Next to the kitchen the bathroom is the one of the busiest rooms in the house. Having a well-designed bathroom can either help or hinder the overall function of your home. You can have the cutest well- decorated bathroom with the perfect theme for your kids, but if you don’t take the time to consider a few things when designing it, that is all it will be; a perfectly decorated room that does not meet the needs of your family.
So you are probably wondering what makes a well-designed bathroom when it comes to kids? There are a lot of factors to consider such as the age and number of children you have. Also who else will be using the bathroom besides your children or will it strictly just be used for kids? Setting aside the cute theme and decorating we wanted to share some suggestions of things that should be considered in every bathroom with kids in mind.
Suggestions for a Kids Bathroom
Durable and Well Built Materials- We all know that kids are hard on things. If they can find a way, they will destroy it without even trying. You will want well built cabinets and a countertop that can hold up to abuse and not easily stain. You will also want to use materials that are easy to clean as well as washable wall paint where kids tend to get things dirty around the toilet and sink areas.
Layout – You will want to make a list of all the things that aren’t currently working in your bathroom. Do you need more counter space, more storage? It seems simple but the placement of items in the bathroom can affect the overall flow and determine whether or not kids are tripping over each other. If you have room and more than one child you will definitely want to consider double sinks. If you have both younger and older kids you might include two sinks at different heights. You may also want to consider an open vanity where you can store towels and toilet paper or possibly a stack of drawers for all the kid’s stuff.
Organization and Storage – This is key to a successful family bath remodel. There are many space-saving storage ideas for the bathroom that can help keep your kids stay organized. Teaching your kids how to stay organized and having a place for everything such as toothbrushes will help. Make sure you plan a place for all those dirty clothes and towels. You might even consider a built in hamper.
Accessibility - Accessibility is the key to preventing accidents in the bathroom.
Along with storage you will want to consider the placement of items in the bathroom. Consider and nonslip step stool that children can easily climb on to reach what is needed. Also have a place for shampoo and soap that is within reach. If you have a towel rack put it a their height so they can reach. Another suggestion is automatic faucets that they don’t have to reach to turn on. It will also save on the water bill.
Safety - This should be your number one concern in the bathroom. You will want to prevent falls by making things accessible so kids don’t have to climb. Have a stepstool or consider lowering the height of the vanity. Also install a bar that they can hold onto in the shower. Have anti slip mats and consider your flooring choices. To help prevent drowning put a safety lock on the toilet. According to the National Institutes of Health, they recommend keeping the temperature of your water heater below 120 degrees to prevent scalds and burns.
Ecofriendly Materials – You will want to use ecofriendly materials to keep your bathrooms healthy for those who are using it. The overall indoor environmental quality is important to the health of your family.
At Brakur Custom Cabinetry we can help you plan and design a bathroom that will meet the needs of your growing children. If you are planning on remodeling your bathroom and would like to have a conversation with one of our design experts about designing a kid friendly bathroom you can contact us here.
To find out what questions to ask your remodeler click below.
