces in your bathroom but at the same time, you also want to have a nice bathtub. You have to decide on the hierarchy of these aspects and decide on where to spend more.
It is important to remember however that you don’t have to have everything you’d want in your bathroom to be there all at once. You can start small and start investing in the essentials first. Then, you can gradually complete your dream bathroom as your budget allows you to. At the end of the day, your bathroom should be a space that is not only functional but is also an inviting space for you to relax in.
Cover photo credit
