- Around 16 Square Feet. The half bath can be as small as four feet by four feet (16 sq. feet) and still take care of basic needs.
- Defining the Half Bath. A full-service bathroom has four things: 1.) Toilet; 2.) Sink; 3.) Shower; 4.) Bathtub. Since a half bath has just those first two items, it's called a "half bath"!
- Call it Anything. Some people call it a guest bathroom. Some people call it a powder room. It's all the same thing.
- Keep it Simple. Over-adorning your half bath only leads to clutter. Besides the toilet and pedestal sink, keep other items to a minimum.
Half Bath: Design and Functions
By Lee Wallender, About.com
No need to wrack your brains and tax your design skills when dealing with the half bath. In most cases, you only have a small area to work with, which means that there isn't a whole lot of stuff you can put into a half bath. No shower, no bathtub, no extensive counters. But look at this as a blessing in disguise: you can hone your bathroom design skills on the half bath before proceeding to the master bathroom.
Explore Home Renovations
Must Reads
About.com Special Features
Home Allergy Center
Banish mess, reduce allergens, and maintain a clean, healthy home. More >
Home Improvements Made Easy
Inspirational ideas and expert tips to help you pull off your next DIY project. More >
©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
All rights reserved.