Washroom Design - Ideas and How to

Creative Washroom Design Ideas

Creative Washroom Design Ideas

The Commercial Washroom can sometimes be a stale environment and points of difference can be hard to integrate. Breaking away from the same-old, same-old needn’t be daunting and with a little flair, your Commercial Washroom Design can leave visitors inspired. Here we take a look at some creative washroom design ideas that may inspire your next washroom refurbishment.

The level of creative flair you unleash on your washroom will most likely depend on the setting of your business. Boutique hotels, bars and trendy retail outlets can afford to be a little more flamboyant than say, a law firm or council office building. However, small touches can go a long way to breaking away from the norm. The offices of tech startups are renowned for being playful and engaging with the washroom design being no exception. From exposed brick and up-cycled items, through to solid concrete wash-basins and industrial lighting, there is plenty of room for design in the commercial washroom and confirming to tradition is not always necessary.

Expose it all

Exposed brick can work exceptionally well in a number of settings, though the type of brickwork you are revealing will need to be of an attractive nature. If you are in an old Victorian property, then this is likely to work very well. However, if you have grey sandstone brickwork, then it will be best left covered.

Exposing pipework can also look great and works particularly well if you are going for the utilitarian, industrial look. If you are going down this route, then make sure your pipework looks smart. Plastic pipework is a no-go, instead opt for copper and don’t overlook the route you bring the pipes in from. In some cases, many designers make the exposed copper pipework a feature in itself and divert them in a variety of different ways.

Wall coverings

Wall coverings are a simple area to add some flair and character to the room and beyond the aforementioned exposed brick, you still have a number of interesting options. Laminate wall panel systems now come in a huge variety of colours and are incredibly easy to clean.

You can also look at intricate tiling patterns and in some cases allow for cladding. In a barbecue restaurant, you may even choose to clad in corrugated sheet metal. However, in the humid, wet environment of a washroom, you’ll need to make sure it won’t rust and specialist materials are going to be needed.

Take a load off your feet

This is an area often overlooked in washroom design, mainly because it is a non-essential area of the commercial toilet.

However, if space allows, seating can be a really impressive addition to your facilities.

High-end retail outlets, boutique hotels, restaurants and bars all benefit from this.

In some cases, a free-standing sofa is suffice, but if you are going for a different style or look, then you may wish to incorporate it into the build.

Don’t be afraid of colour

Colour is your friend. Whilst it can look smart to stick to a strict colour scheme, random splashes of vibrant colour can be hugely effective. Going multi-coloured in a tutti-frutti fashion can be done in a number of ways.

This could be from making each cubicle a different colour, using tiles or laminate partitions. A diverse spread of colours is best handled on a plain white background, but can work effectively against exposed brick too.

Embrace a shape

Clean sharp lines look great and if this is the look you are seeking, then going for angular, squared fixtures and fittings help maintain this.

For a great example, take a look at the Architect washroom in our Virtual Showroom. 

Alternatively, you might want to focus on curves and circles. Whilst on the subject of shape, be sure to look beyond the main fixtures and think on how shape can be incorporated into all areas of the washroom. This could be from circular mirrors to rounding the edge of worktops and even looking at the shape of floor and wall tiles.

Up-cycle

Quirky features often work well and re-purposing items is a great way to do this.

Old tin baths and wooden crates are often fixed to the wall by their base to provide a sheltered shelf. 

Tin buckets are also used for hand wash stations regularly. 

These features work especially well in boutique settings like bars and fast-casual restaurants.

Artwork

There’s a lot going on in a washroom design, what with all the taps, dryers, sinks and loos. Not to mention the cubicles, wall and floor coverings. However, spare a thought for a little artwork.

Whether this takes the form of a painting, a photography print or even a framed map. The same attention to detail you give the dining room, office or reception should be given to the humble washroom. 

A series of pictures or photographs looks really good and can be more interesting than one solitary big piece. In men’s washrooms, the area above the urinal is often exploited for adverts.

Why not break away from this and incorporate a series of related pictures, which could reflect or be related to your business. Another great idea is to commission a mural.

