8 Questions to Ask Before Converting a Bedroom Into a Bathroom
If you're thinking about turning a spare room into a second bathroom, it might be more complicated than you think
It sounds simple enough: you have a spare bedroom that doesn’t get used much, but you could really benefit from having another bathroom in the house, so why not convert the spare room into a beautiful new bathroom? It can be done, of course, but there are questions that should be asked and answered before you make your final decision.
2. How much should you spend on a bathroom renovation?
As with any renovation, you need to think about whether what you plan to spend on the bathroom will mean you’re over-capitalising on your home. A cheaply-built brick veneer house with a luxurious marble bathroom doesn’t make sense, not if it means you won’t get your money back when it comes time to sell.
Choose fixtures that are in line with the rest of the house – you can still create a beautiful bathroom without having to spend top dollar. If you plan to stay in the house for evermore, you’ll feel justified to spend a little more – but keep in mind that even the best-laid plans do tend to change.
Adding a new bathroom or redesigning an existing one? Find bathroom designers near you, browse their work and read reviews from previous clients
As with any renovation, you need to think about whether what you plan to spend on the bathroom will mean you’re over-capitalising on your home. A cheaply-built brick veneer house with a luxurious marble bathroom doesn’t make sense, not if it means you won’t get your money back when it comes time to sell.
Choose fixtures that are in line with the rest of the house – you can still create a beautiful bathroom without having to spend top dollar. If you plan to stay in the house for evermore, you’ll feel justified to spend a little more – but keep in mind that even the best-laid plans do tend to change.
Adding a new bathroom or redesigning an existing one? Find bathroom designers near you, browse their work and read reviews from previous clients
3. How will you capture natural light in your bathroom?
A dark and gloomy bathroom that always has to be artificially lit is not nearly as appealing as one bathed in natural light. Think this through at the design stage and factor in any extra costs of enlarging windows or installing skylights.
This Sydney bathroom used to be a little-used room off the main suite in a four-bedroom Californian bungalow located in Clovelly, NSW.
“Very rarely are we presented with a space that is free from anything, a space that is square with good light, a clean slate,” says Darren Genner, director of Minosa, who designed this bathroom. “This space was a dream to work with, but it still had its challenges.”
A dark and gloomy bathroom that always has to be artificially lit is not nearly as appealing as one bathed in natural light. Think this through at the design stage and factor in any extra costs of enlarging windows or installing skylights.
This Sydney bathroom used to be a little-used room off the main suite in a four-bedroom Californian bungalow located in Clovelly, NSW.
“Very rarely are we presented with a space that is free from anything, a space that is square with good light, a clean slate,” says Darren Genner, director of Minosa, who designed this bathroom. “This space was a dream to work with, but it still had its challenges.”
Genner decided the best approach to the room was to zone the different areas according to functionality. The toilet is in a separate area, tucked away from the bathing space.
To increase the room’s natural light, two round sky tubes were plaster-set above the shower and to the side of the bath. The room has also been designed with adjustable lighting – it can be bright when needed, or soft when relaxation is in order.
To increase the room’s natural light, two round sky tubes were plaster-set above the shower and to the side of the bath. The room has also been designed with adjustable lighting – it can be bright when needed, or soft when relaxation is in order.
4. How much privacy will your new bathroom have?
Natural light is good, but so is privacy. If your new bathroom is going to overlook a private courtyard or fence, privacy shouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise, you will need to factor the costs of plantation shutters or other window treatments into your bathroom renovation budget.
Natural light is good, but so is privacy. If your new bathroom is going to overlook a private courtyard or fence, privacy shouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise, you will need to factor the costs of plantation shutters or other window treatments into your bathroom renovation budget.
5. Is the room big enough to accommodate a bathroom?
Big bathrooms aren’t always better, but convincing yourself you can squeeze a bathroom into a tiny spare room is dangerous if you’re blinded by desire. Each fixture and fitting in a bathroom has standard measurements and clearances, so consult a bathroom designer to discover if your spare room is large enough for the job.
