Rules For A Bathroom
3. Shower Sills : Like the windowsill, what’s important here is that it is sloped properly into the shower. Try to choose a material that is solid, like stone or quartz. If you tile your shower curb, water can sit on the grout lines and eventually seep through to the framing. 4. Shower Floors : Larger tiles are typically more difficult to slope properly, and unless they’re textured, they’ll be slipperier because the grout lines are farther apart. Smaller tiles, whether textured or not, offer more traction and are typically the norm for shower floors — though the options are nearly limitless.
Small Bathroom Layout Ideas The most common bathroom layout is the single plumbed wall. All fixtures are lined up and served from one compact source of drains, water supplies and venting. This saves on plumbing installation and provides efficient distribution of heated water, especially when the wall is near a water heater. These walls need to be constructed of 2-by-6 studs, rather than 2-by-4s, mainly to accommodate the larger vent stack for the toilet. Even if your home has a large master bath, it likely has at least one bathroom elsewhere in the house that’s arranged this way.
Standard Bathroom Fixture Dimensions: Tubs. Standard tubs with apron fronts are 60 inches (152 centimeters) long and 30 to 32 inches (76 to 81 centimeters) wide. The depth can be as little as 14 inches (35 centimeters) and as much as 20 inches (50 centimeters). Showers. Showers are required to have a minimum of 1,024 square inches, which is 32 by 32 inches (81 by 81 centimeters) of interior space — although it’s best to aim for at least 36 by 36 inches (91 by 91 centimeters). Toilets. Toilets can fit into spaces as small as 30 inches (76 centimeters) wide and 54 inches (137 centimeters) long, but at least 36 inches wide and 60 inches deep is much more comfortable. Single sinks. For a single sink, you need at least 30 inches (76 centimeters) of width, but 36 to 48 inches (91 to 107 centimeters) is more comfortable. Double sinks. You can squeeze two sinks into 60 inches (152 centimeters) of width, but 72 inches (183 centimeters) or more is preferred. Note: Metric dimensions are close translations of U.S. standards and do not represent the standardized dimensions that may apply to your country.
1. Do Add Diffuse, Even Light Light fixtures, pendants or sconces on both sides of a mirror will bring diffuse, even lighting to your bathroom vanity. If you have a double vanity with one large mirror, consider adding a light to the middle of it. If you have a double vanity with two mirrors, as in this New York bathroom designed by Gertler & Wente Architects, add lights on both sides of each mirror. This way, two people can primp at the same time without hogging each other’s light.
2. Do Get the Height Right Once you’ve decided on the perfect light fixtures for the sides of your bathroom mirror, it’s important to get the height right. The exact height to hang your fixtures will depend on who uses the bathroom most. But a general rule is to hang the fixture at eye level, usually somewhere between 65 and 70 inches from the floor. 3. Do Give Yourself Backlighting Backlighting illuminates shoulders and hair, making it easier to see clothing and shapes. This comes in handy around the vanity, so consider placing a light behind and above where you’ll be standing. A surface mount or semiflush-mount fixture with a frosted shade, such as the one featured in this Toronto bathroom by Custom CADD, will block glare and provide functional overhead lighting.
4. Do Use Dimmers When it comes to lighting, dimmer switches are your best friend, especially in the bathroom. Adding a dimmer to the lights around your bathroom vanity will result in an easier transition as you start your day and a more relaxing finish at night. Notice the warm glow from the trio of wall sconces in this Louisiana bathroom. 5. Don’t Use Clear Glass Shades or Exposed Bulbs Design trends aren’t always in our best interest, and lighting is no exception. Complicating matters, most light fixtures are photographed either turned off or in a room with full daylight, so you never see them in action until it’s too late. Avoid clear glass shades or exposed bulbs in the bathroom because of their harsh glare. Instead, consider adding frosted shades or fabric shades like the ones seen in this Minnesota bathroom by Highmark Builders. Find wall sconces wit
6. Do Use Floor Lights Turning on lights in the middle of the night can be a hassle and an uncomfortable adjustment for your eyes. Instead, consider adding floor lights, such as built-in step lights or lights beneath a floating vanity. Their soft glow makes it easy to see where you’re going without having to turn on additional, glaring lights. Lights mounted to the bottom of this floating vanity in a Vancouver bathroom designed by Kenorah Design + Build help light the way for the homeowners at night. 7. Don’t Use Only Solid Metal Shades You may be tempted to use solid metal shades because they’re trendy, but doing so in a bathroom without other sources of light will leave you in the dark.
8. Don’t Spotlight the Floor A star of the stage would be furious if the spotlight hit the floor instead of them. Similarly, one of the most common lighting mistakes is to position recessed downlights over bare spots on the floor. Instead, position downlights over countertops and other working areas that could use the extra light. This San Francisco bathroom designed by Total Concepts is a great example of well-placed downlights. 9. Don’t Rely Solely on Backlit Mirrors The soft glow emitted from a backlit mirror provides a contemporary look and a stylish alternative to nightlights. But backlit mirrors usually add more light to the wall than to your face, which is where you need it most. Therefore, consider adding sconces or pendants to both sides of a mirror for functional lighting.
1. Plumbing : Residential plumbing typically uses 1½-inch pipes for drains. You’d be surprised how much gunk and hair goes down that drain. The larger the drain, the less likely it is to clog. The cost difference to upgrade to a 2-inch drain is practically negligible, and unless your framing doesn’t allow for it, you should consider increasing the drain in your shower to 2 inches. Also, If you live in a region where temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, it’s important that your water supply lines don’t get routed through an exterior wall. 2. Medicine Cabinets : Do you have the space to recess your medicine cabinet? Oftentimes this is a great way to save a few inches of space over a shallow vanity, and the additional framing typically isn’t going to break the budget. If that’s not an option, ensure that you have enough room at your vanity to have your medicine cabinet protrude by 4 to 5 inches.
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