When you have made the decision to do some bathroom remodeling for your little one, it will suddenly seem like the biggest project in the world. On the one hand, you may have dozens of bathroom renovation designs dancing through your head. On the other, you are wondering how to innovate bathroom renovation designs that will be safe and easy to clean. There is so much that goes into every decision when you are renovating the bathroom for children. Use this guide to learn how to make the most of every inch of space when you are creating your own oasis from the world in the bathroom.
Buy in Multiples
If you have more than one child, you can re-create their bathroom into a room that will accommodate all of them at the same time. The most common bathroom renovation designs for parents with more than one child are designs that include dual everything. That means multiple vanities, multiple cubbies, multiple everything.
The biggest angst that parents have when doing anything for their children is making sure that everything is done fairly. If you are including multiple elements in your bathroom renovation designs, you want them all to look exactly the same. Or, you want them to look the same, but age-appropriate. Obviously if you have a teenager and a four-year-old, you’re not going to have two cabinets with pink dinosaurs on them.
Unless your teenager wants to have that too. You can give each child their own unique opportunities to be creative in the bathroom while being fair, and affordable. The advantage of making everything the same when you are buying in multiples is that you are buying the same thing twice, instead of two of the same item. You may pay less for two of the same vanities than you would for two different vanities.
Double faucets are another idea to consider when bringing extras into the bathroom for children. Younger children may have a tougher time determining the difference between hot and cold on a faucet that is only one faucet that moves in either direction. A large sink with multiple faucets will make life easier for the little ones in the bathroom.
Multiple hooks work wonders in the bathroom as well. Hang them on the walls and the doors to help keep the bathroom clean. This is an easier way to teach children how to keep things clean in the bathroom, without making a tidy-up too big a job for them. Using hooks for robes, towels, and even facecloths can make life in the bathroom enjoyable for them as they become used to taking care of themselves.
Use Early Learning Childcare Principles in Accessibility
If you have really wee-sized children, how they are able to reach things in the bathroom must be considered in your bathroom renovation designs. There are different ways that you can add accessibility to your bathroom without compromising your design. Talk to your local preschool or top private school early years educators to find out how they make accommodations in the bathroom for little ones. Early learning childcare ideas are the best!
The most common way to keep things within reach for kids is to use step stools inside the bathroom. Children like to put the stool up to the sink so that they can reach their own toothbrushes, water cups, and so on. There are many different stools that you can get that they will like to use. You may even want them to paint their own so that they take a role in the newly renovated room of the house.
Another newer and chic way of implementing a stool into the bathroom is to create a built-in stool in one of your bathroom drawers. This will have to be done by someone who is a professional carpenter, or someone that is handy. Making a makeshift stool from a drawer won’t cut it. Have the drawer or cabinet shelf roll out with a weighted stool that the child can stand on directly in front of the sink. Then, when they are done they can slide it back in, and you can still keep the bathroom tidy and make the most of every inch of real estate space in there.
Consider Open Concept Shelving and Built-Ins
Considering open-concept shelving and built-ins for your children’s bathroom renovation designs has the mindset of making things accessible for your kids. They are smarter than you think. If they can get away with not tidying it up, they will. If the bathroom cabinets are open-concept, they will know exactly how and where to put things away. Research good cabinet installation services that can do this with open shelving and closed-door cabinets for any items they don’t need to reach.
There will be a necessity to keep some items stored in a safer place. If you have multiple bathrooms in the home, this will be less of a worry for you. If you only have one, you want to seriously consider how you’re going to store cleaning supplies and medicine in a room that is used and accessible by children. You don’t need to spend a lot on locked cabinets for this. A little bit of elegant childproofing goes a long way here.
Storage baskets and bins have also become popular items to include in bathroom renovation designs. They are easy to use for children, and they are affordable. For $20 each, a few storage baskets in the bathroom can make the bathroom presentable, and easy to tidy.
Other built-ins you may want to consider if you have the budget are those for the bathtub and shower area. Here you may want to have some shower or bath caddies built-in and within reach of your tiny tot’s hands. Of course, depending on the age, the chances that you will be in the bathroom with them for those moments are higher for early years children.
Still, you want to teach them autonomy in the tub. Giving them a bath where they can reach for toys and other items safely will help them to learn to enjoy this room and not dread it.
