Key Dimensions to Help in Designing the Perfect Bathroom
Sinks, taps, tubs and toilet bowls come in various sizes so how do you pick the one right for your bath space?
Scene of our daily ablutions, the bathroom is a space where we crave calm and a sense of ritual. But creating this oasis can be challenging, especially in a small room. The secret is to choose fittings of an appropriate size and to locate each of these to best advantage. Here’s a guide to the dimensions and space needs relevant to each element, which will help you design a bathing idyll.
Double sink/vanity
If space allows, a double sink or a double basin vanity unit is a great addition to a busy bathroom. Depending on the design of the sink or vanity unit, you’ll need to allow between 150 to 180 centimetres for two sinks side by side.
Whatever sink you choose, you should allow at least 60 centimetres between the front of the sink and the wall or any other fitting opposite for passage.
If space allows, a double sink or a double basin vanity unit is a great addition to a busy bathroom. Depending on the design of the sink or vanity unit, you’ll need to allow between 150 to 180 centimetres for two sinks side by side.
Whatever sink you choose, you should allow at least 60 centimetres between the front of the sink and the wall or any other fitting opposite for passage.
Wall-mounted toilet
A toilet hung from the wall, and with a concealed cistern, brings a sense of space to any bathroom. Cleaning the floor is so much easier too.
You can vary the height of the pan to suit your personal taste, with a height of 50 centimetres above the floor a good average. Leave at least 15 centimetres between the bottom of the pan and the floor for easy mopping. The toilet pan will typically average about 52 centimetres in depth, in front of which you will need to leave at least 60 centimetres clear for passage.
Concealed cisterns typically measure 15 to 25 centimetres in depth, allowing for a handy shelf or even storage cupboards on top.
A toilet hung from the wall, and with a concealed cistern, brings a sense of space to any bathroom. Cleaning the floor is so much easier too.
You can vary the height of the pan to suit your personal taste, with a height of 50 centimetres above the floor a good average. Leave at least 15 centimetres between the bottom of the pan and the floor for easy mopping. The toilet pan will typically average about 52 centimetres in depth, in front of which you will need to leave at least 60 centimetres clear for passage.
Concealed cisterns typically measure 15 to 25 centimetres in depth, allowing for a handy shelf or even storage cupboards on top.
Floor-mounted toilet
Traditional toilets continue to improve in terms of design, with a large range of styles and sizes available.
Compact versions as small as 36 centimetres in width by 62 centimetres in depth are now available – great where space is at a premium. You’ll need to allow at least 20 centimetres each side of the toilet for ease of fitting and access.
Some floor-mounted toilets come with concealed cisterns also, as seen here. Contemporary concealed cisterns are accessed via the flush plate, eliminating the need to provide removable shelves or to dismantle the housing if ever there is a problem with the cistern.
Traditional toilets continue to improve in terms of design, with a large range of styles and sizes available.
Compact versions as small as 36 centimetres in width by 62 centimetres in depth are now available – great where space is at a premium. You’ll need to allow at least 20 centimetres each side of the toilet for ease of fitting and access.
Some floor-mounted toilets come with concealed cisterns also, as seen here. Contemporary concealed cisterns are accessed via the flush plate, eliminating the need to provide removable shelves or to dismantle the housing if ever there is a problem with the cistern.
Bath
The average bath measures 170 centimetres in length and 70 centimetres in width, but you will find a bath size to suit most bathroom shapes and sizes.
A bath 130 centimetres by 70 centimetres is no larger than a generous shower tray, but will allow the most die-hard bath fan a good soak in a compact bathroom.
Make sure to climb in and test how a bath suits you before you commit to purchase. Too deep or too short a tub can be annoying and completely spoil the bathing experience. A doubled-ended bath, as shown here, where the taps are in the middle, can be great for bathing small children – or for sharing!
Pick from 10 styles of bath tubs
The average bath measures 170 centimetres in length and 70 centimetres in width, but you will find a bath size to suit most bathroom shapes and sizes.
A bath 130 centimetres by 70 centimetres is no larger than a generous shower tray, but will allow the most die-hard bath fan a good soak in a compact bathroom.
Make sure to climb in and test how a bath suits you before you commit to purchase. Too deep or too short a tub can be annoying and completely spoil the bathing experience. A doubled-ended bath, as shown here, where the taps are in the middle, can be great for bathing small children – or for sharing!
