Why does designing (and fitting) a small bathroom take time?

Here at APM we thrive off a well-designed functional ergonomic space. When it comes to a bathroom, we always find our clients want a balance between practicality and ‘creating a sanctuary’- quite a challenge when faced with a small Victorian terrace or the sloped walls of a Georgian house.

As designers, creatives and all-round problem-solvers, we love to squeeze the maximum potential out of a small space, but this can take time when considering the various elements of the room:

 

Bath or Shower:

Typically this is the largest component of a bathroom, are a key functional aspect and a catalyst for other aesthetic choices for the space. It is therefore crucial you consider the following factors when faced with a small bathroom:

·       Is it or will it be a family home? If yes, consider a bath with an overhead shower. This will create a multi-functional space for bathing kids or having a quick shower in the morning.

o   Design consideration: does the small bathroom have sloped walls or low ceilings? Consider if there is enough head height to comfortably shower, and where the shower would be best placed if only certain parts of the ceiling are angled.

·       Do you ever use a bath? Whilst the idea of having a bath for the perfect ‘Sunday night in’, is very inviting, it’s important to be honest and realistic with yourself here - is having a large shower more practical and suitable for your lifestyle?

o   Design consideration: Is a standard-sized shower space most suited to the room, or do you need to consider a bespoke enclosure to make the most of the space?

If in doubt, we always advise to make the space as multi-functional as possible. Add a bath as well as overhead shower components so you can have both options.

Integrated & Recessed Joinery:

Recessed joinery allows you to create a subtle feature within a small space. We advise evaluating your space and consider how to maximise opportunities for storage:

·       Is your bathroom on a top floor with slopped ceilings? Consider adding storage into the eaves- this is particularly great to create a dedicated space for cleaning products or linens.

o   Design Consideration: Assess how best to maximise an eaves space- does adding shelving make it easier to access products, or is having an open cupboard more practical for storing larger items?

·       Does the space have existing recessed space? Use this to your advantage- could you fit a shower here and use the existing recessed area to create a shower alcove?

·       If there is ample space in the room, include a 150mm stud wall at the shower or basin to allow recessed shelving or an integrated mirror cabinet. This addition results in a small loss to circulation space but a large gain in storage at a useful height.

o   Design Consideration: What do you require from that storage- is it for small toiletries or to house large cleaning products that are heavy? These factors determine the size of the joinery and construction, which are key to consider at design stage.

The Vanity:

In a small bathroom a vanity can be both a design feature and a key storage area. We often find clients come to us with a ‘Pinterest’ aesthetic of wanting a freestanding basin on a stone or wood vanity – while these looks great, in a small space they can be impractical and hard to clean. Consider the following:

·       Fitting an integrated basin within a vanity that includes drawers/cupboard storage. This minimises extra surface cleaning and maximises storage potential.

·       With a vanity you need to consider how much it will impact the aesthetic of the bathroom and how practical it is- you will likely want products within reach so it’s best to choose a vanity that can store the required items.

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Tapware:

Do not underestimate the impact of great tapware. For many this is an afterthought, however smart tapware can really define a bathroom. For a small space it’s important to consider:

·       Can the basin tapware be wall-mounted? If possible, wall-mounted tapware allows more surface space, especially around a basin.

o   Design consideration: If you can’t include wall-mounted taps, select simple tapware that doesn’t take up too much space – such as a basin tap that has a combined hot/cold thermostatic valve.

·       Can you chase pipework? We would always advise chasing pipework for aesthetic reasons and to reduce extra boxing.

o   Design consideration: At the start the design process, we always pinpoint the existing plumbing routes and work within these limitations - especially the soil pipe (it is generally very expensive to change/alter pipework, so it’s best to design around it where possible).

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While minimal in sqm, a small bathroom has many considerations that need to be addressed both at design and onsite stages. A small space does not mean a shorter design time or fewer weeks onsite- it takes methodical project managing alongside creative designing to ensure the space both meets the brief and maximises the potential for the space.

A word on the building phase

It is natural to assume that a small room will be quick to renovate. However, the smaller the room, the fewer people can work in there at once. In a small bathroom, the different specialist trades will have to work one at a time to do strip-out, building work (e.g. new studwork or repairs), electrics, plumbing, tiling and decorating. So you should prepare for a timeline of several weeks.