Designing a kids bathroom that is 6'6'' x 12'0''

5 years ago

Hello, everyone. I have had a lot of luck with help on here so I wanted to try this bathroom too. The entry door on the left can't move. The bottom door can potentially move to the right side.

How do we make the most efficient use of this space? Is that already happening here? Please note there is NO linen closet in the hallway. This bathroom will be shared by our two kids.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

damiarain

5 years ago

I like the suggestion by jslazart (and others) - I would do something like this, using the wall behind the shower controls for:

1. shallow shelf unit facing the vanity

2. a niche inside of the shower for shampoo, soap, etc

I also prefer the toilet on the other side of the room (then no drips from the shower in the foot space of the toilet). There's plenty of room to add a stool for when bathing the youngings. (I would also do 1 large-ish sink vs two sinks ... Ikea doesn't have a big, beautiful trough style sink for their planner =)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (34)

Judy Mishkin
5 years ago
i'd switch two sinks to a centered one in the same size vanity, they'd each have their own storage side.
Keith Finkelstein thanked Judy Mishkin
PRO
M Doshi
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I'm only speaking from a space-efficiency standpoint:

Are separate sinks for each child important to you or is a single Ok? If a single is ok then you can use replace half the vanity with shelves to create a linens area. If you do need separate sinks you can also use the void area to the left of the bathtub for shelving.

Can you flip the bathtub so the faucet is on the same wall as the sinks and water closet? It'll be slightly better plumbing wise.

Another small but important detail, make sure the door on the left swings towards the water closet (the doors hinges should be on the bottom on this plan.
Keith Finkelstein thanked M Doshi
Related Discussions
Carrara basketweave kids' bathroom nearly done; pics
Q
Comments (20)
Rachel, I got the accent pieces from a local stone warehouse, and the carrara pencil liner on top from a different internet source. (TilePost I'm thinking? On sale for $6.99 per foot). Found it, here is the link. It is still on sale. http://tilepost.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=26&zenid=t405qf0cgqefervb87etj1gn10 I was a little concerned about bringing the carrara together from 3 different sources but there is enough variety in the carrara that it all works. The accent pieces were on 1' square sheets and I just cut it into strips for the accent band. The challenge was that these pieces are a bit thicker than the subway field tile, so the tile setter had to butter the adjacent edges a little thicker to make them all flush. My floor is honed. The carrara on the wall is also honed, but the black marble dot is polished. Good luck! Anita
...See More
Kids bathrooms/room arrangements! Time sensitive
Q
Comments (23)
Standard tubs are 30 inches wide and 60 inches long. Code requires that the center of a toilet be 15 inches from any other fixture and 15 inches from the wall so, for planning purposes, you can think of a toilet as being 30 inches wide. Thus, by code you need a minimum of 60 inches (5 ft) of clear floor space to set the tub and toilet side by side and you need 60 inches to accommodate the length of the tub. A space 60 inches by 60 inches is therefore the minimum that will house a standard tub and toilet. By my calculations, you'll have 6.5 feet of width and I assumed you would use 5 ft of depth. So you have PLENTY of room to set things up as shown in my diagram. Leaving the tub and toilet where they were in your original drawing (with all the fixtures lined up along one wall) won't fit as well. Regardless of which way you turn the tub and toilet, the wall dividing the two spaces and the pocket door will take up the same amount of room. And you'll still need a minimum of 5 ft of width. With everything lined up on one wall, you would have to set the tub and toilet as close together as possible or move the wall dividing the two sections forward making the front part of the bathroom smaller. And, because the room is 6.5 ft wide and standard tubs are only 5 ft long, you'll have 1.5 ft of leftover space at the end of the tub that isn't terribly useful. Yes, you could use that excess space for linen storage but, by the time you build the necessary wall between tub and linen storage, you're left with a space that is about 14 inches wide and 30 inches deep. I don't consider that ideal because things will tend to get pushed to the back where they are out of reach. Set up as I sketched it tho, you can have a nice WIDE space between tub and toilet. Or, if you prefer, you can set the toilet at the code-minimum distance from the tub and then build an 18 inch deep bookcase style storage all along the wall on the other side of the toilet. Or, the best option would probably be to set the center of toilet about 18 inches from the tub and build 12 inch deep "bookcase style storage on the side wall so that the center of the toilet is 18 inches from the edge of the storage unit. 12" is plenty deep for towel and storage of things like shampoo, extra soap, bubble bath, and rubber duckies.
...See More
Kids Bathroom Shower?? Slate?? Help!!
Q
Comments (8)
Question, Bill - my parents just had the daltile Timber Glen tile installed in their beach house in the dune color. It was laid in a random pattern like a hardwood floor, and the tile guy used toothpicks as spacers, to simulate the spaces in hardwood floors. It is flawless and a perfect solution to the constant water issues they seem to have being on the beach. Is this fine because it is porcelain? Are there any other tiles you can lay with a butt joint to minimize grout lines, other than natural stone? I don't like grout lines in my tile (too difficult to keep clean) and prefer the look of minimal grout. Am I limited to natural stone then? Or some sort of hex tile or other tile attached to a mesh underlay? Thinking about boys bathrooms which I want to look nice but need to be budget friendly.
...See More
Designing Laundry 6'6' x 10'
Q
Comments (2)
I have a huge laundry room with so much space that I constantly leave piles of dirty clothes "waiting" to go into the wash. The piles have turned into a mountain, and after I consulted a professional organizer for our upcming remodel, she laughed and said that if I had even half the space in my laundry room for dirty clothes, I would be forced to keep up with it. She immediately recommended I make my laundry room single purpose -- and much smaller. Exactly like your space. So, whether you have the large square footage or not, you'll learn YOU have more to do with your laundry than the room it is in. GOOD LUCK! PS: I have four young kids, so the laundry mountain might never appear in your home!
...See More
Judy Mishkin
5 years ago
use the extra space that the tub doesnt take up for storage.

