Part Two of Things to Consider Before Adding an Ensuite
In the second of our two-part guide, an architect reveals 7 more important things to consider when planning an ensuite
Are you planning on putting in a new ensuite, or perhaps upgrading the one you’ve got? The last thing you’ll want is to blow the budget or end up with a design that’s miles from the one you envisioned. In the second part of our two-part guide, architect Dominic Bagnato reveals another seven essential factors to consider before planning your perfect ensuite.
You can read the first part of the guide here.
You can read the first part of the guide here.
2. Make windows as big as you can
Ensuites are often designed adjacent to the side of house, so you can generally incorporate a window into the design. The sides of many homes are often the most private spaces because they usually face a wall or fence on the boundary line. If this is the case for you, rather than incorporate a small window into your ensuite, why not glaze an entire wall. Not only can this bring a touch of greenery into your ensuite, but it will also make a small space feel larger.
For a special touch, consider incorporating a sliding door into the glazed wall so you can step outside too.
Ensuites are often designed adjacent to the side of house, so you can generally incorporate a window into the design. The sides of many homes are often the most private spaces because they usually face a wall or fence on the boundary line. If this is the case for you, rather than incorporate a small window into your ensuite, why not glaze an entire wall. Not only can this bring a touch of greenery into your ensuite, but it will also make a small space feel larger.
For a special touch, consider incorporating a sliding door into the glazed wall so you can step outside too.
3. Don’t forget the power of good lighting
Strategically placed lighting is another way to make a compact ensuite feel bigger. Use LED strip lighting to bathe entire walls and floors with a soft, diffused light that resembles daylight. Add lighting to the top of a concealed bulkhead or beneath a vanity so it appears to float. These are all very effective methods of lighting a small ensuite.
Tip: Concealing the light source is a smart trick you might consider incorporating into your own ensuite design – you’ll find that it visually extends the space.
Strategically placed lighting is another way to make a compact ensuite feel bigger. Use LED strip lighting to bathe entire walls and floors with a soft, diffused light that resembles daylight. Add lighting to the top of a concealed bulkhead or beneath a vanity so it appears to float. These are all very effective methods of lighting a small ensuite.
Tip: Concealing the light source is a smart trick you might consider incorporating into your own ensuite design – you’ll find that it visually extends the space.
4. If space is tight, choose a sliding door
The door you choose for your ensuite will have a big impact not just on how big the space feels, but how comfortably you can move around in it. A hinged door that swings inwards will take away valuable floor space – fine if you have a large ensuite, but not ideal in a compact one. In this case, a door that slides into a hidden pocket in the wall is the best option.
Just bear in mind that you won’t be able to fix towel rails or other accessories to the back of a pocket door, as you would with a hinged door, or one that simply slides across a blank wall.
Tip: If your ensuite is dark, you might consider glazing the sliding door so you can ‘borrow’ light from the adjoining room. Frosted glass would also allow for a sense of privacy.
Get your sinks, mirrors, rails hung at the right height
The door you choose for your ensuite will have a big impact not just on how big the space feels, but how comfortably you can move around in it. A hinged door that swings inwards will take away valuable floor space – fine if you have a large ensuite, but not ideal in a compact one. In this case, a door that slides into a hidden pocket in the wall is the best option.
Just bear in mind that you won’t be able to fix towel rails or other accessories to the back of a pocket door, as you would with a hinged door, or one that simply slides across a blank wall.
Tip: If your ensuite is dark, you might consider glazing the sliding door so you can ‘borrow’ light from the adjoining room. Frosted glass would also allow for a sense of privacy.
Get your sinks, mirrors, rails hung at the right height
5. Think carefully about where you’ll locate accessories
As with any bathroom design, there will be a number of accessories you’ll need to add into your ensuite in order to make it a functional space. Towel rails, for instance, will need to be located near the shower and vanity.
If your ensuite has limited wall space, consider locating accessories in other spots such as the back of the door, above or around the toilet, or on the side of the vanity (perfect for installing a toilet roll holder or hand towel ring).
