Simple Bathroom Measurements for DIYers

Look, let’s be honest here, we have all had those moments where we are scrolling through Pinterest, in the wee hours of the morning, saving all kinds of pretty designs and hoping that our tradie mates agree with our choices!
Renovating a bathroom usually starts with good intentions and a bit of a dream. We may spot a nice vanity, imagine the fresh new tile look, maybe even picture ourselves having a ‘spa moment’ with a beautiful, scented candle, in our brand-new freestanding bathtub. Grab the tape measure and a marking pencil and soon you realise that everything depends on the numbers and measurements you must work with.
A tiny mistake on paper can end in a wonky looking bath rail or a toilet roll holder that is just out of reach. Bathrooms don’t give you much room to hide a poor decision or mishap. Measure everything twice. I learnt the hard way!

Here’s a Simple Walkthrough of the Measurements that Matter

I have always been told to start with measuring the room itself.
Empty, a bathroom looks generous in dimensions, but add a toilet, vanity and shower screen and suddenly everything starts to shrink. You don’t want to end up tapping the shower glass when opening a drawer or sitting on the toilet with your knees around your ears.
Measure the length and width of each wall and record it. Sometimes walls have bumps and bends. Then measure the height from a few points on the floor to the ceiling (trust me on this one!). Measure the doorway and get a rough idea of the door swing (how far it opens inside).

Measure your Bathroom Vanity Space and the Vanity Itself

Once you have chosen a centrepiece (which we all know really is the vanity and basin), you need to think about the space it is going to sit in. Check and measure the wall space, the space in front where the doors and drawers open, the depth of the top and the height from the floor (no use standing on tippy toes to brush your teeth). Record everything.

Now it is Time to Measure your Basin

First, have a think about which side your basin will sit on. Is it going to be centred? Off to one side? All this matters when washing your hands and flossing. You will need to measure where it will sit, it’s depth and how close it will be to taps and the wall. Remember it needs to be cleaned too so make sure you have left a big enough gap behind the basin to reach the dirt, or no gap and this changes the design.

Let’s Talk about the Toilets Measurements

There are a few tricks and things to think about here. Start with the chosen position of the toilet in the room, this will be where the waste pipe is, also called a ‘rough – in’ (not something to DIY – more on that later). You will need to measure the space from the wall to the waste pipe and this will help you decide on the toilet style and size. Then measure the space on either side of the toilet seat. Is it comfortable enough so that you won’t be squeezing into a space the size of a plane seat? Where is the toilet roll holder going? Measure and record so that you can speak with your tradie about this installation.

When Measuring for a Bathtub, It Is Time to Really Imagine the ‘Treat Yourself’ Moments

Before you begin to dream, measure your hallway or the space in which the bathtub will enter your house and bathroom. Think about whether the bathtub will fit into your space, don’t wait until after you have purchased one. Once that is sorted, measure the length and width of the proposed bathing zone (check with your tradie regarding waste pipes, drains and water outlets first).

The Shower Area Measurements Come Next

I love a bit of room when I’m singing my shower tunes. So, it’s important to stand inside the space where one will place the shower. Move around and pretend to reach for things, bend over and role play washing your hair. Twisting and reaching for things in the shower will help give you an idea of how big the shower recess needs to be.
Measure the width and depth of the space and then the length from the floor to the ceiling. Finally, you will need to measure how much the door swings or slides. A little extra room makes a big difference here.
Measurements may seem a bit of a drag when all you want to do is get started on your reno. They will, however, make your life a whole lot easier. Once you know the space properly, choosing your vanity, basin, toilet, bathtub and your shower is no longer a guessing game.
Build the bathroom you have always wanted simply and sensibly.