Pick from 10 styles of bath tubs
Shower tray
The bigger the better nowadays when it comes to shower trays, but the reality is that anything less than a square 80 centimetres long will feel very cramped.
A quadrant tray, where one corner is rounded, can reduce the impact of the shower enclosure in a small room without compromising on the comfort in use.
A rectangular shower tray will provide the optimal showering experience and, depending on the location of the shower head, may even eliminate the need for a shower door. A tray at least 150 centimetres in length will be needed to achieve this. A fixed glass panel along the length of the tray, with a gap of at least 60 centimetres for access to the shower, can protect the room from splashes.
The bigger the better nowadays when it comes to shower trays, but the reality is that anything less than a square 80 centimetres long will feel very cramped.
A quadrant tray, where one corner is rounded, can reduce the impact of the shower enclosure in a small room without compromising on the comfort in use.
A rectangular shower tray will provide the optimal showering experience and, depending on the location of the shower head, may even eliminate the need for a shower door. A tray at least 150 centimetres in length will be needed to achieve this. A fixed glass panel along the length of the tray, with a gap of at least 60 centimetres for access to the shower, can protect the room from splashes.
Wet room
Advances in wet room technology have liberated us from the need for shower trays in many situations, with level-access shower solutions more and more achievable.
You’ll need to allow for a space at least 80 centimetres wide for showering, with any enclosure optimally 190 centimetres high.
Unless you have a very large space with the shower in a distinct zone, it is generally preferable to allow for glass, as here, or other panels to contain the shower water.
Which shower screen for you?
Advances in wet room technology have liberated us from the need for shower trays in many situations, with level-access shower solutions more and more achievable.
You’ll need to allow for a space at least 80 centimetres wide for showering, with any enclosure optimally 190 centimetres high.
Unless you have a very large space with the shower in a distinct zone, it is generally preferable to allow for glass, as here, or other panels to contain the shower water.
Which shower screen for you?
Storage
As with any room, plan your storage as part of your space layout from the start. Wall cabinets or vanity units with shallow shelves are always useful in a bathroom: shelves 12 centimetres deep will accommodate toilet rolls as well as most other bathroom supplies. A shelf depth of 45 centimetres is ideal for storing towels and other items of bathroom linen. Shelves shallower than this will work too, you’ll just need to fold your towels accordingly.
Adjustable shelves will be handy for housing a variety of contents, from short bottles to super-tall cleaning bottles. Under-sink drawers provide handy storage, too. With the flotsam and jetsam stored beautifully out of sight, your only task now is to set about enjoying your very own oasis of calm.
TELL US
What is your number one want when it comes to bathroom design perfection? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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9 Bathroom Renovation Questions To Ask Before You Start Hacking
As with any room, plan your storage as part of your space layout from the start. Wall cabinets or vanity units with shallow shelves are always useful in a bathroom: shelves 12 centimetres deep will accommodate toilet rolls as well as most other bathroom supplies. A shelf depth of 45 centimetres is ideal for storing towels and other items of bathroom linen. Shelves shallower than this will work too, you’ll just need to fold your towels accordingly.
Adjustable shelves will be handy for housing a variety of contents, from short bottles to super-tall cleaning bottles. Under-sink drawers provide handy storage, too. With the flotsam and jetsam stored beautifully out of sight, your only task now is to set about enjoying your very own oasis of calm.
TELL US
What is your number one want when it comes to bathroom design perfection? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
9 Bathroom Renovation Questions To Ask Before You Start Hacking
You’ll find an endless array of sink sizes and configurations, but a sink 50 to 60 centimetre-wide by 40 centimetre-deep will suit most family bathrooms perfectly. A sink as small as 45 centimetre-wide will work well for an en suite or smaller bathroom.
Where space is limited, you can fit the sink snug to a wall on one side but you’ll need to allow 20 centimetres between the sink and any other fitting.
A key consideration is to choose a tap with a spout appropriate to the design of the sink. For instance, a short spout on a flat-bottomed, large basin, as opposed to a basin with a slanted base, may lead to the sink-bed not being cleared properly after each use. This can lead to a build up of scum and grime. Choosing a tap with a longer spout that will be closer to the sink bottom can solve this as the water will be able to clear the waste better.
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