Nearly always the smallest room in the house and the one that everyone wants to use at the same time, the bathroom needs clever planning. A shower of extra basin in the largest bedroom, or under the stairs, could relieve the pressure of the morning rush hour. A vanitory or shelving unit can provide storage for larger items, while hanging shelves and baskets can take the smaller ones.
Planning the space
Even if you intend to replace the bathroom fittings when you move into a new home it is a good idea to start by living with the present ones. This is the only way you can judge whether they are in a convenient position.
In a tiny bathroom there may only be space for storage in a tall unit.
When buying new fittings remember that bright or deep coloured sanitaryware will make a small room appear more cluttered. Deep colours need constant cleaning too!
Improving the bathroom bottleneck
It is reckoned that it takes on average 15 minutes to have a bath and 4 minutes to have a shower, so installing a shower saves on time as well as fuel.
The easiest way to provide a shower is to replace standard bathtaps with a bath/shower mixer. If you would prefer a separate cubicle but space is tight consider replacing the present bath with a short sit-up design, so releasing more floor space for a shower cabinet.
Could a shower be fitted into the cloakroom, the corner of a bedroom or a landing corner? If a suitable spot is close to the 'wet end' of the house (bathroom and kitchen) the plumbing will be easier and less expensive.
Where there is space, two basins can alleviate the morning rush period.
An extra basin could be another time saver. Could you replace the present pedestal basin with a wall-to-wall unit in which two basins would slot?
What about the bedrooms? Installing a vanitory unit in the bedroom of a bathroom hog could considerably relieve the problem.
Finding storage space
Replacing a pedestal basin with a vanitory unit is one way of providing storage space (see Basin Vanitory Unit for instruction). Apart from buying a kit or bulding your own cupboard to take the basin you can also use an old or decorative pieces of furniture - for example, a Victorian sideboard. The top could be replaced with a marble-look kitchen worktop and a basin fitted into one end. A mirror placed on the wall above the other end would make that section into a good-sized make up and shaving spot.
You could provide additional storage space by using a freestanding storage unit to section off the lavatory from the rest of the bathroom (instruction for building a unit are on Divider Shelves Unit). Hanging shelves placed out of the way high on the wall could hold spare soaps, shampoo and other small containers. Use translucent perspex for the shelves and clear plastic for the slings to create a see-through system.
QUICK TIP
Install a series of hanging baskets on hooks screwed into the ceiling joists along part of the side of the bath. Place one at a height that is easily accessible from the bath. Plants could provide a partial screen and the lowest basket could be used for sponge, nail brush, shampoo, bath oil and so on.
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