Create Safe Flooring
You can’t hear of any bathroom renovation designs without hearing the term “non-slip”. This room is an accident waiting to happen. That risk increases the younger your child is. Creating safe flooring in the bathroom is easier than it sounds.
Tile is an ideal flooring solution in the bathroom, and for kids, easy to clean. And whether you have one or five kids, easy to clean is a top-selling point. The tile works well because it is easy to walk on, crawl on, and stand on when performing basic tasks. There are many different non-slip tiles such as porcelain or marble that will make your bathroom shine, and be safe.
Tile isn’t the only solution though. Talk to different flooring companies about various non-slip and easy-to-clean solutions that can be found in bathroom flooring today. Luxury vinyl plank is another ideal bathroom solution that will work well for any age when considering bathroom renovation designs.
Consider a Bathroom for All Ages
You may have to do it out of necessity if you have many family members and only one or two bathrooms. The kids’ bathroom needs to be accessible to all ages. You want to design it to accommodate all of them, while still making it a fun and happy place for the younger ones.
If you have a young woman growing up in the family, you also want to make the bathroom a pretty place where she will learn how to feel beautiful. A young man will have a lot of firsts here too. He wants a space where he can practice bravery. A small vanity for her, a shaving station for him. This is a personal room for them.
With younger children in the family, consider a bathtub or shower space that is seamless. When you have a bath or shower with no seams, you don’t have the grout problem. You will also have less wear and tear on the bath stalls when you go with seamless walls.
Another look you can add for children of all ages is that of wainscoting. This is a very pretty look that keeps your bathroom beautiful and is enjoyed by all ages. You’ll have the added protection of moisture coverage and reduce your risk of damage to the walls.
Whether your child is in private elementary school or off to become an Oscar winner in musical theater class, the bathroom is a place where some of their first dreams are born. Create a magical room for them that is age-appropriate for all of them.
Add Affordable Unique Décor Touches
When you are renovating a bathroom for kids, the budget will be higher on your mind than any other renovation. You know they will grow out of it, but you also know that messes will be abundant here. It is okay to skimp a little on some budget items. If your budget is already low, there are ways to change an entire room without breaking the bank.
Wallpaper is a delightful way that you can renovate a bathroom for the kids, without spending a lot. At the same time, this is a change that is easy to fix down the road. You can bring wallpaper into the bathroom and create a whimsical theme-based room with accessories that are very affordable. Be sure that you choose a wallpaper that is waterproof. If you aren’t sure how to do it, have someone install it for you for a seamless, perfect finish.
Repurpose as much as you can. You may be able to bring in some items from the garage or attic that you haven’t used in years. That old kitchen cart that didn’t fit in the dining room may fit in the bathroom. Bring in storage bins and cubbies, old baskets for towels and toys, and spruce up the room with their own knick-knacks so that it really feels like their own.
Sometimes even a shower curtain can change the face of an entire room. If you aren’t on a big budget but just want to change the look, some new curtains for the window and a shower curtain they laugh at will make all the difference in the world for them. Inspiration for accessories can be found online.
Affordable accessories can be found easily, or even made for younger kids. Look for soap dispensers with their favorite characters on them. Choose rugs that are durable and non-slip that they will love to have their feet on. Find themed hooks that remind them of things, people, or movies that they love. Even a toothbrush bag or kit that has a Disney picture on it could be their go-to end-of-the-day item.
For older kids, make the accessories personal to them in a different way. Choose shaving kits or makeup holders that make them feel like a young man or woman about to conquer the world every day. Select plants and flowers that will cheer them up when they need it. Even a laundry hamper with their name on it gives a sense of security that this is a safe space for them.
Add a HomePod or an Alexa in the bathroom to let them know you know they need their own kind of unwinding time. Make bath time beautiful with diffusers or gels, or manly scents that create the ambiance of a growing journey that starts and ends here every day.
When you are creating bathroom renovation designs for kids, you are only limited by your imagination. Your budget can play a role, but it doesn’t always have to. That will be determined by how big a project you want this to be. Keep the age and personal needs of your children in mind when you are renovating their bathroom. When you do that, this may become their favorite place in the whole home.