Designing a Family Bathroom from Scratch

The bathroom is most likely the smallest room in your home. It is also the most expensive to put up, especially if you are starting to design it from scratch.

Is your bathroom a place you like to linger in? Do you love to take long baths or showers? Shave? Put on your make-up in the morning or remove your make-up in the evening? If you like to linger in your bathroom, it is worthwhile to spend time and money designing a desirable place to be in.

Before you start, consider all the needs of the people who will be using it and plan accordingly.

• How many people will be using this bathroom? Are you single? Newly married? Married for years with a large family? What are the needs of all these people?

• How much money do you have to spend?

• Where is the current position of the bathroom now? Would it be better positioned elsewhere with more space and better lighting?

• Is the ventilation adequate? Ensure that there is enough air circulating in your bathroom to avoid incidences of suffocation.

• Will this room be used for additional functions apart from the traditional ones? Exercising? Beauty Treatments? Hair Drying? Laundry?

Put all your plans on paper. These plans will include the position of the bath tub, the water closet, shower, bidet and any other extras. Before going ahead with the construction work, have your plans checked out by a professional plumber.

Suggested Interior Design Details

Colour Schemes

As it is the smallest room in the house and you will probably spend brief periods of time here, a contrasting colour scheme will work best. Keep it bright. You can choose to use bright yellow on the walls and sheer orange curtains hung on black curtain rods. Create a contrast with green potted plants, which will make this room a joy to be in, especially if you have reluctant children!

Surfaces like walls must perform well in humid conditions. Putting tiles on the floor and on the walls will keep your bathroom free from mould and damp. On the upper half of your bathroom, you may choose to paint it or put in wall paper. Make sure they are properly fixed and are easy to clean with sponge and water.

Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings

Bathroom furniture is usually basic and simple. These pieces should be chosen carefully with your total house scheme in mind. For example, if your house was built in the 1930’s or 1940’s, a colonial suite would match the rest of the house. If you live in a modern house or apartment, a modern suite will be much suitable. Other extras to consider making your bathroom pleasurable are a heated towel rail, a chair or stool and a chaise lounge for ultimate luxury.

Storage

These small rooms need not be cluttered and disorganized. Create adequate storage for perfume, colognes, lotions, cleaning material and towels. Chests can be fixed on a wall well away from the water closet and high enough from the reach of children’s little hands.

Toilet paper need not be hidden away. Baskets placed strategically and heaped with either white or coloured loo paper will take on a decorative detail all its own, adding character to your bathroom.

Lighting

When choosing lighting for your bathroom, safety must be your primary concern. Ensure whatever fittings you choose have been passed for bathroom use. Use pull-cords instead of switches. Note that sockets are not permitted at all and bulbs should be covered in glass or plastic to avoid shattering if touched with water. Lights at a mirror are best directed at the face.

Flooring

Water resistant materials are best for this room. Consider using sheet vinyl or cork tiles. Some people would like to put in a carpet for an additional touch of luxury. Remember that once installed, carpets are much harder to clean, and once water is absorbed, they may cause unpleasant smells. If you do choose one, put in a movable one which you can dry outside in the sun and have bathmats available to absorb water.

Window Treatment

Swags and tails on a pole or roller blinds are good options for your bathroom.

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