Bathroom Planning: What to Ask Before Turning a Bedroom into a Bathroom
Transforming that spare bedroom into an extra bathroom may seem like the perfect solution, but it could be more complicated than you realise
It sounds simple enough: you have a spare bedroom that doesn’t get much use, but you could really benefit from having another bathroom in the house, so why not convert the spare room into a beautiful new bathroom? It can be done, of course, but there are questions that should be asked and answered before you make your final decision.
How much should you spend?
As with any renovation, you need to think about whether what you plan to spend on the bathroom will mean you’re over-capitalising on your home. An ordinary semi with a luxurious marble bathroom doesn’t make sense, especially if it means that you won’t get your money back when the time comes to sell.
Choose fixtures that are in line with the rest of the house – you can still create a beautiful bathroom without having to spend a fortune. If you plan to stay in the house forever, you’ll feel justified to spend a little more – but keep in mind that things can change.
As with any renovation, you need to think about whether what you plan to spend on the bathroom will mean you’re over-capitalising on your home. An ordinary semi with a luxurious marble bathroom doesn’t make sense, especially if it means that you won’t get your money back when the time comes to sell.
Choose fixtures that are in line with the rest of the house – you can still create a beautiful bathroom without having to spend a fortune. If you plan to stay in the house forever, you’ll feel justified to spend a little more – but keep in mind that things can change.
How much natural light is there?
A dark and gloomy bathroom that always has to be artificially lit is not nearly as appealing as one bathed in sunlight. Think this through at the design stage and factor in any extra costs of enlarging windows or installing skylights.
‘Very rarely are we presented with a room that is a clean slate: square in shape and with good light,’ says Darren Genner, director of Minosa, who designed the bathroom seen here. ‘This space was a dream to work with, but it still had its challenges.’
A dark and gloomy bathroom that always has to be artificially lit is not nearly as appealing as one bathed in sunlight. Think this through at the design stage and factor in any extra costs of enlarging windows or installing skylights.
‘Very rarely are we presented with a room that is a clean slate: square in shape and with good light,’ says Darren Genner, director of Minosa, who designed the bathroom seen here. ‘This space was a dream to work with, but it still had its challenges.’
How practical will the layout be?
Genner decided the best approach to the room was to zone the different areas according to function. For example, the WC is in a separate area tucked away from the bathing space.
To increase the room’s natural light, two round skylights were set above the shower and to the side of the bath. The room has also been designed with adjustable lighting – it can be bright when needed, or soft when relaxation is in order.
Genner decided the best approach to the room was to zone the different areas according to function. For example, the WC is in a separate area tucked away from the bathing space.
To increase the room’s natural light, two round skylights were set above the shower and to the side of the bath. The room has also been designed with adjustable lighting – it can be bright when needed, or soft when relaxation is in order.
How much privacy will you have?
Natural light is good, but so is privacy. If your new bathroom is not going to be overlooked, like this one, this shouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise, you will need to factor the costs of window treatments into your budget.
Natural light is good, but so is privacy. If your new bathroom is not going to be overlooked, like this one, this shouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise, you will need to factor the costs of window treatments into your budget.
Is the room big enough?
Large bathrooms aren’t always better, but convincing yourself you can squeeze all your fittings into a tiny spare room can be dangerous.
Make sure that the space is going to function well enough so that you won’t regret the expense of doing it in the first place.
Large bathrooms aren’t always better, but convincing yourself you can squeeze all your fittings into a tiny spare room can be dangerous.
Make sure that the space is going to function well enough so that you won’t regret the expense of doing it in the first place.
What about ventilation?
If you’re planning to put a shower in your bathroom, efficient ventilation installed into the ceiling is a must. If the room is already well-ventilated and you only plan to put in a bath, you may not need to do anything more.
Discover how to make sense of bathroom design jargon
If you’re planning to put a shower in your bathroom, efficient ventilation installed into the ceiling is a must. If the room is already well-ventilated and you only plan to put in a bath, you may not need to do anything more.
Discover how to make sense of bathroom design jargon
Have you considered the floor and walls?
Architect Rebecca Naughtin says bedroom walls often need to be replaced if the room is to become a bathroom. ‘Wall linings and plasterboard need to be replaced with Villaboard or an equivalent,’ she says.
The floor will also need to be rebuilt and waterproofed if a shower is to be fitted. Naughtin advises considering the depth of tiles when the flooring is figured out. The floor will need to be built up to a certain level to allow for new tiles to go on top; you don’t want to be tripping over the step the tiles create if the floor has been built up too high (or too low) prior to tiling.
The good news is it’s easier to go from a bedroom to a bathroom than the other way around according to Naughtin. ‘Ceiling heights are often higher in bedrooms than required for bathrooms,’ she says.
Architect Rebecca Naughtin says bedroom walls often need to be replaced if the room is to become a bathroom. ‘Wall linings and plasterboard need to be replaced with Villaboard or an equivalent,’ she says.
The floor will also need to be rebuilt and waterproofed if a shower is to be fitted. Naughtin advises considering the depth of tiles when the flooring is figured out. The floor will need to be built up to a certain level to allow for new tiles to go on top; you don’t want to be tripping over the step the tiles create if the floor has been built up too high (or too low) prior to tiling.
The good news is it’s easier to go from a bedroom to a bathroom than the other way around according to Naughtin. ‘Ceiling heights are often higher in bedrooms than required for bathrooms,’ she says.
9. Have you thought about sightlines?
If your new bathroom will be tucked away down a hallway or opening off the main bedroom it won’t be a problem, but if an open door reveals a view of the toilet to people eating or cooking dinner, it’s another matter entirely.
Simply keeping the door shut isn’t something you can rely on either – there’s always a chance someone will leave it open. So avoid locating the new bathroom off the living room, kitchen or dining rooms if you can.
Get expert tips to make the most of your cloakroom
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Have you converted a bedroom into a bathroom? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
If your new bathroom will be tucked away down a hallway or opening off the main bedroom it won’t be a problem, but if an open door reveals a view of the toilet to people eating or cooking dinner, it’s another matter entirely.
Simply keeping the door shut isn’t something you can rely on either – there’s always a chance someone will leave it open. So avoid locating the new bathroom off the living room, kitchen or dining rooms if you can.
Get expert tips to make the most of your cloakroom
TELL US…
Have you converted a bedroom into a bathroom? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
If the bedroom in question is too far away from the existing water and sewer pipes, plumbing costs can soon escalate. Take this into account when you’re calculating how much you can afford to spend, in relation to the value of your house.
Costs will also add up if there isn’t enough space under the floor to accommodate the new pipes. Arrange some plumbing quotes early on in the planning process so you know what you’re letting yourself in for.
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