10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (2024)

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (1)

Whether you have a large or small bathroom, layout makes a big difference. Even a small bathroom can be luxurious if it is well designed. If you're tired of your current bathroom, then it may be time for a remodel. The good news is that when it comes to laying out your new bathroom space, you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

In this article, I'll share some of the most common bathroom layouts. There's a reason these basic bathroom arrangements are so popular: because they work! Use them as a starting point to design your dream bathroom space. Careful bathroom planning goes a long way toward your enjoyment of your home.

1. Small full bathroom with door on long wall

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (2)If you want a full bathroom layout, you're probably going to need at least 36 to 40 square feet. This usually translates to a 5' x 8' foot footprint, which is a standard-sized small bathroom that is common in older homes. Check the size of your small bathroom to get an idea of your dimensions. For this size, you can choose two standard options.

If the door opens up on the 8' side, place the door directly across from the sink. The toilet should be next to the sink and the shower or tub can be placed against the 5' wall. Directly across from the toilet, you can place a towel rack or shelf. This layout provides space and doesn't crowd you.

Here is a small bath with the door on the long wall in real life:

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (3)

2. Small full bathroom with door on short wall

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (4)The next design is when the door opens on the 5' wall. Along the 8' wall, install the sink, toilet, and shower in that order. Once again, place the towel rack directly across from the toilet.

The goal for both of these designs is being able to move freely without hitting the toilet or door. If you have a bathroom with these or similar dimensions, these are really the only full-bath layouts to consider.

3. Small three-quarter bathroom

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (5)Another common size for a smaller bathroom is a 7' x 7' foot design. Although you'll find that this super-tiny size can accommodate a full bathroom, it often works better as a third-quarter bathroom. A bathtub simply takes up too much space in this size. Additionally, its bulky look will create a cramped feeling. If you choose to have just a toilet, sink, and shower, the space looks much less cluttered.

This design works reasonably well, despite its small size. A common layout for production builders is to install a corner shower with the sink in the adjacent corner. I'm not a fan of this layout because it makes the sink feel cramped and doesn't provide a good space for a mirror or medicine cabinet.

A much better approach is the layout shown above, with the toilet and shower positioned side by side. This affords ample counter space and room for a mirror.

4. Long and narrow three-quarter bath

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (6)What makes this design great is that the space is broken up, with the sink separated from the toilet and shower by a door. Not only will this give you some privacy, you'll also be able to have multiple people in the space without feeling crowded.Some bathrooms have a long construction that you can use to subdivide the space. When you walk into this bathroom, a door to the left leads to the toilet and, beyond that, the walk-in shower. Opposite of this section, you can install a single-sink vanity and a large mirror.

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (7)

5. Walk-through shower

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (8)Everyone is familiar with the combined tub-shower. For people without a lot of space who prefer the luxury of a large freestanding tub (or a built-in jacuzzi-style tub) and a separate shower, here is an interesting option. A separate tub and shower are combined into one space. To access the tub, you walk through the shower area. This is certainly a polarizing approach to bathroom layout. Critics point our that the shower isn't going to get very warm and steamy because it shares such a big space with the tub, but that obstacle can be overcome by adding a full or partial glass partition between the tub and shower.

6. Perfect square

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (9)If you have a bathroom that's a medium-size but in a cube shape, you may be struggling to find a good design. The floor plan above makes good use of the space, with small wall sections that visually separate the toilet and linen storage area. A double vanity opposite the walk-in shower stall makes this a good master bathroom layout for two people to share.

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (10)

7. Spa-like master bath

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (11)Bathrooms with a larger footprint open a world of possibilities. After all, you have more room to play with. Adding doors and partitions can customize it to your preference, but you can also elect to leave the space relatively open, for an airy, light-filled look.

The highlights of the design above are the luxurious freestanding tub and the glass-enclosed walk-in shower. For a more economical approach to this layout, just wall off the side of the shower that faces the tub and use a standard glass shower door.

