The family bathroom is a busy space that has to endure a lot of chaos. While in many contemporary homes each bedroom often has its own en-suite bathroom and the “family” bathroom no longer exists, older homes often have a bathroom that serves the young and older members. We take a look at the essentials that are important to consider if you’re revamping your much-loved communal bathroom.
Floors first
Bathroom specialist Monika Krolewicz of Ferreiras – Tile + Bathroom advises that like all bathroom renovations, you should start from the floors and work your way up. “The floor tiles should be non-slip and have movement on them. This means choosing a tile that has some texture, and not a polished finish. Opt for a tile with colour that’s not too light and with pattern – these details will help hide any dirt or mess on the floor.”
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Oren Sachs of WOMAG adds: “When sharing a bathroom the main concern is to keep the space clean for everyone to use, so consider a fully tiled bathroom from floor to wall. Porcelain tiles are low-maintenance and can easily be cleaned.”
WOMAG
When tiling your shower floor, Sachs believes that you need be wary of what mosaics you choose. In order for a slip-free shower floor, Sachs says: “It is best to install mosaic or if you are looking to create a seamless look for your bathroom floor, you can use the same tile you’ve used on the floor, but cut into mosaics. Remember, the more grout lines the better the grip in the shower.”
Krolewicz also advises applying the same concept to any mosaics used on the floor of a shower. “Although the grout between the mosaics provides the most grip, I do not recommend a glass mosaic for a shower floor.”
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Sanitaryware selection
When it comes to choosing your sanitaryware for a family bathroom, you need to consider who is using the bathroom. For example a bath may be a necessity if you have small children, while if you have teenagers and grandparents using the same bathroom, a larger shower could be considered.
Krolewicz says: “A built-in bath is more practical for a family bathroom as playtime in the bath could result in lots of splashing and water spilling around the bath, and the ledge of a built-in bath is wider, providing a more comfortable seat for resting on when bathing a baby. Also, adding a hand shower to the bath will help to rinse hair in the bath and to quickly rinse it clean after it has been used. If the aesthetic concerns you, then tiling the ledge of the built-in bath with a statement tile or beautiful mosaic will give the bathroom a glam touch.”
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For the vanity, Krolewicz advises a double vanity. “A double vanity would be great for shared bathrooms. This way two people can make use of the basin, for example brushing teeth and applying make-up. Of late, double vanities don’t require tons of space as they are available in 1 200mm sizes. If budget allows a mirror with lighting and anti-fog function would be great as you can use the mirror while someone is taking a hot shower etc.”
When choosing a vanity for a family bathroom, Sachs advises that you keep it streamlined. “Steer away from basins or vanities with sharp corners or objects that stick out when catering for young children, especially to avoid head injuries or other painful bumps.”
Sachs also believes that you should be smart with your vanity. “Keep the bathroom clutter-free and avoid tripping over obstacles by creating storage space. Vanities with open storage work great for kids as they can easily put their things away or if you prefer a clean look, cladded cupboards that match your walls are also a stunning option.”
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