There are a lot of demands placed on a family bathroom. Not only does it need to be functional for all the family, it might also need to provide a safe environment to bathe small children, a sanctuary for mum, a quiet plate for dad to shave, and somewhere for teenagers to escape the parents. And if elderly relatives live in the house, the bathroom also needs to be adaptable to their mobility needs.
The biggest challenge when creating any family bathroom is space. Often you can create more room by measuring up and checking whether the existing plumbing could be moved around, but this isn’t always possible and maybe governed by Building Regulations.
Planning is essential at the design stage and if you’re working from a blank canvas, you have the flexibility to consider some critical measurements when it comes to spacing out the suite. For example, you could look at making sure there’s enough room for mum to sit by the bath when bathing the children, or room for a stool by the basin so that the children can reach the taps, or an elderly relative can sit down while they brush their teeth.
Focal point
The bath is still central to family life, especially if there are small children who need to be bashed every night. It’s also high on the wish-list for adults who are looking for somewhere to relax so the bigger the bath, the better. Mounting the taps onto the wall rather than the deck of the bath will allow more space for the children to splash about and will create more of a spa look for mum. Fitting a bath shower mixer is also ideal for washing the children’s hair.
The bath will obviously take up the most space but you can compensate by installing a wall-hung WC and basin. Not only do these create more space by being off the floor, they are also easier to clean around and can be positioned at a height to suit your customer. If space allows, then two basins are highly practical for families. They’re also very fashionable at the moment. Our contemporary Zaar collection features a choice of wall hung basins, including a space-saving model which measures just 470 x480mm with a matching wall-hung WC and cistern.
Aside from space, the other key element to a family bathroom is storage and there are plenty of floor mounted or wall hung systems now available that will fit comfortably into even the smallest of bathrooms. Heritage’s Fresso range is available in a choice of four finishes and can be used to create a fitted look, as stand-alone furniture for use with a
vessel basin, or ass combined wall-hung vanity unit and a floor-standing WC unit.
Shower options
So, what about the shower? In an ideal world and with enough space, most people would love to fit a shower cubicle or Wet room, but considering the average UK bathroom is around 2.7 x 3.3m, this is a luxury few can achieve.
The alternative, and the most popular option, is to fit a shower over the bath. When specifying the shower it’s important to ensure that it is a thermostatic model that will protect the family from the risk of scalding or cold water shock. It’s also worth specifying a model that includes an adjustable riser rail so that the height of the shower head itself can be adjusted for all members of the family. Operating controls should have clear markings on them — remember that people don’t wear glasses in the shower — and opt for a shower valve with a lever handle that is easily gripped and operated.
When it comes to specifying the taps and mixers look for models with long lever controls and a quarter turn ceramic disc. Not only are these easier to use than cross head models but the ceramic disc will help prolong the life of the tap.
Finally, ensure that any accessories like the loo roll are hung in a position that everyone can reach and fit ‘clicker’ wastes that are easier to use than standard plugs. Soft closing loo seats are also a little touch of luxury that won’t trap small fingers.
