Ideal Bathroom Floor Plans 2023: Basic Rules for Layout

Do you want to sketch out floor plans for your bathroom layout?

Most homeowners don’t plan bathroom layouts because they think that these areas are so simple to design that making planning for them is a useless task.

In fact, you have to think carefully if you are planning a bathroom that has very low space. If all the items are placed too close to each other, it can create problems for you such as a bathtub placed near to toilet or sink.

Making bathroom floor plans will minimize such problems and you will look at your design before your remodeling work start. In this article, we will discuss ideal bathroom floor plans and the basic rules for their layouts.

Bathroom Layout Ideas

1. Small Bathroom Floor Plans

To get a complete bathroom layout, at least a 36 – 49 square feet area is required. 36 – 40 square feet means a 5’ x 8’ bathroom layout which is common in traditional homes and it is the standard size of a small bathroom.

You can check the dimensions of your current bathroom to get an idea. For the small size bathroom, you have two options. If the door opens at the wall of 8’, the position of the door should be on the opposite wall where the sink is located.

The location of the toilet should be near to sink and the bathtub or sink has a 5’ wall as the ideal location. You can place towel racks or shelves directly on the opposite side of the toilet. This design will not crowd you and will provide space.

2. Small Bathroom Plan with Entry on Small Wall

In this layout, you can place the door on the 5’ wall. On the 8’ wall, place the sink, toilet, bathtub, or shower. In front of the toilet, on the opposite side, place the shelves and towel rack.

These designs of the small bathroom have the main goal that people don’t hit the toilet, door, or sink while moving in the bathroom. These small bathroom dimensions are ideal for full-bath layouts.

3. Small 3/4 Bathroom

A 7’ x 7’ design is also famous for a small bathroom. You will find this design perfect for an extra small-sized bathroom which works fine as a three-quarter space.

In this design, a bathtub occupies too much space and the bathroom will give an uncomfortable feeling. If you don’t install the bathtub and select only the toilet, sink, and shower the layout will be fine.

So, in this way, the look will be reasonable even with its small size. Some designers choose the corner of the bathroom for the shower with the sink near it. But this design gives an uncomfortable feeling and there is no space for mirrors and racks.

4. Long and Narrow 3/4 Bathroom

This design is great because the space is divided by a door. A door is placed between the toilet and the sink; this provides privacy and many people will be able to use the bathroom.

The areas of the bathroom which are narrow and long can be used to separate different things. When you will enter this bathroom, the left side door will have a toilet and after the toilet, the bathtub or shower will be placed.

On the opposite side of these things, you can install a mega mirror and single sink vanity.

5. Rectangular Bathroom Floor Plans

Many homeowners like a bathroom with a lot of space with the luxury of a large freestanding bathtub and a shower is made separate from it. This option is a great option for those who like bathrooms with a larger area.

Both the shower area and the separate tub are combined in one place. So, you have to walk through the shower area to get access to the tub. This is a design in which you have separate space for every item of the bathroom.

Some homeowners complain that the shower does not provide warm and steamy space due to the large size of the bathroom. However, this problem can be fixed by installing a partition of glass between the tub and shower.

6. Perfect Square

If your bathroom has the shape of a cube and its size is medium, you will be trying hard to find the best design in this area.

You can make small sections of walls in this area to separate the toilet and double vanity. You can install a bathtub or walk-in shower opposite to the vanity.

7. Spa-like Master Bathroom Floor Plans with Walk-in Shower

Different designs can be made in a large space in a bathroom and you can enjoy different things in more room. It’s your choice if you want to separate everything by using doors and partitions but it’s suggested that you leave the space open to create an airy and larger look.

You can install a freestanding bathtub and a walk-in shower on one side of the bathroom. To make a budget-friendly layout, just install a glass door on the side of the shower.

8. Combo Guest and Master Bathroom Layout

To use the available space to get from it, interior designers have to think with creativity. In some rare cases, the master bathroom is attached to the guest bathroom with a sharing wall.

