Bathroom Design Mistakes (And How To Fix Them!)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- In this video, I go over some of the biggest bathroom design mistakes and I tell you how to fix them! Bathrooms are small spaces with water and humidity issues and they can be a real minefield for design mistakes! I compile a list of bad bathroom design mistakes I see people make over an over again so you can learn for them and design your perfect bathroom!
🛍 Shop My Favourite Items on Amazon
www.amazon.com/shop/nicklewis
⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 - Bathroom design mistakes and how to fix them
00:36 - Choosing the wrong contractor
02:03 - Barn doors
03:22 - Water and humidity issues
04:26 - Not considering a floating vanity or toilet
05:26 - Moving plumbing unnecessarily
06:37 - Installing carpet in the bathroom
07:10 - Slippery shower tile
08:11 - Poor lighting
09:32 - Not keeping a bathtub
10:58 - Themed rooms
12:18 - Vinyl shower curtains
13:20 - Door clearance issues
14:15 - Unclear tile direction
15:26 - Not enough storage
16:37 - Overlooking grout color
🎬 My UA-cam Equipment
amzn.to/3Rcggfh
🛋 Shop My Living Room Background
➤ West Elm - Bar Cabinet
bit.ly/3cssX6T
➤ West Elm - Media Console
bit.ly/3PMKZOY
➤ Crate and Barrel - Dining Room Table
bit.ly/3e0dStS
➤ Crate and Barrel - Dining Room Chairs
bit.ly/3PTuUHd
➤ CB2 - Marble Coffee Table
bit.ly/3wxliLk
➤ Amazon - Frame Television
amzn.to/3wzEBnk
👉 All My Socials
campsite.to/nicklewis
👋 Heads up!
My videos, descriptions, and comments may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of the links, you won't pay a penny more, but I'll get a small commission, which helps me keep the lights on! Thanks! - Навчання та стиль
Also, I don't care how fancy your bathroom is, always have an extra roll of toilet paper in reach of the toilet! Nothing worse than visiting someone and finding yourself stuck with no toilet paper.
And have it in a fairly obvious location! If its not right at the front under the sink or in a basket on the back of the toilet... I'm gonna have to go routing through your stuff looking for it. Honestly, that's why I love the toilet paper butlers that hold an extra roll or two in the base.
That's what the fancy towels are for
My bestie's house growing up was like that! Who the hell doesn't keep at least ONE extra roll in there somewhere?! We finally convinced her mom a few years ago to keep a couple under the sink.
AMEN! I literally have 3 rolls sitting in a fancy wood tray on the back of my guest toilet. I'd like to add that keeping a toilet brush and plunger sort of visible, and some air freshener spray is kind too. I have fancy-ish towels that didn't seem to be getting used even though I heard them wash their hands, so I added a paper towel dispenser, and even had hand sanitizer.
@@epowell4211 my friend has a basket of old towels cut up and face cloths and what not and a tiny hamper to toss them in. None stained, just old. I thought that was clever.
Also, never hide the waste basket. Makes it awkward if you’ve got a blister pack from a pill to toss or had to change a pad or something.
One thing that bothers me to no end in bathrooms is when the sink faucet is way too short so that it barely clears the edge of the sink.
The sink drain is in the center of the sink so the faucet should be aligned to land above the drain.
Why to I have to bump my hands against the edge of the sink every time I wash them?
Kitchen sinks generally have this done well, wtf bathroom sinks.
Very good point.
I'm considering the waterfall type faucet for this reason because the water flows forward, away from the sink edge, instead of straight down.
100% agree. A pet peeve when my hands hit the back of the sink. Make the spouts longer, bath fixture designers.
100%! Our bathroom consultant did not get our desire for a proper faucet in the bathroom. "you can walk to the kitchen to wash your hands right".
Eh, sure, but that's not why we have a vanity+faucet in the bathroom...
Completely agree, it’s so common in the UK. The most annoying thing ever!
Pro-tip: most shower liners can be machine-washed on delicate. If you have mildew or the kind of brown line pictured here a quick wash can make it look nearly new. (And yes, I know a shower liner only costs $10 or less and it feels weird putting plastic in the washing machine, but $10 means something for some people! Also, it is nice to not have to throw away and buy new stuff sometimes.)
Absolutely! And I recommend throwing a towel into the washing machine with the plastic liner - it kind of helps "scrub" the liner.
@@crystalrowan I just washed two shower liners and one of them frankly didn't come out all that well. I'll have to give your towel trick a try next time. Thanks!
If you have a white shower liner, soak it in 10% bleach in the sink (i leave it there before heading to work) and it kills off any mildew and cleans it up without need to scrub. I rinse it with water, wring it, and just hang back up in the shower to dry. Easy
YES. We need to stop this "throw away society."
Also scrub the brown spots with vinegar before placing in washer . Only takes a minute
Barn doors on bathrooms MY GOD YOU ARE SO RIGHT. The architect who designed my attic insisted on a barn door on the bath for a bed-sitting space. I'm so glad that I finally thought for a second about auditory privacy and changed it to double doors that actually shut.
A properly installed barn door will not leak smells or noise… it saves lots of space for small bathrooms.
I went over to a friend's new house for a dinner, they were so proud of their new place. Unfortunately the guest bathroom was off the kitchen/dining area and had a barn door. At some point of course people needed to use the restroom and a couple of people asked where the bathroom was, and the host would just point at the barn door, but people would then ask if they could use another bathroom and the host seemed upset no one would use the "guest" bathroom and had to use the master bath which was through their bedroom and a messy walkthrough closet. People just refused to use the bathroom with the barn door, many people just left early.
Yea who wants to be right next to the kitchen/dining area when they have to Go.
Nasty
Yeah that's unacceptable. I try to be absolutely discreet. Those people ruined their guest area.
Good thing is that doors are relatively easy to change after the fact
Or just go outside!! Have the same amount of privacy
@@natalieoj3078 🤣😂😅🤣😂😁
Actually changing your mind is the most costly mistake you can make. There are loads of designers who will gladly design your bathroom for a modest fee. Plan it once, review it thoroughly, get bids, and make NO changes. Contractors LOVE change orders because it's carte blanche to charge what they think you can afford to pay.
True
Yes! I touched on change orders in my renovation video.
As a contractor we hate it when clients keep changing their minds, we really want to get the job done quickly and to a good standard so we can get paid and move onto the next job.
If we have to start moving clients back and tearing stuff out it starts to become an ordeal and the longer it takes to finish the longer we don’t have any money coming in.
That's Telluride all day. Millions spent because they don't know what they want.
I can't speak for everyone but I was in the cabinet industry and surround by multiple desginers, contractors, and the custom cabinetry team I worked with, and every single one of us HATED change orders.
While I understand your aversion to the barn doors that allow various sights and sounds to escape I must mention that they are a god send for those of us who are confined to a wheelchair. They make maneuvering in and out of the room so much easier and safer for us.
That is true but pocket doors and accordion doors do the same job with better aesthetics and discretion if they can be installed, of course.
Pocket doors will do the same job without the kitsch, so there are options.
@@silvasilvasilva - True, but you need to have the space for a pocket door. Free of electrical, HVAC runs, plumbing and just literally enough wall space to completely accommodate the door.
True and if you love barn doors, don’t let me stop you!
Can you do a barn door, if , there is a toilet closet in the bathroom? We can't do a pocket door but there's a toilet closet in there. And we were going to do one with a geometric pattern on it. Wasn't sure what else to do since we can't do pocket. ☹️
Controversial opinion: I despise double sinks. My husband and I are literally never in the bathroom at the same time. I would give anything to have ONE sink to clean and a ton more counter space. I would change it, except for the same reason you don't ax your bathtub...resale. If we ever get the forever house, it's gone.
Preach 🙌🏻
I agree they’ve popularised it as if the only way to prevent a divorce is to have double sinks but having one larger sink with vanity space is definitely more pleasing both aesthetically & maintenance wise in my opinion.
@@arjentsstill3979 having to see my husband gag every time he puts a toothbrush in his mouth will surely drive me to divorce, or murder. I don't want to see anyone doing anything in the bathroom. I'll sacrifice a kitchen but not two bathrooms in a house!
Yeah double sinks are a waste of valuable space. My wife hates the concept. I mean really, if you must use the sink at the exact same time as someone else, just use the other bathroom.
Slide a nice board over one sink, so you’ll only use the other one, only have one to clean, and you’ll have more counter space.
With the bathtub thing: even if you don't use a bathtub normally, they're useful if you get injured. I sprained my ankle last year and couldn't stand up to shower for a few weeks so I had to take baths. I don't like taking baths, but it was great to have the tub when I really needed it.
You just need to put a small bench in your shower, in that case. On the contrary, with certain kinds of injury or disability climbing into a bathtub is hard.
tbf my husband just started putting a little plastic chair into the shower when he hurt his knee. No way he would have made it into a tub
get a shower chair!!
Baths are useful for washing large objects.
Not having a bath would negatively effect my opinion on purchasing a home. Resale
Another reason for a bathtub other than kids: health stuff. I'm young, single, no kids, but I have chronic pain and need to soak regularly to reduce symptoms 😅😅😅 and I've passed on so many amazing apartment rentals because they don't have tubs and it's really annoying 😅😅😅 I can't wait to own my own dream place
I have RA and I totally agree!! - My husband also always wants a bath when he is sick 🤒
Tubs are also very useful during hurricanes and other large storms, when power and water can be disrupted for days or more. Fill clean tub with water for flushing toilets, boiling, etc. I've been without a tub in a hurricane before- Never. Again.
In U.K. a lot of rentals still have baths as defaults. I’m lucky I have shower over bath. As someone with epilepsy I prefer showers. Baths can make me too hot and sleepy and cause seizures. But yeah for families baths are so much easier. Rentals should give people a choice.
Definitely! I have ME/CFS and sometimes I don't have energy for a shower but can handle a bath. You never know if and when your health might take a turn for the worse!
Great tips, as always! I'm surprised to didn't mention the mistake of not considering the view from *outside* the bathroom when the bathroom door is open. When I renovated my basement bathroom, I moved the door location so that when it's open, the vanity is visible from the couch, not the toilet. I'm so glad I did it!
In our old house, every one of the four bathrooms had its toilet opposite the door! So, when we tore the old pile down and built from scratch, I insisted that the toilets in our now seven bathroom house are as out of view as possible, eg., at the far end of the vanity. Far more attractive.
The way our small house and the neighbor's were built, you could sit on our toilet and look through the hallway door and living room window straight through their side door and watch their living room TV. Maybe 30 feet between. Luckily the previous owner of our house had walled over that living room window; it's too dark now but not as dangerous to step out of the shower naked.
@@elisabetk2595 in our place I can sit on the John with the bathroom door open and talk to my husband who is sitting at the kitchen table across the house! We laugh about it!
What a brilliant piece of advice!
I have seen many tips about not putting toilet opposite doors, and I never get why XD because I am used to live in flats, with not enough space to even consider letting bathroom door open XD (and every time bathroom doors are in corridor so no one will sit across it)
To the point about moving plumbing: As a General Contractor I would advise to have your plumber and carpenter take a look at your space early on before you get your heart set about moving fixtures. They can advise you of any options for moving fixtures as it's not only which way the floor joists are running but also the path and elevation of the lines to consider.
