Shower and bath size

[JackReacher]

At the early stage of deciding how to reconfigure and spec our "family" bathroom. It's not massive at 2.8m long, and 2.2m wide, but big enough that there is both a separate shower and bath.

The existing shower is 76x76cm which is pretty small. It seems that the standard square tray sizes available above this is 80x80 or 90x90. I'm sure that bigger is normally better, but worried that 90x90 might take over a bit, but is 80sq going to feel any bigger than the existing 76?

Separately, I think we might also be able to increase the bath size slightly, currently 170x 70. What makes a bigger difference here, adding 10cm of length or 5cm of width?

Bathroom layout is similar to the below.

[Ransoman]

Extra width always makes a big difference to the bath size. I have a shorter than usual, wider than usual bath and i can fully submerge myself if I want. Impossible with a normal 1600/1700mm bath.

[B17NNS]

1800 x 800 bath. 800 x 900 tray. 100mm stud wall between.

Big comfy bath. Reasonably spacious shower.

[Jobbo]

Go and sit in some different 1700x700 baths; the shape of them makes a massive difference to how big they feel. Considering how much people use baths these days, I'd not steal space from the room to go any bigger than those external dimensions if it compromised on the size of the shower.

[JackReacher]

B17NNS said:

1800 x 800 bath. 800 x 900 tray. 100mm stud wall between.

Big comfy bath. Reasonably spacious shower.

That would certainly fit, but that bath would be substantially larger, worried it might be a touch wide.

Ransoman said:

Extra width always makes a big difference to the bath size. I have a shorter than usual, wider than usual bath and i can fully submerge myself if I want. Impossible with a normal 1600/1700mm bath.

Maybe I will have a look and sit in a 750 or 800 wide one to understand the difference.

Jobbo said:

Go and sit in some different 1700x700 baths; the shape of them makes a massive difference to how big they feel. Considering how much people use baths these days, I'd not steal space from the room to go any bigger than those external dimensions if it compromised on the size of the shower.

This is a good point, we hardly use the bath, and visitors will use the shower reguarly, which probably puts greater importance on having a bigger shower. However, part of me wonders whether the bath would get more use if it was bigger.

[Neil - YVM]

I would ask which is my bigger priority.

Is the current size bath big enough?


a 760x760 shower will be restrictive, and for me I would want to make it larger if possible,
If there is space I would go 900 x 900.

[dazwalsh]

B17NNS said:

1800 x 800 bath. 800 x 900 tray. 100mm stud wall between.

Big comfy bath. Reasonably spacious shower.

I have this exact same setup and its much better to have a larger shower. Make full use of the length of the room and either go with 900 shower and 1800 bath or 1000 shower and 700 bath (both with 100mm stud wall). The width of the room will allow the 800 wide bath and shower dont worry.

Because of the stud wall make sure there is a zone three spotlight and in line extractor fan dorectly above the shower tray.

Edited by dazwalsh on Tuesday 23 October 17:56

[JackReacher]

Thanks, useful input.

Next question on the shower door, hinged door outwards or pivot into the shower?

[xyz123]

You don't say how family use bathroom. Is it mostly shower with occasional baths, other way around etc etc.. Surely that's the first thing to consider when asking for suggestions...

[BlackZeD]

That layout is exactly the same as ours.
Its going to be totally changed soon, we are moving the bath to the far end across the room as it is 180 wide with tiles on.
The wall at the end of the shower will be going.
The shower enclosure will be 800 x 1200 with a rounded corner entry.
The loo will be in a long vanity unit on the right hand side.
Hopefully fitting a vertical radiator between bath and shower end.

[BlackZeD]

Although mine is actually sh#t, yours looks ok.

[V8RX7]

In a bathroom that size personally I'd fit a quadrant shower and loose that dividing wall which IMO makes the bathroom feel smaller

900 quadrant is the minimum IME that doesn't feel small

Bath design massively affects the useable / internal space, I made the mistake of buying a cheap bath and it had 100mm sides - I couldn't get my shoulders in !

My parents had a 50mm narrower bath which was 100mm wider internally.

Here's one I did - it's not that clear but there's a minimal gap between the two but IMO it feels a far more open / modern design

[JackReacher]

BlackZeD said:

That layout is exactly the same as ours.
Its going to be totally changed soon, we are moving the bath to the far end across the room as it is 180 wide with tiles on.
The wall at the end of the shower will be going.
The shower enclosure will be 800 x 1200 with a rounded corner entry.
The loo will be in a long vanity unit on the right hand side.
Hopefully fitting a vertical radiator between bath and shower end.

I've been considering this now, as moving bath under the window might improve layout. I could also consider removing the students wall like you say.

V8RX7 said:

In a bathroom that size personally I'd fit a quadrant shower and loose that dividing wall which IMO makes the bathroom feel smaller

900 quadrant is the minimum IME that doesn't feel small

Bath design massively affects the useable / internal space, I made the mistake of buying a cheap bath and it had 100mm sides - I couldn't get my shoulders in !

My parents had a 50mm narrower bath which was 100mm wider internally.

Here's one I did - it's not that clear but there's a minimal gap between the two but IMO it feels a far more open / modern design

Thanks, another good idea. Will also be sure to check bath specs, seems like different sizes within a "size".

[brickwall]

Once you're over 800mm wide with the shower, it's the length that really makes the difference to how big it feels (you don't feel the door is right up against your nose).

So how about
- Lose the stud wall
- 1000mm x 800mm glass shower enclosure, door on the long side. Shower head on the short side 'end' (opposite the bath)
- 1800mm x 800mm bath

[JackReacher]

brickwall said:

Once you're over 800mm wide with the shower, it's the length that really makes the difference to how big it feels (you don't feel the door is right up against your nose).

So how about
- Lose the stud wall
- 1000mm x 800mm glass shower enclosure, door on the long side. Shower head on the short side 'end' (opposite the bath)
- 1800mm x 800mm bath

If I lose the stud wall, I'd need some sort of gap between the shower and bath to allow for cleaning, at least 150mm I'd have thought. I don't think I can have a glass enclosure right up against the bath unless it was some sort of custom design, and probably expensive..

[B17NNS]

Yes, you’ll just end up with a difficult to clean dirt trap.

The advantage of the stud wall is it also gives you space to hide pipe work and use fancy concealed shower valves and wall mounted taps.

[brickwall]

JackReacher said:

brickwall said:

Once you're over 800mm wide with the shower, it's the length that really makes the difference to how big it feels (you don't feel the door is right up against your nose).

So how about
- Lose the stud wall
- 1000mm x 800mm glass shower enclosure, door on the long side. Shower head on the short side 'end' (opposite the bath)
- 1800mm x 800mm bath

If I lose the stud wall, I'd need some sort of gap between the shower and bath to allow for cleaning, at least 150mm I'd have thought. I don't think I can have a glass enclosure right up against the bath unless it was some sort of custom design, and probably expensive..

If you don't want to go down the custom enclosure route (which I get), then I'd take 10cm off whichever you use less (bath or shower).

[henrycrun]

quadrant shower
double ended bath (with central taps) for fun times

[JackReacher]

henrycrun said:

quadrant shower
double ended bath (with central taps) for fun times

How do you access central taps if something goes wrong and you need to change/fix the tap or a washer?

[JackReacher]

brickwall said:

If you don't want to go down the custom enclosure route (which I get), then I'd take 10cm off whichever you use less (bath or shower).

I think that ultimately the shower is more important