:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1291917591-9b85c9956fd44cb383a7fd2497018bad.jpg "5 Bathroom Layouts That Complicate Your Morning Routine, Designers Say")
Key Points
- Many bad bathroom layouts have obstructive toilets, freestanding tubs, and corner showers.
- High ceilings and too-small vanities can also make a bathroom feel less welcoming to use.
- Always opt for double vanities in primary bathrooms, and tuck toilets away from doors in nooks.
Bathrooms are a staple of our everyday routines; they’re the room we start and finish our days in, after all.
The ideal morning getting ready is a smooth, leisurely one, but in reality rushed routines are impossible to avoid, and a hard-to-navigate bathroom makes them even more difficult.
If you’re planning a major remodel, take notes. These are the bad bathroom layouts keeping your space from feeling like a sanctuary, and designers are sharing how to switch things up for a much more soothing space.
Poor Toilet Placement
One thing our pros agree on: the worst bathroom layout mistake comes from having an overly visible or in-the-way toilet. If possible, they recommend tucking your toilet away between as many walls as possible during a remodel.
When planning your toilet placement, try to keep it in its own smaller powder room, to the side of the bathroom door, or in a corner near the side of a vanity.
“If your toilet is in direct line of the door, it does not create the most magical view,” interior designer Lindsay Thornton says. “A well thought-out layout will have the vanity or a wall with beautiful art as the main view from the open doorway.”
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Corner Showers
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“Corner showers are a wet blanket when it comes to functional layouts,” Thornton says. “Not only do they not provide ample space for all your morning bathing rituals, but the angles often waste valuable space, especially when it comes to the door swing.”
If a total renovation is possible, Thornton recommends going for a spacious rectangular shower with a sliding door along one wall to maximize floor space and prevent sidestepping during morning routines.
If you’re stuck with an awkwardly-shaped corner shower, look into adding floating shelves and a waterproof bench or stool for easier hair wash and shave days.
High Ceilings
Having higher ceilings is ideal in living rooms and kitchens, thanks to their ability to create a sense of spaciousness—but in a bathroom, that’s not always the feeling you want to evoke.
As a policy, interior designer Katie Goodrich prefers bathroom ceilings to be 10 feet or lower to avoid a cold, stark space.
“Bathrooms are for comfort, care and refuge,” Goodrich explains. “But if you do happen to have high ceilings, add curtains, rugs and furniture to help ground the space. The fabric will evoke a feeling of warmth and rest.”
Incorrectly-Sized Vanities
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Another big bathroom blunder our designers dread seeing? A vanity that doesn’t suit the space; whether it’s a too-small stand that leaves gaps for dirt and dropped toothbrushes, or one instead of two sinks in a primary bathroom.
According to the pros, the best vanities for smoothly-running skincare routines are as spacious as possible, either extending from wall-to-wall or situated in the middle of one with plenty of room on either side.
In bathrooms you know will need to accommodate two people, a double vanity is a must-have to save time and space.
Forcing a Freestanding Tub
Although a freestanding tub can feel luxurious, they’re often not as glamorous as they seem. Tubs occupy a lot of floor space, and aren’t always practical for frequent use without a shower installed over the top.
“Many believe a primary bathroom must include a tub, but I like to challenge that,” Pierce says. “If you genuinely enjoy soaking, then keep the tub. But if you rarely take baths, skipping the tub in favor of a more spacious shower is often the better use of space.”
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