Expert Q&A for How to Design a Bathroom

The best way is to start with what you want to do, find a contractor who can give you an estimate, and set a budget to stick too. If you need help designing and laying out the bathroom, getting help from an interior designer is beneficial.

A small bathroom just needs enough space to be able to sit on the toilet without hitting your knees, use the sink with enough clearance, and if you have a shower, have space to get in and out without a safety hazard.

A 3/4 bathroom has a toilet, sink, and a standing shower. It does not have a tub.

The best way to make a bathroom look larger is to upgrade the lighting - put new bulbs in to brighten the space up, maybe get a see-through shower curtain that allows light through, and paint the room a lighter and brighter color.

You can let the contractor know the things you want in the bathroom. They will make the footprint on grid paper and let you know whether the plan is feasible.

You can spend less and get the result you want by choosing less expensive materials. For instance, you can use ceramic tile instead of large-format, porcelain or marble, or natural stone tile to get the same effect. It will be a third of the cost.