In a typical home, bathrooms are the most private of spaces and they are used frequently throughout the day by the whole family. So you definitely want to get the design of your bathroom just right. It needs to be practical but also be a place that can be a retreat where you can take a relaxing shower or bath after a long day.
Open plan wet areas offer an alternative to the way we think about traditional bathroom designs. And yes, you can create an open plan bathroom design in a modular home!
They aren't for everyone, but if you're interested in embracing this designer trend, read on to learn more.
When we builders design ‘open plan’ areas, we create spaces that contain the minimum number of internal walls in order to maximise the usable floor space. So in the case of open plan bathrooms or ensuites, we try to create an experience similar to a bathroom you'd find in a resort, hotel or spa suite – large, spacious and luxurious. Essentially, there is no separate room with a door to enter the bathroom.
An open plan bathroom may incorporate features such as a walk-in shower. These are a great way of opening up your bathroom space. Also, walk-in showers look spectacular and do away with traditional shower screens. Floating vanities are also common in such bathrooms as they make the room appear more spacious.
An open plan approach will allow you to create a cost-effective and efficient bathroom space. You can create wet areas that provide more usable floor space and unnecessary circulation space with no corridors.
For example - a 2m x 3m bathroom with a 1m corridor means you lose 33% of your usable space in just a passage. Combining these spaces will result in a larger open plan space while only including the exact features your bathroom needs. Plus, you can allocate more of your budget into higher quality fitting or fixtures for your bathroom.
Another benefit seen from designing your bathrooms with an open plan is that they are easier to keep clean. For instance, you could combine your bath and shower space into the one area. So by doing this, you can not only do away with your glass shower screens (and all the cleaning that comes with them!) you also keep all the splashes in the one spot. That's a real godsend if you've got kids who use the bath. Plus – it looks spectacular!
There’s also generally less corners, nooks and crannies where grime and dust build up with open plan bathrooms.
Removing unnecessary walls and changes in floor levels in your bathroom or ensuite means your spaces start becoming universally accessible which is particularly important if you have loved ones who use a wheelchair or a mobility aid. We mentioned walk in showers earlier – these are fantastic for those with mobility issues.
So this means that any person regardless of age or ability will be able to use your wet area easily. Plus, homes which are designed to be universally accessible will attract more potential buyers, further protecting your investment in the future.
The main concern many clients have with an open plan bathroom design is the loss of privacy. But for those who aren't completely sold on the idea, there are ways to design the space so everyone who uses it feels comfortable.
For example, you can position the toilet in a corner to avoid any awkward on-looking and block it from view with a mid-level wall to create a bit of separation. Another way to add some privacy is to put the toilet behind a frosted glass screen.
Privacy in the bathroom is a matter of personal choice and preference. If you're thinking about an open plan ensuite, and you and your significant other are comfortable showering/bathing in front of each other, then you can get really creative with your design layout. You can have your bedroom open right up into the ensuite and make a gorgeous freestanding tub the focal point of the space.
If you think that building a new modular home might be the best option for you, talk to the team at Westbuilt Homes. We have been designing and building stunning modular homes since 1993 and have perfected our design and construction processes to be as streamlined as possible.
To learn more about modular construction, book a no obligation consultation with one of our modular experts. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.