Bathrooms are one of the most well-used rooms in the house and if it doesn’t function well and isn’t durable and easy to clean, then it can cause considerable frustration. With many considerations such as layout, fixtures, materials, cabinetry, lighting and plumbing, careful planning is critical.

If you’re lucky enough to be transforming your current bathroom or building one from scratch, here are my key planning tips to get you started.

Planning – Think about the Space

Assess your needs by looking at who will be using the bathroom and what their specific requirements are. For example, is it a family bathroom where young children will need a bath? It is an ensuite to be shared by two people that need specific storage and lighting?

Think about each functional area and make sure you allocate enough space. If you don’t have sufficient space for a large freestanding bath, then don’t put one in! Getting space planning and proportions wrong will not only affect the functionality, but will make the bathroom look small and overcrowded.

Bathrooms need functional storage, so before you plan anything, be clear about what items you will need to store, for example towels, toiletries, cosmetics, cleaning products etc. Choosing the storage you’d like to include will then depend on your needs and what will work best in your space. Some popular storage solutions include:

Vanity
Nib walls and built-in niches
Recessed cabinets such as a mirrored vanity cabinet
Wall hooks
Floating shelves
Tall cabinets / full height built-in cabinets

Something that is often overlooked is door placement and what is revealed when the door is opened. Think about privacy and focal point – would you like to see a toilet or a beautifully styled vanity and mirror? For this reason I always suggest placing the toilet behind the door or tucked away out of view.

You will naturally find yourself focussing on larger items like the toilet, vanity, bath and shower, but don’t forget the small stuff. As you’re designing the layout, think about locations for items such as towel rails, toilet roll holder, robe hooks, mirror and lighting etc.

Other things to consider during this planning stage are:

Will you have a nib wall or shower niche?
If you plan on having a toilet with in-wall cistern, check that your wall cavity is deep enough to house the plumbing. If it isn’t, a nib wall is a clever solution (if you have the space) and will provide a decorative element as well.
Mirrored vanity cabinet - do you want it recessed or wall mounted?
Wall hung vanities need a properly reinforced wall.
Bath weight - if you’re having a stone or cast iron bath, your floors may need reinforcing, so make sure you communicate this to your building professional prior to commencement.
How do you plan on heating the bathroom? Heated towel rail, underfloor heating, combination light/heat lamp?

**Lighting and Ventilation**

Bathrooms need good quality day and night-time lighting and this should be layered to include natural lighting, task lighting, ambient lighting and accent lighting.
**Natural light** in the bathroom boosts your mood and improves energy efficiency. If you don’t have space for big windows or would like to increase the natural light in your bathroom, a skylight might be a suitable solution. Skylights let in an enormous amount of light and because the light source is coming from above, shadows and glare are minimal.
**Task-based lighting** is key and will primarily be used at the vanity mirror. It should light your face evenly and avoid creating shadows, so the best option here is installing a light on either side of the mirror or wall lights above the mirror.
**Ambient lighting** is your general bathroom lighting and might include downlights or a multi-purpose light / exhaust fan / heater. Add flexibility by having lights on separate switches and installing dimmers to control the brightness.
**Accent lighting** can be used to create a mood or add a layer of luxury to your bathroom. It might include decorative pendants or LED strip lighting around a drop ceiling, under the vanity or around the vanity mirror etc. LED strip lighting has lower running costs and is also useful for creating a soft light source.
**Ventilation:** It’s important to maintain good airflow and installing an exhaust fan will boost ventilation by flushing out the stale moist air. Leaving a window open to let in some fresh air will also help to maintain circulation and keeps your bathroom dry and free of mould and mildew.
*Image - Marz Designs Terra 2 Wall Light*

**Choosing Tapware**

When creating your dream bathroom there are several important things to consider when selecting tapware, including what other colours and finishes are in the bathroom, what’s going to fit the overall aesthetic / design style and what size and style fits with your basin, bath and/or shower.
Your choice of tapware will also depend on whether you are renovating or starting from scratch. If you’re renovating and utilising existing plumbing, then you will need to choose the same style of taps that you had previously. Whereas if you’re building from scratch, you will have the luxury of choosing whatever you like.
When considering the finish of your tapware, start by deciding whether you want an organic / living finish that will develop a unique patina, or a more stable finish that won’t change much over time. There are a range of materials to choose from including stainless steel, chrome, brass and coated finishes such as matte black, brushed metals and powder coated colours.
Remember, don’t underestimate the power of beautiful tapware, it’s like jewellery for your bathroom and can really elevate your space.
*Image - Faucet Strommen tapware finishes*

**Choosing Tiles and Surfaces**

When it comes to bathroom materials and surfaces the options are endless, but you’ll want them to be both practical as well as beautiful.
Make sure you are aware of the maintenance required for the surfaces you are considering. Natural stone looks amazing, but it’s a porous material which stains easily, so needs to be sealed and maintained. Incorrect use of cleaning products and toiletries can also damage stone, so think about whether all this extra work caring for the stone is going to suit your lifestyle. Are you better selecting a more durable, easy to maintain material such as porcelain or engineered stone?
Don’t be afraid to use colour, it instantly adds personality and character. Use it on every wall and even the floor for a seamless look or use a neutral floor tile and add the coloured tile on all the walls to make it the feature and add contrast. Remember, the less materials you use, the calmer the space will feel, so don’t go overboard with different tiles and colours. If coloured tiles are not your thing, another option is adding colour with a vanity basin or simply adding some colourful accessories and towels.
The use of pattern in bathrooms is becoming increasingly popular, especially through the use of cement encaustic floor tiles. These come in a variety of styles and patterns and work particularly well in traditional bathrooms. We are also seeing the use of VJ wall panelling as an alternative to wall tiles, which adds pattern, colour and texture to the bathroom.
*Image - Bianco Navona Imperiale Travertine at our Gladesville Project*

Communicating the Plan

Once you’ve made some decisions and have a layout you’re happy with, it is really important that you communicate your plan to your builder prior to the commencement of any work. The last thing you want is your builder and trades making assumptions during construction leading to details being missed and work not being executed as per your plan. Trust me…. you don’t want to be making changes once the bathroom is lined and waterproofed, because if it involves pulling out and re-doing work, it can be really costly in both dollars and time.

The best way to communicate your bathroom plan with your builder is by floor plans and elevations. These will show layout and positioning of everything in the bathroom, right down to the details of heights for vanity, mirror, hooks, tapware, towel rails etc and even the set out of your tiling (if required). Draw it by hand, enlist the help of an interior designer, or use one of the many online software programs or apps to produce these drawings.

Bathroom Design Tips