At one time, upgrading your bathroom to allow for ultimate accessibility might have meant the installation of a new door. Today, many homeowners are simply doing away with the walls and doors altogether to create an open, airy bathroom space during their bathroom remodeling.
These open concept bathroom spaces are steadily gaining popularity with contemporary homeowners who would like to maximize the perceptual spaces of their bathrooms by minimizing the presence of doors, walls, and curtains.
Open concept bathrooms have inadvertently incited passionate reactions with homeowners on both sides of the fence. As with all new design options, time will prove just how practical or impractical open concept bathrooms really are. Listed below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of open concept bathrooms to aid you in deciding whether or not this design choice is right for your home.
Advantages
Ready accessibility is the main advantage offered by open concept bathrooms. When one is in a particular hurry in the morning, stepping directly into your bathroom after getting out of your bed is quite practical, and multi-purpose rooms also offer a significant saving of space. Whenever your floor area is limited, you might accomplish a lot more by simply placing your sink and shower in your bedroom. This combination is not unusual, especially since both the bathroom and the bedroom are considered intimate spaces. A bathroom remodel to the open concept bathroom design additionally results in smaller rooms appearing larger than they actually are, and knocking the walls down allows for better air ventilation and natural light. As a result of the open concept, instead of your bathroom remaining a purely utilitarian zone, it acquires a new spa-like feel and ambience. In addition to the unique appearance offered by this modern design, a whole new dimension is added to your enjoyment of long baths, creating the feeling of being in a luxurious hotel every single night.
Disadvantages
The strongest argument against the idea of an open bathroom is the absolute lack of privacy, with some individuals arguing that separate bathroom spaces are actually guardians of happiness inside marriage. Because open concept bathrooms are a bold and unique choice, they are not always right for everyone. For a bathroom remodel, the idea of an open bathroom does not necessarily call for the inclusion of toilets – and probably shouldn’t due to transmission of odors.
Privacy can still remain intact during a bathroom remodel if the orientation is in a sensible manner, especially with the utilization of blinds, etched glass walls, sliding screens, or smart electric glass walls.
Another issue might be the differences in daily routines, with early risers waking their partners early every morning and vice versa due to the lack of noise control. Of course, this is a nonissue for those who live alone and do not share their bedroom space with anyone.
Wider bathroom spaces also mean cooler bathing spaces as a result of the increased airflow, which might pose a problem for the individuals who are temperature-sensitive. However, this problem can be solved by putting up transparent dividers to reduce the flow of air while at the same time preserving the openness of your bathroom space.
The migration of moisture from your bathroom and into the bedroom can also pose a challenge, and to make an open bathroom space work, you might need a proper dual function ventilation system: one with a negative flow in your water closet and a positive flow in your sleeping area.
For those planning to sell their houses in the near future, unconventional designs and trends are always quite tricky, especially since such ideas might either increase or decrease the overall value of your home. Ultramodern bathroom spaces can either unnaturally stick out in a more traditional home where each of the rooms has a separate function, or add a nice contemporary touch.
Additional Requirements for the Success of Open Bathrooms
Depending on how open your design is and where you plan to place the bath, you might have to dedicate an area at least 6.5 feet in every direction.
You need adequate drainage for curbless open showers, and floors should slant to facilitate drainage. Depending on size, you may consider the installation of an extra drain or long trough drain to ensure water does not sit on your bathroom floor.
Open showers can result in the rest of the bathroom being exposed to more moisture, especially in the form of splashed water and steam, which should be kept in mind when choosing bathroom cabinetry and flooring materials.
The specialized requirements of an open bathroom together with its overall impact are some of the reasons you should seek and engage the expertise of qualified professionals for your renovation project. Should you opt for a remodel to an open concept bathroom, choosing Flooring Masters & Professional Remodelers is an excellent way to ensure all elements are considered to make your project a success.
