I'm also into easy-to-clean. My thoughts:
- Keep it medium-sized. If you go with minimum size, it's not comfortable to use, and it's hard to move around to keep it clean. If you go too big, you're wasting space and you're cleaning more than is necessary.
- Avoid stark white or deep black. Mid-tone grays, tans, or other colors will be easier to keep clean than those extreme shades. This is true for tile, and it's true for grout.
- You said you want to avoid a surround -- they are the easiest to clean. Second easiest is a shower pan on the floor and a large-scale tile on the walls with small grout lines.
- You can toss a shower curtain into the washing machine; it's easier to keep clean than a glass door. And a shower curtain hides your shampoo bottles, etc., which aren't that attractive.
- I would give up the idea of a curbless shower. They're only practical for new construction (since you're renovating, you'd have to tear up the floor), and if your contractor isn't very skilled, it'll become a leaky nightmare. Consider that you only have to have a 2" curb on your shower; most are taller, so you'll have to specify a minimal curb.
- Definitely go with a hand-held shower. Makes it so much easier to spray the shower walls while cleaning.
- Plan a vanity with ample drawer storage. If you don't, you'll always have clutter on the countertop.
- If you choose a vanity that sits solidly on the floor (as opposed to furniture legs), you don't have to clean underneath it.
- Choosing the right faucet can make a difference in your cleaning time: consider a wide-spread faucet, and you won't have to "floss" between the handles. Or consider a single-stalk faucet.
- Go with a big mirror attached to the wall (rather than a pivot-type mirror that will provide more creases to clean). A solid wall of mirror will make the room look bigger and is easy to clean.
- As someone said above, cleaning around a toilet is a problem. Yes, a wall-mounted unit is easier to clean under, but it will cost more up front, so you're looking at a trade-off.
- If you decide against the wall-mounted unit, consider a one-piece toilet (that is, the tank isn't a separate piece). It's harder /heavier to install, but it eliminates a crease and is one less thing to clean.
- You can also get a wall-mounted toilet brush -- anything that's off the floor is easier for you.
- Consider where your trash can and hamper will be placed.
- Choose light fixtures that won't collect dead bugs; that is, choose a light fixture that's "open" on the bottom.
- Plan plenty of towel bar space. Larger towel bars allow you to "stretch out" your towels, and they dry faster.
These things aren't any easier to clean, but they will make the finished product nicer:
- Provide an easy-to reach electrical outlet near the sink.
- Place another electrical outlet (controlled by a switch) at the ceiling so he can have a string of lights as a night light.
- Build storage space into the shower so he won't have his shampoo bottles, etc. on the floor. One standard 12" square niche isn't much -- better to have too much rather than too little.
- Lights at "face level" are more flattering than over head lights. Your son may not care, but if a girl ever uses this bathroom, she'll notice the difference.
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Where to mount mirror
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