To plan a great custom home bathroom design, start by collecting ideas and listing your needs, then settle the floor layout, finishes, colors, lighting, storage, and ventilation in that order, ideally with your custom home builder.
People often say that the kitchen and the bathroom are the two places in a house that make it stand out. So when planning your custom home, it is essential to focus on the toilet, ensure they have high-quality features and finishes, make good use of space, and are helpful. Designing and planning a bathroom that meets your needs and reflects your personality, lifestyle, and needs improves your life and increases your house’s value in the long run.
However, it is easier said than done. A lot of money, time, effort, and planning goes into finalizing a bathroom’s look and feel; sometimes, the endless options can make even the most level-headed homeowner feel lost and intimidated. In this article, let us consider what you need to consider when planning your bathroom and how to create the perfect one for your custom home. Whether you want a master bathroom retreat or a practical family bathroom, the same planning steps apply.
Common Architectural Designs For A Custom Home’s Bathroom
There are many different types of bathrooms, from the designs, fixtures, and layout. The best part of having a custom home is having complete control of what you want your home to look like. Custom home design goes much more smoothly when you have a style in mind for each room.
With so many options for tile, paint colors, cabinets, and lighting features, choosing a style for your bathroom might take a lot of work. In this section, let us look at the common architectural styles you can consider for your custom bathroom. If you want more bathroom design ideas, these four styles are a good starting point.
Coastal Farmhouse Designs
The coastal farmhouse style should have decorations or furniture that mimic the sea or the coast. However, it is so much more than that. Its design focuses on colors and textures that make the room feel light and open, like when resting on the beach or when you are out at sea.
This style mainly focuses on colors and finishes that are white, blue, green, and natural wood tones. You can play around with this combination, like having powder blue walls, green countertops, and light hardwood floors. You could use light aqua-blue subway tiles or fish-scale tiles on the sides of the shower. Adding nature decorations can also add visual interest to the design.
Modern, Contemporary Designs
Modern bathrooms are all about having a sleek and sophisticated look. It focuses on using straight lines, geometric details, few materials, strong use of color, and intelligent lighting that creates a clean look. You can add a pop of color to accentuate the area or use decorations such as a swinging pendant or slate time. Try going for a minimalist design when it comes to furniture or fixtures. For example, you can try terrazzo tile flooring, hexagonal shower tiles for a curbless shower with a glass cage, a sleek black or white standalone tub, and three-dimensional wall tiles behind the lighted vanity mirrors.
Traditional, Classic Designs
Traditional designs are on the other end of the spectrum regarding architectural styles. Unlike modern designs that are clean and straightforward, this style of pattern usually has more layers. There will be more artistic hardware and raised panels on the cabinets. Matching the hardware to the fixtures is also customary to create a timeless look.
Traditional types are also usually softer in tone, focusing on muted or pastel tones on the walls, countertops, and cabinets, but any color is possible. Other materials with warmer tones, like marble tile on the shower walls and friendly hardwood flooring, are also popular.
Transitional Designs
The traditional style is updated in the transitional style using cleaner lines and more excellent colors. It often features a mix of traditional and contemporary design. It is characterized by Shaker cabinets, white marble countertops and floors with gray veining, white subway tiles on the shower walls with a frameless glass barrier, and brushed nickel hardware and faucets.
Most designs have steered away from all-white or all-gray rooms, incorporating colors to add visual interest. For example, you can use an excellent teal color on the bathroom sink, a herringbone pattern of rectangular moss-green tiles behind the standalone tub, and handmade penny tiles in a color that goes with the teal on the shower floor.
Steps to Creating The Perfect Bathroom For Your Custom Home
It takes a lot of work to design and remodel a bathroom. Taking it one step at a time will make it easy. In this section, we have listed several tips for conceptualizing and planning your bathroom.
Look for Ideas and Make A List of Things You Need and Want
When planning a bathroom design, the first thing that you will need to do is to look for ideas and get inspiration. It helps to look at other methods, like magazines or lifestyle apps like Pinterest. Create a mood board of what designs look good for you. This can help you figure out what you like and do not like.
Next, write down what you need and want in your bathroom. Do you want a shower or a bathtub? Will one vanity be enough, or do you need to get two?
Decide on Your Floor Layout
The bathroom’s floor layout is also essential to how it will turn out. Think about how the bathroom should work and who will use it. You must know what and where you can place your fixtures or furniture.
Try thinking about what you would like to see when you walk in. Make sure there is enough space around each fitting in the bath. As a general rule, a good bathroom layout leaves comfortable walking room around the vanity, toilet, shower, and tub.
