Bathroom Floor Plan Tips

Bathroom renovation can be a daunting task. There are many considerations to be made, such as: square footage, plumbing placement, and desired design style. Also important to evaluate are your personal style and requirements. This is an opportunity to customize your bathroom to your tastes and needs. If you enjoy soaking in a tub, choose one that allows for that. If your bathroom will serve more that one person, consider dual sinks. Always seem to be running out of counter space? Choose a vanity that has ample surface area or ponder shelving and cabinetry options.

Before you start shopping, however, you’ll need to plot out the amount of space with which you have to work. Below are some common tips to make sure your tub, shower, vanity, toilet, and storage will fit in your bathroom space.

Bathtub Placement

Questions to ask about bathtub placement:

• Will the tub line up with the valves and the drain location?
• Will the tub fit through your doors, stairwells, etc as the tub travels to its final location?
• Will additional framing adjustments be required for your new tub?

Bathtub Tips

You will need at least 21 inches of clear space for getting in and out of the tub.

Shower Placement and Sizing

Questions to ask about shower placement:

• Will the shower line up with the valves and the drain location?
• If the door swings, will it open so you can easily get in and out?

Shower Tips

• Make sure a 30” diameter circle will easily fit in your shower stall.
• You will need 24 inches of clear space for getting in and out of the shower.

Do you prefer to combine your shower and bath? This can be a space-saving option for many floor plans.

Vanity Placement and Sizing

Questions to ask about bathroom vanity placement:

• Will you be able to easily access the bathroom door, toilet, tub, shower, and storage drawers and cabinets?
• Will the drawers and doors open all the way without hitting fixtures?

Bathroom Vanity Tips

• For a single vanity, just make sure that you can align it well with your existing plumbing.
• For a double vanity, make sure that the plumbing locations will not impede your drawers and cabinet space. You will also want at least 36 inches between your sink centers.
• For a vanity top, make sure it hangs over the front and sides to prevent water from running into your cabinetry.
• For a wall hung vanity, you will need 4 inches of clear space on either side.

Carefully consider how much storage, counter, and sink space you will need.

Toilet Placement

Questions to ask about toilet placement:

• Do you need a smaller toilet? If so, consider the round style.
• If you choose the newer, longer models, you’ll need more clearance room in front of the toilet.
• Which rough-in will you need? 10”, 12”, or 14”? The rough-in is measured from the wall to the center of the drain bolts.

Toilet Tips

• Make sure that you have 30 inches of space to fit the toilet. It is recommended by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) that you have 18 inches between the center of the toilet and wall.
• To be sure you are getting the right size toilet, measure your rough-in valve from the wall to the center of the drain bolts.

Don’t forget to consider where the toilet paper holder will be installed. Make sure you’ll have room for it when considering toilet placement.

Other Sink and Storage Tips

Pedestal and Wall-Mounted Sinks

• Check where your plumbing for P-trap and water lines will go. You want to make sure the pedestal base will hide this.
• Make sure that there is 4 inches of clear space on either side of the sink.

Keep in mind that a pedestal or wall-mounted sink will not provide any counter space or storage space and plan accordingly. Consider a medicine cabinet mounted above or to the side of the sink or a floating shelf for toiletries.

Other Storage

• Consider wall storage, such as medicine cabinets or above the toilet, that won't take up floor space.
• Get creative with storage, using baskets and hooks, and by storing your items close to where they will be used.

Make the most of your vertical space for storage by weighing options like floating shelves and traditional hanging cabinets.