Traditional Bathroom · More Info
Keith Finkelstein thanked Judy Mishkin
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
All good ideas. Not sure on the sink(s). We asked for two at first but I think we were hoping to get more vanity space. So now we need to reconsider.

Good point on the plumbing. We have a toddler and a baby on the way. Maybe our architect flipped the tub because we have to give these baths from outside the tub. Or maybe he just didn't think of it. Looks like it could work either way so a flip might be best.

Great thought on the shelving! Do you think a linen closet or just shelves? Looks a little tight for a closet.
Judy Mishkin
5 years ago
just tucked in storage, perhaps a single door at the bottom if you don't want your tp on display.

you could lose some space but shift your tub so its more reachable by scootching it to the left in your drawing, have upper storage behind it. for you, it would be over the vanity.

Small Space Bathroom · More Info
Keith Finkelstein thanked Judy Mishkin
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks! I guess the big decision is the vanity and sinks.
bpath
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
When we remodeled a bathroom that looked similar to ninigret's picture, we removed that cabinet (it had a door, went all the way back, and was useless for anything but storing toilet paper). We pushed the new tub back to the right-hand wall, and had a tiled ledge at the foot of the tub on the left. Great place to store tub toys and have soap and shampoo handy. We also had a wall niche.

I appreciated having the toilet next to the tub, not the sink, for hanging out on when the little kids needed me around but not holding on to them in the tub.

I also changed the door so that when it was open, it didn't block the view of the tub and so I had more room inside the bathroom. We actually changed it to a pocket door because there was no other option.

In our new house, the kids' bathroom came with two sinks on a long vanity. We have two boys, they only ever used one of the sinks. Seriously, one sink is continually dusty because they never, ever use it. There's a single bank of drawers between the two sinks and a medicine cabinet, and I wish we had more drawers instead of two sinks with cabinets beneath.
Keith Finkelstein thanked bpath
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
That's a great thought. And thinking about my bathroom growing up, it was the same way. We could also get more vanity space by extending it to the wall that way. Thank you!
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
The latest...looking better already!
PRO
Sativa McGee Designs
5 years ago
I would flip the storage and tub so that it is easier access for you when giving the babies a bath.
Keith Finkelstein thanked Sativa McGee Designs
PRO
Sativa McGee Designs
5 years ago
Also consider one large trough sink, say 4' wide in the center of the vanity. This way two kids can brush their teeth at once, but you still get more counter top space.
Keith Finkelstein thanked Sativa McGee Designs
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
Brushing teeth was the main thing we were thinking of.
PRO
Sativa McGee Designs
5 years ago
I am using this in a customer kids bath for that purpose: https://www.lacava.com/product/1312
Keith Finkelstein thanked Sativa McGee Designs
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks! Saved that to the idea book.
Judy Mishkin
5 years ago
i get using the throne as a throne while supervising kids baths.... but after that... who wants to sit in the tub looking under the rim of the toilet seat.... i'd get something else to sit upon, and leave the toilet down on the far end.
Pugga70
5 years ago
Following.....
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
The other consideration is it allows the vanity to be extended all the way to the wall. If the toilet is flipped back, could vanity be extended all the way to the tub? I feel like there'd need to be some space in between and then we lose the vanity space.
PRO
Sativa McGee Designs
5 years ago
If you have an 18" storage space in the top right corner and move the tub over you could have the vanity go all the way to the wall. Only a few inches of it would be up against the tub, you could install a glass panel or waterfall the countertop edge.
Keith Finkelstein thanked Sativa McGee Designs
PRO
Sativa McGee Designs
5 years ago
Plus that gives more privacy to the toilet, since it would be in the back corner, not on display as you enter.
Keith Finkelstein thanked Sativa McGee Designs
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you! Might need to switch that back lol. Will see what the wife thinks.
jslazart
5 years ago