If you plan on installing accessories on the bathroom door, be sure to choose a solid-core style so that you can get secure fixings for the screws rather than having them fall off.
Tip: Make sure all your plumbing fixtures and accessories are finished in the one colour for a seamless look.
Things to consider when choosing your toilet
As with any bathroom design, there will be a number of accessories you’ll need to add into your ensuite in order to make it a functional space. Towel rails, for instance, will need to be located near the shower and vanity.
If your ensuite has limited wall space, consider locating accessories in other spots such as the back of the door, above or around the toilet, or on the side of the vanity (perfect for installing a toilet roll holder or hand towel ring).
If you plan on installing accessories on the bathroom door, be sure to choose a solid-core style so that you can get secure fixings for the screws rather than having them fall off.
Tip: Make sure all your plumbing fixtures and accessories are finished in the one colour for a seamless look.
Things to consider when choosing your toilet
6. Know the factors that affect cost
How much your ensuite costs will differ according to factors such as whether it’s part of a new build, or is being retrofitted into an existing home. If you are simply replacing fixtures and fittings in an existing room and leaving the layout and plumbing as is, this will be considerably cheaper than re-arranging the layout of the entire room or installing a brand new ensuite.
Other factors can have a big impact on cost too, including whether there is plumbing close to where you’re installing the new ensuite that you can simply tap into, or whether new plumbing needs to be put in. If you’re extending your home outside its current boundaries to accommodate the new ensuite, this will be another added expense.
Tip: When you start thinking about your new ensuite, make a list of all the fixtures and fittings that will be required on a piece of paper. Add three columns to the right of the list and call in three different quotes for each item. You have just created a blueprint budget for three different outcomes; usually a low-end, moderate, and luxury finish. A combination of all three is where most of us want our budgets to end up.
How much your ensuite costs will differ according to factors such as whether it’s part of a new build, or is being retrofitted into an existing home. If you are simply replacing fixtures and fittings in an existing room and leaving the layout and plumbing as is, this will be considerably cheaper than re-arranging the layout of the entire room or installing a brand new ensuite.
Other factors can have a big impact on cost too, including whether there is plumbing close to where you’re installing the new ensuite that you can simply tap into, or whether new plumbing needs to be put in. If you’re extending your home outside its current boundaries to accommodate the new ensuite, this will be another added expense.
Tip: When you start thinking about your new ensuite, make a list of all the fixtures and fittings that will be required on a piece of paper. Add three columns to the right of the list and call in three different quotes for each item. You have just created a blueprint budget for three different outcomes; usually a low-end, moderate, and luxury finish. A combination of all three is where most of us want our budgets to end up.
7. And be sure to ask yourself the right questions
When planning an ensuite, the most important thing to consider is which functions you need to take place in the space.
Once you’ve worked out which functions need to happen there, ask yourself:
When planning an ensuite, the most important thing to consider is which functions you need to take place in the space.
Once you’ve worked out which functions need to happen there, ask yourself:
- Do I need a large wall mirror or will it be more cost-effective, and just as practical, to hang one above the basin?
- What are my options for storage? If space is tight, would it be a good idea to mount the vanity on the wall so I can maximise floor space? Do I need to add in extra storage in the form of shelves, medicine cabinets or wall recesses?
- Should I have a vanity basin that is recessed into the cabinet, hung on the wall, or should I sit it on the bench and make a feature of it?
- Should I limit my tile finishes and colour selections? Will having less clutter streamline the ensuite and make it feel not only larger but also cleaner and more luxurious?
- What can I edit from the ensuite so it feels less cluttered and space is maximised?
TELL US
Do you have a new bathroom? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like this story, bookmark it, save the photos and join the conversation.
Do you have a new bathroom? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like this story, bookmark it, save the photos and join the conversation.
Choosing the same colour tiles for the floor and walls – even if they’re different shapes – will make a small ensuite feel much larger. If you can only tile walls to a certain height, consider painting the plaster above the tiled section in the same colour as the tiles.
Tip: If you love the look of stone but it’s out of your budget, consider an affordable ceramic tile that mimics the look and feel of stone.