You're ready to embark on a bath remodel, but what's your motivation? Is the room out of date, or have you reached the point where the shower no longer functions and the vanity door is falling off? Maybe you're tired of fighting for space at a single sink. Whatever the reason, a bath remodel breathes new life into the room and your day-to-day routine.

The foundation for any bath design is the layout, which has to be considered before you start looking at vanity styles and tile selections. The layout brings together where you'll position key fixtures, the location of plumbing, the distance between each item, and traffic flow. It's the difference between an efficient bath and one where you can't open the vanity cabinet and the door at the same time.

Get to Know Your Space

Before anything else, look at the existing bath in terms of size, shape, and layout. What do you like, and what don't you? Is it big enough? Could you move a wall or extend the space? Try to envision your ideal layout. Do you wish you had a freestanding tub under the window rather than a standard tub against a blank wall? Be creative and try to picture the space you want, not just what you have.

Consider Who Will Use the Space

Is this a primary bath remodel for two adults, a family bathroom, a guest bath, or a powder room? This may influence whether you include multiple sinks and vanities, a separate shower and bath, or how much storage you need. Think about the age of the people using the bathroom and whether you're designing to age in place. If so, consider wider doorways and prioritize a large open shower instead of a bathtub.

Can You Move the Plumbing?

As you create your ideal layout, look at whether existing plumbing supports the plan. Moving plumbing, like extending a wall, increases the budget. An experienced designer will help you find the best layout for your needs and make sure it meets building requirements.

Privacy

If your bathroom is large enough, consider a separate toilet compartment. If you don't have space, or it would divide the room too much, add a half-wall divider or at least position the toilet so it's not in direct line of sight when the door opens. We dig into toilet placement in our toilet guide.

Budget

Some plans aren't possible without budget room. Bumping out walls, changing plumbing, and moving fixtures all add value but add cost. Be prepared to see the dollar figures increase, or scale back the proposed changes. If your budget is more limited, pick one thing to change that improves the layout most.

Talk through bath layout with a designer

If you're planning a bath and want to think through the layout before picking finishes, we'd love to talk.

Schedule a showroom visit at our 5,000 square foot showroom in Norwell. No pressure, just a real conversation about your home.

Transitions Kitchens, Baths & Remodeling
433 Washington St, Norwell, MA
(781) 871-0881