Lighting

Lighting can really set-off a room, controlling both the mood and ambience. Down-lighters and strip lighting are both very effective and good-looking options. However, there is still a world of contemporary and urbane options to explore. Wall mounted up-lighters can give a dramatic feel to a washroom and works particularly well in clubs, bars and restaurant facilities. Give thought to individual lighting above each wash basin and remember not to overlook the power of reflecting light around the room through mirrors.

As always, our team are at the end of the telephone for all your queries and questions and have a wealth of knowledge they’re happy to share with you. So if you need some guidance, or would like to talk over your options, you can give them a call on 01202 650900. 

Got a question? Get in touch

How To Design a Commercial Washroom

Hygiene, functionality and style are at the forefront of any public and commercial washroom design. From the material of the cubicles to the style of the soap dispensers, there are a whole host of design considerations to factor in when looking to improve or refurbish a public washroom facility.

This guide is aimed at contractors and facility owners/managers who operate restaurants, leisure facilities, entertainment complexes, or office spaces. As the experts in washroom refurbishment, we’ll clue you into all the design considerations that should be on your list when it comes to designing your perfect public bathroom.

If you would like help with your public washroom design or have any questions while reading our article, please don’t hesitate to call the Commercial Washrooms team. Our Washroom Design Service is extremely popular, and you can Book a no-obligation Washroom Design Consultation.

Legal Requirements for Public & Commercial Washroom Design

Step one is to ensure your washroom design complies with all legal requirements. Legal requirements differ depending on the kind of venue in which your public washroom is situated, and it’s always a good idea to check with your local council for a full list of legal requirements.

 

Examples of legal requirements to factor into your public washroom design include

  • A public washroom with more than four cubicles should also be designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. This means it should contain at least one ambulant cubicle (minimum width of 800mm) with a grab rail and outward-opening door. You can read our guide to disabled toilet regulations for more information.
  • Sanitary bins are legally required in women’s public washrooms, while all public washrooms should have the necessary consumables such as soap and toilet paper, and hot and cold running water.
  • Effective ventilation is necessary across all public washrooms. Ventilation not only helps to disperse odours, but also prevents the build-up of mould and mildew.
  • Finally, choose surfaces that are easy to keep clean – scrubbable, hard-wearing materials that can withstand cleaning chemicals should be at the top of your list.

 

The minimum number of toilets and sinks required for public washrooms

From entertainment venues to swimming pools, anyone redesigning their public washroom facility should also bear in mind the British Standards that specify the number of toilets required for each type of venue. The following tables show how many toilets, urinals, and sinks you need to include in your commercial toilet room design.

Shops and shopping centres

Toilets

Males:

1 per 500 males

1 for every additional 1,000 males
(Toilets number to be half those used for females if you choose not to include urinals)

Females:

1 per 100 females up to 500

1 for every additional 200 females

Urinals

Males:

2 for up to 500 males

1 for every additional 500 males

Wash Basins

Males:

1 per toilet, plus 1 per 5 urinals

Females:

1, plus 1 per 2 toilets

Sports and entertainment venues (concentrated interval use)

Toilets

Males:

2 for up to 250 males

1 for every additional 250 males

Females:

2 for up to 20 females

1 for every additional 20 females up to 500

1 per 25 females over 500 females

Urinals

Males:

2 for up to 50 males

1 for every additional 50 males

Wash Basins

Males:

1 per toilet, plus 1 per 5 urinals

Females:

1, plus 1 per 2 toilets

Sports and entertainment venues (no intervals)

Toilets

Males:

2 for up to 250 males

1 for every additional 250 males

(Toilets to be half those used for females if you choose not to include urinals)

Females:

2 toilets for up to 40 females

3 toilets for up to 70 females

4 toilets for up to 100 females

Plus 1 for every additional 50 females

Urinals

Males:

2 for up to 50 males

1 for every additional 50 males

Wash Basins

Males:

1 per toilet, plus 1 per 5 urinals

Females:

1, plus 1 per 2 toilets

Swimming pools (Swimming pool public toilets must also include showers in their design)

Toilets

Males:

2 for up to 100 males

1 for every additional 100 males

Females:

1 per 5 females up to 50 females

1 for every additional 10 females up to 100 females

1 for every additional 50 females

Urinals

Males:

1 per 20 males up to 100 males

Then 1 per 80 males

Wash Basins

Males:

1 per 10 males

Females:

1 per 10 females

Restaurants and food halls

Toilets

Males:

2 for up to 150 males

1 for every additional 250 males

(2 for up to 50 males if you choose not to include urinals)

Females:

2 for up to 30 females

1 for every additional 30 females up to 120

Then 1 for every additional 60 females

Urinals

Males:

1 per 60 males

1 for every additional 100 males

Wash Basins

Males:

1 per toilet and 1 per 5 urinals

Females:

1 per 1toilet

Bars, pubs, and nightclubs

Toilets

Males:

2 for up to 150 males

1 for every additional 200 males

(2 for up to 40 males if you choose not to include urinals)

Females:

2 for up to 25 females

1 for every additional 25 females up to 200 females

Then 1 for every additional 35 females

Urinals

Males:

1 for every 50 males

1 for every additional 70 males

Wash Basins

Males:

1 per toilet and 1 per 5 urinals

Females:

1 per 1toilet

What features should you consider in your washroom design?

It goes without saying that your washroom design should include cubicles, toilets, sinks, soap dispensers, toilet roll holders, and hand dryers. For male toilets, urinals should be factored into the design. Here, we’ve provided some ideas for these main features of commercial washrooms:

Toilet Cubicles

When designing your new public washroom, think about how much privacy your users will expect. A busy, noisy nightclub, for example, may opt forToilet Cubicles with standard partitions, whereas those with much quieter facilities, such as restaurants or spas, may choose Floor-to-ceiling Cubicles designed to provide a much more private experience.

And gone are the plain cubicles of old. With a huge range of colours, finishes, and wood effects to choose from, your cubicles can become the statement piece of your public washroom design!

Toilets

In the world of public toilet design, some toilet models are more popular than others. In fact, there are so many different types of Toilet models that we’ve written a separate guide!

Back-to-wall toilets are one of our biggest sellers, thanks to the concealed cistern and waste pipes, which create a sleeker, more hygienic feel. One of our other biggest sellers is Close-Coupled Toilets – a design which is probably more familiar, as it’s commonly used in our bathrooms at home!

Sinks and Basins

When choosing sinks, keep in mind that the recommended sink size is large enough for someone to wash both their hands and forearms. Basins come in a huge range of styles. Inset Wash Basins are great if vanity units are on your wish list, as they’re quick and easy to keep clean, whereas wall-hung basins are the best sink option if vanity units will take up too much space. For a modern look, consider Countertop Basins.

Soap dispensers

Soap dispensers come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, with automatic soap dispensers one of the most popular options since the pandemic. While in an ideal situation you would have one soap dispenser for every sink, one dispenser between two sinks is also acceptable in lower-traffic public bathrooms.

Hand dryers

As with the other main features of a public bathroom, there are many options for Commercial Hand Dryers. While Dyson has become a major player in the hand dryer market, other manufacturers are always hot on their tail, creating innovative, hygienic hand dryers that don’t cost the earth to purchase or run! Read our guide to the different types of hand dryers for more information.

Toilet roll holders

From standard Toilet Roll Holders to dispensers for bulk-pack toilet paper, the toilet roll holder you choose can be ergonomic yet stylish, with metallic, black, and white options.

It’s worth bearing in mind how much toilet roll you wish people to use before you choose your holder. For example, bulk-pack toilet paper dispensers have been designed to encourage people to use less toilet paper. Standard toilet roll holders are easier to use and refill; however, they do encourage the use of more toilet roll.

Other Public Washroom Design Features

While all of the facilities mentioned above are a necessity, there are some factors you should think about when it comes to the intricacies of the design of your washroom:

Contactless flush, taps, and soaps

There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has seen people become more aware of the importance of hygiene. Many public washrooms now feature Automatic Soap Dispensers, Sensor Taps, and Automatic Toilet Flush Mechanisms to help prevent the spread of germs. Some companies are even developing contactless toilet doors and toilet door locks – a feature that could become a key part of any public washroom design in the future.

