Pro tips for designing a family bathroom with grown-up style

As any family with small children will appreciate, a bathroom revamp can make all the difference, especially if your present set-up isn’t age-appropriate.

One of the hardest-working spaces in a household, as any parent will know, it can easily get cluttered up with bath-time toys, makeshift fittings and random items… a far cry from a relaxing retreat when it’s your time to bathe.

But the good news is, you can still create a bathroom which balances practicality with spa-like features – and design details beneficial for all…

“Families often think they need to compromise on appearance when designing a bathroom for children, but that’s not the case,” says Hannah Melvin, a designer at kitchen and bathroom showroom, Kuche & Bagno, in Rugby, Warwickshire.

“The best family bathrooms are designed to work hard behind the scenes while still feeling calm, stylish and enjoyable to spend time in,” says the qualified interior designer and mother of three young boys.

Moreover, she recently put those principles into practice in her own home renovation. “I just love architecture and layouts and things like that. So once we got the plans off the architect, it was kind of like being given free rein.”

Here she shares her top tips for designing a family bathroom with grown-up style…

Creating a bathroom which grows with your children

One of the biggest challenges is creating a space which works for toddlers, school-age children and eventually teens…

Cute as it is, rather than relying on child-themed decor which can quickly date, Melvin recommends incorporating features which adapt as children grow.

For her family bathroom, she selected shower fittings with softer spray patterns, creating a gentler introduction to showering for younger children while still delivering a luxurious experience for grown-ups.

“When children start moving from bath time to showering independently, a soft-shower spray pattern can feel much more comfortable,” explains Melvin.

“Making it feel like rain when you’re showering, so that adds a bit of luxury to it and more of a sensory kind of experience for younger kids.”

To make it multi-functional, she went for a combination of an overhead shower plus an adjustable riser rail, giving the family the choice of spray patterns depending on who is using the shower – and water pressure to suit their mood.

Plus being able to adjust the riser rail means it can accommodate different users, and ideal as children grow.

Prioritising safety without compromising on design

Safety is really important, but Melvin says it’s possible to bring features in without adding more clutter or detracting from the overall look.

Opting for a streamlined bath-filling system takes away the need for exposed taps around the bath edge – helping to create a cleaner aesthetic and meaning fewer obstructions for younger children.

“It’s really clean looking, so you don’t have any taps over the bath that the kids can play with and change the temperature of,” she highlights, and says opting for thermostatically controlled shower fittings means you can choose the ideal setting.

Melvin also suggests good design should solve problems quietly and, with a thoughtful approach, safety features don’t have to shout for attention.

Building smart storage into design

From brightly coloured rubber ducks to bubble bath bottles and family essentials, things can become a little disorderly and quickly overwhelm even a high-end sanctuary.

To avoid clutter but keep essentials in easy reach, Melvin incorporated dedicated storage spaces, including a bespoke feature inspired by an old sink discovered during her home renovation.

“In the garden we found this Belfast sink, and we thought for the kids’ toys that either stay in the bath where they’re in the way; or end up being somewhere else where they get mouldy and smelly… if we were to put them in the sink they could all drain off,” she explains.

Repurposed and built into seating, the sink provides a hidden area where bath toys can drain and dry between uses.

She also included plenty of shelving and ledges to keep shampoos, toiletries and everyday essentials close to hand.

Using lighting to support family routines

Lighting can dramatically alter the feel of a bathroom, and help back children’s bedtime routines…

By installing layered lighting, she can switch between brighter illumination for busy mornings – and softer lighting for evening bath times.

“So in the evening, when the kids are having their evening bath, you can turn the lights right down to low level lighting, so it’s not stimulating them or anything like that.

“It’s just calming and helps signal bedtime is approaching, transforming bath time into a more relaxing experience for all,” adds Melvin.

Making independence easier

Helping children become more independent can reduce stress during busy mornings…

She says simple additions such as steps positioned by basins and carefully thinking about where you place mirrors enable children to wash, brush their teeth and carry out routines more easily on their own.

“Small design decisions can make a huge difference to how confidently children use the space,” says Melvin. “It’s about creating a bathroom that works for every member of the family.”

Comfort counts

Finally, she believes the best family bathrooms acknowledge bath time is as much about parents, as it is children.

Comfortable seating, warm towels and thoughtful touches such as an oversized heated towel rail programmed to warm towels ready for bath time – which she installed in her own home – helps create a spa-style space.

“A family bathroom needs to work hard, but it should still feel special,” she adds. “Those little moments of comfort can make everyday routines feel much easier.”

Indeed, Melvin believes the most successful family bathrooms are the ones that balance beauty with practicality… supporting family life today, while remaining stylish for years to come.