When designing a home, people often want a powder room for guests to use, but they may not understand the requirements for that room. Take a look at this Houzz.com article for information on the design. Here in Western Colorado, most people call this a half bath, and it is located near the living area of the home.
There are specific minimum measurements that are required by building codes, and there are the measurements that make a powder room comfortable to use.
The article also goes into different kinds of accessories found in a powder room – sinks, toilets, lighting, windows, & finishes.
Pocket doors are fantastic to use for a powder room – they don’t require space to open, and they can allow for a wider opening into the room. If you are keeping handicap accessibility in mind, you need to make sure the doors are 3’6″ wide, which is challenging for most half baths.
If you have the space for it, a storage cabinet under the sink is a great idea. Not all powder rooms will have enough space, however. Fortunately, there are a variety of options for a sink in a small room. Pedestal sinks look classic without taking up extra space, and wall-mounted sinks come in a variety of depths. I have seen them as narrow as 8″, with the faucet on the side of the sink rather than against the wall!
Toilets come in a few styles, and there is a variety of sizes for those as well. Just make sure that you have at least 2 feet in front of the toilet for people to be able to get to the toilet. If you are putting the half bath under the stairs, putting the toilet against the wall under the angle is a great use of space – just make sure the ceiling height is at least 5-feet at the wall behind the toilet.
If your powder room will be on an outside wall, a window is a great addition! It will let in natural light and allow for ventilation. There are size requirements, however, so be sure to check with your local building codes.
If you are looking for a new home, thinking of revamping the one you have, or want to build a new home, these are some great things to keep in mind for a powder room!