6 Secrets To A Smooth-Running Family Bathroom
Building a new family home? Senior Writer Georgia Madden from Houzz Australia spoke to design experts for their must-have design inclusions for a family bathroom. See below for their top 6 tips.
From creating individualised storage space to clever inclusions that will speed up your family’s morning routine so everyone leaves home on time, here are the seven features that will help you get more from a shared bathroom, say the experts. If you’re renovating a family bathroom, this is one story you won’t want to miss.
1. Generous Storage
With a busy family and everyone having different bathroom products and needs, clever and abundant storage solutions in your bathroom are the key to functionality. Plus, they will also beautify your bathroom. Being able to store and hide your everyday items is a must when multiple people use the one space. Consider large mirrored cabinets that run right to the ceiling. There are many styles today that can be inset into the walls for a slimline look. Many also have finger-pull or push-to-close doors, meaning you don’t have bulky handles overcrowding the space. A good top-mount vanity cabinet will help you organise your bathroom and everyone can have designated shelves within the cupboard. Under-sink storage is also essential. Be wary of floating vanities that may only give you half the storage capacity of a design that goes right to the floor. And don’t forget that the sink plumbing will take up a good portion of your vanity. For this reason, I always suggest the largest vanity possible for the space, with adjustable shelves so you can customise the interior. You can also find storage systems that will keep your storage organised. For example, mini stacking shelves, acrylic containers and small storage-compartment units that fit inside cupboards and drawers to keep bathroom products and beauty items organised. These will help the kids find what they need and assist in the overall tidiness of your cupboards. Bathroom storage can extend to standalone items too, such as over-the-toilet shelving systems and beautiful hampers for storing laundry or used towels. Also consider what is on your bathroom vanity. Seek out pretty yet functional decor accessories such as canisters to hold cotton balls and nice vessels for toothbrushes. Grouping like items together on small trays is a good way to reduce visual clutter.
2. A Double Basin
Whether you’re a large family of five or six or a small family, a double-style basin set-up is essential. It allows two people to use a basin at once, saving you time and streamlining the flow of your bathroom. On busy mornings when everyone is in a rush, this can be a lifesaver. Plus, a pair of basins can look amazing side by side.
3. Heating
As we settle into the colder months, a well-heated bathroom will be appreciated by the whole family. There are three main options:
Underfloor heating: If your budget allows, investing in underfloor heating is a luxury worth having, especially if you live in a cooler climate. For bathrooms, I would recommend an electric underfloor heating system. It goes above the waterproofing in your floor but below the tiles, so can fairly easily be retrofitted. Being close to the surface, it means your bathroom floor will heat up quite quickly.
Three-in-one heaters: These provide an exhaust fan, lighting and heating in a single unit. They’re a simple and affordable way to keep your bathroom toasty and warm.
Heating Duct: Add an additional heating duct from your main heating system. Ideal for keeping your towels warm and fluffy and reducing the need for constant washing.
4. Heated Towel Rails
Install a decent heated towel rail in your bathroom and chances are it may be enough to not only warm your towels but also the entire room, so you may not require any additional heating. Style-wise, heated towel rails have come a long way in recent years and make for an attractive feature on your bathroom wall. They can now be custom-coloured to your bathroom scheme and come in clean, minimalistic styles.
5. Considered Lighting
I am big on good lighting in a bathroom as it doesn’t just improve the functionality of the space, but can set the right mood too. I don’t like harsh artificial lights in the bathroom – I prefer natural light in the day. At night, I favour soft LED lights that cast a warm, diffused glow. In my home, we have LED lighting under the basin, in the shower recess and above the bath. In my view, a shower recess is another must-have feature in a family bathroom as it allows you to keep shampoos nicely displayed and not cluttered on shelves or on the floor of the shower.
6. Vanity Drawers Over Cupboards
Vanity drawers are preferable to cupboards as they provide more user-friendly and accessible storage – and often up to 30 percent more storage, according to some cabinet makers. Using bamboo boxes inside your drawers is a great way to divide items internally so everything has its place. If you have multiple people in the family using the drawers, give everybody their own box – you can even try labelling them to separate items and prevent arguments between siblings. Overhead mirrored shaving cabinets are a great way to store lots of products. With their shallow shelves, items are easy to see and access. Including a power point in your shelving cabinet is a smart upgrade as it allows you to keep your electric toothbrush off your vanity top, and it will always be fully charged. If space in the bathroom permits, another great option is the inclusion of a tall storage cabinet, which you can use to store spare towels and toilet rolls.
Here at Hurst Homes we offer complete customised homes that can be as individual as the owner. We guide your through the entire process including your selections to ensure you create your dream home. Just another reason why we are considered Waggas best builder. With over 30 years in the industry as a Wagga Builder you can trust Hurst Homes with your dream home. For information on our upcoming custom wagga house & land packages, contact us today on 0438 692 962 or fill out the contact us page on our website.
For more tips and tricks from the Houzz experts visit Houzz.com.au