You’ll want to be certain the space is going to function well enough so you don’t regret the expense of doing the renovation in the first place. And if you’re short on space, you may be able to squeeze in a petite powder room or ensuite instead of a full family-sized bathroom.
Browse beautiful, contemporary bathrooms by Australian designers
Big bathrooms aren’t always better, but convincing yourself you can squeeze a bathroom into a tiny spare room is dangerous if you’re blinded by desire. Each fixture and fitting in a bathroom has standard measurements and clearances, so consult a bathroom designer to discover if your spare room is large enough for the job.
You’ll want to be certain the space is going to function well enough so you don’t regret the expense of doing the renovation in the first place. And if you’re short on space, you may be able to squeeze in a petite powder room or ensuite instead of a full family-sized bathroom.
Browse beautiful, contemporary bathrooms by Australian designers
6. What about bathroom ventilation?
If you’re planning to put a shower in your bathroom, efficient ventilation installed into the ceiling is a must. If the room is already well-ventilated and you only plan to put in a bath, you may not need to do anything more.
Ideally, you’ll want ducted ventilation as well as a natural source of ventilation in the form of a window, operable skylight or external door.
If you’re planning to put a shower in your bathroom, efficient ventilation installed into the ceiling is a must. If the room is already well-ventilated and you only plan to put in a bath, you may not need to do anything more.
Ideally, you’ll want ducted ventilation as well as a natural source of ventilation in the form of a window, operable skylight or external door.
7. Can you say goodbye to the floor and walls?
Architect Rebecca Naughtin says bedroom walls often need to be replaced if the room is to become a bathroom. “Wall linings and plasterboard need to be replaced with Villaboard or an equivalent,” she says.
The floor will also need to be rebuilt and waterproofed if a shower is going in. Naughtin advises considering the depth of tiles when the floor set-down is figured out. The floor will need to be built up to a certain level to allow for new tiles to go on top; you don’t want to be tripping over the step the tiles create if the floor has been built up too high (or low) prior to tiling.
The good news is it’s easier to go from a bedroom to a bathroom than the other way around, according to Naughtin. “Ceiling heights are higher in bedrooms than required for bathrooms,” she says.
Architect Rebecca Naughtin says bedroom walls often need to be replaced if the room is to become a bathroom. “Wall linings and plasterboard need to be replaced with Villaboard or an equivalent,” she says.
The floor will also need to be rebuilt and waterproofed if a shower is going in. Naughtin advises considering the depth of tiles when the floor set-down is figured out. The floor will need to be built up to a certain level to allow for new tiles to go on top; you don’t want to be tripping over the step the tiles create if the floor has been built up too high (or low) prior to tiling.
The good news is it’s easier to go from a bedroom to a bathroom than the other way around, according to Naughtin. “Ceiling heights are higher in bedrooms than required for bathrooms,” she says.
8. Have you thought about sightlines?
If your new bathroom will be tucked away down a hallway or opening off the main bedroom it won’t be a problem, but if an open door reveals a view of the toilet to people eating or cooking dinner, it’s another matter entirely.
Simply keeping the door shut isn’t something you can rely on either – someone’s always going to leave it open. So avoid locating the bathroom off the living room, kitchen or dining rooms if you can.
If your new bathroom will be tucked away down a hallway or opening off the main bedroom it won’t be a problem, but if an open door reveals a view of the toilet to people eating or cooking dinner, it’s another matter entirely.
Simply keeping the door shut isn’t something you can rely on either – someone’s always going to leave it open. So avoid locating the bathroom off the living room, kitchen or dining rooms if you can.
Your turn
Have you converted a bedroom into a bathroom? Share your experience in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
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For more professional advice, read up on Pro Panel: Biggest Bathroom Blunders
Have you converted a bedroom into a bathroom? Share your experience in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
For more professional advice, read up on Pro Panel: Biggest Bathroom Blunders
Plumbing costs can soon escalate if the bedroom in question is too far away from the existing water/sewer lines. Take this into account when you’re calculating how much you can afford to spend, in relation to the value of your house.
Plumbing costs will also add up if there isn’t enough space under the floor to accommodate the pipes. Arrange some plumbing quotes early on in the planning process so you know what you’re likely to be in for.