Family bathroom suite buying guide

When buying for a family bathroom, what will you need to consider? Our expert guide will help you tick all those boxes...

If you share your bathroom with your partner and children (plus any other relatives you might have living with you), you’ll fully understand just how busy and well-used that space can be. And, with any family bathroom, safety and practicality will most likely be top of your priority list when it comes to planning and purchasing.

However, you don’t need to give up on flair and style. At Victoria Plum we have plenty of options to help you create your perfect family bathroom. In this guide, we’ll show you what to think about and provide some expert guidance too.

With curves in all the right places, the Wharfe suite from Orchard Bathrooms is a great example of a fresh, appealing and stylish family bathroom suite

What is a good option for a family with young children?

If you have young children, you will need a durable and functional bathroom as it’s going to get plenty of use. We have a wide selection of designer bathroom suites that are fantastic for families, with simple, sturdy designs that are built to last.

Before choosing your suite, think carefully about the layout of your bathroom and how you and your children are going to use it. If you have the space, a ledge alongside the bath provides a fun play area for your children, as well as space to keep shampoos and bubble bath within easy reach.

Don’t forget that the bathroom is your space too though. It’s important to create a room that you can unwind in, such as enjoying a long, relaxing bath at the end of a busy day. There are plenty of options for creating a truly stylish bathroom too. For example, the Tate suites from Mode Bathrooms are beautifully modern and sleek, whilst also being functional and practical for the family.

For a complete family bathroom, the stylish Tate bathroom suite from Mode Bathrooms includes a freestanding bath, wall hung basin and toilet

Are there any safety features to consider?

With little ones around, safety is very important. Here are a few things to think about:

Edges

Opt for a suite with smooth lines and rounded edges, so there won’t be any sharp corners for little heads to bump.

Toilet seats

Choose a soft close seat to avoid trapped fingers.

Taps

Be aware that lever taps are easy for children to turn on and off. More traditional cross handle taps can be a safer option. Better still, why not consider a thermostatic valve for your bath? This helps keep water temperature more consistent than manual tap.

Safe storage

When designing your bathroom, think about storage space for things like cleaning products and medication. You’ll need to ensure anything potentially harmful is out of reach of young children. A mirror cabinet placed high enough on a wall is a great idea.

Flooring

Make sure your flooring is non-slip (find out more about anti-slip tiles), and that it can handle splashes from the bath.

New to the parenting game? Find out how to create a bathroom that's safe for babies

Which bathrooms are the easiest to clean?

Simple bathroom suites are the easiest to clean as there are no nooks and crannies to work around. Back to wall toilets and vanity units are ideal, as they help conceal pipework and potential dust and grime traps. Think about fittings too; chrome bathroom fittings are great as they only need a wipe to keep them looking fantastic.

Small family bathrooms

A good space-saving option is to combine your shower and bath instead of having 2 separate units. Many shower baths have wider spaces at one end to provide extra room for showering, while still giving you the option of bathing.

A shower bath offers the best of both worlds—bath for the kids, shower for you

Don’t forget to choose a thermostatic shower with a slider rail kit. There are 2 good reasons for this:

A thermostatic valve keeps water temperature consistent and comes with an anti-scald safety feature which helps keep children safe
A slider rail means you can all adjust the height and angle of the shower head to suit your specific needs

With style and safety at the forefront of its design, the Why thermostatic square shower system from Orchard Bathrooms will fit perfectly with your family bathroom suite

Are there any clever storage solutions to help keep things tidy?

You can opt for a combination toilet and basin unit to provide some much-needed storage. These units incorporate the toilet and basin into a vanity unit, which saves on space and gives you some drawer and cupboard space.

Easy to clean and with plenty of storage to boot! The Eden white combination unit from Orchard Bathrooms is ideal for family bathroom suites

A final word on family bathroom suites

Choosing a family bathroom suite needn’t mean compromising on style. By carefully selecting your suite and picking out the perfect accessories, you can easily create a space in which all members of your household will enjoy spending time.