Planning a bathroom that works for the whole family can be a tricky process. In a perfect world, we would all have one bathroom per family member, however, the majority of us have to settle for sharing just one bathroom between everyone.

Finding a design that works for both adults and children alike can seem like a daunting task. You’d love your bathroom to be a gorgeous, relaxing haven but, simultaneously, it also needs to be a safe, child-friendly space. How do you find that balance?

Well, on that note, here are our tips for designing the perfect family bathroom.

Safety First

If you’re blessed with small children, one of the first things on your mind is probably “How do I make sure the bathroom is safe enough?” Luckily, a few smart choices can make your bathroom child-friendly and help to keep your little ones from having any accidents.

Firstly, choose a toilet with a soft close toilet seat to eliminate any risk of tiny fingers getting caught in slammed seats. When choosing your bathroom fittings, selecting a suite with rounded edges rather than square can help your children avoid any painful bumps if they run into something.

Easy Clean

We all strive to keep our bathrooms clean and tidy. Unfortunately, in a shared family bathroom, this can be easier said than done. Regular use and frequent foot traffic can make cleaning your family bathroom feel like a never-ending task. However, there are design choices that can make the process slightly easier to manage.

We go on about wall panels quite a lot around here, but it’s because they really are a great option. Wall panels are a good choice if you want something low maintenance. They wipe clean with ease so there’s no tedious scrubbing required!

If you’re not keen on wall panels, however, tiles are still a great option. Large tiles are a good choice here as they have fewer grout lines to clean, so you can spend less time scrubbing walls with a toothbrush, and more time with the kids.

Walk in showers and wet rooms are both great options for family bathrooms. A walk in shower usually only has one glass screen, meaning less glass to keep clean. If you want something with even less maintenance, a wet room could be the best fit. No shower screen to scrub; simply wipe down the tiles (or wall panels) and you’re done.

Useful Bath

When it comes to family bathrooms, a bath is an essential, especially for families with small children. If you have space for it, a separate bath and shower can be super useful to have, however, if you don’t have the space for both or have a small bathroom, then a shower bath is a multi-purpose choice that’s great for families.

Whether you opt for a separate bath or a shower bath combination, one thing that is incredibly useful for families is a double-ended bath. These types of baths feature a central tap meaning that two children can be bathed at the same time, utilising both ends of the bath.

A handheld shower fixture is a convenient thing to have. A bath shower mixer tap is incredibly useful for bathing small children and washing hair. A shower slide rail kit is also important to have so your children can adjust the shower head height and angle to suit them as they grow over time. A thermostatic mixer shower is the best and safest choice of shower for family bathrooms. They work by mixing both the hot and cold water supply to create the perfect temperature, meaning there’s no risk of sudden fluctuating temperatures which could cause scalding.

Storage

If I could only give one tip for designing a family bathroom, it would be to add in storage space, and plenty of it. When a full family is sharing a bathroom, it can be easy for things to get messy and cluttered. Adding in lots of storage furniture can help to keep your bathroom looking neat and organised.

A basin vanity unit is a great way of keeping your essentials organised without using up any extra bathroom space. Housing both a storage solution and basin in one is a great way to both save and utilise space most effectively. If you have the room, then a double basin vanity unit is an excellent option and will omit the fights of who’s brushing their teeth first whilst getting ready in the morning!

An extra piece of storage furniture, like a tall storage unit, is also helpful for keeping everything tucked away and organised.

Shower baskets and caddies are useful to have in family bathrooms. We stock a wide range of caddies that are large enough to store toiletries for the whole family, with single, double and three-tiered caddies, all of which can be conveniently located in the shower or bath so you have everything to hand when you need it. Another good idea for those with younger children is to install separate shower baskets and use one for toiletries and another for the kids’ bath toys, keeping things organised, neat and tidy.

Heated Towel Rail

A heated towel rail is a worthwhile investment to add to your family bathroom; say goodbye to those infuriating piles of wet towels on the floor! Towel rails are available in tall sizes with a multitude of bars, allowing you to heat and store towels for the whole family. Heated towels rails also have the added benefit of keeping your bathroom cosy in the cold winter months.

Smaller Details

For finishing touches, add in some smaller items that will help to make the running of your family bathroom a lot easier. For example, a step stool can be a helpful addition for small children to help them reach a high basin.

If you’re tasked with trying to keep your bathroom tidy and find yourself constantly picking dirty clothes up off the floor, a laundry basket could be an invaluable addition.

When the whole family shares one bathroom, it can be tricky to stop the room from looking like a children’s bathroom, as opposed to an adult’s one. Swap out kids’ cartoon towels for colourful, but classic, towels that match your bathroom décor. A simple item like a towel basket can make the room look calm and organised amongst all the chaos.

Flooring Is Key

The type of bathroom flooring you choose can determine how safe the room is overall. Whilst you may want super fancy polished tiles for a luxurious look, they’re really not going to be practical for constant use by a family of all ages. Vinyl flooring is an effective and fuss-free way to achieve the look you want for less, in a family friendly way too. It’s water resistant and highly durable meaning it will stand the test of time, as well as being comfortable underfoot and slip-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about any falls onto a hard, tiled floor.

If you do wish to opt for tiles though, another useful tip is to go for textured floor tiles, as these can reduce chances of slipping on a wet floor.

So, there you have it, our tips for the designing the perfect family bathroom! What are your thoughts? Whilst you’re here, why not sign up to our newsletter below for further useful advice, information and exclusive deals straight to your inbox!