10 Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid During Your Next Remodel

No one tries to intentionally make their bathroom cramped, slippery, poorly lit, or have poor ventilation, but alas, mistakes do happen. Bathroom remodeling takes a while and can be quite involved, and oversights are bound to happen, especially taking into account how many minor details you have to plan together cohesively. However, there are precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of ending up with a design mistake in your new bathroom. 

Taking note of common mistakes is well worth it when it comes to bathroom design because in these cases mistakes can be more than just a mere annoyance. Some oversights can make your bathroom dangerous or require expensive repairs, while others will impose an eye sore or inconvenience on a daily basis. Let’s explore some common bathroom design mistakes to avoid according to seasoned bathroom design experts. 

Clutter 

While open shelving can be aesthetically pleasing, a lack of storage is not practical and will lead to a build up of clutter in your bathroom.

This is especially true in a small bathroom, but in general, clutter is a nuisance to have in your bathroom, and some design mistakes will make it worse. The average bathroom has a lot of different items in it that can easily cause clutter if your bathroom design doesn’t account for this. This is why having a balance of open and closed storage is so important when remodeling your outdated bathroom. 

While it can be quite a clean and modern design aesthetic, the open shelving design is a bathroom remodeling trend to avoid if you want to reduce clutter. This is for the simple reason that having all of your bathroom items out in the open invites excessive noise that will make your smaller bathroom feel quite cluttered. The lack of storage space also means that stuff will make its way onto your sink, window sill, and any other flat surface. 

If you’re a fan of the open shelving aesthetic, we don’t blame you; however, we do recommend implementing the open shelving bathroom design for your guest bathroom, and having more storage for your personal bathroom to avoid headaches in the future. For expert advice on reducing bathroom clutter, consider hiring a professional for your remodel.   

No Dry and Wet Zones 

One thing that all bathrooms have in common is that they are in an environment where there is constant moisture. This means a redesign of your outdated bathroom needs to account for this by integrating segregated zones into your bathroom design. Doing so will help prevent mold growth, as well as reduce the risk of slipping.

Excessive moisture can also cause parts of your bathroom to get damaged, especially where you have constantly wet drywall. To prevent this, always segregate wet areas, such as showers, with raised dry sections, curtains, glass panels, and water-resistant cladding where the shower will go.     

No Character 

The all-white bathroom might sound compelling, but an excessively minimalist and monochromatic bathroom will lack personality and feel uninviting.

We’ve all seen a bathroom that can be called “uninspired”. We’re talking about the standard white bathroom, where everything is monochromatic and where nothing is personalized or seems to have much character. While this might be ok for a public bathroom, it’s not great for a bathroom in your home. Minimalist design is great and all, but extreme minimalism is a bathroom trend to avoid during your next remodel. 

Besides, minimalism is kind of outdated these days, so instead, aim for texture and a unique touch in your new bathroom design. This means integrating as many different colorful materials while keeping bathroom remodel costs under control. Injecting color and variety into your outdated bathroom is the best way to keep things from getting boring. 

Poor Use of Space 

Poor fixture placement can make your bathroom feel more cramped than it is.

By this, we mean poor use of space when placing your bathroom fixtures, such as an oval bathtub, commode, sink, cabinets, and other stuff. If your bathroom design ends up placing these items too close together or at awkward angles, you can end up with a bathroom that has poor space efficiency and feels much smaller than it is. The feeling of having to use an inconveniently placed toilet or sink leaves a lasting impression.

To avoid this, it is important to ensure that every fixture in your bathroom has enough space. This means whatever is in your bathroom needs to be easy for the average person to access and use, so be careful to avoid placing fixtures where they can cause conflict with walls, doors, cabinets, shower doors, etc. 

Slippery Tiles 

We recommend always choosing slip-resistant ceramic tiles for durability and safety.

This might seem like such a small detail, but bathroom floor tiles are a pretty important component of any bathroom remodeling project. Each tile material has its own set of advantages and downsides, but most of all, you want to make sure that your tiles are appropriate for use in a bathroom. For instance, you wouldn’t want glossy tiles because these will be much more slippery, especially when wet. 

Slip-resistant tiles are by far the superior choice for your bathroom as they are much safer to walk on when, say, stepping out of the shower. Another mistake is choosing a material with poor moisture resistance as this will make your tiles more prone to water damage. We recommend getting ceramic tiles if you want to prioritize durability as these types of tiles will last far longer in a moist environment. 

Unfocused Decor 

Random or excessive decor can make your bathroom feel cluttered and less practical.

When it comes to bathroom remodeling trends, sometimes there are just too many interesting design options to choose from. And we’ve gone over the importance of giving character to your bathroom design, but it’s also important to note that this should be focused and measured. This is a bathroom trend to avoid as going overboard with excessive decor won’t do you any favors. A bathroom overwhelmed with decor that doesn’t serve any purpose other than getting in the way won’t be a nice place to spend time. 

To avoid this, work to integrate items into your decor that are also functional. For example, high-quality Mediterranean-style towels provide a luxurious feel to your bathroom, but are also soft, super absorbent, and beautiful - making them a practical and fitting accessory. These kinds of additions will help to enhance the ambiance of your bathroom without getting in the way. After all, it is a bathroom at the end of the day.

Poor Material Choice 

If you want to install wood in your bathroom, always ensure that it is treated or composed of a moisture-resistant wood such as cedar.

Since your bathroom is always going to have humidity, it’s important to avoid using any materials that tend to get damaged by repeated moisture exposure. One of the biggest offenders in this department is wood. Wood flooring or wood fixtures that weren’t meant to be installed in the bathroom can quickly warp and get damaged if installed in a bathroom. 

So if you decide to shake it up and opt for unusual bathroom materials, search for items specifically made to be installed in the bathroom. When it comes to wood, that means flooring and fixtures that are treated and made of moisture-resistant wood such as cedar.

Bad Ventilation and Poor Lighting

These two bathroom design mistakes to avoid are ones that can pose a significant health risk. Bad ventilation and poor lighting make for a dark and humid bathroom, providing the perfect conditions for the formation of mold and fungus, which in turn can cause respiratory issues and aggravate allergies. 

The fact that moisture will hang around for longer can also cause damage to bathroom fixtures and cause them to degrade faster. If mold growth gets out of control, it can get quite expensive and time-consuming to fully remove. As such, incorporating good ventilation and adequate natural lighting into your bathroom design is crucial for your health and the long-term reliability of your renovated bathroom. While these two combinations together are deadly, you want to avoid either of them individually as well.

Poor lighting may seem like a romantic idea, but it’s just not practical for everyday life. Additionally, there are multiple important purposes for proper ventilation, and overlooking this detail is a huge bathroom design mistake.

Incompatible Products 

Check with a certified plumber before installing any complex fixtures into your bathroom so you can be sure everything is compatible.

Imagine going through the trouble of finding the perfect shower fixture that perfectly suits your remodeled master bathroom, only to find that it doesn’t work with the water system. Compatibility issues aren’t something you want to discover at the last minute when you’ve already bought all your fixtures. Preventing this means doing research and getting help from the pros. 

If you don’t feel confident in determining your home’s requirements on your own, consult a certified plumber about your water system. They can help you choose the best products for your home and prevent any expensive mistakes like this.