Easy Tips for Bathroom Design

Bathroom remodeling is not a task for the faint of heart. Nor is it a task for those with few pennies to rub against one another. It can be both difficult and expensive. Moving fixtures will usually involve plumbing, which the novice is not able to do. Moving walls or electrical outlets also calls for professional help.

There are things you can do, however. Whether you plan to do the remodel yourself or have a contractor do it, you can be involved in bathroom design.

Bathroom design lets you plan and visualize the finished room before you begin. Bathroom design works out the bathroom remodeling project so that it flows smoothly and – you hope – successfully.

Keep the following in mind as you begin and work through your own bathroom design project.

1. Form Follows Function In bathroom design, as in the design of other rooms, remember that form follows function. To put it another way, the usefulness of the room takes priority over the appearance of the room. Many who set their hand to bathroom design have in mind a pleasant or rich-appearing retreat. They want the look of a spa, or of an expensive bathroom they saw in a magazine. If a wiser head does not intervene, they end up with a bathroom that looks good but is inconvenient, at best. As you launch a bathroom design project, think about the usefulness of each part of your bathroom. Cabinets should be placed where they are convenient. If possible, their placement will also be aesthetically pleasing. The emphasis should be, however, on the usefulness of those cabinets. The same should be true of every item in your bathroom design.

2. Create Clear Floor Plans Bathroom design must work with clear, easily followed floor plans. Begin with accurate measurements of every part of the bathroom. Measure everything at least twice, writing the measurements in a notebook. Use graph paper or a bathroom design computer program to make a “map” of your bathroom. Mark the exact location of each fixture. Mark plumbing and electrical connections precisely. With everything measured and marked, you can use your floor plans to try out different bathroom designs. Relocate the vanity and sink. Will it work better in the new location? Will plumbing have to be changed? Try out different arrangements before settling on one.

3. Focus on Fixtures Relocation of towel racks and wall shelves is not a big concern, in most cases. Relocation of fixtures such as toilet, tub, shower, and sink is a big concern. For successful bathroom design, focus on those fixtures. Be sure you know exactly where you want your fixtures to be located. Be sure the plumbing can be relocated to fit your new bathroom design. Since the relocation of fixtures is often costly, focus on them carefully and see if you can produce a bathroom design that leaves them where they are. Perhaps other things can be altered to achieve your purpose with less cost and labor.

Use Common Sense

The best tip to remember when getting involved in bathroom design is to use common sense. You want the toilet paper roll to hang or sit in a convenient location. You want towels near the tub, shower, and sink – not on the other side of the room. Give a little common sense thought to each item, and your bathroom design will produce a convenient, functional, and stylish room.