10 Simple Steps to Make Your Bathroom Family Friendly
Create a bathroom that works for everyone with just a few easy tweaks and touches
Bathrooms are one of the busiest rooms in the home, so it’s essential this well-used hub functions smoothly for every member of the household, from the oldest to the youngest. It’s where you start and finish the day, so creating a clean, clutter-free, organised space that works for everyone can turn chaotic morning and evening routines into an oasis of calm.
Turn toys into an art form
Bath times are fun for babies and toddlers, so don’t deny them a few waterproof toys just because they don’t fit in with your style. Invest in a waterproof string bag that you can sucker to the side of your bath and let toys drain off, or make a feature of them and line them up along a bath edge or window sill.
Bath times are fun for babies and toddlers, so don’t deny them a few waterproof toys just because they don’t fit in with your style. Invest in a waterproof string bag that you can sucker to the side of your bath and let toys drain off, or make a feature of them and line them up along a bath edge or window sill.
Hang hooks at different heights
If you want a floor free of wet towels, you need to make sure everybody can reach their given spot to hang theirs up. Carefully position some hooks lower down so even the younger members of the family have no excuse!
See ways to use hooks and hangers creatively
If you want a floor free of wet towels, you need to make sure everybody can reach their given spot to hang theirs up. Carefully position some hooks lower down so even the younger members of the family have no excuse!
See ways to use hooks and hangers creatively
Choose colour-coded towels
Cut down on confusion in a shared bathroom by using colour-coded towels. Let everyone pick their favourite shade if you want to add some bright colour to the room, or pick out a handful of more delicate designs for them to choose from if you prefer something more subtle.
Make sure there’s a clear hook or hanger dedicated to each member of the family.
Cut down on confusion in a shared bathroom by using colour-coded towels. Let everyone pick their favourite shade if you want to add some bright colour to the room, or pick out a handful of more delicate designs for them to choose from if you prefer something more subtle.
Make sure there’s a clear hook or hanger dedicated to each member of the family.
Choose a lever tap
Encourage regular hand-washing and minimise the risk of burns by swapping a pair of traditional hot and cold taps for a single mixer with a lever. The single spout means you can quickly and easily mix hot and cold water to the desired temperature, while the lever is less cumbersome than conventional crossheads for smaller hands to operate.
If you want to take extra care, look out for taps that feature thermostatic controls for safe water temperatures and instant shut-off in case of hot or cold failure.
Encourage regular hand-washing and minimise the risk of burns by swapping a pair of traditional hot and cold taps for a single mixer with a lever. The single spout means you can quickly and easily mix hot and cold water to the desired temperature, while the lever is less cumbersome than conventional crossheads for smaller hands to operate.
If you want to take extra care, look out for taps that feature thermostatic controls for safe water temperatures and instant shut-off in case of hot or cold failure.
Try a liquid soap
Bars of soap can be slippery, especially in little hands, so invest in a clear soap dispenser instead and fill it with your (or your child’s) choice of sweetly scented, colourful liquid soap.
It might make washing hands a little more exciting for the kids, and will make untidy half-used soap bars a thing of the past.
Bars of soap can be slippery, especially in little hands, so invest in a clear soap dispenser instead and fill it with your (or your child’s) choice of sweetly scented, colourful liquid soap.
It might make washing hands a little more exciting for the kids, and will make untidy half-used soap bars a thing of the past.
Label your bathroom bits
If you have a spare bathroom cupboard or nook, kit it out with rows of shelves and line them with wicker baskets. Then label and stash all your bathroom paraphernalia – shampoo, flannels, brushes and toothpaste – in a neat and orderly fashion, so everyone knows where to find everything. Voilà – all your bathroom clutter problems are solved.
If you have a spare bathroom cupboard or nook, kit it out with rows of shelves and line them with wicker baskets. Then label and stash all your bathroom paraphernalia – shampoo, flannels, brushes and toothpaste – in a neat and orderly fashion, so everyone knows where to find everything. Voilà – all your bathroom clutter problems are solved.
Add in some open storage
Having stuff out in the open is a great way to keep questions and queries of where to find things to a minimum. Include a ladder shelf, or work in some other open shelving, and display all heavily used items so they’re easily grabbed when needed.
Check out 10 ways to work open shelving into your bathroom
Having stuff out in the open is a great way to keep questions and queries of where to find things to a minimum. Include a ladder shelf, or work in some other open shelving, and display all heavily used items so they’re easily grabbed when needed.
Check out 10 ways to work open shelving into your bathroom
Offer a step up
Children might need a helping hand when it comes to reaching the basin. You can pick up a reasonable set of sturdy steps in plastic or wood from lots of shops. Some, like these, even have a secret pull-out drawer in which you can stash a few bath toys.
Just make sure the step is light enough to be carried around and put in position by your ever-independent little one.
Discover the 10 golden rules of bathroom design
Children might need a helping hand when it comes to reaching the basin. You can pick up a reasonable set of sturdy steps in plastic or wood from lots of shops. Some, like these, even have a secret pull-out drawer in which you can stash a few bath toys.
Just make sure the step is light enough to be carried around and put in position by your ever-independent little one.
Discover the 10 golden rules of bathroom design
Make it safe with a mat
Bathroom floors are prone to being slippery, with all that water around, which can be a particular hazard for younger children. Try buying a large bath mat that will offer more grip underfoot. This is also a great way to bring in some colour without committing to anything permanent.
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for a child-friendly bathroom? Please share them in the Comments below.
Bathroom floors are prone to being slippery, with all that water around, which can be a particular hazard for younger children. Try buying a large bath mat that will offer more grip underfoot. This is also a great way to bring in some colour without committing to anything permanent.
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for a child-friendly bathroom? Please share them in the Comments below.
There’s nothing like a bold and colourful shower curtain to liven up a bathroom. It’s a great and flexible way to bring some of your child’s style into the room, too. Try to get one that can go in the washing machine for reusability.