A family bathroom must be a highly functional space. Not only does it need to withstand the weekday morning rush hour, it also needs to hold up under the pressure of nightly baths, showers, and sometimes, sibling battles. The good news is it is entirely possible to build a kid-friendly bathroom space that is safe, practical, and beautiful.
This guide will walk you through all the major considerations to keep in mind when planning your remodel to create a bathroom that works for kids. We will touch on necessary safety upgrades, materials that are durable and easy to clean, storage solutions, and design decisions that will make your new bathroom work for your family for years to come. Our mission? Helping you make a bathroom space that works for kids and is beautiful and functional.
Must-Have Safety Features for a Kid-Friendly Bathroom
Safety is always a top priority when you have young children in the home (or even older, boisterous kids). The right precautions in your remodel can help you prevent some of the most common bathroom hazards and give you peace of mind.
Non-Slip Surfaces and Water Temperature Protection
Wet bathroom floors can be very slippery. To prevent slips and falls, choose floor tiles with a textured or matte finish as these provide much more traction than smooth, glossy tiles. Grab bars are another must-have in a family bathroom. Strategically placed near the tub and toilet, these additions can provide some much-needed balance for kids and adults alike. Grab bars also offer a boost of support to elderly relatives who may struggle with balance.
A very real burn hazard exists from hot water. To prevent scalding, install anti-scald valves on your faucets and showerheads that keep the water at a consistent, safe temperature.
Safe Fixtures and Electrical Peace of Mind
Mind your details to help keep your little ones safe. Vanities and counters with rounded corners will be kinder to tender elbows and noses. Secure fixtures that are heavier and have a greater potential to tip over if a child climbs on them, such as toilets and vanities.
Electrical safety should not be overlooked. GFCI outlets (ground fault circuit interrupters) are a code requirement in any bathroom but are especially important. If an electric appliance or device makes contact with water, the GFCI outlets cut the power to the appliance and help prevent electrical shock.
Durable Materials for Busy Family Bathrooms
High-traffic family bathrooms require durable and easy-to-clean materials. Picking the right surfaces for your bathroom will make your life a lot easier and will keep the space looking its best for years to come.
Countertops and Flooring That Can Take a Beating
Choose quartz countertops if you want durable surfaces that are a breeze to care for. Quartz countertops are stain-, scratch-, and bacteria-resistant, making them a good choice for a family bathroom. Quartz countertops require very little maintenance and are very hardy to dirty little hands and accidental splashes. Marble can be beautiful, but it is more porous and much less durable than quartz, which is why quartz is the winner when it comes to family bathrooms.
Flooring materials that can stand up to a lot of wear and tear while also being water-resistant are best. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and porcelain tile are both durable, easy to clean, and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. You should have no problem finding a look you love without having to compromise on function.
Easy-Care Walls
If you have small children, you may find yourself cleaning your bathroom walls every day. For painted walls, a semi-gloss or satin finish is best, as it is more resistant to moisture and scrubbing. Large wall tiles or solid surface panels in the shower or on the wall behind the tub can minimize grout lines, which means less mold and mildew buildup and less scrubbing.
Storage Solutions That Work for the Whole Family
A bathroom that is fully and logically organized is a space that looks good, keeps everyone’s belongings corralled, and is safer for everyone to use.
Storage That’s Kid- and Adult-Friendly
Make your vanity’s storage work for kids by including both low drawers that children can open and higher cabinets for adult storage. A truly clever upgrade? Install a built-in pull-out step stool under the vanity. This way, you avoid having a wobbly plastic step stool in your bathroom and encourage your kids to access the sink on their own.
Mixing Open and Closed Shelves
Mixing open and closed storage in your bathroom is a good strategy. Open shelves at a lower level are ideal for bath toys and children’s towels, and these will be accessible to kids. Shower niches built into the wall keep soaps and shampoos off the tub edge, which eliminates clutter. Tall, closed cabinets are great up high for storing medications and cleaning supplies, far out of reach of little hands.
Design Choices That Grow With Your Family
The right design decisions will make your bathroom both kid-friendly and will help your remodel have a longer visual life. Functional design elements can be chosen to easily evolve as your children grow up (and as your preferences change).
Go Neutral—Add Fun With Accessories
A neutral color palette is your friend for permanent surfaces such as tile, countertops, and the vanity. Accent these with color and personality in more affordable, easy-to-change accessories such as shower curtains, fun towels, wall art, or colorful bath mats. This way, if your little one’s favorite color changes from dolphins to dinosaurs in an instant, you can change the style without having to do a (costly) remodel.
Fixtures That Last
Kid-friendly bathroom fixtures are ones that will continue to serve your family and make life easier as your family grows. A double vanity can be a huge help for your family in the morning, as it allows multiple people to get ready simultaneously. A handheld shower wand is another great fixture. It is very useful for washing little ones, and it also can make cleaning the shower easier and faster.
With the right planning, it is entirely possible to build a kid-friendly bathroom space that is safe, organized, and stylish enough to work for your entire family. Focus on safety and function, choose materials that will last, think hard about storage and installation options, and always plan for a design that will continue to work for your family as your children grow up.
Want to talk to a professional about your family-friendly bathroom remodel? Elite Home Creations is a professional home remodeling company with a specialization in building beautiful, custom spaces that are 100% tailored to your family’s unique needs. For a consultation, call Elite Home Creations if you are in the Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas area.