Consider The Interior Finishes
Once you have finalized your custom home’s architectural design or style, the next step is to choose your finishes. However, this is more than just choosing what looks good to your eye. There are also some considerations, like if you are making a bathroom for kids, you will want to choose styles that are easy to clean and last long. If it is for the main bathroom, you can consider more high-end, luxurious finishes. For finish suggestions that cut down on upkeep, see our guide to low-maintenance bathroom materials.
Picking Out Colors
Choose a color based on whether you want to make a statement or keep things simple. For a contemporary style, you might choose cool-toned or pure colors such as whites or grays. Try to pick out three colors and stick to them. Try playing with different shades to create a cohesive look if you want more variations.
Focus on Lighting
How a bathroom is lit is another factor that can make or break the style. Having a window in the bathroom is great because it lets in a lot of natural light. If your bathroom has no window, add lights to make it brighter, or consider using a skylight.
Add Storage
Every bathroom, no matter how big or small, needs storage. Think about what you will need to store in your bathroom. You will need a place to put all your toiletries or cleaning agents. Putting everything in its place will keep your bathroom neat and clean for a long time.
Tips and Tricks To Choosing Your Bathroom’s Finishes
While there is no right or wrong when choosing your bathroom’s finishes, one can easily get overwhelmed with all the options. You can work with your custom home builder and get their valuable insights on creating a visually pleasing yet functional design. They can also help choose materials and keep them within budget. For a wider look at finishes throughout the house, read about interior finishes that add value to a custom home. In this section, we have listed several tips for finalizing your finishes.
Pick Your Shower Area
There are a lot of different showers you can choose from for your unique bathroom. You can start by asking yourself the following questions:
- What kind of shower head do you want?
- How high does it need to be?
- Do you like a bench to be built in?
- Do you want it to be fully enclosed?
- Do you need built-in storage space?
Decide on Whether You Want a Bathtub or Not
The bathtub is one of the bathroom’s most luxurious and sought-after parts. However, it also costs a lot of money. So the first thing to decide is whether you want a bathtub. You get to choose!
Putting the tub in the right place is very important. Is it under or close to a window or vent? Do you want a freestanding tub or a fixed one? It would help if you built it near an air vent to remove the steam from hot water. You can also consider adding windows by the tub to make the space more relaxing.
Check Your Closet Location
In the last few years, master walk-in closets have become increasingly common. If you choose this choice, you should consider where it is to make your life easier. Some home buyers keep the bathroom and closet separate, while others combine the two for more efficient use of space.
Choice Of Vanity
Do you need one vanity or a double? What shape do you want? Do you need a lot of space under your sink? Do you have a small place that needs a more sleek and simple layout? These are some questions you need to consider. Evaluate how you use your bathroom and what you like when selecting one or more vanities.
Think about Space, Lights, and Ventilation
There are some rules when it comes to placing fixtures or devices. Especially in bathrooms with tubs and a shower, there is a lot of steam and moisture in the air. So, ensuring your private bathroom has enough ventilation and airflow is essential. Proper bathroom ventilation helps prevent mold and moisture damage, which matters even more in Florida’s humid climate. Ask your builder to add a vent fan to your beautiful new custom bathroom so it does not get damp and moldy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I decide first when designing a custom bathroom?
Start with your needs: a shower or a tub, one vanity or two, and who will use the space. Then settle the floor layout before choosing finishes, since the layout controls where plumbing and fixtures can go. For more on getting the basics right, read our guide to creating the perfect bathroom for your custom home.
Is a freestanding tub worth it in a custom home?
It depends on how much you will use it. A freestanding tub adds a luxurious focal point, but it costs more and needs the right spot, ideally near a vent or window. If you rarely take baths, a larger shower may be a better use of space.
Which bathroom style is best for a custom home?
There is no single best style. Coastal farmhouse, modern, traditional, and transitional each work well. Pick the one that matches the rest of your home and fits your lifestyle.
How do I keep a bathroom from getting moldy?
Install a properly sized vent fan, allow airflow around wet areas, and choose moisture-resistant materials. Your builder can plan this during construction. This list of low-maintenance bathroom materials can help you choose surfaces that handle moisture well.
Should I choose a double vanity?
If two people share the bathroom each morning, a double vanity can ease the rush and give each person their own storage. In a smaller bathroom, one larger vanity with good drawer space may work better than two cramped sinks.
What bathroom features help as my family’s needs change?
Curbless showers, wider doorways, blocking in the walls for future grab bars, and slip-resistant flooring make a bathroom easier to use at any age. Planning them now is simpler and cheaper than remodeling later.
Planning a bathroom for your new home? Contact Habri Builders to talk through your layout and finishes.
