When it comes to bathroom remodels, the master bathroom rightfully tends to take center stage. Unfortunately, too often this leaves other bathrooms as nothing more than an afterthought.
But a hall bathroom can profoundly affect the functionality and appearance of your home. An upstairs hall bath may be the main bathroom for children. Hall bathrooms near your kitchen or living room may get frequent use and serve as the bathroom used by guests.
Many homeowners just live with a hall bath that is run-down, dark, or poorly laid out. I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be that way. Over decades of doing home renovations, I've seen how a hall bath remodel can be a breath of fresh air for your house.
Hall baths typically have less room to work with, so a well-planned remodel is essential to making the most of the available space. In this post, I'll walk through the key considerations for how to envision, plan, and carry out a remodel that makes your hall bathroom incredibly functional and visually stunning.
To start down the path toward a remodel, you need to take stock of your existing hall bathroom.
Bathroom type: Is your hall bath a powder room (half bath) with just a toilet and a sink? Is it a three-quarter bath with a shower or bathtub? Or is it a full bath that includes both a shower and tub?
Size and layout: How much total space is there, and is there room to modify the layout? Do you like the placement of the toilet, shower, and tub? Is there enough countertop and floor space?
Orientation in your house: What do you see when you first open the door from the hallway? Does anything affect the ceiling height (like having the bathroom tucked under the stairs)? Are there two bathrooms close together?
Current and future use: Who are the main users of your hall bathroom? How often does it get used? Do you expect its use to change in the coming years?
Present condition: Are there notable signs of wear and tear? Does it feel dark or cramped? Is the style to your liking? Is there any visible water damage? Even if you don't see it, you should figure out that all of the baseboards are worn out after having been hit by water for years.
Fixture inventory: Take a look at all the fixtures and reflect on both how well they work and whether you like how they look.
Note any pet peeves: If you have little annoyances that constantly come up when you use your hall bathroom, make sure to make a note of them. It could be the color of the tile, a bothersome sink or faucet, or a musty smell. This is your time to jot down anything that you'll be glad not to have to deal with after the remodel.
Now it's time for the fun part: launch into brainstorming about what your perfect hall bathroom looks like. Think big and consider your ideal layout, design, and style, whether modern, classic, or somewhere in between. Then start to consider any small touches that you'd love to see.
If you need ideas, you can look at photos online or even jot down something from your favorite home remodeling TV show. The goal at this stage is to start writing down your ideas.
Once you've got a list, you can highlight or star the items that are most important to you. While you can hope to incorporate everything into the final design, that may not be possible for logistical and budgetary reasons. But having a wish list lets a design-build firm like ours understand your vision so that we can deliver an amazing result.
As we get into the design process, an important element is optimizing the day-to-day functionality of your hall bathroom. An experienced home remodeling company will walk you through the details of how the layout and different materials affect the practicality of your bathroom design.
That includes making sure that there's plenty of storage space, whether with wall-mounted cabinets, under-sink cabinets, a vanity with drawers, or a linen closet.
We can also take advantage of multifunctional design elements. For example, a pony wall can both provide privacy for your toilet and create an open shelf to store toilet paper or other essential items.
Another consideration for many hall bathrooms is whether you want to include any accessibility features. For older adults or people with limited mobility, grab bars or a walk-in shower can dramatically enhance the usability of your hall bathroom, and when undertaking a full bathroom remodel, it's a good idea to incorporate as many of these features as possible, no matter what your age.
While functionality is critical, your remodeled hall bathroom should also be visually stunning.
The project should fit with your interior design preferences, including your ideal color scheme. That could mean a bright and modern space with white walls and black fixtures. Or it might be something more traditional or rustic with an elegant vanity and decorative tub.
Whatever your sense of style, you should think about what will draw your eye when you walk in the door. Many of our clients opt for a statement piece, like a freestanding tub or a unique pedestal sink. Even without a centerpiece, you can create visual appeal by making sure that all the aesthetic features, from the floor to the ceiling, complement one another.
The options are nearly unlimited, but in the next sections, we'll go over the things to consider and share some design ideas to make your hall bathroom shine.
Whenever possible, we recommend taking advantage of a window in your hall bathroom. Natural light can do wonders for the feel of your bathroom. If you're concerned about privacy, a clerestory window can be an excellent choice.
Most hall bathroom renovations require a major update to the walls. Tile is a classic option, with white tile providing a sharp, modern look. White subway tile can add an even more distinctive visual element to a wall, including as part of the backsplash behind the sink. Other colors of subway tile also can add charm, personality, and visual appeal.
