Bathroom furniture placement is one of the foundational design elements of a bathroom design. The layout of a bathroom will dictate the level of comfort and accessibility in the space. When it comes to bathroom furniture, various things need to be taken into consideration. With so many different pieces of furniture to consider, several different possibilities come to the forefront. This guide will go over everything you should know about optimizing your furniture placement in your specific bathroom design.
Start With the Most Important Areas of your Bathroom
Most bathrooms will have the same priorities in terms of what the most used areas are. In general, these areas will be the bathroom vanity area, shower area and the toilet area. Each of these three areas must be individually optimized. However, they also must be optimized in terms of placement. In a typical bathroom design, you will notice several trends that are shared in various designs.
For starters, you may want to start with the location of your shower/bathtub area. Because this area is typically one of the largest, it wouldn’t hurt to begin here. Another important place you may want to begin with is your bathroom vanity area. Your bathroom vanity area is perhaps the most used area of your bathroom design. Because of this, it should be in a very comfortable and accessible location. If you start here, you may find it easier to build around the vanity and create a beautifully designed bathroom.
Importance of Proper Bathroom Vanity Placement
As mentioned previously, the bathroom vanity area is one of the most important places in a design. There are several reasons as to why this is. First of all, it is the area in which you will be doing most of your daily tasks in terms of your bathroom routine. Brushing your teeth, washing your hands, brushing your hair and several other things will be done in the vanity area. Because of this, vanity placement will need to be optimized and prioritized.
In general, a bathroom vanity will be either the first and last place you visit every time you use the bathroom. Placing it in a comfortable spot will help you build around the rest of the bathroom design. There are a few things you should note before choosing a location, other than comfort however. First, make sure your plumbing is in order. Proper plumbing access is key. Second, make sure there is room for your other fixtures next to your vanity, depending on the size of the bathroom.
Where to Place a Shower or Bathtub
Aside from your bathroom vanity area, your shower or bathtub must also be placed in a convenient and practical location. In most bathroom designs, a shower or bathtub will be towards the opposite end of the floor plan. This is mainly for reasons of safety and convenience. In addition, the shower or bathtub should have enough space for itself to ensure everything can function properly.
There are some other things to consider as well when it comes to placement of a shower or bathtub. You should always make sure there is enough space in front of the shower or bathtub in order to optimize safety and accessibility. This will allow you to implement several accessories or items that will benefit the area. These items include things such as grab bars, bath mats and other items that can help optimize the area as a whole.
Implementing Storage Optimally in a Bathroom
Every healthy bathroom design will require sufficient storage capabilities. However, it can often be difficult to include storage depending on the layout of the design. Luckily, there are several unique and effective ways to make sure your storage is placed optimally in your bathroom. First of all, try to maximize your storage in a minimalist way. This can be done through several methods. Try options such as bathroom shelves, bathroom hooks and other simple storage solutions. These will be some of your best options if you have a smaller bathroom space.
If you have a larger bathroom, you will have a few more options. However, you should still try to keep your storage relatively minimal. Recessed storage solutions can be some of the most efficient and effective options in this regard. In addition, you can utilize stand alone storage units or vanities to add some great storage options. In terms of placement, your storage should be out of the way of your main bathroom fixtures, while still being easily accessible.
Additional Pieces of Furniture to Consider
Bathroom furniture comes in a variety of different forms, each of which offers unique benefits to a design. For starters, larger bathrooms will almost always benefit from some type of seating. Seating can be extremely rewarding in a bathroom and can come in a variety of different forms. If you have the space, consider implementing a small bench in the corner or an open area of your bathroom. This can offer your design a convenient source of comfort and style. In addition, benches can add a high level of uniqueness to a bathroom design as well.
Other types of bathroom seating are available as well. For example, shower seating can not only be great for convenience, but sometimes necessary for safety. Shower seats can be mounted on a wall in the shower or come in freestanding options that you can remove from the shower at your convenience. In terms of placement, seating should be accessible but out of the way for the most part. If you can place your seating against a wall, that will be the best option depending on your design.
Mirror Placement is Incredibly Important
A bathroom mirror is one of the staple fixtures in a bathroom design. However, the placement of your mirrors is probably more important than you might think. First of all, your bathroom vanity needs a proper mirror. Bathroom vanity mirrors should match the length of your bathroom vanity. For example, a 30” vanity should be paired with a 30” mirror. The height of the mirror will depend on your personal preferences in most cases. However, it should always be big enough to comfortably see a high quality reflection.
In addition to vanity mirrors, other types of mirrors can be used in a bathroom as well, and need to be placed in appropriate locations. Bathroom wall mirrors have several amazing benefits to a bathroom design. First of all, they offer a level of convenience and functionality. Secondly, they can be used to make a small bathroom feel larger. However, to accomplish this, you must place them properly. Typically, bathroom mirrors will be placed on opposite walls in order to create the illusion of a larger space.
Why Bathroom Accessory Placement Matters
Bathroom accessories may not be the largest pieces of a bathroom design, but they can have just as big an impact. The category of bathroom accessories encompasses various beneficial items. The main bathroom accessories you should have include items such as soap dispensers, towel bars, toilet paper holders and other similar necessary bathroom accessories. Although these accessories are generally smaller than other pieces of bathroom furniture, they should still be placed optimally.
Accessibility is key with bathroom accessories, so it is important they are placed in convenient areas. Certain areas will work best for certain types of bathroom accessories. For example, the most common place for a towel bar will be opposite your bathroom vanity or adjacent to your shower area, depending on the type of layout you have. Another example would be a toilet paper holder. Toilet paper holders should be mounted adjacent to the toilet, whether it is mounted on a surface or freestanding.