If the designs of both bathrooms are like rectangles, they provide a very uncomfortable feeling. However, by sharing the walk-in shower area of the master bathroom with the space of the guest bathroom, more airy and larger space will be created.

9. Full Bathroom with Water Closet

Bathroom layouts with a water closet (WC) with little privacy provide a great design. If you add a door between the toilet and all other items in the bathroom, the space will not give an uncomfortable feeling and the space will look tidier,

If you have a short-sized bathroom, you can skip this step. The 8’ x 8’ area is too small that you install the toilet separated with a door glass.

10. Bathroom Plans with Separate Sinks

If you want to separate the space of the bathroom, you can install a glass door between different things. And you can make it easy to use for multiple users.

You can make sinks in the area that is attached to the living halls or other such spaces and the toilet and bathtub or shower can be made behind them.

This design is excellent for the many people using the same bathroom at a time. You can make this design in a way that one sink is accessible to the open room.

Common Codes for Bathroom Design

Consider the following dimensions and codes to get more rules about bathroom designs:

2’ – 6” by 5’ – 0” Normal Tub

3’ is the wider bathtub that is commonly used and in short sizes, the common one is 4’ – 6”. You will need a space of 3’ x 6’ area for a soaking tub. However, vessel tubs occupy less space and are more compact.

3’ x 6’ Two Person Shower

Precisely, each side of the shower dimension should be 2’ x 6”. If the other side’s length is 3’, this is fine because you can easily wash your hair by raising your hands.

2’ – 6” of Width to Fit a Toilet, for a Single Family Residential Application

You can increase this to 3’ if you have convenience concerns.

You can Save your Floor Space Nearly a Foot by a Wall-Hung Toilet

By installing a wall-hung toilet, you can increase the room by 2’ – 8” to 3’ by 4’ – 0” long.

For a Large Room, the Double Vanity Can Be as Thin as 5’

You can make narrow vanities in your bathrooms to make a larger space. Wall-mounted faucets help in making a narrower vanity.

Bathroom Designs for the Differently Abled People

All the designs can be modified to make them better accessible for people with Mobility Issues. Such designs feature grab bars or more accessibility facilities which permit more space nearly in every direction.

However, the design with tub, sink, and toilet in one row are difficult to access.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Which Size is Ideal for Bathroom?

For a small house or apartment, the average size of the bathroom is somewhere between 36 – 40 square feet. This is a general size because it includes both three-quarter and full baths. They provide sufficient space for toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers.

Which Size is Standard for Full Bathroom?

A full bathroom meaning is that there must necessarily be a toilet, a sink, and a shower or bathtub. So, if all these three items are present, that is considered a complete bathroom which is usually 36 – 40 square feet. This size is required for a 5 x 8 bathroom.

How to Construct a Bathroom Layout?

The best place to build a bath is against the focal wall. A focal wall is a wall that is on the opposite side of the bathroom wall or underneath the window. If your room has a lot of space, the bathroom placed at the room’s center will not make the room cluttered.

What are the Three Types of Bathrooms?

Three types of bathrooms are given as follows:

Master Bathroom: This bathroom is built in the master bedroom of the house and it is the largest bathroom of all others.

Secondary Bathroom: A bathroom that is connected to two rooms is called a secondary bathroom.

Half Bathroom: Some bathrooms are so small that it becomes difficult to build all the three items like tub, sink, and toilet. So, only toilets and sinks are installed in them. They are called half bathrooms.

What is the New Style in Bathrooms?

New trends in bathrooms are the smooth surfaces of all the items, providing a peaceful space, and using organic materials. Large tiles of monochromatic stones, nonglossy black fixtures, and bright oak wood surfaces give a graceful look.

Final Thoughts

The design of the bathroom should be planned carefully. Above all, a useful and good-looking bathroom can create a great change in starting and ending your day.

When you find your aims and make a great plan for the bathroom, you can make a space that is perfect for your needs and doesn’t have common layout errors.

I suggest discussing your design plan with an interior designer to achieve a perfect bathroom in the area available in your home.