Whether your kids pride themselves on brushing their teeth thoroughly or they love doing their own hair, they might spend their fair share of time in front of the bathroom mirror. Creating a space that is fully customized for their petite frames can help children to stay safer and more comfortable in bathrooms, saving parents time, money, and frustration.
If you are thinking about remodeling your home soon, consider these three child-friendly bathroom upgrades that could make your life a little easier.
1. A Child-Sized Toilet
Oftentimes, parents try to potty train children using pint-sized, portable toilets, only to be left transitioning children to full-sized toilets later. Additionally, plastic potty-training toilets can be difficult to clean and sanitize, making your bathroom look and smell unkempt. However, if you add a child-sized toilet alongside that standard model, your little one can transition when it is comfortable for them.
Child-sized toilets look and function just like standard toilets, only on a smaller scale. If you have the space, these tiny toilets can help kids to feel more comfortable going to the bathroom on their own, while giving your bathroom a truly custom feel.
As a general rule of thumb, toilets should be installed at least 15 inches away from the centerline of another toilet or bidet, although professional interior designers recommend 18 inches. Before choosing to add a second toilet, ask your contractors to measure the space carefully to make sure the room won’t feel cramped.
2. Updated Drawer Hardware
Small children are typically still mastering their fine motor skills, which is why doing something as simple as closing a drawer slowly can seem impossible. However, by updating your drawer hardware with additions like soft-close drawers and fully extendable slides, you can make it easier than ever before to follow the rules.
Soft-close drawer hardware uses gravitational mechanisms that grab onto the drawer mid-slide, easing the drawer into a fully closed position. In addition to reducing noise, soft-close mechanisms also keep children from closing their fingers in drawers, preventing injuries.
Fully extendable slides allow kids to open drawers all the way, instead of leaving inches of the drawer hidden behind the face of the cabinet. This addition makes it easier for kids to use the entirety of the drawer, saving space and time.
If you really want to make your drawers feel luxurious to your kids, consider asking your contractor about interior drawer lighting. When drawers are opened, the motion turns the interior lights on, helping kids to find what they are looking for.
3. Quartz Countertops
When you have children, drips and spills are inevitable, which can make installing brand-new countertops in the bathroom a little nerve-wracking. Fortunately, some varieties of countertops are more wear-resistant and durable than others, giving parents peace of mind.
For instance, while natural stone counters like granite, marble, and soapstone are porous and prone to staining, manmade quartz mimics the look of granite, without needing to be sealed to prevent discoloration. Quartz is also more flexible than rigid stone, which means it is less likely to chip or crack.
As an added bonus, quartz is available in a wide range of colors, textures, and sheens, making it possible to give your bathroom a little personality. For instance, if you have opted for lighter floors and tile in your shower, adding a quartz countertop with a little metallic sparkle could make your bathroom pop.
Make your children’s bathroom more functional and beautiful than ever before by talking with our team here at Unique Home Solutions. Since our inception in 1983, we have been committed to providing our clients with top-quality products and an impeccable level of service, taking the stress out of renovating. Give our office a call today to schedule your next project estimate.