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (12)

8. Combo master and guest bath

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (13)Interior designers have to think creatively to maximize available space. A not uncommon scenario is for the master bath to share a wall with a guest bath. If both are designed as rectangles, then they would each feel more cramped. But by allowing the master bath's walk-in shower to use some of the space of the guest bath, both rooms feel larger and are more functional.

Here's what this layout looks like built out:

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (14)10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (15)

9. Full bath with WC

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (16)I am a fan of bathroom layouts with a water closet (WC for short). Adding a pocket door or even a standard door between the toilet and the rest of the bathroom doesn't take up very much space, but it does wonders for imparting a sense of privacy. Just don't attempt this layout if the footprint of your bathroom is too small. An 8' x 8' space is probably as small as you would want to go.

10. Separate sinks

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (17)Here's another way to separate the bathroom space, making it easier to share. The sink or sinks can be placed in a sort of vestibule area, with the toilet and tub behind a door. If two partners (or two kids) are sharing one bathroom, this layout provides excellent versatility. If I were to design this as a compact master suite, I would consider removing one door and making the sink area partially open to the room.

Putting it all together

Bathroom design and space planning is often not given the thought it deserves. If you are planning to remodel your bathroom or add a bath to your home, these ten common bathroom layouts are a great place to start. But don't stop here. I encourage you to speak to an experienced interior designer to truly dial in your new bathroom space. It's amazing how much a thoughtfully planned bathroom can add to your enjoyment of your home and quality of life.

My interior design colleagues and I here at CRD Design Build would be happy to discuss your bathroom remodeling plans. Please feel free to drop us a line to discuss your dreams for your bathroom space. We would love to be of service.

Article Categories:Bathrooms,Interior Design

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans (2024)

FAQs

10 Essential Bathroom Floor Plans? ›

Plan a clear floor space of at least 30 inches from the front edge of all fixtures (lavatory, toilet, bidet, tub, and shower) to any opposite bath fixture, wall, or obstacle. Code Requirements: A minimum space of 21 inches must be planned in front of the lavatory, toilet, bidet, and tub.

What are the rules of bathroom layout? ›

Plan a clear floor space of at least 30 inches from the front edge of all fixtures (lavatory, toilet, bidet, tub, and shower) to any opposite bath fixture, wall, or obstacle. Code Requirements: A minimum space of 21 inches must be planned in front of the lavatory, toilet, bidet, and tub.

How to create a bathroom floor plan? ›

When designing your bathroom layout, start by positioning your sink, shower, tub, and toilet. Next, think about storage solutions, wet and dry zones, and how to tie everything together with beautiful aesthetics. Browse our bathroom layout ideas below to find inspiration and spark your creativity.

Is a 5 by 7 bathroom too small? ›

A 5×7 bathroom provides you with 35 square feet, which is considered small because you can't fit all amenities of a full bathroom. However, the space is large enough to fit a shower/bathtub, a sink, a toilet, and a small vanity, although the space will feel fairly cramped.

Is a 6X6 bathroom too small? ›

Another common small-size bathroom is the 6X6. Although this meets the minimum requirement of a full bath, it's a more spacious approach to make it a ¾ bath. Here are a couple of reasons. A tub will take up too much space, and its large size will make this room feel much smaller.

What not to do when designing a bathroom? ›

  1. No Windows. Lack of ventilation is a problem for obvious reasons. ...
  2. Over Exposed. ...
  3. Ignoring Function, Choosing Style Instead. ...
  4. Assuming Bigger is Better. ...
  5. A Bathtub or Shower with Water Drainage in the Wrong Place. ...
  6. Lack of Adequate Storage Space. ...
  7. Ignoring the Bathroom Ventilation Fan. ...
  8. Insufficient Lighting.

How far should a toilet be from a shower? ›

Clearance: At least 24" of space is needed in front of a shower or tub entry. Leave at least 15" of space between the shower and toilet or other obstacle. If you have a swinging door, take into consideration nearby fixtures.

