Adding a bathroom to your home is one of the best ways to increase home value and livability. However, it can be difficult to find extra space for a bathroom, especially if your home is on the smaller or older sides. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to add a half bath – it just means that you’ll have to get creative.
Continue reading for tips and ideas on adding a half bath in small spaces.
photo credit: @andreaedavis accessed 5/26/21 via CC0
How and Where to Add a Half Bath
You don’t need much square footage for a half bathroom. Look for a space that is 6 to 8 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide. A few creative places we’ve added half baths:
- In part or all of a larger closet
- Under a staircase
- In converted garage space
- In a gabled attic dormer
- By splitting a larger bathroom into a half and full or three-quarter bath
Half Bathroom Considerations
Before beginning demo on a new bathroom, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Plumbing: Is your new half bath near existing plumbing and sewer connections? If not, is it easy to place new plumbing lines? Of course, adding new plumbing will make the project more expensive, but that may be the only option if space is limited.
- Insulation: When you add a bathroom near other living areas, sound insulation is key. Fortunately, it’s usually pretty easy to add insulation into shared walls, or to wrap pipes, vents and drains.
- Privacy: Similarly, you’ll want to create as much privacy as possible, especially if the bathroom is near high-traffic areas. Try to locate the door away from sight lines, or rearrange furniture in nearby rooms to face away from the bathroom.
- Ventilation: For your bathroom to be up to code, it must have either an operable window or an exhaust vent.
- Electrical: Bathroom outlets must be installed on GFI circuits, which provide protection against electrical shock in wet parts of the home.
- Storage: Smart storage is key to making any small space work. Keep storage in mind when selecting vanities, medicine cabinets, and shelves. In addition, if you had previously used the bathroom space as closet, attic or garage storage, you’ll have to find new storage solutions for those items.
Ready to add a half bath? Contact The Chuba Company today!
The Chuba Company is proud to be your partner in home renovation and construction. From windows and roofing, to additions and green construction, to bathroom and kitchen remodels, and more, The Chuba Company is ready to help with any home project. We’ve been proudly serving Elk River, Zimmerman, Ramsey, Monticello, Albertville, Rogers, Champlin and surrounding areas for 48 years. Contact us to talk about your remodel ideas or to receive an estimate!
