Design Basics to Help You Think Through a New Master Bath
Spacious master bathrooms have become one of the most considered spaces in home design. These often luxurious settings provide a refuge from hectic schedules and a place for pampering. In these spaces we can be assured privacy in an increasingly public world and stamp our unique identities in their finishes.
By their nature they allow a wide variation in creative design solutions and material choices. There are a few basic elements that each bathroom requires, and then there are the amenities that make it special to the owner. Let’s take a look at standard dimensions of essential fixtures and then investigate the options for other elements.
Circulation
Allow clear pathways of at least 36 inches (92 centimeters) for circulation throughout your space. It is best to allow at least 42 inches (107 centimeters) in front of sinks, so that if you share your bath, someone passing won’t bump into you while you brush your teeth.
It should go without saying that you can have as much space as you like, but in most cases square footage will be limited.
The cutaway plan below shows dimensions for functions and fixtures in the layout. Consider whether you need to cross your bath to reach your closet, or if your space needs to accommodate one or two people. Give yourself some extra room where possible to help make the space feel generous. The tub surround in the plan has extra space for towels, candles and baskets on its platform.
Note: Metric dimensions are given throughout this ideabook as translations of standard U.S. dimensions. Your area may have specific standards and code requirements, so be sure to use metric dimensions that are appropriate for your locale.
Placement Tips
Sinks. Position sinks so that they are readily accessible upon entering the room and from closets. The most common configuration aligns two sinks within a cabinet, while more luxurious and larger spaces may be arranged with independent cabinets, giving each person a personal countertop.
Tubs. Place beautiful tubs where they can be featured as focal points if possible. Whether they are used frequently or not, they remain desirable for and even essential to the design of a large bath. Leave as much open floor space as possible in front of tubs so that entering and exiting are not hindered.
Showers. Showers must be positioned so that moisture and overspray are contained to water-resistant areas. Consider whether you want your shower to be more open to the space and mostly enclosed with glass, for example, or more enclosed and private, as in the plan here. Placement depends on these factors, but you want to have devoted floor space immediately in front of the shower door where being wet is not a problem.
Toilets. Place water closets where they are out of sight lines, whether or not they have their own small rooms. Windows in these rooms are desirable, but if they are not possible, exhaust fans will work.
Linen closets. There never seems to be enough storage, so having a dedicated linen closet in a bathroom can be a good idea. Ideally position it away from the wettest areas. You will still have storage in cabinets and drawers around the sink unless you choose a pedestal-style version. In that case a storage cabinet of some type will be required.
Standard Measurements
Sink cabinets. A few people like pedestal or wall-mounted sinks; however, the majority want sinks built into countertops with drawers and cabinets that contain storage. The minimum is 24 inches (61 centimeters) wide, while 30 to 36 inches (76 to 92 centimeters) per person are the more common and comfortable dimensions.
Moving up to 48 inches (122 centimeters) in width per person provides ample space in more luxurious settings. The depth of a bath cabinet is usually 21 to 22 inches (53 to 56 centimeters). The height begins at 32 to 34 inches (81 to 86 centimeters) but is more frequently 36 inches (92 centimeters), which is the standard kitchen cabinet height.
Continue reading Design Basics to Help You Think Through a New Master Bath
Design Basics to Help You Think Through a New Master Bath
