Guest feature: How to work with different layouts
When re-designing a bathroom, the layout is one of the first considerations to think about. Get it wrong and you may create a dysfunctional space which isn’t best suited to your lifestyle. Get it right and you can create a room which looks great and functions well too. Here, guest writer Millie Fuller explores the most common bathroom shapes and the best ways to maximise each.
Types of bathroom
Master bathrooms
Bathrooms with all four necessary elements: the WC, basin, shower, and bath, are referred to as full, primary, or master bathrooms. This bathroom is usually used by the majority of the household so often needs to maximise space and include plenty of storage space. It may also need to be futureproofed, to ensure it functions well for multiple members of the family or if the family’s needs change in the years to come.
En-suite bathrooms
When compared to a complete bathroom, an en-suite, sometimes referred to as a three-quarter or secondary bathroom, normally has three out of the four components, with either the shower or bathtub left out. These offer all the essential services, albeit on a smaller scale than a complete bathroom and often are often more compact in space. As they’re usually located next to the master bedroom, the aestethic of an en-suite tends to matche that of the bedroom and becomes a visual extension of the space. Clever lighting, such as low-level lights on sensors, are often a desirable feature of en-suite bathrooms as they’re helpful for those middle-of-the-night trips!
Cloakroom bathrooms
Only two bathroom fixtures are normally included in cloakroom bathrooms, sometimes referred to as guest or half bathrooms: a WC and a basin. These rooms are designed for use by guests or visitors and, as their name implies, are typically smaller. Half bathrooms are frequently put in places with limited space, like hallways or beneath stairs, because of their size. Due to their small size, cloakrooms often provide an opportunity to experiment with colour, pattern and design, to create a space which will surpise and delight guests. It’s a common misconception that pattern and colour will make a small space feel smaller; when done correctly, it can actually have the opposite effect, by creating interest in different areas of the space and drawing the eye around the room.
Common bathroom shapes
Small and square
When it comes to functionality and design, small square bathrooms can be challenging. Typically, restricted space dictates that every square inch must be utilised to its fullest, prompting the selection of compact and multifunctional fixtures and fittings. Showers are a great space-saving choice for these room as the footprint can be much smaller than that of a bath and clever products such as bi-fold shower screens and in-built storage niches can help to maximise floor space.
For compact square bathrooms, wall-hung WCs and basins are ideal solutions because they take up less room. Wall-hanging sanitaryware and furniture also creates an illusion of more space as the eye is drawn to the full floor area. It’s also possible to create the illusion of a larger space by placing mirrors in strategic locations, and this effect can be accentuated with lighting design that is done with competence.
Large and square
Larger square bathrooms, naturally, offer a larger floor area, which helps develop interesting designs. These areas can be used in a variety of ways, and give each bathroom component space to breathe. Larger rooms are commonly accentuated by turning a bathtub into a focal point. Due to its dramatic appearance and storage options, double vanities are also frequently preferred in these designs. Large walk-in showers are also a good use of space as they can create a luxurious hotel-inspired experience and provide plenty of space to play with patterned tiles.
Rectangular
In modern homes, rectangle bathrooms are one of the most prevalent styles. Although it is frequently assumed that all of the fixtures should be arranged along one of the longer sides, this can leave you with an unadventorous design and a stark space with little interest. With the help of walk-in showers and innovative storage solutions, the area may be used to create spacious and dramatic designs.
When it comes down to it, remodelling a bathroom can be difficult regardless of its size or shape. The durability of the design and functional factors are important, but so is the aesthetic. By working with, rather than against the shape of your room, you can create a space which is functional, beautiful and designed to last.
For more bathroom advice from our team of specialist bathroom designers, download or request a copy of our free Style Guide.
Want to see what two of our designers come up with, with the same brief? Read our Designer Debate - One brief, two ways.