Designing any kids space can be lots of fun. There are many themes to choose from in addition to simply adding bright, fun colors. Here are the considerations that we find most important when designing a bathroom for your son or daughter:
- Storage, Storage, Storage! – If your bathroom has room for a linen closet, great! However, many do not, and kids definitely accumulate a lot of stuff. Choose a vanity that will maximize storage options. Drawers are usually the best use of space. However, you can make use of an open sink base by adding pull-out drawers. You can find vanities that account for drain-pipe placement and design around out. If yours does not, it can often be modified so that you don’t lose the extra shelf. You can find a mirror that doubles as a medicine cabinet to store things like toothpaste, facewash and hair products. A small cabinet or shelves over the toilet can add storage. In the shower, a built-in niche is a great option for housing your shampoos and conditioners. Lastly, make sure there are plenty of hooks or towel bars for hanging up wet towels.
- Cleaning – All bathrooms can have their fair share of dirt and grime but add in kids and they can get downright messy! A kids’ bathroom is definitely not the place to go for an all-white, elegant design. You want to make tile choices that are durable and easy to clean. Kids drop things, floors get wetter than usual, toothpaste and beauty products are more likely to end up on the floor. If you don’t want to constantly be cleaning, I would choose a floor tile that pairs well with a darker grout and hides a little bit of dirt. Continuing tile about 4 feet up the walls, especially behind the toilet and as a vanity backsplash, will also make cleaning easier. In the shower, make sure to include a hand-held sprayer to easily rinse extra soap and shampoo off the walls or tub.
- Fun Design – You want your kids to enjoy being in the space. However, you don’t want to make expensive design choices that your kids can grow out of in a few years. Our recommendation is to keep tile and vanity choices neutral enough to grow with your child. However, the smaller ticket items, like cabinet knobs, towels, rugs, shower curtains and art are great ways to incorporate a fun theme that you can still easily change a few years down the line. Paint is another easy way to brighten up the space.
Most of all, don’t forget to include your kids in the process. Giving them a say in some of the choices will help them get excited about their new space too. It’s also a great way to spend some time together as a family.