How do I plan a perfect bathroom? ›

How to plan a bathroom – a step-by-step guide to creating a sanctuary
  1. Assess your bathroom needs.
  2. Measure up your space.
  3. Ask the experts.
  4. Choose a layout.
  5. Seek out inspiration.
  6. Be realistic about your space.
  7. Remember, ventilation is important.
  8. Factor in storage.
Feb 21, 2024

How do I start planning a bathroom? ›

How to plan your bathroom project
  1. What do you need? Decide what your priorities are in order to help you choose what will work best. ...
  2. Inspiration time. ...
  3. Consider your space. ...
  4. Book a bathroom planning appointment. ...
  5. Shop for it. ...
  6. Make it happen.

What is a 3 in a row bathroom layout? ›

The Three-In-a-Row

Typically, you'll have a tub and/or shower on one end of the room, followed by a toilet and then the sink. Although this design doesn't have much of a wow factor, it's popular for a reason: it's cost-effective because the plumbing is all on one side (who would have known?!).

What is the perfect bathroom size? ›

Common Dimensions for a Full Bath

While 40 square feet (8×5) is the minimum size for a full bathroom, it is fairly small and most layouts make it seem cramped. The average size for a full bathroom is around 60 square feet (6×10), which is considered the most efficient size for a bathroom.

How much space should you allow for a toilet in a bathroom? ›

Most codes require at least 15 inches (measured from the center of the toilet) from any side wall or obstruction and not closer than 30 inches center to center to any other sanitary fixture. (The NKBA actually recommends 32 inches.) There should be at least 24 inches of clear space in front of a toilet or bidet.

How much should a 5x7 bathroom remodel cost? ›

The national average to remodel a small bathroom ( 5 x 7 guest bathroom) is around $6,500. Even a small area with only 35 square feet of space can add up. Of course, this varies by region, but generally, you'll see a nationwide price range of $4,200 to $9,600.

What is the smallest legal bathroom size? ›

Minimum Bathroom Size Dimensions

As a general rule, the minimum bathroom size is 15 square feet for a powder room that only has a toilet and a sink. If you also want to include a shower, a tub or a combination of the two, you will need to look at allowing 30 to 36 square feet.

What is the rule of thumb for bathroom remodel? ›

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), your bathroom remodel budget should be portioned out like this: Labor: 20% Cabinetry and hardware: 16% Fixtures: 15 %

How should a bathroom be arranged? ›

Examples of optimal layouts

In a large room, you can separate the shower and bath tub. This allows for privacy and gives the flair of a spa. If possible, place the sink by or near the window. Natural daylight is easy on the eyes, makes you look good, and makes personal hygiene easier.

What are the unspoken rules of the bathroom? ›

"Be a sweetie and wipe the seatie"

This rule covers all areas of the restroom. After you're done, take a look at the seat and floor, and clean as needed. To put it simply, be considerate and give your seat a wipe. This also pertains to the sink.

Can you put a bathroom anywhere? ›

However, it can be difficult to know where to add a new bathroom in your house, especially when you have to consider essential elements like plumbing. Fortunately, with an upflush toilet system, you can add a bathroom anywhere in your house.

What is proper bathroom etiquette? ›

Wipe from front to back. One of the most important toilet hygiene rules for personal health and hygiene, wiping from front to back can help with the prevention of UTI infections. Avoid pee splash. When you sit down, positioning yourself correctly over the loo will help pee go where it should.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Laurine Ryan

Last Updated:

Views: 6174

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Laurine Ryan

Birthday: 1994-12-23

Address: Suite 751 871 Lissette Throughway, West Kittie, NH 41603

Phone: +2366831109631

Job: Sales Producer

Hobby: Creative writing, Motor sports, Do it yourself, Skateboarding, Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Stand-up comedy

Introduction: My name is Laurine Ryan, I am a adorable, fair, graceful, spotless, gorgeous, homely, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.