10 Tips for Designing a Modern Bathroom

Did you know? The average person spends around a year and a half of their life in the bathroom.

Indeed for most Australians, the bathroom is the first and last place they visit every day. A place where they shower, brush their teeth, shave and remove makeup. Not to mention wash their face or put on their moisturiser.

It follows then that a bathroom should be an inviting and comfortable space that allows you to do all of these things without being inconvenienced.

However, for those in older homes, their outdated layout often isn’t conducive for them to do so. Which is why many people choose to renovate them.

Refurbishing a bathroom is not a project to take lightly. It includes everything from layout, plumbing and electrical work to choosing surface materials, cabinetry and fixtures and fittings. All of which require careful planning and consideration.

With so many variables, it can seem like a daunting proposition. So here are 10 tips for designing a modern bathroom you may find useful.

1. Decide on a suitable layout design

The first thing you need to do is decide on the most suitable bathroom layout design for your needs.

This is important because even the most palatial of bathrooms has configured water lines, vent stacks and plumbing drains.

Typically, bathroom plans are either one, two or three wet-wall layouts. So which one you choose will have a bearing on how your design will be.

As a rule, a one-wall layout sees the toilet, sink and shower feature along the same wall. It is the most cost-efficient of all types of bathroom design, although it is also quite limiting in terms of what you can do.

By contrast, a two-walled bathroom provides you with more flexibility as the toilet and sink can be plumbed to one wall while the shower and tub could be on another.

With the three-walled bathroom, you have even more options. Although it is the most expensive layout to set up and potentially a more complicated one too.

Whatever you choose, it is worth collaborating with an architect or certified and professional bathroom designer. Not only can they advise you on the best design for your space, but they will also help to avoid mistakes that might be costly.

 2. Consider the lighting

For any bathroom, lighting is very important. This includes natural lighting as well as artificial.

When designing your bathroom, try and incorporate at least one window or skylight.

It is also a good idea to have a large mirror with wall-mounted lights on either side of it around eye level. At least one of these lights should reside directly above it too. Doing this will illuminate your face completely and therefore get rid of any shadows in the room.

When it comes to choosing the general lighting for your bathroom, a great way to go is with fixtures that are ceiling-mounted.

Incorporating pendant lights or chandeliers create a space with plenty of atmosphere and style. While accent lights can showcase a particular architectural feature or collection.

Bathrooms that have tubs or enclosed showers generally need vapour-proof downlights that are enclosed.

3. Decide on the bathroom flooring

As well as being beautiful to look at the best bathroom floors should be durable, able to deal with water spills and have good anti-slipping measures.

Getting the balance right can be difficult. At the top end of the scale, stone tiles look amazing. But as they are usually highly polished, they can often be very slippery if they get wet.

By contrast, ceramic tiles are a very good option. Rated as ‘impervious’ to water they are very tough, long-lasting and easy to clean. Likewise, vinyl plank flooring is a good option too.

For inspiration, ArchiPro finishes have some excellent options to peruse.

If you live in a climate that gets colder during the winter months, you might want to install underfloor heating in your bathroom as well.

4. Choose your sink

Sinks are an important part of a bathroom as it is where you will wash your hands and face and brush your teeth.

There are lots of different sinks to choose from, including undermount, vessel, pedestal, console, wall-mounted and vanity.

Some of these are cheaper and easier to install than others. But much harder to clean. So make your choice wisely.

When it comes to material, stainless-steel sinks are becoming very popular in bathrooms. Not only are they less likely to stain when cleaned with household products, but they also resist heat much better and are less susceptible to dings and dents as well.

5. Decide on a tub

For many bathrooms, the tub is a statement piece and its central feature. Pick the right one and it can add a real ‘wow’ factor to the overall design.

Overall, there are two types of bathtubs you can choose from – freestanding or platform.

Freestanding bathtubs tend to have a pedestal base, traditional claw and ball feet or are straight-sided and streamlined to produce a sculpture-like effect.

By contrast, a platform bathtub usually is placed into a boxed type of structure and has an exterior that appears unfinished.

It also has a decking which typically consists of materials like marble, limestone or tile that are waterproof. While its sides are either covered in a matching material or wood panelling.

Regardless of the design you go for, you can choose to heighten your pleasure with a tub that offers either a whirlpool or soaking-style experience.

6. Pick a shower

If you are not a bath person, then the type of shower you choose will be very important to you.

The first thing you will need to do is work out how big you want the shower to be. Does it need to be a one- or two-person space? 

Once you have decided on this, you can choose the type you want.

Overall deluxe showers are a great choice, as they replicate the kind of experience you get in a luxury spa hotel, so if you can incorporate that all the better.

There are several different styles of shower heads you can choose from, including rain showers that are ceiling-mounted and vertical, angled body sprays that provide a nice watery massage.

If that is not something that you can stretch to, handheld showers are much cheaper and provide you with an easy way to rinse off the soap, wash your hair or the cubicle space out.

To prevent water spraying on the floor, you will need a shower curtain. Although if you can finance it, a sleek glass, frameless door is a terrific way to show off your tiles.

7. Select your cabinets

Back in the day, many bathrooms only used to have a single sink vanity. But now there are plenty of options to choose from.

These include everything from cabinets that are wall mounted to custom-made storage units and double-sink vanities.

Merging style and function, they now represent statement pieces that can be modern, funky, traditional, retro or vintage.

Just like with kitchen cabinets, the bathroom varieties can be specially made or a stock unit. Both of these come in a range of materials, finishes, sizes and styles that determine their price.

8. Luxury touches

If you really want to create a bathroom you are proud of you will need to give thought to all those luxury touches.

There are plenty of places you can gain inspiration from including TV, YouTube, magazine and websites like Pinterest.

Have a good look around at what features other people have included within their bathrooms and incorporate them within your design.

Little touches like a Bluetooth sound system, a mini bar fridge by the tub, a TV and even a gas fireplace can elevate your bathroom from something quite dull to something incredible.

9. Colour scheme

The colour scheme of your bathroom is very important as it will create the mood you want.

Choosing it is something you should really take your time to decide on, as different colours can make a space look completely different.

Certain colours have the effect of soothing, relaxing and reinvigorating, which can either wake you up or help you to wind down.

When you come to pick the colours for your bathroom, just be mindful that when creating a scheme, the colour comes from everything from the wall, fabrics and tiles to the sink, tub and cabinetry.

Just make sure they all compliment each other.

10. Bathroom Window Treatments

In general, bathrooms are comprised of hard surfaces. So furnishing the windows with fabric enables you to add softness to the room as well as absorb sound.

Doing this is also an excellent way to feature patterns or colours on walls that are a neutral shade.

When selecting the window treatment, you should take into account how much privacy they will give you. Make sure they are also resistant to humidity and moisture and that they are easy to open and close.

Often blinds, shutters or shades are the most popular solutions. All of which come in a myriad of styles.