5 Features Most Outdated Bathrooms are Missing
Oct 15, 2020Blah Bathroom? Improve it.
With frequent visits but short stays, high dependency but little thanks, the bathroom is easily the most under-appreciated room in the home. As long as nothing is leaking or squeaking, it’s easy for a bathroom to go unnoticed, languishing in outdated style and mediocre space planning – sometimes for decades. Here’s proof of some scary baths we’ve seen over the years.
time to upgrade
As the holiday season approaches, it’s the ideal time of year to give your bathrooms new life. Whether you’re sharing them with guests or taking time to retreat from the hustle and bustle, these important design elements will earn your bathroom the gratitude it deserves.
1. Design to Handle High Traffic
From juggling your family’s usual morning bathroom chaos to incorporating guests’ bathroom needs into your routine, we place a lot of demands on these small spaces. Faucets must run when needed, but never drip. Toilets must flush *ahem* cleanly and consistently, please. Showers and tubs must be available to bathe ourselves, our pets, and sometimes our clothing or belongings. According to a 2016 Houzz study, 77% of people spend 60 minutes or less in the bathroom each day, with nearly a quarter of them spending less than 30 minutes. But from brushing teeth to soaking delicates, we pack a lot into that hour. To achieve a more functional bathroom, make sure to incorporate plenty of storage via vanities and medicine cabinets. Removing a garden tub is another popular bathroom trend, and even a small bathroom remodel can get a big impact with the right design.
2. Fixtures to Meet Everyone's Needs
Bathroom reliability is especially important when family members and guests have a range of different physical needs. Universal design and aging-in-place bathroom trends continue to gain popularity. From having a bathtub in the home for traditional bathing, to a low-threshold shower for a loved one who uses a wheelchair, or a walk-in tub that meets a variety of hydrotherapy needs, having a range of accessible bathroom options in the home will make friends and family especially comfortable. Don’t forget grab bars and hand showers for even more accessible bathroom options.
3. The Reward of Easier Cleaning
Life’s busy schedules leave us with less time than ever to focus on housekeeping, but the number of bathrooms per house keeps growing. U.S. Census Data from 2018 indicates that, 64% of single-family homes had two full bathrooms (up from 60% in 2017), while another 26% had three bathrooms – and these numbers don’t include half-baths. Zillow Economist Jeff Tucker told The Atlantic that America “went from two people per bathroom to one person per bathroom in the last 50 years.”
Who wants to be responsible for scrubbing tile and grout in twice as many bathrooms? No one! Instead, acrylic bathtubs and shower surrounds are ideal for creating a beautiful bathroom that’s also a dream to keep clean. Even better, a grout-free bathroom will stay clean, won’t give mold and mildew a place to grow, and doesn’t allow damaging moisture seep behind them like tile or tub liner. With a bathing space that wipes clean with soap and water (no scrubbing ever!), you’ll spend less time cleaning and have more time for a relaxing soak in the tub.
4. Reliable Waterproof Protection
As easy as acrylic tubs and showers are to keep clean on the outside, the best bathroom remodel ideas incorporate durable, waterproof materials behind the walls as well. Tub and shower liners that cover up problem areas can lead to even bigger problems down the road, and tile and grout in the wet space is an invitation for damaging moisture to seep in. But with waterproof installation by trained installers, and backed by a lifetime warranty, there’s never anything to worry about!
5. A Space to Rejuvenate
When bathrooms are used mainly as functional workhorses, it’s easy to lose sight of the privacy and personal space they provide. This season, shut the door, fill the tub, and enjoy a few minutes to yourself. Outfitting your bathroom with beautiful vanities, lighting, mirrors, and more adds the aesthetic touches you deserve for your hard work, and welcomes your guests to a space that shows you’ve put thought into their needs too. Whether it’s a rejuvenating shower, or just a quick break to powder your nose, a closed door in a lovely bathroom earns you a much-deserved moment of peace.
schedule your consulation
We may only spend a total of 60 minutes in the bathroom on a given day, but we deserve to spend it in spaces that bring us joy. If it’s time to update your bathroom to meet your needs for function, accessibility, or cleanliness, reach out to ImproveIt today! We’ll be grateful to have you as part of our family, and we’ll work hard to make sure you’re thankful you called us first.
