If you're building a new home or undergoing a renovation, you might be considering adding en-suites or contemplating how many and what kind of bathrooms will suit your family's needs. Not everyone fancies an en-suite for each bedroom - think of all that cleaning!! But have you ever considered sharing one between two rooms? The Jack and Jill bathroom, as it's know, was made famous in the 70s by the Brady Bunch - the TV family who shared a bathroom between the boys' room and the girls' room. Here, we've put together some tips for how to make a Jack & Jill bathroom work and to help you decide if it's suitable for you.
- The top tip when it comes to a shared bathroom is the establish the ground rules - especially where kids or teenagers are involved. Make sure they know that they're supposed to lock both doors when they're using the bathroom and that they must unlock the door when they're finished to ensure that the person in the other room still has access to the bathroom. People leaving the other door locked can cause rows. Get them into the habit of doing it right from the start!
- Double vanity units are perfect for Jack & Jill bathrooms. When it comes to getting ready for school, things like brushing teeth and washing faces can be done in synch when there are two basins. This saves time and arguments. Again, it's about getting them into good habits from the start and making sure they leave the door unlocked unless they're in the shower or going to the loo! A double vanity unit will also have plenty of storage for everyone's bits and bobs.
- Create a rota - this is especially for teenagers. Make sure they pull their weight when it comes to cleaning up the bathroom and take turns to giving it a good once over. You might also want to consider setting a time limit on showers in the morning before school.
- Allocate storage for each. You might not be catering for six kids, a la The Brady Bunch, but even if you've got two teens sharing the space, they certainly accumulate plenty. Think makeup and toiletries, perfumes, lotions and potions. You'll avoid fights over space and give them more privacy if they've got their own individual cupboards. Our column storage is perfect for the likes of this if your room is even remotely generously sized.
- Mirrors. Whether you have a double vanity, a single, two separate ones or just free standing pedestal basins, having adequate mirrors is important. We've got a fabulous range of all sorts - mirrored cabinets, LED lit mirrors and even ones with bluetooth.
6. Talk to them about accessorising and decorating the space in a way that suits them both. Let's face it, girls and boys generally like different things so you can keep things fairly neutral while at the same time catering to them both. It could be a piece of art, or letting them choose their own towels - but give them some individual space in the room.
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