Designer advice: How to create a family bathroom
The family bathroom can quickly become the hub of the home on busy mornings before the school-run or at bath and bedtime at the end of the day. But it can often become a crowded and cluttered space, which is not designed in a way to suit the needs of everyone in the household. Here, Senior Designer Alfie, from Ripples Beaconsfield, gives his tips for creating a family bathroom with both practicality and style in mind.
Invest in a great shower
A great shower should be at the top of the list for any busy family bathroom. I normally suggest either a fully enclosed shower, or if space allows, a large walk-in shower. This ensures that water is contained rather than splashing across the rest of the floor and affecting other members of the family coming into the bathroom later. As this shower is going to be getting a lot of use, it’s important to consider water usage, for both environmental and financial reasons. There are many eco-friendly shower options available which restrict water flow whilst still maintaining an indulgent showering experience. It’s also wise to think about how best to keep the shower area clean. One example I often suggest is to opt for shower glass with an antiplaque coating as this helps to reduce the build-up of mould and grime.
Another good tip is to include a hand shower either on a bracket to the side or ideally on a riser rail. This will enable slightly older children to have a shower on their own as it can be lowered to their height and at the same time it’s perfect for days when you don’t want to wash your hair.
Bath time
A bath is usually a key component in a family bathroom, especially when you have young children who primarily bathe. A built-in bath usually works best as kids like to splash! You can also use the bath ledges to store bath toys and keep them within easy reach. At the same time, a built-in bath can be easily switched into a relaxing, grown-up space by hiding all those toys away and using the ledges/alcoves for candles, a glass of wine and even a phone or iPad. Safety is clearly an important consideration, especially for families with young children, so a steel bath with an additional anti-slip coating can help minimise the chance of any slips and falls. This is also a good option if you can only fit a shower-over-bath within the room.
Suss out storage
Like with most areas in a family home, storage in a bathroom is key. I would always look to include storage in and around the basin area, with drawers in the vanity unit to store towels and bathroom products and a mirror cabinet above the basin to keep medicines out of reach from children. Keeping storage solutions wall-mounted is a great idea as it opens up floor space which can then be used for items such as stools, scales and baskets of bath toys.
Add some warmth
When considering heating options for a family bathroom, the ideal combination is underfloor heating as well as a heated towel radiator. Be sure to choose a towel radiator which is large enough to heat the space and to hang each family member’s towel from at the same time. It’s also worth adding additional hooks on the back of the door and/or on a wall for any additional towels to hang from.
Get the light right
Lighting can be used to create a variety of environments within a family bathroom and is particularly effective when it comes to winding down at bath time in the evening. Ceiling spotlights are generally a must-have in most bathrooms, however look to have these fitted on a dimmer so you can adjust the mood and atmosphere of the room depending on the time of day. I also like to include lower-level lighting in my bathroom designs, either on a separate switch or even a sensor, which can guide the way during any middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom.
Add style with tiles
Anti-slip floor tiles are a must have for busy family bathrooms and choosing a larger format option is easier to keep clean as there are fewer grout lines to contend with. I feel it’s nice to add a little colour and make the space more fun and tiles are a great way to do this.
3 quick tips
Choose a cool-start tap. Not only is this a great eco-friendly option as it only fires up the boiler when turned to warm, but it’s much safer for children to operate as they can’t accidentally be burned by hot water.
Avoid harsh edges. This mostly applies to basin taps and bath/shower fittings as being metal means they can have very sharp corners which can be dangerous to children. Luckily, slightly softer lines and edges help to create a warmer and more homely feeling, as well as being a safer option.
Consider everyone. If you have a multi-generational home then you might want to add a support bar for getting in and out of a bath and maybe a tiled seating area within the shower if space allows. These adaptations can still look stylish and it’s surprising how helpful these are for all generations.
For more bathroom advice from our team of specialist bathroom designers, download or request a copy of our free Style Guide.
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