Another option is to simply paint your walls, which lets you choose the colors you love, regardless of whether they are bright and bold or muted and warm. You can also consider an accent wall to create an eye-catching contrast.
If you want a more elaborate pattern on your walls, you can also put in wallpaper instead of tile or paint. Regardless of which option you choose, you'll want to make sure it fits with your ceiling.
Multiple kinds of materials can work well for your bathroom floor. Ceramic floor tile and luxury vinyl planking (LVP) are popular choices because they are durable and easy to clean. Both come in a wide range of color options. Ceramic tile often has a more luxurious look but can be more expensive and feel colder underfoot.
While a hardwood floor can look great, it generally won't hold up as well in rooms with lots of moisture. A hardwood floor may be an option if there's no tub or shower, but we wouldn't usually recommend it in a three-quarter or full bath.
In addition to the floor, consider whether you need new doors, either for the entry to the bathroom itself or within the bathroom (if you have a separate space for the toilet).
Good lighting lets you appreciate the bathroom's interior design. Natural light can go a long way, but you'll also want to make the most of every light fixture. Many of our clients find that choosing lighting hardware really lets their personality show.
Make sure to think about all the sources of lighting when planning your remodel. This includes a ceiling light (if there is one) as well as lighting above the vanity, which may be suited to a double or triple sconce. It's also worth thinking about makeup lighting or in-cabinet lights that add to the functionality of your bathroom.
Your shower and tub can enhance both functionality and style in your hall bathroom.
If you have the space, a freestanding tub can be a standout element. In many cases, though, a shower-tub combo fits best in a hall bathroom. With either approach, make sure that you install a post or hooks nearby for towels.
In our projects, clients have loved the look of a fiberglass tub with tiled walls around it, which facilitates putting in recessed soap dishes for convenience. This approach also allows for far more options for glass shower door systems.
If you have a shower only, you can choose shower tile that matches the floor and walls. If you install a shower, you must have enough ventilation to prevent excess moisture buildup.
Although it's not the most glamorous part of your project, the toilet shouldn't be overlooked. After all, it's the reason most people go into the bathroom. Choose a quality brand, and consider adding a bidet attachment for a touch of luxury.
A vanity can offer tremendous visual appeal and a source of storage. If you have room for it, a double vanity expands the surface area of your countertop, and cabinets underneath provide a place to keep towels, TP, and any other items you want readily available. Having two sinks can be a nice touch, especially if you expect multiple people to share the bathroom.
You'll also want to think about mirrors. Most hall bathrooms have a massive mirror on one wall. Instead, it often looks better to skip the gigantic one-piece mirror on one wall and opt for two smaller ones over the sinks.
In this step, you can consider all the little finishes that level up the visual appeal of your bathroom. This can include hardware questions (cabinet handle or pull?) and what material and color you want (gold, brushed nickel, etc.). Other decorative elements, including accessories or artwork, can also rest on the countertop to put a personal touch on the bathroom design throughout.
If you only have a half bath to work with, some of these ideas may seem impossible to implement. But even if there's only a little room to work with, you can still make your hall bathroom more beautiful and more functional.
Creating a bright space can make it feel bigger and more inviting. Without a bathtub or shower to draw attention, you may want to put more emphasis on the walls, floor, and vanity. Finishings and accessories can also go a long way. In smaller spaces, each little design choice takes on added importance.
All the planning in the world only becomes meaningful when paired with high-quality execution. To get the best out of a hall bath remodel, I always recommend working with a professional.
Full disclosure: I'm the owner of a home remodeling company. But that doesn't mean I discount the value of DIY home improvement. There are plenty of ways that homeowners can spruce up their houses, but I've rarely found a serious bathroom remodeling project to be a good example of that.
While a hall bath renovation may seem smaller than other projects, it involves careful plumbing and electrical work, especially in tight spaces and older houses. Understanding ventilation and moisture issues at the outset can prevent huge headaches down the line.
If your hall bath only needs a very gentle touch-up, a DIY approach may make sense. But in my experience, that usually isn't enough. Creating a stunning bathroom is hard work, and you get a better-finished product with a professional remodeler.
As a design-build firm, we work with you to understand your needs and wants because that lets us create a design that suits your space. You're directly involved in shaping the big vision and the little details for your hall bathroom remodel.
Once a design is in place, it's on to the next phase. We clearly explain the timeline and budget and give you tools so you can stay tuned in to how things are progressing. Coordinating both the design and construction process allows us to carry out the remodel to exacting standards.
Even if it isn't the most exciting room in your home, a hall bathroom should be more than an afterthought. Properly planned and executed, a remodel can make your hall bath a contributor to your everyday satisfaction with your home.