Toilet brushes

Adding a Commercial Toilet Brush ensures the toilet can be left in good condition for the next person. Hygiene is a major factor when choosing a toilet brush, which is why metal is a popular choice. Or why not look at a toilet brush with silicon bristles, as these are much easier to keep clean.

Decorative features

These days, people expect a public bathroom to be more than an afterthought, with restaurants, bars, and leisure facilities now considering the bathroom facility a part of their brand experience. With a couple of Washroom Mirrors, some wall art, and as simple as shelving and plants, you can completely transform the look and feel of your public bathroom, ensuring customers walk away with a well-rounded experience.

What materials should you include in a public washroom design?

Hygiene is at the forefront of public washroom design, which is why plastics and metals are preferred over fabrics, and carpeted bathrooms are very much a thing of the past! In this section, we look at the materials you can choose for your cubicles, panelling, vanity units, and floors, ensuring your public bathroom is both easy to clean and stylish.

Cubicle materials

SGL (solid grade laminate) is one of the best materials that you can use if you’re designing a high-traffic public washroom. This is because it’s highly durable, water-resistant, and easy to wipe clean.

In addition to SGL, you have HPL (high-pressure laminate) cubicles, which are also good for high-traffic public washrooms. These consist of a chipboard core with decorative external laminate on the sides.

You can find out more about the different types of Toilet Cubicle materials in our dedicated guide.

Washroom panelling materials

IPS panels, which conceal all pipework and toilet mechanisms behind the toilets, can also be made from SGL and HPL. At Commercial Washrooms, we stock matching IPS panels and cubicles to ensure a consistent design throughout!

Vanity unit materials

Again, SGL and HPL are the heroes here. Our vanity units are made from hardwearing SGL and HPL laminates, ensuring they can withstand constant splashes and consistent cleaning. Solid Surface vanity tops made from Corian are also a very popular choice.

Ideal public washroom floor material

When it comes to the floor design of your public washroom, there are several things it needs to be: water-resistant, durable, safe (non-slip), easy to keep clean, stylish, and affordable, which is why these materials have proven the most popular over time:

  • Concrete
  • Vinyl
  • Stone
  • Ceramic
  • Brick

Vinyl is the most cost-effective flooring option. It’s also really easy to keep clean. The only slight niggle is that it can fade over time, whereas concrete, tiles, and brick offer greater durability.

Layout design considerations for public washrooms

The main feature of your public washroom is the cubicles, so any layout ideas you have need to be centred around their positioning.

First things first, though, you need to know how much space they will take up. There are regulations on the minimum size of cubicles, and our Washroom Designers' guide to Toilet Cubicle dimensions provides all the details. Make sure you review the section on the minimum number of toilets, sinks, and urinals in this guide to determine how many cubicles to factor into your space.

Once you’ve factored the cubicles into your public washroom design, you’ll need to decide whether to include IPS panels to conceal the pipework behind the toilets and whether to include vanity units in the hand-washing area.

Then you can start thinking about the positioning of the smaller items - like Waste Bins and decorative pieces!

Lastly, consider your public washroom’s ventilation

Ventilation is an essential part of any washroom design. Filtering fresh air from the outside is not only necessary to eliminate odours, but also to remove airborne pollutants and contaminated air, ensuring the public washroom remains a hygienic environment.

Without proper ventilation, excess humidity can cause damp and mould, so not only will quality ventilation help extend the lifespan of your public washroom, but it’ll also ensure its users aren’t exposed to the health risks of mould.

Our guide to washroom ventilation explains why ventilation is an important part of your washroom design.

Talk to The Experts in Public and Commercial Washroom Design

From designing and refurbishing sports club toilets to redesigning and refurbishing museum toilets, Commercial Washrooms has a unique position in the industry as one of the only commercial bathroom suppliers to offer a full design and installation service. To speak to one of our experts about your public Washroom Design, contact the team today or Book a Washroom Design Meeting!

MORE TO EXPLORE IN Related Posts