Everything a Pro Wants You to Know About Open Concept Bathrooms
Whether you've been considering an open concept bathroom for some time or are eager to learn more about all that an open concept bathroom entails, you will want to keep reading.
Below, design experts weigh in to discuss the main features of an open concept bathroom, various styles of the space that exist, and the pros and cons of this type of room setup. They also elaborate on the design elements that characterize an open concept bathroom and share the best features that take an open concept bathroom to the next level.
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What Is an Open Concept Bathroom?
An open concept bathroom is a bathroom that is free from walls within. The main goal is to create a natural flow that integrates the bathroom with the rest of the whole house, Marnie Oursler, the founder of Marnie Custom Homes, says. Open concept bathrooms should feel practical and seamless, she says.
Keep in mind that not all open concept bathrooms are created equal in terms of setup; you may come across a few different types of such spaces. Some open concept bathrooms are configured as a wet room, where the shower and bath area fall within the main bathroom area.
Oursler notes that when designing such spaces, a carefully configured drain keeps water away from the other parts of the bathroom floor, which is tiled and fully waterproof.
TJ Monahan, the founder of Designed Happy, adds that wet rooms are often very visually appealing. However, he explains that it is important to remember that every spot that the water touches will need to be cleaned at some point.
Another execution of an open concept bathroom involves keeping the space open to the adjoining bedroom without any doors between the two spaces. Oursler notes that when designing these types of bathrooms, she will sometimes install a separate water closet for the toilet within the space.
Finally, she also works on open concept bathrooms where doors exist between the bedroom and the bathroom. Although a water closet is present, the shower portion of the bathroom is open, as it would be in a wet room.
Pros and Cons of Open Concept Bathrooms
Open concept bathrooms are associated with a variety of pros and cons. In terms of their advantages, open concept bathrooms are functional in that the lack of walls makes it easy to carry on a conversation with a significant other who is in another location in the room.
"The lack of doors makes the space a seamless transition," Oursler says.
Additionally, open concept bathrooms are ideal for elderly individuals who wish to age in place or have limited mobility, due to the lack of shower thresholds and doors.
Tip
Consider opting for an open concept bathroom if you are designing a home that you plan to remain living in as you age. These bathrooms are conducive to those with limited mobility due to the lack of shower thresholds and doors, which make it easy to move from one portion of the room to another with ease.
Another of an open concept bathroom is that it can help to create the illusion of more space between a bathroom and an adjacent bedroom.
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"Removing the wall allows for circulation space to be shared by both rooms, making each feel bigger than they actually are," Monahan says.
A con of an open concept bathroom is of course a lack of privacy within the space. Oursler says that her ideal open concept bathroom would be one with a separate water closet integrated into the room.
Ultimately, whether or not an open concept bathroom is the right decision all comes down to personal preference.
"If I think an open and airy bathroom is great because it makes the space feel bigger, someone else might think an open and airy bathroom isn’t private enough and would never use the space," Monahan says.
Design Elements of Open Concept Bathrooms
It is critical to pay attention to key design elements in order to create a fully functional open concept bathroom. For one, the shower must be large enough to prevent the bathroom floor from getting wet when in use. It is also critical that the shower is sizable enough so it doesn't feel like you're showering with a tub, Oursler says.
Showers in open concept bathrooms are also generally frameless.
"Depending on the layout of the bathroom, the shower could be comprised of any number of pieces of glass; if the entire bathroom is waterproofed and tiled, maybe there isn’t glass at all," Monahan says.
Open concept bathrooms should also receive ample natural light. Oursler recommends incorporating skylights or a window in the shower to ensure that such a space feels larger in size. Mirrors are another way to enhance a bathroom's appearance.
Oursler personally likes tall mirrors because of the way light reflects off of them. They help make the room look bigger and brighter.
Tip
Incorporate tall mirrors—such as the two hung above the large double vanity shown here—into your open concept bathroom. Doing so will make the space appear bigger and brighter.
When incorporating windows into a bathroom, blinds are necessary, and Oursler likes to utilize remote-controlled vinyl shades in this instance.
If you think that an open concept bathroom is right for you but are not quite certain, Monahan recommends weighing the following considerations.
"Be really honest with your designer about how you use your current space and how you think you’ll use the new space," he says. If you're planning on sharing the space, make sure to have important conversations about what features matter the most and which design suits the space best.
Some questions Monahan suggests asking yourself are: