Redesign your bathroom - Decor, Lifestyle

The key to successfully redesigning the bathroom lies primarily in the planning stages and in the correct assessment of your particular problems.

Redesigning a bathroom is not something that should be undertaken lightly, not because it is likely to lead to considerable expense, but also because once the work has been done there is little you can easily do should you be unhappy with the results.

There are four main categories with regards to bathroom problems: congestion, layout and fittings. All too often, a single room combines all four, but if you consider each of these problem areas carefully, you may find that solving one may make the others far easier to deal with.

Congestion

Too many people wanting to use the bathroom at the same time can be a major source of family friction. The best solution here is to see whether it is possible to provide extra facilities elsewhere in the house so that the whole family does not have to rely on access to a single bathroom.

A small guest toilet with mini basin will definitely alleviate congestion, and one can be created in a space measuring as small as 1 300mm x 800mm. There are a plethora of small basins that are specially designed for these small spaces; you can even purchase triangular ones that fit neatly into the corner of the room. Even toilets are being made smaller to accommodate smaller areas – wall-hung toilets for example, are great space-savers. The only restrictions with the placement of a guest loo, is of course the proximity of suitable waste drainage pipes, water access, and ventilation.

Congestion on single bathrooms can also be alleviated by installing wash basins in one or more bedrooms. This solution is especially effective if some members of the family exclude others from the bathroom by lengthy make-up and hair sessions. Inset vanity basins can very easily be installed out of sight in a worktop, so it needn't be an eyesore in the bedroom decor. Her again, the only restriction is access to water and adequate drainage.

Including a shower will also alleviate congestion, as it will seriously cut down the time each person spends in the bathroom. Not only is it generally quicker to take a shower, but showering also uses much less water when compared to bathing, so you will be doing your bit for the environment and saving money on your water bill at the same time. If space or budget excludes the possibility of fitting a separate shower, you can easily convert your present bath by fitting new taps with an integral shower attachment. A completely separate shower room, including a hand basin, needs only 1 600mm x 900mm of space, and you might find that it would be a good idea of reducing the size of a large bedroom to install one.

Layout

Inappropriate overall design is the second area for dissatisfaction, and this can often be improved in all but the very smallest bathrooms. The two main considerations that dictate the layout are the plumbing system and the need to provide sufficient space around the various fixtures for them to be used comfortably. Use the following considerations to help you design a new layout:

Drainage: The first priority in drainage planning is the location of the toilet, as this has to be close to a drain. This unit is most often situated next to an exterior wall, as laying new drains beneath floors in the house is a very costly and disruptive process. The waste pipes for the other fittings can often run round one or more sides of the room, as they tend to be small in diameter, but the ideal is always to aim for short pipe runs with as few bends as possible, and first place comprises all the pipes being completely out of sight.

Ventilation: Remember that bathrooms and shower rooms can become very humid and moist when in use, and as such, to maintain the composition of the walls, it is essential that the room gets properly ventilated. Adequate ventilation can be created by opening windows or by electrical extractor fans.

Plumbing: The position of the various washing facilities in the bathroom are influenced to a degree by the supply pipes for hot and cold water. Long runs of hot water pipe are not only unsightly, but also waste a lot of energy, so these should be avoided at all costs. In a low pressure plumbing system, the priority for cold water pipes is to get a sufficient head of pressure by ensuring that the tank is placed high enough above the taps. This is usually only a problem in a flat or attic in which a shower is installed. There should be a minimum of 1 200mm between the draw off point of the cold water tank and the shower outlet. Where this is not possible, an electric pump can be fitted to boost the pressure.

Space planning: One of the major considerations in a bathroom design is the space that is provided around the various fittings. If the bathroom is to be comfortable to use, you must allow sufficient area:

• The really crucial area is around the basin, where there must be at least 200mm elbow room on either side and 700mm of space in front to allow for comfortable use.

• Showers with walls on one or two sides need a clear floor space of 400mm next to the try for access and dressing, while those enclosed on three sides require 700mm in front.

• Make sure you have easy access to bath taps and a minimum space of 700mm x 1 100 mm next to the bath for climbing out and drying. Where children have to be supervised, the more space next to the bath, the better, and a stool or covered toilet can provide a useful seat for adults or for babies being dried.

Windows and doors: Try to avoid placing the bath next to a window as this will make opening the window difficult and will leave bathers prone to draughts. If you find that it is not possible to avoid such arrangements, double-glazing the window will improve conditions. However, this may improve insulation at the expense of good ventilation and care will have to be taken if condensation is to be avoided.

Where there is a choice, avoid having the door opening to give a direct view of the toilet in case it is accidentally left unlocked by the occupant. When rearranging fittings, ensure that enough space is left for the door to swing open outwards, but take care that they will not hit anyone passing outside if opened suddenly. If there is a real space problem with the door, non-standard doors may provide the solution – 600mm is an adequate width for either a bathroom or guest loo.

Fixtures and fittings

The third category of problems centres on unsatisfactory fittings. When choosing new fittings, bear in mind that these are likely to be changed far less frequently than furniture and decorations, so take care over your choice of colour and design. Currently fashionable shapes and colours may look great now, but could look hopelessly outdated in five years time. Vast ranges of bathroom fittings are now available, varying in design, materials, colour and cost. The only way to make a good choice is by visiting specialist bathroom showrooms, or by studying the sales literature of all the major manufacturers. – Antonella Dési

Pictures

Images courtesy of:
Hansgrohe
Water Comfort

For more information click here to visit the Hansgrohe website.
For more information click here to visit the Water Comfort website.

Readers' Comments
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The most difficult thing about a bathroom renovation in South Africa is to find a descent, hardworking and reliable contractor to do the work!

We did our spare bathroom a year ago. Bought everything double to also then do the en suite bathroom.

The contractor came recommended … we had so much 'emotional' pain and suffering that it is a year later and we still cannot muster up the courage to do the en suite.

If anyone knows a good contractor, please can you send me their details!! – Lindie