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pamela_b50

Help with bathroom and closet layout

last year

Hello! Our house is a fairly traditional 1950's ranch. At some point, a previous owner turned a bedroom into the master bath. Unfortunately, they laid it out very poorly. Also, the house is terribly short on closet space.

I was considering doing a bathroom remodel/refresh, where i did not move much of the plumbing, and try to add a closet. I have heard not moving plumbing would be a huge savings.

Pamela's Ideas · More Info


Pamela's Ideas · More Info

I do not need the bathtub, and it is just sitting there unused and in the way. The windows are also an issue, but i do not want to remove them, as the house is painted brick and i do not want to paint it.

My first thoughts were to remove the tub, and put a 30" deep reach in closet extending from the shower to outside wall (the wall that is shared with the other bedroom, used purple to show) and then put some floor to ceiling cabinets on the front side of the shower, where there is that blank space when you walk in (used red to show). Then of course, add a double vanity. Possibly curve it around then have it drop a bit for under window. Maybe put a makeup seat in that.

If anyone has any other ideas, i would love to hear them!!!

Thank you!!

Comments (11)

  • PRO
    last year
    last modified: last year



    You have to get into the shower, and you aren't going to have room for a make up area and a double vanity, and you're complaining on storage, so learn to do makeup/hair standing : )

    I'd pinch the shower entrance back a bit, cover the window with a shade,( still accessible/removable shelves, no cabinet) and use that side for shallower closed shelving, no more than 18" deep

    The plumbing is close enough with water all on same side of bath,

    More than this? No. Too stuffed, which defeats the purpose and a double sink vanity at less than 84" is not great at ALL.

    If you must have a make up area in that? Use a SINGLE sink and a counter stool and it is all the same height for all



  • PRO
    last year

    You have 27' of closet get a good closet oragnizer and start purging. Clothing is never stored in a bathroom for obvious reasons too much moisture . I love the Pax closet system from Ikea you might want to check that out for that 27' wall. As for the bathroom maybe Jans idea but I would never store clothes in a bathroom.

  • PRO
    last year
    last modified: last year

    Patricia? Look again please? She now has two 6' reach in closets in the master bedroom. She does NOT have 27' anywhere.

    A properly vented bath and it isn't the end of the world. No clue where you got 27 feet

  • last year

    So the goal is to add closet space ... you didn't say specifically closet space in the master bedroom, so let's start with outside the master:


    - Look at the hallway approaching the master bedroom. For little cost, you can add a closet "behind the toilet" ... that is, a closet opening into the hallway.

    - Look at the too-deep closet by the hall bath. Two ways to make it more efficient: 1) Add pull-out shelves. 2) Move the bathroom wall back a few inches and reverse the door's swing so it opens into the hallway. (This won't change your bathroom layout at all.) This will allow you to move that existing closet's door to the side, allowing you to reach into it more easily.


    Now for the bathroom:

    - I can't believe no one's pointed out the toilet's odd location yet. In a perfect world you'd make this space into a small closet and move the toilet into the bathroom. BUT you said you're trying not to move plumbing, and moving a toilet does cost real money.

    - The problem with this bathroom layout is that it's square -- that's why this is a tough layout. Bathroom items need to "hug the walls" -- you have excessive space in the middle. But what to do about that? You could add more reach-in closets in the guest bedroom, but that doesn't seem appealing. Reach-in closets steal wall space and cause problems with furniture placement and artwork space.

    - The biggest "closet space" you have is the corner where you're placing the shower. If you do a walk-in there ... you could slide a shower in right next to it. The front window, of course, is a problem ... maybe you could do a deep, doorless shower, which wouldn't disturb the window.

    - The vanity against the left wall makes most sense ... be sure to allow yourself ample space to stand in front of the vanity.

    Pamela B thanked Theresa Peterson
  • last year

    Looking at JAN MOYER’s plan, I would push the wall behind the toilet back so that it abuts the MB door. Slide the toilet back there (if the joist structure for the waste line runs west to east/left to right. Then, move the door to the bathroom slightly to the right to permit 24” deep closet down the entire west/left wall. You will then have a full wall of 24” deep closet.

  • last year

    As far as the wall behind the toilet, into the hallway, that is our only attic access. So, unfortunately that is off the table. Love the location of our house, and our yard, but several things were laid out so poorly. I spent most of our remodel budget on the main areas of the house (Kitchen and living) so trying to fix this bathroom and add a closet the easiest (cheapest while still cute and functional) way possible. All of these ideas are great! Thank you everyone!

  • PRO
    last year

    Yup, I guessed that was access, as otherwise? some genius would have had a linen closet in that spot: )

  • last year

    The only reason i was saying to have the closet deeper, is I could do a shoe storage on backside of the door. But, i don't have to do that. :)

  • last year

    Jan Moyer, this isn't even the worst laid out space in the house!! haha Full walk out basement, full of square footage, but terrible use of space! But, only use that when the kids are visiting, so leaving that one alone... for now!

  • PRO
    last year
    last modified: last year

    You can hang shoe storage on the back side of any solid doors for a 2' reach in closet.

    If you are trying to keep four seasons of clothing in one primary bed area? Consider flips of season, add basement closet space / even cedar if that applies.