A Charming Child’s Bath

Thinking of adding a bath to your child’s bedroom?  Maybe you have added a new master suite and now the original master bed and bath is about to become your child’s. What are your best options to maintain your investment? How should you update it?  What renovations would allow a young child to grow with the space?

Future planning is the key to creating a functional and fun child's bathroom that can grow and change as your children do.  Every remodeling project requires a budget but learning how to get the most for your money is important. Does the bath lead into a bedroom, hallway or both?  Select a color scheme or design theme throughout this area to unify the space.  You may be tempted to decorate with the latest Disney character or even to purchase custom tile in your child’s favorite sport.  When you try to sell your home, will a sports fan be the buyer?  Savvy renovators and designers choose classic looks for toilets, countertops and vanities.  Remember, you want the bath to grow with your child.  By choosing traditional fixtures, you can update the bath décor as your child grows and as their tastes change. 

When planning your child’s bath whether it is the design or the functionality, there are many factors to consider.  Some décor is easily changeable.  Your child’s age, gender, hobbies or interests will guide the direction as it relates to plumbing and electrical fixtures, colors and textures. 

Focus on the décor you can easily change, particularly accessories, wall covering and paints.  Inspirational verses and encouraging words can easily be added and removed with vinyl lettering.   Hardware, mirrors, artwork, shower curtains, towels, etc. are a great way to implement your child’s tastes in their space.  Bathmats, tumblers and soap dispensers reflect a child’s interest is an inexpensive way to update a bath. Paint a wall with chalkboard paint and keep a bucket of sidewalk chalk nearby for those young artistic creations.  It is only paint and can easily be painted over to match the existing walls.

Certain functionality implemented into a bath will easily allow your bath to grow with your child.  Adjustable fixtures, storage, media and safety are important.  Fixtures like sinks, shower sprays, towel rods, even toilets can be altered or adjusted for later years.  The key to make these adjustments is planning.  Was the sink set at a lower height when the child was young? If the bath is built with two sinks that need to be different heights to accommodate your children’s growth, select a suspended vanity that attaches to the wall.  You can adjust the vanity to suit your child as he grows.  Eventually the sinks can be mounted at the same height.  The main thing to remember is to keep your plumbing standardized.  If you have the space, install a toilet in a space that is 42 inches across, instead of the typical 30 inches between wall and cabinet.  The extra space will give you more room to assist your little one.

Another thing children need in a bath is storage.  If you are planning a major renovation or don’t mind some drywall or tile work, the cavity between the studs of the bath’s framing is a great cubby space.  Use this space for soaps and shampoos, recessed medicine cabinets, towels, etc.  Remember, the storage you add today may hold bathtub toys, but tomorrow may hold teenage hair and skin products.  Built in cabinets and clothes hampers will help your children keep their bath tidy.

Remember, safety first.  The age of your child will determine which safety rules are most important.  Tub mats keep small children from slipping in the bath, as do adhesive pads that stick to the bottom of the tub. Drain and faucet covers are also important to keep your child from banging against metal edges during a bath or accidentally turning on the hot water. Make sure your child’s bathroom also has safe stepstools so that youngsters can easily reach what they need, a cover clamp for your toilet snaps the lid of the toilet shut so children won't lift the lid and encounter a potential drowning hazard or make a mess.  Be aware of blind and curtain cords and keep all medicines out of your childs' bathroom. 

Most kids love to have media wherever they are.  Whether it is a TV, TV/DVD combo, sound system or built in docking stations for I-Pods, make sure children know the basic rules of water safety.  Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.  Install GFCI outlets to prevent electric shock, and make sure all kids using the room know and follow basic safety rules.

This particular bathroom was designed for a little girl.  Notice the electrical fixtures are lower and the smaller vanity and toilet.  All fixtures had standard plumbing rough-ins so changes could be made as necessary.

Bobby Sanders is owner of Sanders Design Build and is a Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR) with an exclusive professional designation designed to emphasize business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation.

The CGR designation requires that graduates meet prescribed standards of business practice, possess a minimum of five years remodeling industry experience, have a proven track record of successful project management, complete a comprehensive education curriculum and pledge to uphold the program’s code of ethics.

For more remodeling information call us at 806.457.8599.

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