Basic bathroom designs to create your perfect space

Basic bathroom designs to create your perfect space

Any remodeling job brings with it lots of excitement and tension. The prospect of adding new and fresh designs can make you look forward to this process. But you also feel stressed out as you navigate through the real journey putting things together and wondering whether all these will make your old setup better than before. Then, a budget can be another area in this context. While it is relatively easy to get lured by fabulous offerings in the market, you need to remind yourself that any successful bathroom renovation project has to follow some basic design rules. You can browse the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) for this, for example.

If you are not aware of them, let’s quickly brush up your knowledge so you can plan your private room without any hassle.

Bathroom door

The disabilities act for Americans suggests that a bathroom door should be a minimum of 32 inches wide when opened. Your entry has to be at least 34 inches wide to achieve this unless it is a pocket or sliding door. When you open the door, it should not bump into the person using the bathroom. Or, no doors should knock on each other, such as shower, cabinet, and entry. If the bath is too small, you have to work on the hinges to allow the doors to swing outside.

Ceiling

As per general standards, any bathroom should be 80 inches high. Exceptions can be there where you don’t have to walk. In those parts, ceiling height can be less than this also. You can talk to your building inspector to review the changes before you implement them.

Flooring

It can be better to have some extra space in the bathroom so that two people together can use it. For this, the distance between vanity or toilet’s front edge and wall or other features can be 30 inches. As per building code, even 21 inches clearance is also okay.

Countertops

No matter what type of sink appeals to your taste, you would prefer to have a proper vanity to support your water fixtures. Experts recommend that vanities should have rounded or clipped corners because sharp edges can be safety hazards.

Tub and shower

The shower area can be 36″ x 36″ for ease of use. Building codes allow even 30″ x 30″ shower stall. If there is an angled door in the shower, make sure that the entire booth is at least 32″ x 32″. As for the shower controls, position them at least 38 to 48 inches above the floor. You also have to check the user height in this regard. Is there a shower tub in the bathroom? The plumbing fixtures should go between the rim, and they should not be more than 33 inches high from the floor. However, if the tub and shower share the same lever or knob for controlling water, then it should be less than 33 inches high, as experts opine. It allows you to quickly reach for the controls if you are sitting in the tub.

Sink area

A distance of the sink from a wall or shower should be decent enough to let you wash your hands comfortably. It will also come in handy in washing the sink itself. According to the kitchen and bath association, the center of the sink from the wall can be 20 inches away. If you use a pedestal sink, the building code says it should be four inches from the sink’s edge to the wall. And if you use two sinks in your bathroom, they have to be at least 30 to 36 inches away from each other. You can measure them from their centers. For design options, you can check Kraus bathroom bowl styles.

Whether you choose a glass sink, undermount sink, or semi-recessed sink, you will need to install it at a proper height. It should be comfortable for you and other members to use. According to standards, 36 inches in height is average. NKBA suggests that you can keep it at an altitude of 32 to 43 inches. Choosing this can be your decision. But it is not wise to opt for low vanities for children. Kids tend to gain height faster. Till then, they can manage with a stool.

Lighting

If you have only one ceiling light in the bathroom, it will create shadows below your eyes even when these are not there. However, placing lights over your vanity mirror and to its sides can prevent this problem. When you implement cross lighting, you can get rid of this issue and focus on grooming. In the tub or shower area, you can install a recessed light. Make sure it is waterproof.

Toilet

The gap between a toilet and vanity or other fixtures should be at least one elbow. As per the bathroom standards, 18 inches distance between them should be adequate. However, building codes also approve of 15 inches distance. Are you planning to build it in a compartment? If you want to have your toilet inside a section, the size of the area has to be 36″ x 66″. Building codes recommend even 30″ x 60″.

Similarly, you can think of these rules in the context of toilet paper holders. According to the NKBA, the toilet paper’s location from the toilet bowl’s front edge can be 8 to 12 inches. Its height has to 26 inches from the floor.

These are a few regular bathroom design rules. You can check these at other places also so that your bathroom is a safe and comfortable haven. When you redecorate or redesign it, you can discuss these things with your interior professional to ensure that everything gets its best space. If you follow the basic rules, you can avoid plenty of inconveniences and safety hazards too. Hence, when you think of going ahead with its new look and features, it will be better to see that everything fits well. You can enjoy your bath time and other daily rituals hassle-free. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about falling or hurting as all the features are in their safe positions from one another.

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