Bathroom layout confusion

[kuime]

Hoping to crowd source an answer to a bathroom layout question that I’ve been trying to resolve for months! We’ve booked a renovation for start of next year so need to decide soon.

We currently have a separate shower and bath, but the shower cubicle is tiny and stressful to use. I would ideally have a separate shower and bath (who wouldn’t!) but not sure if we have the space to do it without it feeling really cramped. So a shower over bath with more room for storage (currently minimal) could be better.

The room is 190cm by 160cm, plus an additional 65cm x 35cm door recess. Rubbish floor plan attached!

Would you have a separate shower and bath in this room or go shower over bath? And what layout for each? Grateful for any views!

i might consider something a bit like this. So very similar to the current layout, but just make the bath 10cm shorter and have the shower a bit bigger in the direction of the door, with a curved shower door. then there is space for a 60cm vanity between bath and shower.

this keeps all the plumbing in the same place which is cheaper and easier. and you still get a decent floor space in the middle.

Oh gawd no never put a toilet in front of a window. Frosted glass doesn't stop silhouettes even in daylight, trust me on that.

@titchy that’s encouraging! And yours is similar dimensions?

@My20sportraitlady no, ours looks wider than that so maybe wouldn’t be such a squeeze.

Similar yes - boxed in soil pipe at end of bath is about 20cm, so most of room is wider, but we don’t have that door alcove. The sink is very large - given your width is less than ours I’d get a smaller sink. Photo may take a while to upload but hope it helps.

I too was going suggest changing the door to swing into the hall, but you said it wouldn't work.

Our previously property had a shower within the bath. Fine in our 20's/30's in my mid 40's my knees started to feel it.

We recently moved and renovated and 1 bathroom didn't have the length/space for a regular bath, so we got a Japanese style one like this. One of these styles might fit so you can maintain a separate shower and bath. https://www.cabuchon.com/product/nirvana-deep-soaking-tub/

I shower 90% of the time, but its absolutely lovely to soak up to your neck when I do have a bath.

But if you make the door a pocket door it will give you a lot more space!

We have a wet room style shower room but it has a large glass panel rather than no screen at all, I would also have a very low profile shower tray rather than no tray at all. Solves the grout issue you have if you just have tiles.

You could have a full height ladder towel radiator behind the door as that is wasted space. We have a towel store on the wall for holding rolled up clean towels. Provides a pop of colour and takes up little space.

My thoughts exactly!

OP, there are also apps that let you plan and visualize things, you can use one of them to upload your plan and build a model to move things around and find a better fit. Here is a bathroom planning tool than might help, especially if your designer doesn't do a great job suggesting layouts that would work for you.

Ha fair point!

Ours is almost the same as your original except the sink is opposite the bath beside the towel rail and the shower cubicle extends to the edge of the bath, that would make the shower cubicle bigger. Or how about a wet room so the shower isn't enclosed at all? Hopefully the whole room wouldn't get wet!

The door alcove doesn’t look big enough for the door to open fully, is that right?

If so then my suggestion would be to move the door to the right and put the basin in the alcove. Then you can have a bigger shower. If you can make the door a sliding door, even better so it’s not in the way of shower or basin.

Depends where the window looks out onto, ours is just opposite a blank wall so no one looking in, I would be more worried about walking about naked in there if the window is a problem.

OP are you able to add measurements to your drawing?
I designed a bathroom which is like in tithcy's photo, with the towel rail on the left behind the door.
I agree a sliding door could help here but easier to tell with measurements included.
I would avoid a shower over the bath, worst of both worlds IME.

Having looked at the dimensions again I don’t think Op has room for both basin and loo next to the bath anyway

I had the wet area shower and bath together in a previous home in our en-suite and it worked great. You can also get a freestanding tub, as it’s really easy to clean under in a wet area, just use the hand held shower bit.

In my current home I have walk in showers with the same glass in the bathrooms. Find it looks better than a shower cubicle and is easier to clean

A little more pricey in plumbing terms but
Moving the WC and Whb nearer the door because they are the most used facilities
Placing bulky fittings away from the door creates more useable turnaround space and creates a perception of more space as you enter

@kuime
You don’t need that much space between WC and Whb

Heres some space standards

Ps. Ignore the transfer space to the left of the WC in the standards. That’s only for a disabled person

Thanks so much everyone for all your input! Really helpful suggestions. @titchy your photo is v encouraging as that looks like plenty of space.

I also like the idea of moving basin and loo closer to the door and maybe combining that with a wet room style shower / bath area. Think I’d still want the area screened off a bit but can see how that would make everything feel more spacious.

Few comments about the door. No, it doesn’t have space to open fully and there is no space in the alcove for a towel rail or similar unfortunately. I’m not that tempted to change door position or even style tbh. The house is Victorian and I’m not sure a sliding door would look right.

Overall think I do need to get on a design site and play around - thanks for link @itsalwayssunnyhere and @DrPrunesqualer for those space standards. I’ll aim to do a few plans next weekend and update here for more wisdom!

also @RandomMess you mentioned having a low profile shower tray to avoid grout issue even if going wet room style - do you mean cos the grout always gets grotty? I love the look of stone tiles for a walk in but also hate scrubbing grout!

I would go with a shower over the bath. I've had a separate shower and claw footed bath (big mistake). But the separate shower was huge. I'm only small but I struggle in small showers. I've also had a shower over a bath and it was really good.

I would go with shower over bath. We have a P shaped bath with a curved glass shower screen, it’s plenty big enough. I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen it myself but it works. Spend your money on a decent shower with good water pressure.

The slimline tray is because it’s warmer, no bloody grout and the water drains away quicker.