Planning the Perfect Family Bathroom

It’s that time of year again when the summer holidays are over, the dark nights are creeping in, and the kids are all back to school! Once again our lives crank up a gear or two and the old routine kicks in.

School mornings are a flash point in many households with everyone fighting for their slot in the bathroom, often making it the most in-demand room in the house. Therefore it’s key that it is functional, well organised, and sets a positive mood for everyone starting their day.

 

 

RESEARCH AND DESIGN

Take the time to research clever bathroom ideas and ensure you invest in really good design that will benefit the whole family. At Bathline we use a 3D design tool as standard which allows you to play about with layout, select different products, and see it all in situ before you decide on anything! Better still, we can provide a 4D virtual reality experience! Pop on a pair of VR goggles and walk around your new bathroom, stand in the shower and even open and close drawers and cabinets.

 

 

3D Design Render using Virtual World

The family bathroom needs to work for every person in the house and cater for everyone’s different needs. This could include tiny tots who want to splash around, to teens who preen. Before you get started, here are some ideas to consider which will help you get it right!

LOW MAINTENANCE

Pick durable and easy to clean surfaces if you want a low maintenance family bathroom. You don’t want lots of grooves for dirt and makeup to cling to, so an integrated basin and countertop with shelf like the Crosswater Svelte vanity are wonderfully functional yet beautiful in design.

 

 

BASINS AND VANITIES

Double basins and vanities are great if you have the room, as you’ll maximise the number of people using the bathroom at the same time! However, make sure there’s enough space between the basins to avoid arguments during the morning rush hour! Also consider plenty of shelf space around the basins for toiletries and toothbrushes – such as this unit from Roca.

 

MIRRORS

If you have teens in your house you’ll understand that it is essential to install the right mirror! Consider a back lit mirror or one that has lights at the side. These provide maximum light at all the right angles – perfect for applying makeup, shaving, or even inspecting spotty skin! HiB have an extensive range, stocked here at Bathline.

 

 

TECHNOLOGY

Modern bathrooms are all about technology! At Bathline, we know that Bluetooth mirrors with speakers are a huge hit for both children and adults alike. Check out the REVIVE cabinet from Crosswater which connects easily to your smartphone.

 

TAPWARE

When choosing tapware, take into consideration who will be using the taps. Tapware with levers are much easier for little hands to turn on and off, and it’s best to choose shower valves that are not overly complicated! Take finishes into consideration also – black tapware is worth thinking about as it doesn’t show up mucky fingerprints as much as shiny chrome ones!

 

 

A family bathroom can easily become messy, so making sure you have plenty of storage is vital. Avoid bottles, bags and brushes cluttering up surfaces by adding drawers in the shape of vanity units below the sink, and off the floor cupboards or slim line furniture. Choose a cabinet mirror for extra storage or try to fit shelves where you can.

 

 

BATHS

For children, you want as much room as possible! Therefore we recommend a good-sized tub, ideally freestanding – but if not, make sure to choose carefully where the taps are placed. Two to three children can be in the bath at once, so to maximise everyone’s comfort and to avoid tantrums –  it’s wise to place everything in the middle!

Again, if you have little ones,  a stool or a seating area placed near the bath is a good idea to rest your legs while supervising them!

TILES

Finally, think practicality when it comes to tiles! Avoid light colours on the floor because they show up every spot of dirt and are a nightmare to keep clean. Shiny tiles are also a no-no given they are slippery when wet. For family bathrooms we would recommend a textured wood effect tile, they hide a multitude of sins, are non-slip, and add warmth to a bathroom scheme.

 

We hope this article helped answer some of your queries for when it comes to planning a family bathroom, or maybe it made you question what you initially had in mind! If you have any questions, or would like to start planning your family bathroom, please come and say hello in your local Bathline branch where one of our design experts will be more than happy to help you. Alternatively, book an appointment with us by contacting us through our Bathline website.