Among the finest methods to utilize understairs house is by becoming a rest room there. Whereas it gained’t be doable in each residence (we’re taking a look at you, steep and slim staircases with no drainage entry), it’s an amazing function to have when you can.
Downstairs bathrooms could make life quite a bit simpler – particularly you probably have a giant household, frequent visitors, or just need the comfort of not trekking up the steps.
Under, we’ve curated a round-up of probably the most intelligent understairs bathroom concepts that guarantee no house goes to waste, together with sensible suggestions and tips from the specialists. You will additionally get an concept on price and whether or not planning permission will likely be wanted.
1. Use panelling to hyperlink your hallway and understairs bathroom
To realize a seamless transition from the hallway to the bathroom, think about using the identical toilet panelling in each areas. Bear in mind to decide on a moisture-resistant or waterproof materials, akin to PVC or handled MDF, and end with a water-resistant sealant.
Within the photograph above, GoodHome used tongue-and-groove panels in a beautiful sage inexperienced shade on the hallway partitions; that is carried by way of behind the bathroom, with the door in an identical color.
“Persevering with wall panelling into an understairs bathroom is a good way to create a cohesive look all through your hallway, or the bottom ground of your property,” says Summa Costandi, co-founder at Panels by Sofia. “Panelling will visually hyperlink the room to the remainder of your downstairs inside, serving to to create a pure move.”
Summa Costandi
Summa Costandi is the co-founder of North Yorkshire-based ornamental wall panelling firm, Panels by Sofia. In addition to heading up all advertising exercise and serving to to develop the model, Summa offers sensible recommendation on product set up and styling, enabling DIY lovers to create their dream houses.
2. Save house with wall-mounted sanitaryware
Understairs bathrooms aren’t the largest locations, so to make sure there’s loads of room to maneuver round comfortably, set up wall-mounted sanitaryware to release some ground house.
Within the photograph above, the corner-style basin maximises each inch of the room, and the uncovered piping is a function reasonably than a eyesore, matching the faucets, towel hook and hallway gentle swap to create a cohesive move.
“Constructed-in sanitaryware is simpler to wash, eliminating hard-to-reach corners, and enhances the performance of the lavatory with out sacrificing type,” provides Alex Woods, toilet skilled at Victorian Plumbing.
Add these wall-mounted fixtures in your understairs bathroom
Quarter Circle Nook Wall Hung Basin Sink
This wall-hung basin matches neatly into the nook and comes with a 10-year assure.
This space-saving bathroom incorporates a rimless design for straightforward cleansing and tender shut for consolation.
Black Nook Mirror Cupboard
This water resistant mirror cupboard has a fantastic curved design and hangs out of the way in which within the nook.
Alex Woods is a toilet skilled at Victorian Plumbing, a serious on-line toilet and kitchen retailer based mostly in Merseyside, UK.
3. Go daring in an understairs bathroom with assertion wallpaper
If there’s ever a time to go daring in your room décor, it is in your understairs bathroom. Opposite to standard perception, you do not have to play it secure in a small house, and selecting a daring wallpaper can truly assist to broaden the texture of the room.
“Cloakrooms are the place to be courageous – daring wallpaper turns this forgotten house right into a second, into an expertise. As a result of it’s not used always, you don’t get design fatigue,” says inside designer Miriam Prada.
Within the instance above, the owners coated the bathroom cistern in crimson wooden panelling to enhance this shade within the wallpaper, serving to to attain a unified design that flows with out feeling random.
Honey Bees Gold Wallpaper
“We used this Honey Bees Wallpaper beneath the steps for a London mission. It grew to become probably the most photographed room in the home,” says Miriam.
Miriam Prada, is the founding father of Miriam Prada Interiors, and has over 15 years’ expertise delivering bespoke residential interiors throughout the UK and internationally. From multi-million-pound tasks to personalised on-line consultancy, each service provided is tailor-made and bespoke.
4. Breathe life into your understairs bathroom with vibrant tiles
In case you’re involved that your understairs bathroom feels darkish and dingy, contemplate putting in floor-to-ceiling toilet tiles in a vibrant color to brighten the house. Whereas bigger tiles are inclined to make rooms look greater, vertical tiles (as proven within the photograph above) will help create the phantasm of peak.
