Bathroom Planning - The Basics You Need to Know

To a plumber, the difference between one bathroom and another is a matter of degrees; some baths are bigger, some have more fixtures, but in the end, everything flows downhill. Get the fresh water in, get the wastewater out - mission accomplished.

But planning a bathroom is much more than just connecting the pipes. There are many possible configurations and types of baths and a large number of finishes and fixtures to select. And it's one of the most expensive rooms in the house.

We all know what a bathroom is used for - that hasn't changed - but baths today are designed for specific users. In today's homes the "masters" of the house usually have a private luxury bath, and their children often have baths of their own. Another bath may be set aside for guest use, and if the home has a lower-level recreation room, there will probably be a conveniently located bath to go with it too.

The Muck Stops Here You probably didn't' grow up in a house with a utility bath but your mom wishes you did - it's the bath that comes between the muddy kids and mom's nice, clean floors and gives dad a place to wash his golf clubs (other than in the kitchen sink). Ideally, the utility bath is part of a family entry/mud room area, probably between the garage and the kitchen. It's also often combined with the laundry room - the basin can do double duty as a washtub. A toilet and a basin are the only necessary fixtures; add a small shower if you're a frequent gardener or if your kids often find their way to the creek in the backyard.

Two Kids, One Pail Of Water Upstairs baths come in a wide variety of configurations. The basic "hall bath" has a sink, toilet, and tub and is accessed by two or more bedrooms through a common hallway. A hall bath can be as small as 5 feet wide by 8 feet long.

But because the hall bath has all of the fixtures in one room, only one person can use it at a time. A better solution is the compartmentalized bath - a slightly larger version of the hall bath that places one or two basins in a separate room from the toilet and tub. Now one teenager can use the tub or toilet in privacy while another uses the basin. It's a far more family-friendly arrangement and doesn't take up much more space.

Separate baths for each bedroom are the ultimate in convenience and privacy, but nearly as good is the "Jack-and-Jill" bath. Young Jack and young Jill share a common tub and toilet, but each has a private basin, countertop, storage drawers, and mirror. Usually that basin is accessible directly from the bedroom and provides a private dressing and grooming area for each child. It's a great way to keep teenagers from fighting over the basin and countertop space without the expense of two separate baths.

Domain of the Master The big whirlpool bathtub was the centerpiece of the luxury "master bath" just a few years ago, but in many designs its' prominent place is challenged by the luxury shower. In fact, we've recently been asked to design several new homes with a big shower but no tub at all in the master bath. It's a bit unusual, but why install a tub you'll never use?

The large showers we're designing in homes today are hard to beat for relaxation. Most have multiple showerheads and body-spray fixtures; all have large built-in bench seats. A few have steam units and built-in media centers.

The greatest luxuries in these baths are privacy and personal space, so every luxury bath has a separate basin and countertop space for each of the owners. They're occasionally side-by-side but often they're completely separated from each other. Every luxury bath must also have a private toilet room - an absolutely essential feature if more than one person is to use the bath simultaneously.

American Standards It wasn't long ago that the average American home had no more than two baths - one upstairs and one down - but as the size of homes has grown, so has the number and complexity of baths. It's not uncommon today to find four or five baths in a home, each one dedicated to a specific occupant or specific use. Careful consideration of who's using which bath will help to make your home more convenient and comfortable for everyone in it. Even the plumber.