Critique family bathroom layout

[Reno2025]

Please could you help me with my family bathroom layout ?

Ideally, I would like a separate shower unit and bath.

Thank you

How do you get into the shower? Can’t work out how the shower screen works!

Main thing missing is storage - where do you keep the washbags, spare shampoo for when one runs out, spare toothbrush heads etc? Spare loo roll? And is there a radiator or towel rail for your towels?

Somewhere to charge electric toothbrushes?

Basically it looks great though. Lots of space!

Thanks Talip.
I am not good at using the online design app.

The shower should be on the opposite side of where it is in the drawing.
The sliding door to the shower will be on the right side facing the enclosure.
Towel rail could be just before the window as you enter or under the window
Storage will be in the free standing vanity unit.
Electric toothbrush charger will be left next to the vanity unit.

If that’s enough space for you all under the vanity unit, then it looks good. You could have a slim unit between the door and the shower cubicle if you wanted - we keep toothbrush chargers and toothbrushes in a wall cabinet to keep them out of the way and tidy,

I wouldn't put the basin opposite the window - you'll be annoyingly backlit whenever you look in the mirror during the day.

Thanks @Talipesmum I have added the radiator and a tall unit as you suggested

@WartOrNot I wonder if the obscure window will reduce the backlit ?

I don't like the toilet opposite the door personally as it means when the door is open you immediately see the loo, also it feels more exposing somehow. I agree the thing about being backlit at the sink by the window.

It all looks oddly squashy up on one side.

I'd starting at the door and working counter clockwise, I'd have

• bath under the window
• basin in the middle of the bottom wall with a unit beside providing extra countertop and storage
• loo in the bottom left corner
• towel rail middle of the left wall
• shower where it is now. Near the towel rail so you can grab a towel easily.

Can you try drawing that up?

I agree and came to say the same thing!

Where is the soil stack? Moving plumbing around is expensive. Are you going for free standing or wall hung sanitaryware as that will affect your dimensions.

I doubt it, @Reno2025. The obscuring is designed to create privacy without reducing light.

Presuming that the toilet has to be in that position beside of the soil stack, I would swap basin and bath. Personally, I'm not bothered about the toilet being opposite the door. Surely the door is shut, locked, even- who's coming in while you're on the loo? Besides, the smallest item being opposite the door creates a sense of space as you enter.

I don't know what the dimensions of your bath and shower are. If there's enough spaces at the end of the bath (in my layout) I would rotate the shower 90deg. If not, then what I would do depends on how much space there is.

If it's ~20cm, I would build a bulkhead ~90cm tall across the wall opposite the door, bringing toilet, basin and bath forward until the bath touches the shower. That would create a Very Useful Shelf running the width of the bathroom, at exactly the location where you need the most stuff.

If it's large enough, I would put the towel rail there. I never understand bathrooms where the total location is away from the wettest location. What's the point? Do you drip your chilly way over to it when you get out of the bath or shower? Or do you have to find a place to put your towel while you're washing? I'd much rather have a warm, dry towel hang up next to me, ready to grab as soon as I'm done.

The yellow line is a towel bar by the basin.

Are you committed to freestanding? Putting toilet and basin in a unit would create a lot of storage.

@unsync I think the soil stack is at the bottom left; I will check with the plumber. The sanitaryware is freestanding.

@parietal thanks for your suggestion, I will update the drawing.

@Hemlocked and @ChaosAndCuddlesAndTeacups thanks

I'd go with this too. But yes also would check where existing plumbing is and try to stick with that.

I like @WartOrNot’s version. With the original I would end up walking in to the corner of the bath when I got off the loo to wash my hands. If you have a vanity under the sink, you can keep spare toilet rolls and sanitary product there within easy reach.

As you are planning - find out where the soil stack is and work round that. It would be great to have the toilet not visible from the open door. (I have it visible in my house - which means as I walk up the stairs I can see the toilet seat lifted 🤦‍♀️)

@WartOrNot , very good suggestions. The bath will be about 1700mm by 750mm and the shower tray is 1200mm by 800mm so very little space left (only about 150mm left) between bath and shower. I like the idea of bulkhead but I don't think there is space for it.

If there is a very small space between shower and bath (ie leaving if difficult to clean, and easy to loose things down), I’d be tempted to build the together - so have wall between them (which could then have niches in it for storage)

Have you considered having a wet area with the shower and the bath?
It’s a tad more expensive but a better use of space. You can add a D-shape bath against the wall and the shower next to it and use a shower screen.
That will allow you to put in a large vanity and toilet in a more private position.
Redoing the plumbing may not be as expensive as you might think.

Fabulously big bathroom by my standards!
I think you need two heated towel rails as is family bathroom size.
I suggest another, maybe goes above the bath.
White towel rails are 30% more heat efficient than chrome ones.
Also, bath taps. If this is a double ended bath, you don't need to put them in the middle. Choose one side and have them mounted. Nothing worse than having the hot water pour on your tummy when you top up.

Thanks @InsertUsernameHere

@MH0084 wet area with shower and baths sounds amazing. I will speak to the plumber about it.

@Mum5net 2 towel radiators is a great idea. It's a double ended bath and will be against the wall.

I have a double sided 1800 x 800 bath against window wall. The four piece tap arrangement at my toes works well. The extra towel rail is used by DH solely. I have 30 cm between shower and bath.

Thanks @parietal , I have attached your suggested layout. It looks good

R corner baths in or out at the moment?

my personal choice would be a corner bath where you had the toilet, then work left to the next corner with a big corner shower, the next corner the toilet, then the sink near the door.

now I see the picture, I'd suggest rotating the shower by 90deg so there isn't a narrow bit between bath and shower. then the towel rail could probably go on the other side of the shower.

and I'd either have the basin touch the bath or fill the gap with another cupboard unit - no point in having a 15cm space that just gathers dust

And a rounded corner on edge of chosen bath, rather than sharp corner that sketch displays

@parietal I have attached the new layout