We love to spend our downtime exploring our beautiful province of Nova Scotia. A few times a year, we book a two- or three-night stay somewhere close to home. Unless we leave town, it’s just so difficult to relax because when we’re at home, we feel there is always something we should be doing.
Staycation Location
We recently enjoyed a very relaxing getaway at Seek Wilderness about an hour from our home in Halifax. Nestled in the woods, we found a collection of shipping-container cabins, a few yurts, and camping sites. The staff were friendly and enthusiastic, and it was very quiet. It was hard to believe that we were so close to the town of Truro and yet it felt like a total getaway.
My Small Space Living Obsession
If you’ve followed my work, you know I have been a little obsessed with small space living and tiny homes for ages, long before they were trendy. I’m fascinated with building homes using shipping containers, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to take a staycation in one.
I know that going away is supposed to help me relax, but even when I’m on vacation, my designer brain never stops! If I’m being honest, it sometimes interferes with my enjoyment of a getaway weekend. On this occasion, my obsession with maximizing the functionality of a small space really got the best of me. After the first 24 hours, I figured out all the design changes I wanted to make. Eventually, I was (mostly) able to let go of the fact that it wasn’t my job to redesign the space, no matter how much I wanted to.
The bathroom was the one space that frustrated me beyond belief. Perhaps there are reasons they chose the design elements they did. However, I do need to point out the bathroom design no-no’s in this space, in case they’re helpful to you.
Bathroom Design No-No #1: Barn Door on a Bathroom
I’m not a huge fan of barn doors in general, but as a bathroom door, it’s a deal-breaker. There is absolutely no privacy with a barn door because the track mechanism creates a gap between the back of the door and the wall. To make matters worse, the door in our cabin had no lock and didn’t quite stay closed. If you have limited space, a pocket door is much better than a barn door.
Bathroom Design No-No #2: A Tiny Corner Shower
On the right side of the shower, there is a space about 12″ wide with some towel hooks in it. If they installed a rectangular shower (24″ x 48″) with sliding doors, it would have given double the amount of square footage in the shower without any other changes. Additionally, a sliding door system with horizontal bars provides space to hang bath mats and towels.
Bathroom Design No-No #3: No Storage for Personal Items
After helping clients with renovations, I know how fast bathroom fixtures can use up your budget. I’m guessing that’s why there was makeshift shelving next to the vanity. I even had to bring a chair from the living area into the bathroom to have somewhere to put my things.
Affordable Bathroom Storage Options
Luckily, there are many affordable bathroom storage options. For this bathroom, I would choose a tall, narrow cabinet to take advantage of the vertical space, such as the TÄNNFORSEN from IKEA, or the Barnboard Jelly Cupboard from St Jacob’s Furnishings. There are also at least a dozen reasonably priced options available at Home Depot. I believe there are always ways to incorporate proper storage even on a very limited budget.
In my experience, most hotel bathrooms lack adequate storage. However, Alt Hotels is the hotel chain that has done the best job of bathroom planning. It’s one of the reasons I like to stay at an Alt when possible. I love their attention to detail with storage, and I enjoy the modern aesthetic.
Final Thoughts on Bathroom Design
Designing and renovating bathrooms is one of my favourite client projects. I’ve had the good fortune to collaborate with dozens of clients over the last 23 years. Since the bathroom is one of the most-used rooms in your home, poor design and layout affect your use and enjoyment of the space every single day.
Whether you’re working with a spacious ensuite or a compact powder room, thoughtful planning can help make your bathroom more functional and comfortable without requiring a luxury budget. If you’re considering a bathroom renovation, I’d love to help you make design decisions that work for you.