Once simply a utilitarian space in most homes, today’s bathroom is luxurious and inviting. This is especially true for the master bath – a sanctuary that homeowners retreat to at the end of the day. Whether you are building a custom home or renovating your master bath, it’s a good idea to put some thought into the design plan. Here are a few things to consider as you’re making your decision.
The Bathtub
Large, luxurious ensuite bathrooms often have a tub, but that doesn’t mean they have to. Many homeowners are forgoing the tub to save space for a smaller footprint bathroom. They might also choose not to have the tub and instead, add a larger shower or one with more features. Carefully think about how you use your bathroom before adding a tub. If you’re a person who loves long soaks in the tub, it’s probably a necessity. However, if you’re a person who looks at your tub more than you sit in it, consider skipping this feature.
Shower Enhancements
Whether your choose to skip the tub or not, there are many reasons to give careful consideration to your shower space. Most homeowners use their shower more than their tub, so having things like body jets, an overhead rain shower head, seamless glass, ornate tiles and convenience features like a shelf to put your soap and shampoo on makes sense. Give some thought to how large you would like your shower to be, and also consider whether you want a design where there is no step in. This makes a lot of sense especially if you’re growing older and starting to think about aging in place in your home.
Organization
In addition to bathing and showering, a main purpose of a bathroom is to have a place to store personal care items that you use every day. In order to create a functional space, it is important to think about organization in your bathroom. Open shelves, a medicine cabinet that is recessed into the wall and custom built cabinets are excellent additions for this purpose. Some homeowners prefer drawers to cabinets, as they can be easier to organize depending on the types of times you want to store in the space. Remember that you also need a place to store towels. A linen closet, some larger shelving, towel bars or oversized baskets on the floor can all be used for this purpose.
Flooring
Flooring is a sometimes forgotten feature in a bathroom, but it’s a large decorative element and also important for comfort and safety. Tile is the traditional choice for most bathrooms, but if your design is more modern, you could consider concrete, cork or even bamboo. If you choose tiles and are working with a smaller space, consider keeping the tiles consistent on the floors, walls and in your shower. This can help your space to feel larger. Radiant heating is another option to consider for your bathroom floors, as it helps to make the space more comfortable in the cooler winter months.
Alair Homes Orillia welcomes the opportunity to help you design the bathroom of your dreams. If you’re considering a renovation or in the process of planning your custom built home design, contact us to schedule a consultation.