Designing a bathroom is an exciting opportunity to take ownership over a space in your home that’s usually reserved for functionality and getting creative in your bathroom can give you a beautiful room that’s practical and elegant. However, designing a bathroom is also a minefield, and it’s easy to slip up when you’re getting carried away with design features. For a foolproof bathroom, you need to avoid the pitfalls of bathroom design. Here are the 7 biggest mistakes you’ll want to avoid.
1) Neglecting Storage Space
When you start shopping around for bathroom goods, it’s easy to be attracted to clean lines and simplistic pieces, such as pedestal sinks which offer a slim, silhouetted look. However, design is one thing and function is something else entirely – if you’re not lucky enough to have room for an internal closet or vanity in your bathroom, that under-sink space is going to be vital. Choose a sink with built in storage for stashing away those mundane bathroom items.
2) Thinking That A Toilet Is Just A Toilet
Technology is now expanding into every room in our houses and the bathroom is no exception. Toilet technology has come a long way and even standard toilets on the market can perform very differently. When purchasing a toilet it’s all about the flush – a WaterSense rated toilet will be exceptionally efficient, providing a clean flush with less than half of the water of its standardized counterpart.
Consider using an upflush toilet with a Saniflo macerating pump. Upflush toilets work by macerating waste and then pumping it up through the pipes to the sewer line. The extension pipes can connect to your main drain line or septic tank without having to dig under your bathroom floor. The SaniBEST Pro, a heavy-duty pump, ensures that waste is properly macerated and flushed away while consuming much less water than a traditional toilet. These types of toilets are ideal for small spaces or areas with low water pressure where a traditional gravity flush toilet wouldn’t work. They’re also perfect for situations where you need to install a toilet in an area without access to a sewer line. They’re also incredibly easy to maintain and keep clean, making them a great choice for anyone who wants to save water without sacrificing hygiene.
3) Lighting Matters
“For most people, the bathroom is where they spend a lot of time looking in the mirror,” says Darlene Huff, a designer at 1Day2Write and NextCoursework. “This is where we build our best representation of ourselves, and whether that’s shaving, hairstyling or doing make up, having good lighting in your bathroom can make a huge difference to how you feel about yourself.” Whilst ceiling lighting is important for the overall look of the room, it’s not so flattering – additional lighting above and to the side of your mirror will give you the best look.
4) Slippery Floors
Bearing in mind that your bathroom floor is inevitably going to be getting wet, if you’re not careful this can quickly turn into a serious hazard. Certain surfaces become especially slick when people climbing out of the bath or stepping out of the shower make a splash. Choosing matte or sand-glazed finishes for your bathroom tiles can give your floor some stick, but if you’re desperate for a smooth tile you can choose smaller tiles broken up by more grouting – this gives the floor some additional texture for those wet feet.
5) Choosing Pricey Materials
The addition of encaustic or cement tiles can add a rustic and traditional feel to any bathroom and many find this an appealing idea. Contemporary bathroom trends are incorporating these materials more than ever, but there’s a reason that porcelain has stood the test of time in bathroom design. Cement and encaustic, as well as carrying a heftier price tag, are also softer materials more susceptible to wear. Porcelain is practically invincible and nowadays manufacturers are imitating other styles of tile effectively.
6) Switching Layouts
When you’re designing a bathroom it’s natural to want to put a personal stamp on it, but many people take this a step too far, seeking to fundamentally rework the layout. “Before swapping your fixtures around you’ll need to think carefully about where the plumbing is – moving pipes quickly becomes expensive,” says Shane Scapers, a writer at Write My X and Britstudent. “If you’re desperate to switch things around, consult a plumber before making any firm decisions.”
7) Damaging Resale Value
If you think there’s a chance you might be moving on at some point, you may need to consider a more conservative design in your bathroom. Because bathroom fixtures and tiles are permanent features of a home – you don’t usually take them with you when you move – they’ll have a big impact on the resale value of your home. Stick to neutral colors such as white and grey across your bathroom design and when it comes to selling your home you’ll be flush with cash.
Wrapping Up
Designing the perfect bathroom is about striking a balance between form and function. Avoid these pitfalls of bathroom design and you’ll have an elegant and practical new space in your home.
Aaron Wolff is a writer at Academic Brits and Dissertation Writing Service with a focus in areas such as home improvement and real estate. He grew up in the construction trade working for the family firm in Memphis, Tennessee before breaking out on his own. He also writes for Research Paper Help.