Another good tip, if you're going to go with black grout, make sure you get a REALLY good tiler. It's very easy to spot mistakes when your tile is a very different color from your grout. Your average Joe handyman isn't going to be able to pull it off
My partner has OCD.. I will trust him over any tradie 👍
Also, make sure that grout isn’t expired. I’m currently deep cleaning my bathroom’s dark gray/black grout and it’s bleeding color like crazy! This apparently means it was expired which can commonly happen when using a nonstandard color and a careless handyman.
'When you get out of the tub make sure you don't hit your head on a stupid chandelier." "I don't have kids because you know I don't care for children." hahaha
Haha, I didn't know he felt that way about kids, but I sure do now. 😁😁
When someone goes into the bathroom of my niece’s apartment, her cat always comes and slides the barn door back open! Surprise!
Laughing at that one as my dogs (shih tzus) are not happy if they are shut out of the bathroom when someone is in there. We don't have barn doors but I could see the result if we did.
Oh no!! 😱😱🤣😂 (another great reason to avoid barn doors)
Hahaha this is precisely why I want a barn door! Don't have to get up to open the door for my impatient cat. 😁
What a fun game! Haha
@Mary Lou Wu ahahahaha! Awesome and so cat-like!
So on point!! "There are sounds and smells" 😂 Ha, ha, love it!! I mean common sense, but love the comic relief. Also, the "worm" is a pain to clean!! Hate it too!
Totally! Hate the worm!
@@Nick_Lewis the worms are the worst. I swap out any toliet i see that looks like that...i find them just gross.
@@Nick_Lewis I searched high and low to find a round bowl toilet with no worm for my newly renovated bathroom. Literally the best $200 I have ever spent. It is so easy to clean!
Wherever you’re hiding the ‘worm’, you still need to have access to it though, right? If your toilet start leaking, that’s how you turn off the water. And that fixture eventually wears out/erodes, so you need access to it in case it starts leaking.
@@Prizm44 yes..the back is hollow and still accessible if need be. Just isn't visible on the sides.
I’m glad you mentioned keeping at least one bathtub. Removing all of them really hurts your chances of selling the house later. Most families just won’t go look at homes without them.
I wouldn't for renting either, if I had to be further than 30min from my parents
Yes. For people like me who takes bath more than shower (i live in very cold area b.t.w) places without bathtub is a nightmare. Specially if the house has more than 1 bathroom but doesn't have a single bathtub. I think bathtub is also necessary for those with small kids and pets.
@@effingcool1780 Right you are. Even those folks like me who don't have kids or grandkids who need a tub, my dog would not like me bathing her in the shower. Lol
I wouldn’t buy a house without a bathtub
Not everyone feels that way. The last time I used a bathtub was probably the mid-90’s. And now that I’m getting older getting in and out of the tub for my shower is becoming a treacherous endeavor.
We redid our master bathroom two years ago and....phew! ......everything is done very well and we love it.
The only thing Nick did not mention is that if you are already ripping the room apart, install the very best grab bars in the shower and bath area that you can afford.
We did, they look like towel bars, and they are the best ever as you age.
They cost a fortune, can’t remember the manufacturer, but so happy we got those ones.
They are solid.
I agree about pedestal sinks.....silly things with no storage.
We are using the same contractor right now for our kitchen reno.
I have a kiddo with chronic health issues and the second best thing I did for my bathroom remodel was to have a shower seat installed for her. It folds up so it doesn’t take up any room at all.
(The best thing was getting a wormless toilet.)
I lucked out, our home came with a full access wheelchair suite, zero edge entry shower with built in bench etc. Came in really handy when my child had a spinal resection.👍
YES to this. So many renos don't include ANY grab bars. And as you mention, there are beautiful options available--I suggest buying from a 'real' plumbing supply store, since the big box stores may have fewer options and a lower grade of items from the manufacturers. Installed correctly, and they are a great measure of safety for young and old alike.
That is genius. I’ve mentioned it to my husband just now because we hope to age in this house. We’re both tired of moving.
I think any bathroom model should include Universal Design features when possible. That means 36" doors, no threshold showers, shower rails, shower head with hose, chair height toilet, etc. So many things happen in life. Surgeries, aging, and unexpected injury or illness are so much more difficult when the bathroom doesn't have features that make it easier to shower and use the toilet. A bathroom can still be beautiful while including these features. We remodeled our bathroom back in 2004, when many of these products were novel and institutional, but now there's no excuse not to include them. A bathroom needs to be designed with function as the primary goal because remodeling an existing bathroom for improved access is a nightmare, often during an already stressful time due to health changes. Universal Design incorporates features that are useful for all stages of life, for both healthy and those with medical needs.
My girls wanted their bathroom to be mermaid themed, but I’m trying to keep it subtle. A mermaid picture with an inspirational quote (In a sea of fish, be a mermaid), a shell serving as a pot for a tiny faux succulent, and a light blue color for the walls. The kitsch makes them happy (my oldest is 7), but I’ve tried to keep it so I can easily make it more grown up. I’d never do that to my own bathroom, but I was outnumbered three to one on some of the design choices 😂
I think it is super cute when kids want their own tastes to be considered on a decor choice. Helps them to develop their creativity and to learn to appreciate the decor process and to enjoy having a nice looking home that they can relate to.
If you want things to add in the mermaid theme without it being permanent, why not try a mermaid/ocean shower curtain or towels?
@@vaderladyl I made sure to consult them as it’s their bathroom, but it’s also currently the main bathroom, so compromises were made. I plan to get some teal towels and a brightly colored bath mat, but I don’t want to go overboard and make it look like Ariel’s underwater cave 😂
You're a great mom!!! Kids remember this stuff.
