Keys to Designing a more Beautiful and Functional Bath

Space is a premium in most bathrooms that we remodel in Cincinnati, and it’s essential to create realistic expectations for how to best use space. In tighter spaces, often is it not realistic or practical to include both a separate shower stall and a dedicated space for a tub. Some bathrooms would look crowded with a double vanity and double sinks. When thinking about a bath remodel consider the area and how much room you and your family need to maneuver after a shower or bath to prepare for the day or a night on the town.

A well-designed bathroom is an organized bathroom. Toiletries, hair dryers, curling irons, makeup, brushes, etc. can quickly clutter a countertop, making the bathroom look unattractive and feel uncomfortable. A tip for designing a more functional, organized and pleasurable bath is to determine what you need to store during the design stage and specify storage solutions to meet those needs.

We understand that time is our customers’ most valuable asset. Their days are hectic, and they don’t want to waste time searching for a favorite tube of lipstick or wait for a curling iron to heat up. Manufacturers have responded, offering vanities and storage solutions with interior adjustable shelving, pull-out trays, interior lighting, hairdryer/curling iron holders, interior electric receptacles, USB port charging stations and drawer dividers to keep baths organized and to increase their functionality.

In addition to adequate storage solutions, another functional criterion to consider when planning a new bath includes cleaning. The legs or base of the furniture placed in front of the baseboard might create a gap between the wall and the cabinet. This may not be a concern aesthetically, but it does create a challenge to clean the gap space. The issue may be addressed if the furniture has a solid base that can be notched around the baseboard to eliminate the gap or notch the baseboard to dead end into the base of the cabinet.

In planning a new bath, we never lose sight of the need for fixtures and features to accommodate different family members. This is especially important when specifying mirrors, sinks and shower fixtures.

Lighting is another key, and often overlooked, component of a functional and aesthetically pleasing bath. Good lighting makes a bathroom more enjoyable and bad lighting just the opposite. We understand how light interacts with materials, users and tasks to enable recommendations that are most appropriate for a new bath project. We often will look at the potential to add or expand natural light to a bath renovation project because natural light helps to make smaller baths appear larger. This often involves identifying opportunities for new a new skylight, especially in bathrooms without windows.

Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture. You can buy a functional $40 faucet in a home center, but most likely that faucet will not add much to the beauty of the bath. A similar analogy holds true for lighting. Merely placing a flush-mounted fixture in the center of the bathroom and a light bar over the mirror can provide functional light, but a single fixture or bath light bar may do little to beautify the space, create a mood or evoke a favorable emotional response. Layers of light contribute not only to the functionality of the bath but also to its design and beauty. ( Download our guide to lighting a new bathroom ).

When we help our clients to create the bath of their dreams, we recommend a focal point which could be a sculptural freestanding soaking tub, dramatic light fixture, unique floor covering or vanity.

If you would like additional ideas and suggestions to help design and build the new bath or your dreams, call our Mariemont showroom at 513-271-3490 or our Loveland showroom at 513-722-3490 or stop by and see us at either showroom. We are open Monday-Saturday!