We Asked a Designer Which Bathroom Features People Regret the Most, and Now We Can't Unsee It

Designing a bathroom involves numerous decisions that can significantly impact both its aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. While aspiring for luxury and unique styles, many homeowners encounter common pitfalls that lead to regret. Designer Emily LaMarque highlights six particular bathroom features that frequently result in dissatisfaction, primarily due to issues with cleaning, comfort, or usability. One common regret involves large showers with partial doors, often made of glass to convey a luxurious feel. While visually appealing, these un-enclosed showers can be cold and drafty, especially in cooler climates. LaMarque suggests opting for fully enclosed showers with glass doors or leaving only a small gap at the top to maintain the luxurious aesthetic without compromising warmth. This advice prioritizes comfort and practicality over a potentially uncomfortable design choice. Another frequent source of regret is excessive use of tile, which leads to too much grout. Grout, particularly in wet areas like bathrooms, is prone to discoloration, mildew growth, and rapid breakdown, making it difficult to maintain. To minimize maintenance, LaMarque recommends selecting materials with minimal grout lines, simplifying the cleaning process and preserving the bathroom's appearance over time. Vessel sinks, despite their initial luxurious appeal, often become a source of frustration. They tend to consume a considerable amount of counter space and are challenging to clean around. Furthermore, their height can be problematic, often feeling either too high or too low for comfortable use. For a more user-friendly and low-maintenance option, an undermount vanity sink with a solid surface top is recommended, offering both practicality and ease of cleaning. Suboptimal showerheads also contribute to user regret. Issues often stem from incorrect placement, with many showerheads installed too low, forcing taller individuals to bend or squat. LaMarque advises placing showerhead plumbing at a height of seven feet during remodels to ensure ample standing room. Additionally, while rain showers might seem appealing, people often overestimate their desire for a full-body drench. It is suggested to complement a rain shower with a hand shower or a standard showerhead for more versatile and practical daily use. Standalone bathtubs, similar to vessel sinks, can present significant challenges related to cleaning and practicality. Cleaning around these tubs can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Moreover, for a truly comfortable soak, a standalone tub needs to be sufficiently large and deep to allow for full body submersion. Crucially, homeowners must ensure their hot water heater can supply enough hot water to adequately fill the tub, preventing a chilly bathing experience. Finally, a lack of functional electrical outlets is a common oversight. With the increasing number of electrical devices in modern bathrooms, such as electric toothbrushes, towel warmers, and bidets, a single vanity outlet is often insufficient. LaMarque advises planning for additional outlets, including one behind the toilet for potential bidet installation, which has grown in popularity. To maintain a clutter-free countertop, she also suggests integrating electrical outlets within drawers or cabinets, allowing small appliances to remain plugged in or charging while being easily accessible and out of sight. Despite these potential pitfalls, two features consistently satisfy homeowners: heated flooring and eye-level sconces. Heated floors offer a sense of luxury and comfort, particularly beneficial for stone and even wooden floors during colder months. Eye-level sconces provide optimal facial lighting, greatly enhancing the ease of makeup application and general grooming. These features represent worthwhile investments that significantly improve the daily bathroom experience. #BathroomDesign #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #DesignRegrets #HomeImprovement #FunctionalDesign #BathroomFixtures #SmartPlanning #BathroomDesign #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #DesignRegrets #HomeImprovement #FunctionalDesign #BathroomFixtures #SmartPlanning