10 Mistakes to Avoid in your Boulder County Bathroom Renovation

While creating a luxurious bathroom that serves as a serene retreat is a top priority for many homeowners in Boulder, Colorado, nothing ruins that spa-like sanctuary faster than a poorly functioning layout and thoughtless design choices.

If you're planning a bathroom remodel, ensure you avoid these 10 design mistakes. Better yet, hire a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer who’s trained to design functional bathrooms {like me! wink}. Don’t miss the last tip - if you do nothing else, get #10 right!

What are the ten mistakes to avoid in your Boulder County bathroom renovation?

1. Missing Out On A Better Bathroom Layout

Older bathrooms often fail to maximize space. If you’re in that situation, you may have to move some plumbing fixtures (toilet, sink, shower, and bath) to create a functional layout. However, moving plumbing can be costly, especially for the toilet, and you don’t want to spend money you don’t have to.

Look at all scenarios and try to keep as much of the plumbing in its current location as possible, but also make sure your investment is worthwhile by making sure you spend enough money to get the functional bathroom you need.

If you’re DIYing your layout, remember that you can sign up for my Design Bites service to get a professional floor plan review to help avoid mistakes, or explore new ideas.

2. Overlooking Bathroom Door & Drawer Clearance

Few things are more frustrating than a bathroom door that hits the vanity or toilet, or drawer fronts that crash into each other. And what about towel bars and robe hooks that keep you from swinging open the shower door without breaking the glass? A little pre-planning can save us from these frustrating bathroom design mistakes!

When planning your layout, consider how every door and drawer will open, ensuring there’s plenty of clearance. For tighter spaces, consider pocket or barn doors, but be aware they don’t lock as easily or block sound and light as effectively as swinging doors.

3. Inadequate Bathroom Ventilation

Bathrooms are the wettest room in the house and without adequate ventilation they will grow mold, causing potential illness and requiring costly repair. I always try to include a window in the bathrooms I design and specify bathroom fans with no less than 50 CFM, scaling up based on the size of the bathroom. CFM stands for “cubic feet per minute” and tells us how much air a fan can move per minute. The higher the CFM, the more powerful the suction.

Consider choosing an exhaust fan with humidity sensing technology so the fan turns on when the humidity reaches a certain percentage within the space and automatically shuts off when the room reaches the optimal moisture level. That’ll save you from mold but also help you avoid using unnecessary electricity.

4. Providing Insufficient Hanging Space for Wet Bath Towels

This is one of my pet peeves. When designing a modern bathroom you must think about the number of people who’ll be using the space and try to have a spot for each person to hang their towel. If bathroom wall space is limited, use robe hooks, pivoting towel bars, or a floor-standing towel rack.

5. Ignoring Bathroom Privacy Needs

While open bathrooms are trendy for a reason (who doesn’t want a generous, open bathroom space?!), think carefully about who will be using the bathroom, and when. If you’re sharing a bathroom, enclosing the toilet in its own water closet, or frosting the shower glass, might be a great choice for your day-to-day bathroom use.

And remember, habits and schedules change over time. If you or your partner needs to sleep in while the other gets ready, can you isolate the light and sound from the bathroom so you don’t disturb your partner? Always plan for the future so your bathroom renovation investment can pay off for decades.

6. Crowding a Small Bathroom Space

Just because you fell in love with that 72” freestanding tub in the showroom doesn’t mean it’s a good choice for your space. There are always compromises in design, and a good designer can help you work through the balance between sizing fixtures to fit your body, and sizing the remodel to fit your space and your budget. Avoid overcrowding standard-sized bathrooms with oversized tubs, showers, and vanities, and choose fixtures that match the size of your space to maintain functionality.

7. Disregarding Future Bathroom Needs, Like Aging In Place

Even if you don't have physical limitations now, designing wider passageways and doorways (36” or more), and planning for grab bars and other universal design principles may prove to be invaluable investments in the future. It can be as simple as adding reinforcement behind drywall to allow for easy installation of grab bars later.

When it’s time to install those grab bars, don’t worry. As a Certified Living in Place Designer (CLIPP) I’ve discovered lots of beautiful design options available that will make sure you don’t feel like you’re living in a sterile hospital or cheap motel. Plan ahead for the curveballs life may throw your way - future you will thank you!

8. Insufficient Bathroom Storage

We all want clean, clutter-free countertops, but if your bathroom doesn’t include thoughtful, easy-to-use storage solutions, you’ll end up with all your products on the counter. Whenever possible, choose a vanity with drawer storage so you don’t have to get on your hands and knees to search for something in that dark space under the sink. Recessed medicine cabinets also remain a time-tested bathroom storage solution!

9. Lacking Bathroom Counter Space

In addition to having plentiful bathroom storage, you’ll want generous counter space to spread out your products and tools when getting ready. When possible, have at least 18 inches of clear counter space on either side of your sink. In bathrooms with limited space, small 6” deep shelves can also amp up the functionality of your space, giving you room to set down makeup, curling irons, and contact lens cases.

10. Poor Bathroom Lighting and Electrical Planning

What’s the number one mistake people make in residential bathroom design? Poor, incorrectly located, bathroom lighting and electrical.

I could talk for days on this subject, but to touch on the 2 most essential bathroom lighting and electrical notes:

Make sure your lighting source isn’t directly over your head. Overhead lighting (like a recessed light in the ceiling) casts deep shadows under your eyes that make it impossible to effectively shave or apply makeup, and make you look 10 years older - who needs that first thing in the morning?!
Make sure you have outlets on the same side of the counter as your dominant hand so you don’t have cords crossing into the sink while shaving or while drying/curling your hair.

Want to know the five most common bathroom lighting mistakes I see in bathroom renovations and bathroom lighting design? Read The 5 Most Common Bathroom Lighting Mistakes to Avoid!

The bottom line

Building a new bath is complicated and is the second most costly improvement you can make in your home. If you’re not investing in a CKBD designer, then take your time thoughtfully examining your new design from every angle. Before you lift a hammer to demo the space, picture yourself walking in, turning on the light, gathering your grooming products, using them, and putting them away. Going through this mental exercise can help you avoid having light switches in weird places, or discovering too late that you have no place to conveniently store your hair dryer, toilet paper, or extra towels.

Is it worth hiring a CKBD designer like Taylored Kitchens and Baths?

If you’re surprised at all the nuance that goes into designing a functional and beautiful bathroom, you’re not alone. While lots of places will offer to help you design your new bathroom, you’ll get the most personal attention, customized solutions, and comprehensive service from a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer (CKBD). That’s because CKBD designers, like me, have a professional responsibility to make sure that none of these 10 mistakes happen in your new bathroom design!

If you’re looking for a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer (CKBD) in Boulder, Colorado and the Front Range area, I’m proud to say that Taylored Kitchens and Baths is your go-to interior design solution, offering unparalleled expertise in crafting durable, trend-free, and long-lasting bathroom designs.

Don’t forget, I offer unlimited design revisions and full-color 3D renders, helping you make informed design decisions and avoid costly design mistakes. I also offer unlimited revisions during the design phase, meaning the design isn’t done until you’re 100% satisfied with it.

Together we can solve your most challenging bathroom layout and storage difficulties so you get the most functional, aesthetically amazing bath possible!