Ultimate Guide to Designing a Family-Friendly Bathroom Suite

There often comes a time when your bathroom no longer meets the needs of your household. This might be due to a growing family, the addition of young children, or perhaps the need to accommodate elderly family members. At such times, you may need to make updates to create a practical, comfortable, and accessible space for everyone. But how do you choose the right family bathroom suite, and what factors should you consider? In this guide, we’ll cover all the essentials to help you plan the perfect family bathroom.

Key Considerations for Choosing the Perfect Family Bathroom Suite

Planning a family-friendly bathroom suite is not as simple as it may seem. There are many factors to consider. If you're upgrading the bathroom before putting it on the market, you’ll need to think about what makes the space practical for a family. Alternatively, if it’s for your own household, it’s essential to consider your family’s unique needs to ensure the bathroom is both functional and comfortable. 

Here, we have discussed the most essential elements to consider when planning for a family bathroom suite.

Evaluating Bathroom Size

So, first things first. Have you checked the size of your bathroom? Without knowing the bathroom size, it’s difficult to plan anything effectively. For example, do you need fittings and fixtures that are compact or designed for a small space? Or would you prefer a minimalist bathroom design to maximise the space? You may need a cloakroom suite that can help you save space. Do you want to keep it simple, or would you like to add ample storage with a large vanity unit? A contemporary bathroom suite might be the right choice for you.  All of these questions are essential when deciding on the family bathroom suite.

Deciding Bathroom Theme

The appearance of your bathroom matters greatly in modern times. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your bathroom is not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing. So, what bathroom theme do you want to follow? Most of us have an idea of the look we want to create, but it’s a good idea to conduct extensive research on it. The theme will involve decisions about wall and ceiling paint. The colour of the bathroom suite will be another aspect to consider. You may try different colour combinations to see how they look or simply follow a design pattern from a magazine. A contemporary  bathroom suite comes with matching fittings and fixtures, which makes it easy to create a coordinated look.

Understanding Your Family Needs

Different families may have different needs for the bathroom. Therefore, it’s essential to always consider the basic needs, as this will give you a clear direction on where to focus. For example, do you have children or elderly family members at home? Will there be an increase in bathroom storage needs in the next 5–10 years? If so, plan the bathroom suite accordingly.

Additionally, you may face a choice between a shower and a bath. If you have kids or pets, you might prefer a double-ended bath, as these are deeper and feature two sloped edges, making it easier to bathe them. Or, if you enjoy showers and don’t want to give up having a bath, a shower bath suite could be the ideal option for you.

Planning for Accessibility

If you are caring for an elderly family member and want to make the bathroom more accessible for independent living, be sure to consider this when planning a family bathroom suite. Since elderly individuals may be prone to slipping or falling, it may be wise to install safety bars or a comfort-height toilet. You might also consider a shower enclosure suite that includes a walk-in shower or a wet room.

Steps for Creating the Perfect Family Bathroom Suite

Once you have answers to a few of the most important questions, you are ready to take the next step towards a highly functional family bathroom suite. 

Step 1. Measure Up. You may already know how big your bathroom is. But it is also important to have the right size bathroom fittings and fixtures. For this purpose, you will need to measure up and decide the size of the toilet and bathroom vanity sink unit. Bath and a shower enclosure. It is crucial to match all these sizes with the one available on the bathroom retailer's website. 

Step 2. Decide Your Budget. The budget is an important factor for most people. You may risk going over the budget if you don't plan about it ahead of time. Therefore, depending on your bathroom needs and requirements, decide on a budget and try to keep your costs within that limit. You will have choices available for all budget ranges so there is no way you will end up going above your budget. 

Step 3. Choose the Components of Your Bathroom Suite.

Bathroom suites come in all types and sizes. Depending on the package, you will need to choose between 2- to 5-piece suites. Therefore, you will need to decide according to your bathroom requirements. Whether you need a toilet and sink only in a cloakroom suite, a complete shower enclosure set along with a vanity unit, or a shower bathtub with a tallboy cabinet in a contemporary bathroom suite. You will find all types of packages according to your specific needs. 

Ending Thoughts

Planning a family bathroom can be challenging for so many reasons. It involves numerous decisions, and you have to be right at each step to create a bathroom of your dreams. But hopefully, the tips provided in this blog will help you approach your bathroom design more confidently. You may be overwhelmed with design ideas from Pinterest and get stuck with various design elements you want to incorporate. But you should know there is a lot of planning to do upfront from choosing your bathroom theme to bathroom suite depending on your functional and aesthetic needs.