Designing A Powder Room Bathroom Floor Plan

Back in the day, the powder room was a luxury reserved for grand homes. Adding a half bath to an existing floor plan is one of the frequent requests we get here at our Toulmin Kitchen and Bath Tuscaloosa Showroom. Generally, homeowners want to increase the value of their homes, but most often what homeowners wish for is a bathroom that's convenient for their guests to use that won’t compromise their privacy.

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Today, because of the popularity of powder rooms, many new homes have included them in the floor plan during construction. However, if you want to fit a powder room into your home during a remodeling project or when adding an addition, you may have some constraints. No matter what type of home you live in, it helps to understand how much space you'll need to include a powder room into your existing floor plan.

Finding The Space in Your Existing Floor Plan

The challenge when adding a powder room to an existing floor plan becomes finding the space. Depending on your home's layout, your design-build contractor has several creative ways for finding the space in your current floor plan. We've added a powder room for clients tucked underneath a stairway, carved from an area in the garage, even nestled in an attic dormer. 

Other creative solutions can be tucking the powder room into a front hallway closet or splitting a large bathroom into a smaller full bath, and a half bath for guests. No matter where you and your contractor decide to put your powder room, there are some key factors to consider.

Some Practical Considerations

When planning your powder room, there are some factors to consider. Your design-build contractor will know the technical specification you'll have to include to meet your local building codes. Here are a few areas to consider before you get started.

• How Much Space Do You Need?

A half bath is typically rather small. You'll need to find a space that is about 3 to 4 feet wide and 6 to 8 feet long. Anything smaller will be uncomfortable for your guests. Anything more substantial is not necessary, and it's unlikely you'll have that much “extra” space in your house.

• What Features Should I Include?

At a minimum, a powder room needs a toilet, a sink, and a mirror. Having a vanity cabinet or a small shelf to store extra toilet paper, hand towels and soap is helpful, but if your half-bath is on the smaller side, you can stash these items somewhere else nearby.

• What About Plumbing?

Obviously, your powder room will need running water and drainage along with ventilation. To keep your budget down, try to locate your half-bath as close to the existing plumbing in your home as possible. The least expensive option is to place it where it can share a wall with an existing bathroom (like our example of splitting a larger bath mentioned above) For older homes with a basement, new plumbing lines can be installed below the main floor. If your house is built on a slab will require some jackhammering and patching of the slab, and this can increase your project's cost.

• Ventilation and Electrical

Current building codes require that a bathroom include an operable window or exhaust fan to ventilate the space. Any electric outlets should be installed on a GFI circuit to provide extra protection against shock in wet areas of your home. If you live in an older home, this can be a concern as you may not have up-to-current-code electrical or ventilation systems.

• Sound Insulation

Insulating your powder room for sound can be a concern if it's located near living or dining areas where you may be entertaining. This can be accomplished relatively inexpensively by adding sound insulation in a shared wall, wrapping water pipes, vents and drains with a sound-absorptive material.

• Think About Visual Privacy

If possible, locate your half bath's entry so it's not directly in sight of adjacent living spaces so guests can have some privacy. You can sometimes solve this problem by strategically placing a screen or room divider, or rearranging the furniture in the nearby rooms, so seating always faces away from the door. 

Some Powder Room Design Considerations

Naturally in a small powder room use of space becomes an important factor. While a powder room is predominantly a functional space, it is a part of your home and aesthetics will play a role. Here are some ideas for maximizing your space... with style!

Gain Space By Using Corners - Just because a powder room is a smaller space doesn't mean it can't be stylish. Outfitting a small bath with creative storage solutions and lighting can give you functionality, AND style. Consider using a vanity that will fit snugly into a corner to save space and add style. Some come complete with a full mirror, adjustable glass shelves, and built-in lighting. 

Doors - You have several choices when it comes to adding doors to your space. When it comes to the powder room, you can use the same door style to fit into your existing décor, or you can choose something unique. When possible, using a pocket door can give you extra floor space since there is no swing involved. The same for using a sliding barn door. However barn doors are not very good at isolating sound so if your powder room is near the dining or living area of your home, they might not be the best choice.

Choosing the Right Toilet - Toilets come in a variety of configurations that can also save space. Using a one-piece toilet, or if possible hiding the tank in the wall can give you more floor space. Other options to consider include seat height, electronic controls (smart toilets) and different levels of water consumption. Always consider the manufacturers minimum clearances when placing the toilet in your design. These can also vary based on your local building codes.

Sinks and Vanities - Because your powder room sink is primarily used for washing hands, it doesn't have to be large. If you have space, a floating vanity can add storage, and because it's attached to the wall, it can help make the room feel a little larger. If you're pressed for space, you can attach a small sink directly to the wall, or use a pedestal sink, especially if you don't need the storage space a vanity provides.

Adding a powder room to your existing floor plan can be a little challenging, but it can also add value to your home and is a great convenience for your guests. With a bit of creative planning and design, you can have an aesthetically pleasing and functional bathroom that your guests will love!

If you live in the greater Tuscaloosa, Alabama area and are considering your options for adding a powder room to your home's existing floor plan, give the expert designers at Toulmin Kitchen and Bath a call. We've designed creative solutions for our clients to give them the powder room they've been dreaming of and we can do it for you too! Call today for a free consultation.