A mermaid themed shower curtain will be enough for that theme.
"It's well-documated how much I hate barn doors...." 🤣🤣
I love barn doors... But NOT on bathrooms!
Barn doors belong in barns I don’t believe they belong indoors for human use.
I've renovated a few bathrooms and learned that pedestal sinks and claw foot tubs are impractical. Bathrooms should have as much counter space as possible. Nothing worse than trying to find room for things. It's interesting to see how living improvements are made through the years and then people want to return to something nostalgic but inferior. Barn doors belong in barns.
I don't know, we LOVE our clawfoot tub! That being said, it's really only nice for baths, not showers, and not a great option for people with mobility problems. It was already in our historic home so we're enjoying the novelty!
I'm replacing the pedestal sink in the ensuite - hate it and I've only got myself to blame.
I have to say, as a huge bathtub user… It is much is I love the aesthetic of the rounded curves on the top of a clawfoot tub… Not being able to place anything on the edge of the tub, a bar of soap or even the shampoo bottle while I’m still shampooing… Isn’t the greatest thing! Lol
I put my shampoo bottles and everything away after I am done my bath… And I still like to have a little flat edge to balance something on during the actual bathing time time. Especially if you’re bathing a child!
Just some thing I learned after I put in a curved edged bathtub! Lol
I agree about the stand alone tubs. I need space to place items like candles, towels, etc. Never was a fan of a big bulky barn door.
great video! don't forget to take into what hard water stains can do to grout when picking colors. No matter what folks say, your shower wall and floor grout will change color over time if you have hard water (even with a water softener).
Yes and that’s why I steer clear from white grout
I travel for work and have moved around some in my life. In hotel rooms as well as private homes my number one pet peeves with bathrooms is: NOT ENOUGH ELECTRICAL OUTLETS. Most women use an electric Toothbrush, blow dryer, curling iron, etc. and a single two plug outlet is just too frustrating.
My dad was a contracter and would always say you can never have too many outlets 👌
Wiring regulations in the UK do not allow ANY electrical outlets in bathrooms, except for an shaver outlet. We just dry and style our hair in the bedroom
Meanwhile I have never thought electrical outlets in bathrooms are a good idea. Water and electricity? 😨
That is why I had electrical outlets installed in my bathroom vanity and the storage cabinet. My hair dryer, curling iron and a small cordless vac are always plugged in under the sink while the toothbrush and razor are plugged in and charging in the cabinet. It is extremely convenient and keeps my vanity top clean and clutter free
I have a plug right over the sink (absolutely annoying and dangerous) + one hidden behind a fake wall. Very annoying.
Thank you for your comments on carpet and rugs that cannot be easily cleaned being used in the bathroom. I've never understood why some home decor magazines insist on placing very nice, hard to clean rugs in bathrooms.
Just staging, sane as realtors selling a home and arranging it in a way you wouldn't live.
On the subject of lighting in bathrooms, make sure you're using the right bulbs if you're going to be doing makeup in there. You should be going for bulbs that are as close to natural light as possible, and tangential to that is being careful about paint colors in the bathroom. A strong color WILL create a caste on your face. Go for lighter and more neutral colors.
Yes! Especially on the wall opposed to your mirror, it's extremely important that it's neutral and light, preferably white, because it'll reflect on the mirror and back to your face as you brush your teeth, do your makeup, etc.
Yes!!! So frustrating! These days the color of led bulbs is so challenging (pink anyone?). I aim to buy 3000k in temperature.
Nick, there’s another great reason to retain at least one tub in the home: If you plan on growing older there. You never know what life might throw your way - injuries, illness, arthritis, other conditions... And oh, boy, can a good long soak in the tub help ease the discomforts that come with certain issues!
When I was in college and dreading chapter assignments, I’d bring my textbooks with me to read in my bubble baths. Given that I worked through college, it was literally the only way could incorporate some pampering into my schedule.
Baths pretty much went by the wayside once I was working full-time, married and raising offspring. I literally forgot how much peace and joy that time in the tub brought me. After a bunch of relocations, I swore if I ever found myself in a home with a decent-sized bathtub again, I wouldn’t squander the opportunity of this simple luxury.
I’m in the tub at least 4 times per week these days - it’s what loosens my joints so I become functional for my day, and helps me unwind to get a good night’s sleep. Showering just doesn’t have the same impact on stress reduction - perhaps it’s the experience of buoyancy that’s so beneficial. With the rise of spas and other wellness-related services over the past 2 decades, people seem to be re-discovering bathtub benefits!
I just removed the bathtub from my house (my mom lives in it, not me) because she plans on growing older there. The tub is too dangerous for elderly folks to get in and out of. I have installed a walk in shower and removed the tub.
Fellow designer here and I do like the look of the concealed plumbing but I have been told on many jobs by plumbers that it is harder to get to the plumbing if there is an issue. I always discuss this with the client. Carpet in the bathroom is just a NO.
Carpet in the bathroom was a 80s/90s thing. I still run into carpet in the bathroom in the older houses where my relatives have lived for years. Slowly getting switched out but I am grossed out thinking about the sanitation of all of it.
There is that trade off for the wall mounted for sure. Plus if you’re in an apartment building, you might not even be allowed to put them in, especially if the wall is shared with the other units or common areas.
I wish they could come up with a marriage of both hidden plumbing/sleek design and easily accessible. Maybe a removable panel or something??
Exactly. My concern with "the worm" is that it collects dirt, whereas a smooth surface cleans easily. I want something with no crevices....is that too much to ask!?!
@first last ❤
The day I realized a laundry shoot from the upstairs bathroom that lands on top of the washing machine in the laundry room was possible, was the day I realized that this was our forever home. No more laundry baskets, just kept in the shoot until released into the washing machine. Mega resale value. 🌟
They can make a house not pass inspection….they are considered a fire hazard.