Turned around, I'm not sure you could run the vanity all the way to the linen closet to maximize vanity size, as they look like they'd be different depths. I personally don't mind having a toilet next to the tub in a kids bath. Quick access in the case of emergencies when little. And I don't know many teenagers with the time for (or interest in) a relaxing soak when older. Keeping linen storage on the left side also provides much better access to maximize storage there (pull out shelves?).
Keith Finkelstein thanked jslazart
chisue
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There is a reason most old bathrooms have the toilet beside the tub with plumbing into the same wall. You have to put the toilet somewhere, and this leaves room beside the tub for someone to reach the faucets and access the tub. You also have to be able to clean both, and clean *around* the toilet.

I'd put shelving/closet at the foot of the tub, where you can stand in front of it. Now you have more space right up to the side wall for a vanity.

I vote for ONE sink. Few children will use a bathroom together beyond a young age.

Are you looking for TWO doors into this bathroom??? You don't want a door to open IN to a tight space where a person might have passed out, blocking access (like at the toilet).
Keith Finkelstein thanked chisue
Keith Finkelstein
Original Author
5 years ago
Only one door is into the bathroom. I like the idea of one big sink too.
sandi125
5 years ago
Having that toilet next to the bathtub is really nice for watching/bathing the kids unless you love spending a lot of time on your knees.
sheloveslayouts
5 years ago
Here's another way of looking at your space. We have two kiddos and I find it very helpful to have the more private bathroom activities separate from the not so private. This way two siblings can use the shared bathroom without arguments over space and privacy.
User
5 years ago
Our two girls will be sharing a bathroom in the new house. We have a double sink in one part and a pocket door leading to a room with toilet and bathtub. We can’t wait.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
You have started enough posts here on Houzz to justify the investment in engaging a local architect to help you sort out and solve the problem you see in your existing home. Spend your time with your wife, kids, and making money and let a local architect efficiently help solve your space needs.
cpartist
5 years ago
Damiarain's solution is the best.
ck_squared
5 years ago
As your children age, they're going to want a lot more counter space. Keep that in mind, too.
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
We have a toddler and a baby on the way.

How long are you planning to be in this house? Are you thinking of it as your "forever home"?

If it's even partway to forever : ) , keep in mind that kids grow very quickly. The bathtub stage won't last very long -- what are you planning for a shower? A shower will get much more use in that bathroom over the life of your house. The "we're happy to brush our teeth side by side at two different sinks" stage typically doesn't last long either. Whether you have two girls, two boys, or one of each, they'll prefer to have the bathroom to themselves, and brushing teeth will be just one part of their morning or bedtime routine, very little of which -- beyond brushing teeth -- can be shared.

Yes to more counterspace. I have two teenage sons and one early 20s daughter, and it's a toss-up between who has more on the bathroom countertop. What do you have for bathroom storage for toiletries? They have often said especially after visiting friends that they'd rather have more storage than one more sink.

I will give a shoutout to Ikea vanities, which are not only reasonably priced, but have integral sinktops which are very easy to clean, and have large capacious drawers. For our two kids' bathrooms, we have this 48" vanity,

between two of the co-ordinating high storage mirrored cabinets, which makes the entire area about 70" wide.

How much space are you allowing on the wall for the vanity?
sheloveslayouts
5 years ago
Agree with Becky sharp we opted for a shower in our kids room when we remodeled at ages 1 and 4. Little one started showering at 3. Works great, glad we did it.

also, very happy with Ikea vanity we have as well as Ikea kitchen cabs as vanity (but we’retall people)
PRO
Designer Drains
5 years ago
damiarain with the win. awesome layout!
Intoodeep
5 years ago
If you have a bathtub in the master, I would just do a large shower with a bench. You could get some privacy in the shower by building a (partial?) wall to separate the shower. In my bathroom, Behind the tall, narrow wall next to the toilet (1st pic) is a tall niche with 2 shelves (2nd pic) and a floating bench seat. In your case, I might run the vanity to the wall and put the toilet on the opposite end. I don’t like walking into a bathroom and looking right at the toilet.