When designing a family bathroom, a lot more than aesthetics and themes need to be considered. Your bathroom needs to be able to cope with every member of the family using it multiple times throughout the day – as well as with guests or potential new family members too.

A family bathroom needs to be functional, practical and future proof.

Whilst you might be tempted to make it elegant and beautiful, you will need to consider a durable design that can withstand the chaos of the morning rush hour. The materials you select should also be low maintenance, as with a busy life, you may not have time to incessantly scrub your tiling, for example.

We’ve covered the best Kids’ Bathroom Ideas, so now we’ve composed this guide to help you make the best choices for your family bathroom.

Keep your bath or install one

Even if you feel you’re pushed for space, don’t be tempted to evict your bath.

A bath is a must for a busy family, especially those with young children (and, for that much needed me-time). So, to save space, create a shower-bath combo instead of getting rid of the bath altogether.

If you have space, a separate shower enclosure can be very useful, however, this shouldn’t be prioritised over the bath itself.

Additionally, not having a bath can put off potential buyers if you plan to sell in the future.

To solve any bath time problems, where possible try to place the taps in the centre of your fixture. This will save any arguments over who has to sit at the tap end.

Storage, storage and more storage

Every family bathroom has so many users that it can be difficult to keep track of everyone’s belongings. So, it’s crucial that you install storage solutions wherever you can fit them. Not only will this give you more space to store items like shampoo and bath toys but will also prevent your bathroom from looking like a bomb site on any given day.

Add cupboards in vanity units, cabinet mirrors and fit some shelves in wherever you can. If your bathroom is on the small side, consider using sturdy glass shelving; this will open up space as well as providing you with storage options.

Slim, freestanding furniture can help you to ensure that you can still see plenty of the floor and prevent the room from feeling overcrowded.

Think big

Where space allows for it, you should consider supersizing everything in your bathroom to cater to the many users it will have.

Look for trough-style basins, that will allow many people to brush their teeth on a busy school morning. If possible, even consider having two basins – but make sure you leave yourself with enough counter space for toothbrushes and other products.

Mirrors should also be big enough for multiple people. It’s also important to install as many mirrors as possible on different walls, again to allow multiple people to use at once.

Install wall panels and waterproof flooring

Whilst tiles are aesthetically pleasing, they can be very impractical for family bathrooms – both on the walls and the floor.

Wall tiles are fussy to install and even fussier to clean; they can harbour a disturbing number of bacteria and are simply impractical. Floor tiling is also slippery when wet, which could potentially cause injury to you or your children. So, choose more practical waterproof bathroom wall panels and flooring.

They’re chic – this subway tile panel is very on trend at the moment – as well as being much easier to clean. What’s more, they’re easy to install and have a considerably lower price tag than tiles, making them the perfect option for a family bathroom.

Keep it neutral

You can always inject your personality into your bathroom – however, remember to stay on the side of caution.

Keeping your colour schemes as neutral as possible will make it easier to update your bathroom over time. Neutral fixtures especially will not have to be frequently changed, and with busy family life, the last thing you want to do is plan a remodel.

Therefore, consider keeping everything as plain as possible. But plain doesn’t have to mean boring! You can add character and colour to your bathroom through coloured accessories and plants, instead of colourful fixtures that may not always be in vogue.