My mother’s house had one….with six people using it-can fill two stories pretty quickly.
Wish I had one….my aunt had a ranch. Her bathroom hamper had a hole in the bottom and a hole in the floor to the washing machine in the basement. Even at eight years old I realized the genius of this idea.
@@marylhere I live in the UK, so no inspections and it's not near any electrical. You can bet those who deem them a hazard don't do laundry 😆
I grew up in an old house (1931 build, IIRC) with a laundry chute. I was unbelievably disappointed to go out into the world and learn that they'd been essentially outlawed since then. I still miss it!
The number one reason I bought my house was the laundry chute that runs from the second floor all the way into the basement laundry room. The downside is that the main floor access to it is in a kitchen cabinet. Occasionally I find boxes of crackers in the pile of dirty clothes!
We have that too. All the dirty laundry from upstairs drops onto the counter next to my washing machine ! 👍🏻😁
You should also consider having a fan or some kind of ventilation to help with the humidity and smells. I hate the worm toilets because they are hard to clean. When choosing things for your bathroom think of how hard they will be to clean first. Sinks can leak so putting stuff like towels under sinks can be a bad idea, so storage other than directly under the sink is a good idea.
Code requires ventilation.
Had to be some MAN who has never cleaned a toilet who designed the “worm” toilet. I hate them ( and have one). So time consuming to clean
@@diannt9583 My grandson had a contractor who called it a fart fan. Apparently it is commonly called that amongst contractors and this guy just kept on casually referring to the fan this way. I kept a straight face.
"There are sounds and smells that a barn door won't help you with ...." lolololol
I spent the day yesterday visiting a home renovation store front with my mum to help her pick out her guest bathroom renovation designs. After seeing this video, I'm feeling confident I gave her good advice and helped her pick out good materials, and most of the advice I have her was gained by watching this channel! And one very important thing I did was talk her out of a barn door for the bathroom!
YES!! NO BARN DOORS! Huge pet peeve along with carpet. We’ve also skipped buying a house because the primary bathroom didn’t have a door on it. I don’t care how close you are with your partner, there needs to be a door.
If I'm in the bedroom, I send my husband to the guest bathroom to do his business LOL.. I put a very nice barn door on our bathroom opening because we also had no door when we bought our home. A regular door out of the question due to collision on bothsides when opening..pocket door would have been lovely if I didn't have valuable built in storage on one side and piping on the other side that would have been insane to relocate. Barn style door (matches all other door stye through out house) looks lovely and keeps dreaded light out of bedroom in the morning..
@@dija5578 I can see how a barn door is the only solution in that circumstance. I really don’t understand why a builder wouldn’t put a door on a bathroom.
@@Marsydotes Right?! I don't get it either.. despite it not being ideal, it is so much better now..the door is a solid core and serves as a "sound and smell barrier" more than I thought it would... but keeping the light out of the bedroom was mandatory. :)
We have a barn door from our master bedroom to our master bath and we love it. It stays open all the time to the master suite. We installed a small window over the shower to allow the steam out and works better than any fan. We have a separate toilet room with a door. The barn door looks so pretty in our bedroom. However, the guest baths have a regular door for secure privacy.
Another note on bathtubs is the other uses, as someone from florida, it is recommended to have your bath full of clean water when a hurricane hits in case of damage to water mains, you can have water access so you can boil it for various uses. Im sure there are other ways people use their tubs that isnt neccesarily taking a bath.
Living in Finland were a floor drain is a standard thing, a bathroom is a wet room, basically always. An other thing is a small bidet shower head next to the toilet seat, very handy, also for cleaning the bathroom.
I wish it was like this here in the states. Would make cleaning so much easier.
I miss this from living in Sweden. I do hate the tiny showers (compared to American showers) in many places.
Our bathroom is teeny. We had one mirrored medicine cabinet in there but needed a second one for storage. We put a second small recessed cabinet over the toilet with a picture in place of the mirror. You wouldn’t know it was a cabinet.
“See? You overdid it.” 🤣
“Hit your head on a stupid chandelier”😆
“Because you know I don’t care for children” 😂
Seriously, I’m here for the burns. ❤️❤️
I love his humor.
....meh.
This guy gets me. And I'm a woman! Not gonna have kids in my bathroom anyway but but the next owner might have a few.
When we renovated our master bath, we added an electrical outlet inside our vanity to plug in our electric toothbrush charger. You can also buy medicine cabinets with electrical outlets to charge your toothbrush, phone, etc. They're more expensive, but if you want to avoid countertop clutter, it's something to consider.
Another feature I added is motion-detecting lighting under the vanity. When you get up in the night to use the bathroom, it lights your way without being blinded by the overhead lights.
Have seen the electrical inside cabinets and it’s an awesome idea.
Yeah, I'm a bath person. Thanks for thinking of us bath people! We also have a great shower because my husband is a shower person. I have to admit that when looking for a place to buy, if there WAS no bath, it was either an immediate "no", or a "we'd have to have it for X amount cheaper so we could get one put in immediately.
Just a note: my niece had an infant when, due to circumstances, she ended up in an apartment with no tub. Her solution was to put a baby swimming pool in the bottom of the shower. Instant tub. It was hilarious and beautiful. I'm not suggesting you should plan on this for a renovation (obviously), just putting it out there as a wonderful way to deal with the issue from the other end.
That's actually a great solution!! 🙂
I fought about that too but eventually end up with bigish plastic baby bath my5year old still uses it🙃
I was also born and lived in an house without bathtub. My parents never complained about it - I think I had one baby bathtub when I was a baby, then I directly took showers
that's what. people do when they don't have a bathtub in European apartments (which is quite common).
