Have you ever been approached by a guest during a party in a friend’s home and they say,“Check out the guest bathroom, you will not believe it”? Then, upon entering the room you understand why your friend was so impressed. It’s clear this homeowner knows the guest bath is the one room in the home where they can make the biggest impression with the least amount of money.

Several years ago a friend of mine told me of a client that wanted to create an elegant foyer to impress her guests. The foyer would consist of marble floors, walls and staircase. The plans changed when the client was presented with the estimated cost of marble for the large foyer. My friend — a kitchen and bath designer — suggested the client place the marble in the guest bath instead. Upon completion, the client was pleased with her friend’s suggestions.

Planning a guest bath involves more than making a visual impact. The function of a guest bath is different from any other bath in a typical home. The average user will be in the space for a limited amount of time unless he/she is an overnight guest. Regardless of the time spent in the space, the bath needs to meet basic codes. The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 27 Bath Planning Guidelines are helpful when planning bath space since they mix their recommendations with the requirements from the International Residential Code.

When placing a toilet in a confined area, plan enough space for any guest regardless of their size. The IRC requires the center of the toilet to be no less than 15 in. from any vertical surface such as a wall or vanity cabinet. If you have found bathroom stalls in public places somewhat cramped, you may want to consider NKBA’s recommendation of 18 in. or more. Even the NKBA recommendation may not be enough if you have guests with special needs such as a walker, cane or wheelchair. And don’t forget the location of the toilet paper holder. It should be slightly in front of the bowl and centered approximately 26-in. above the floor. Be sure additional paper storage is located nearby and easy to find by someone unfamiliar with the bathroom.

Grooming area