“An understairs bathroom generally is a excellent spot to experiment along with your type and selection of tiles. In case you’re not targeted on creating the phantasm of house, you possibly can go daring and playful with vibrant, deep shades or intricately patterned tiles,” says Harriet Goodacre, interiors and tiling skilled at Topps Tiles.
Even when you do not have a bathe or tub in your understairs bathroom, it is smart to make use of a water resistant adhesive and grout to forestall moisture injury from bathroom and sink splashes.
Mapei Waterproof Repair & Grout
This waterproof adhesive and grout can be utilized with ceramic and porcelain tiles and comes ready-mixed for ease.
Harriet is a tile and interiors skilled at Topps Tiles, with over a decade on the model and greater than 15 years’ expertise working with residence and way of life manufacturers. She specialises in all issues tiles and tile design, together with layouts, color pairings and interiors developments, providing sensible and classy steerage for actual houses.
5. Keep in type with a mixture of wallpaper and panels
“Pairing half-height wall panels with a press release wallpaper may be very on-trend proper now and we’re seeing a rise in prospects adopting this type, notably in small rooms akin to a downstairs toilet“, says Summa Costandi. “The general look is actually placing and the right means so as to add some character to your house.”
For a recent really feel, Summa recommends selecting fluted or ribbed wall panels, whereas bead-and-butt, tongue-and-groove, or Shaker types work finest in a standard nation residence.
“When you’ve chosen your wallpaper, choose a paint color on your panels that matches a tone within the wallpaper sample, as this may assist to create that fantastically coordinated aesthetic,” she provides.
6. Spotlight the understairs bathroom door with vibrant paint
Let your understairs bathroom shine by giving the door a lick of paint in a vivid, lovely shade that enhances your hallway design. Within the photograph above, the owners have chosen a vibrant coral, which ties in with the sample on the rug and pops in opposition to the crisp white bannister.
“In small areas, the door does the heavy lifting; daring color units the temper immediately,” says Miriam Prada. “A assured door color indicators intention, not compromise – it’s the smallest funding with the largest visible influence.”
Nonetheless, earlier than you whip the paintbrushes out of the cabinet, you’ll must examine what materials your door is constituted of, as this may decide the way it must be primed and which paint you’ll want to make use of. Our information on how you can paint a door panel is an effective reference level.
7. Add heat and character with wood cladding
Picket cladding provides a heat, inviting, and natural really feel to an understairs bathroom. You may assume wooden is a no-no in any room with water, nevertheless it’s actually doable when you go about it the precise means, as Summa Costandi explains beneath.
“I’d all the time suggest selecting waterproof or moisture-resistant supplies for areas akin to a downstairs bathroom. The commonest choices are PVC or handled MDF as these supplies can face up to humid situations.
“You’ll additionally want to make use of a water-resistant sealant to forestall water leakage round any joints, edges or corners. In case your panels want portray, be sure you use a mould-resistant primer and a moisture-resistant paint too.”
Smartseal Wooden Sealer
Defend wood surfaces from moisture-damage with this waterproof sealant, appropriate for each interiors and exteriors.
8. Let your tiling do the speaking in your understairs bathroom
Spotlight the distinctive slant of the staircase through the use of fascinating tiling on the again wall. Within the photograph above, the owners selected this eye-catching geometric print, which provides curiosity as quickly as you open the door.
Understairs bathrooms tend to really feel flat and boxy, however this function wall concept does the design heavy lifting, serving to the small house pop – with out having to do a lot else when it comes to décor or design.
As beforehand talked about, you may want to make use of waterproof adhesive and grout to forestall moisture injury, even though there isn’t a bathtub or bathe.
FAQs
Do you want planning permission for an understairs bathroom?
No, you don’t want planning permission for an understairs bathroom, as there could be no exterior alterations, advises Ben Ridley, Founding father of Structure for London. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll want listed constructing consent if it is a listed constructing.
How a lot wouldn’t it price to place a rest room beneath the steps?
In keeping with Ben Ridley, you’ll spend round £5,000 on an understairs bathroom.
Nonetheless, the price of a brand new bathroom will rely on how easy it’s to connect with providers and the situation of drainage runs.
Earlier than getting began in your new mission, Ben Ridley says to maintain this one consideration in thoughts: “Be certain that you draw a cross part by way of the house to substantiate that the headroom above the bathroom pan is enough, assuming the pan will likely be positioned within the space of lowest headroom.”
For extra expert-led inspiration, discover our favorite toilet window concepts or discover ways to nail your toilet design.