Good solution. The other one is to use a kitchen sink, which is what my grandmother did when she was babysitting me.
Thank you so much for pointing out stuff like "how easy is it to clean". With some designs I think that the designer never cleans it themselves or loves to clean all the time with a toothbrush.
You could get polyester shower curtains which are not crinkly at all - they're soft and flowy, like fabric, and can be washed in the laundry many, many times. If you have to/want to use shower curtains they are a great choice, waterproof of course, very durable and better for the environment, because you don't have to throw them away the first time they get dirty like vinyl ones.
We have one of those and I wash it every week, it's great.
I have the smallest of small bathrooms and when I redid it, I struggled with how to put in more storage. I have a vanity with 2 drawers and a cabinet under the sink that is mostly taken up with plumbing. You can't fully open the drawer without closing the bathroom door. I talked to the contractor and behind the door he took out the drywall between 2 studs and the cabinet maker made a floor to ceiling cabinet with doors. It's not very deep, can store linens or toilet paper in it, but it is great for personal and hair products and other bathroom necessities. Doi wish I had a bigger bathroom, yes, but it is not possible, so this helps.
Genius! ❤️
Love your design style and your videos, Nick! Thank you for keeping everything consistently classy
Absolutely died laughing at the shower head pouring straight onto the toilet. Now that's one way to save on a bidet haha
We’re in the process of designing our house & your videos have been so helpful!!
Yesss, I was hoping you'd cover this topic! So excited to watch!
Always love your videos! I look forward to these every Saturday! Thank you!
This is a great video! Really appreciate that you call out the elephant in the room, humidity issues. Great tips all around!
I bought a 3-bedroom, 1-bath home, and there's no bathtub. I'm 60 years old with a bad back and this nearly was a no-go for me. I need to be able to soak when I'm sore. Right now I use a PVC ofuro but I won't be able to get in & out of that forever, so a redesign to re-add the tub is upcoming. I really wish they hadn't taken it out. Looking forward to a reno in the next few years, so I was really interested in this video.
Get an above ground jacuzzi in the backyard, probably cheaper than redo your bath.
Your comment sent me on a search of "pvc ofuro!" My house does have a bathtub, but having a Japanese style bath is my dream. However, I think that for this neighborhood and this house it wouldn't be a wise investment. Maybe I'll get a jacuzzi instead.
@@susanma4899 The one I got was only $50 and has lasted the last three years. It's intended to be a stop-gap measure until I can remodel. I can't imagine having and actually regularly using an outdoor Jacuzzi here. Three of my neighbors can see into my back yard from raised decks, and I often have several feet of snow in the winter. The cost of keeping it warm would probably eventually overwhelm the cost of a remodel, not to mention the discomfort of walking to and fro in sub-freezing temps and bathing in front of the neighbors!
So glad you emphasized on grout color YES! many of us tend to not pay much attention to it when choosing tile, the examples you showed are great and made me realize what an impact it can have on a finished design.
I like to double up the tub curtain. Natural on the outside and the a crappy replaceable and waterproof one on the inside. Best of all worlds!
Also, if you're in a drafty old house? The double curtain keeps out drafts very effectively!
I can’t stand to touch the plastic ones while I’m in the shower though! They seem to stick to me 😟
@@lorabetht9206 I was thinking about this today, and realized that the first thing I do in the shower is aim the shower head to spray down the lower inner curtain, making it stick to the sides of the tub. Then after the shower I shake it out and make sure it's hanging free to dry. I have no idea when I started doing this, but now I can only assume it's because I don't like shower curtains of any sort touching me too. It's a strange thing to learn about oneself, lol.
@@lorabetht9206 lower the shower curtain and make sure u have a weighted curtain that way the curtain shouldn’t stick to you (there’s a big science explanation for it about vortex’s but life is too short to explain it t 1.30am) just lower your curtain 😂
@@laurameakin thank you I’ll try that!
It is wonderful that you show pictures, it is really helpful. Thanks!
Great tips, and just in time for me to make my contractor (my husband) watch this video, because we are in the process of bath reno right now. Thanks Nick!
Just made a full renovation on a very small apartment. The bathroom was the hardest: 90cm wide, no way to move the wall to make it even slightly wider. It turned out pretty nice tho: shower with a folding glass door, vanity, bidet and toilet are all hanging on the wall, beautiful natural oak flooring with dark grey tiles on the walls. So happy with it.
Absolutely love your snarky dry wit. You make my day brighter and I pick up good tips😊
Great video, Nick! Your humor always makes me laugh but there was some great info I hadn’t considered as I get ready to start our bath reno. Thanks!🌸
Honestly, a floating toilet would make me absolutely afraid of breaking it when seating. Better have some ground support there! But I agree that the visible plumbing on the side is quite ugly.
I stayed at a hotel last week that had a floating toilet and I felt very nervous sitting down on it, especially when it creaked. The moulding where the toilet met the wall was coming away and I didn't feel safe sitting down on it. Definitely would not reccomended.
@@peachypie2962 Oh gosh I'd hate that so much!! I'd have to hover on that one haha
Floating toilets look elegant but I'd need to know the installation was up to code specification or better. Your family members might all weigh below 200, but you could have a house guest who tips the scales at 350 plus. I had a very large guest tumble over backward when he sat upon my folding lawn chair. The chair was destroyed, but at least he did not crack his skull on the paving. In our quest for beauty, we need to keep priorities in mind. The functions of a bathroom are utilitarian and receive high traffic.
It shouldn't break if you are not obese and it's installed someone who know's what (s)he's doing.
