We ask a lot from family bathrooms. So much in fact, that it can be quite tricky to design and style a space that ticks all the boxes. A family bathroom is somewhere to relax, clean and play and if anyone in your house is like the reported one-third of UK men using their bathroom as temporary hideouts, it could also be a place to retreat to for a few moments of peace.

So, with different demands pulling family bathroom design in different directions – how do you ensure that it’s both fit for purpose and for all the people who use it? You might dream of a boutique hotel style bathroom, but is that a realistic goal with a couple of toddlers in your midst? Let’s take a look at how to design a child-friendly bathroom that everyone will love.

Practical Comfort

A child-friendly bathroom needs to be more defined by comfort and practicality than rooms in homes. There are important things to consider such as safety and ease of use. And while a wet room or vintage bathroom with roll top bath may be your dream look, you might need to put the full vision on hold until a future date. When you live in a home to one or more children its the little things that can help make your bathroom more comfortable to use, clean and enjoy.

When it comes to bathroom layouts, the demands of family life mean that having both a shower and bath is a real plus. Having both will also add to your home’s resale value. If you have a larger family or simply want to speed up the morning routine, for those with the space it’s worthwhile considering fitting double basins in the bathroom. This should make teeth cleaning and face washing a speedier affair and help you all to get out the door a little more smoothly. Shopping for discounted branded suites should help you to stretch your budget more readily to allow such extras.

Another slightly luxury addition that can make a family bathroom all the more welcoming is heated towel rails. They are fantastic for warming up towels and robes and keeping little ones cosy after splash time. Large, gripping mats can help prevent falls, and a waterproof radio can help to inspire play or provide an upbeat soundtrack to a parent’s morning shower.

Smart Storage

There’s nothing relaxing about clutter, and unfortunately, the bathroom is a space where it’s easy for bits and bobs to pile up all over the place. When choosing bathroom storage, the number one priority is to keep anything dangerous out of reach of curious little fingers. This may mean storing cleaning chemicals in a locked cupboard elsewhere in the home. A lockable bathroom cupboard up a height can also be handy for storing items like razors.

After safety comes adequate use of space. Make the best of bathrooms large and small with shelving fitted in alcoves, organiser stations and think carefully about bath toy storage. Something simple like string bags hung on the back of the door may do the trick, or you could look at cute peg rails on the edge of shelving. In larger bathrooms, a hung towel or personalised grooming station for each family member can be an endearing finishing touch and one that can help to prevent disputes over bathroom items too. Want to stay on top of the washing? The bathroom is an excellent spot for an easily accessible laundry basket since little ones are likely to undress here.

The Easy Update

If you’re compromising on that spa bathroom for now or need a colour scheme that better hides your lack of time for deep cleaning, you’ll want to create a space that’s easy to update. A 2017 Houzz bathroom survey found that homeowners prioritise design that “reflects who they are” as their main criteria for bathroom design. In a family bathroom, this could translate to choosing a theme and colour scheme that suits all and can evolve as children grow older.

Style a space that appeals to all ages with a bright colour scheme that incorporates rainbow shades or yellow or thinks about choosing a theme such as nautical or under the sea. Use accessories like towels, mats and toothbrush holders to build your theme and you’re free to update the look by swapping them out as and when you please. Wall decals can also be used to add interest or you could consider hanging some instructional decorative prints with messages such as “wash your hands”. Remember: practical doesn’t need to mean boring!

How did you approach the challenge of styling a family bathroom? Are you endlessly struggling to stay on top of mountains of foam letters and bath toys? Or have you got the clutter in check?

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