@@peachypie2962 if it were broken, you can sue the hotel and get millions of dollars compensation. That is a way to become a millionaire.😉
It’s so interesting watching this as a Norwegian interior designer. There are so many things that are so different. Here it’s not normal to have bathtubs. Some people have, but it’s not the norm. Also, NO ONE have shower curtains. Even old rentals usually only have glass doors. It’s so fun to see the difference 😇
How do you bathe children?
If I would have to live in Norway I would look for a place with a bathtub or find someone to install one if I owned a house there bc I can’t live without my epsom salt baths 🛀 at least once every two weeks.
@@TD32333 when they are babies u have those little plastic tubs or the sink and as soon as they can sit - shower (obviously still holding them). In europe heaps of families dont have a bathtub. No problem at all
@@pinkpingu1189 Yes and it's nasty not having a tub - seen so many old houses where tub has been ripped out and never replaced despite there being lots of room.
@@TD32333 shower head is moveable in the europe..they stand in the shower and you beside with the shower head in your hand. Babies have that bucket for babies.
Loved this. I recently re done 2 bathrooms so I can really understand most of the things you’re saying . I have one more to do so definitely learning from experience and from this tips! Top notch !
I have worked with clients that want to do some of the work themselves to save costs. listen to what the contractor tells you though or handling some things yourself can end up costing more than if you had them do it.
Things like, If the home owner decides/agrees to do clean up on the job to save some money. The contractor comes in the next day to find out, nothings been cleaned up. It is an unreasonable expectation for tradesmen to have to work around construction debris or to absorb the cost because the homeowner is cheep and lazy. A senior journeyman is making $40 to $65 dollars an hour. Whether they are doing plumbing, sweeping floors or standing around waiting for a grunt to do it. Add in nsurance, taxes, etc. An employer pays on an employee. A contractor has to charge $100 an hr. to break even. The more guys on the crew the more it costs to have them stand around.Compared that to $30 an hour to have it covered by a grunt.
Paying out for a professional can actually save you money by the end of construction unless you have experience. (i.e have already paid for learning mistakes.)
When we moved into our old house 20 years ago we changed the sliding door on our bathroom to a normal door. The door would be pushed out by the hot, humid air when someone showered and you could see the person in the shower. We also ripped the up the carpet. I have never understood putting carpet in a bathroom because all I can think of with it is the problems of mold and mildew with it.
Living in a house full of boys all I think is what about splash back?
In the early thinking and planning stage of a bathroom renovation...had considered everything but the wallpaper! Humidity. Must remember humidity. Thank you for the very timely and money saving warning!
Just want to say how much I love your videos! My husband and I just finished building a laneway for ourselves in Vancouver and I wish I had discovered your channel at the beginning of the design process. Not only do I genuinely learn something from each video, they're also a delight to watch. Keep em coming!
what a great video Nick! i am in the last part of my bathroom renos and all the points you mentioned are excellent!
if i could add something, no matter how reputable your contractor is, is to ALWAYS speak up when you are unhappy and to keep a close eye on every decision that he makes whether or not there is a designer!
a lot of the tiling work had to be redone by the owner as his employee was not detailed oriented when it came to tiling
its easier to correct and change tiles when the grout isnt in yet...whoever says that grout will cover the mistakes of uneven lines is absolutely wrong! Be a perfectionnist because you will be the one staring at the uneven finishes! and dont pay a DIME until you are completely satisfied!
I followed you after watching only half of one of your videos! I love your advice and the judgmental but not judgy way you offer it. 😉 I'd love to hear your design tips for disability friendly homes! I'd love to see a beautiful home complete with grab bars, no tripping hazards, and other items that can sometimes detract from good design.
I’m guilty of the “getting rid of bathtubs”. I turned a full tub into a walk in full size shower. I did it for safety reasons (I’m short and older, with bad knees), and I hate baths (soaking in my own dirt, just yuk!). I know resale may be hurt, but so be it.
If you plan on living there for the long term no harm no foul.
You need to design your home for yourself first, and think of potential buyers later. We also got rid of the bathtub, because we prefer a larger shower. And we have to live there ;-)
I'll be guilty of the same, in a house with only one bathroom. I've been here 20 years and have taken maybe two baths in the miserable builder grade tub. The contractor will soon be installing a seamless walk-in shower with multiple nozzle shower system. Anyone who comes after me can rebuild it however they wish.
yes, we renovated a studio cottage on our farm, took out the tiny cheap bath and did a large lux shower instead, and now we've turned it into an airbnb and people always ask if we have a bath! oops (mind you, the water/heating bill is cheaper without it!)
My mother got rid of hers also l. It's her forever home. It's kitted with a foldout seat and strong rails. One glass side, the rest is open. It made a small bathroom appear much bigger
Your reviews and vlogs have been very practical yet keeping new and current trends in focus. It's refreshing to hear "common sense" while learning something new and fashionable.
I love my barn doors! Each and every one of the four that I have…… in my horse barn. ;)
I definitely come here for an honest conversation! 😂 thank you for keepin it real 💯
Hurrah! I love that you advised considering resale! One of the tenets my father drilled into my head was that when buying a home, buy what will sell. People often don’t consider the fact that they probably will sell eventually and the kitchier the home the more difficult it will be to unload.
I love your channel. I live in an apartment and don’t plan on buying a house, been there done that, but I watch your videos and love how you are basically throwing shade at bad taste in appropriate and gentle ways. A British accent is the only thing missing. Keep up the good work. Thanks so much. 😊❤️
Omg! I was thinking about getting a barn door on my bathroom because it's small & I don't want a open up door. But "pocket door" !!! You changed my life! Thank you
The worm/snake on the sides of the toilet are a pain in the ass to keep clean. I know they’re a necessary evil (having to do with sewer gasses), but keep them hidden from dirt, etc.
Surprised some gramma hasn’t velcroed a skirt on it….to match the fur seat and tank cover. Oh almost forgot the fluffy wall to wall.
And the crinoline lady toilet roll cover!
So many things I never considered. I’m in the process of a DIY bathroom makeover and tile direction with this herringbone tile has been a pain! It’s far more difficult than I thought. Thanks for another great video!
I love your channel! You speak quickly and concisely; I get lots of information in a short amount of time.
You are spot on with all these ideas. I'm so glad I was watching you and some other great design channels as I worked through the design for our project. This video made me feel GREAT because we didn't make those mistakes. (we did, however, not correctly account for the dryer vent pushing out the set. We should have moved the bathroom door over when it was easy! Thankfully, it was still not too big a problem to reverse the door to swing out.)
Definitely take the time to find the exact item you want and don't give in to (or rely on) some builder's narrow experience. My carpenter told me a dozen times things were too big, dark, unusual then had to eat his words when it looked great because I started with the question of proportion.
Thanks for the grout tip Nick! Seeing the matching vs the contrasting tile examples is really effective in showing how dramatic the difference can be. I appreciate all your content 😊
We had a pocket door installed in our renovated powder room and it made the space seem so much bigger. We love it!
Awesome video, Nick!!!
About to gain possession of my home and it needs lots of work... Love your reno and common mistake video's. Re-watching them again for inspiration and what not to do!
The chandelier over the bathtub. “See - you overdid it!“. 🤣🤣
Absolutely fantastic tips! I would love a floating toilet and vanity. Easy to clean underneath and looks great. :)
I love your take on this. I'm getting ready to design my tiny awkward 2nd bathroom and these ideas are so helpful. Thanks Nick!
WOW, all great tips. Quality of the content is spot on as well. Good job, appreciate the info.
Urgh to those shower curtains that attack you during a shower and stick to you. Also, when I rule the world, square toilet seats will be banned.
black grout turns white with hard water, it looks good for a bit and then it’s nasty, get a water softener if you don’t want white calcium build up, if you get glass doors better get a good squeegee and use it every time you shower and dry it up or else you’ll get water spots.. modern bathrooms are a lot of work..
Excellent presentation Nick! With lots to think about and reconsider 😊
Great video, Nick! So helpful and informative. As always, you're the best! Take care. Blessings from California XXX
We're building a house right now. I considered floating toilets because I love the look. However, and fortunately, I was warned off of them by numerous people including my niece who is an interior designer. Sure, they look great, but are also apparently a nightmare if there is a plumbing leak. Since the plumbing sits mainly in the wall rather than in the fixture base (like a regular toilet), there is a good chance of having to tear out the wall to do the repair. Not a huge deal, but expensive and messy. This also applies to wall faucets which is why I didn't put those in either (except for in the power bath above the DREADED pedestal sink).
I love Nick’s advice. He speaks from experience. The one choice I don’t think is for me, personally, is the floating vanity, for two reasons: 1) it creates one more surface to clean in the bathroom (now you have to sweep and mop under the vanity too) and 2) wasted space: you can never have too much storage on a bathroom, so I’d rather have an extra drawer or cabinet by dropping the vanity all the way down to the floor. It’s a great look, but not the most practical, IMO.
And more space for things to fall under and have more trouble getting to because it's under something
as someone who does house cleaning, I'd much prefer floating vanity/toilet, a cabinet that goes all the way to the floor is better than a pedestal or cabinet with legs but if the cabinet creates a small section of floor that a mop can't fit into (next to a wall or next to the toilet) it will be more annoying to clean then the extra but easily cleaned
space created by a floating vanity
I enjoyed your video! It was very helpful & entertaining! I laughed out loud! Tysm!😃
As someone who works in bathroom furniture and fixtures sales, and thinking about getting into design for bathrooms. this not only helped me with my job, but the idea of my future job.
Thank you 😊
When I was looking for my house, a bath in the master bathroom was a must. Adults take baths. Not just children. Baths are relaxing and help with insomnia. By removing the tub, you are eliminating buyers. I left many houses because of that issue.
Re moving plumbing: wouldn't installing a floating toilet require a large move of the plumbing? (there is no pun intended here!). As always a great -and informative! - video, thank you!
No.
The toilet sits in the same spot. The waste pipe goes out and down the same as the waste pipe on a non floating toilet.
I’m struggling to understand why you think it would involve any re-plumbing.
I wondered this as well. The toilet sits on a rubber flange that goes on the pipe under the floor. I can't see how you would easily switch to a wall model unless it was already plumbed for one.
This was the video I needed. thanks nick!
love this! Thanks fr sharing
Thanks for the great video Nick! I’m currently trying to figure out what to do with my bathroom, which is a tiny Japanese one, so I have limited options.
I know you don’t like baths, but they’re not just for long soaks and/or kids. If one gets injured or sick, sometimes a bath is a more comfortable option as you can add things to it to help you (or certain body parts) feel better.
Certain injuries make it more suitable to use a shower, as a tub can be hard to get up out of. I have a small removable teak bench I can put in my shower if needed.
I’m 100% with you on the no bathtub and re-sale. I would have skipped them in my house too, but it’s a big 4 bedroom house, and someday, I’m not going to live here. The people who do move in will probably have kids. Or, if you ever break a bone, and can’t shower, it is good to have a backup. So we put them in, but my guess is, they will rarely, if ever, be used. And that’s ok. I also love the cleaner lines for toilets. I hate cleaning the nooks and crannies of the “worm” style. And you handled carpet in the bathroom perfectly! Just no. No discussion necessary. It’s worse than a barn door. 😬
Fantastic advice my man! Thanks for the great video!