12 Tips for a Low Maintenance Bathroom
Mould. Grime. Soap scum. Nobody likes scrubbing their bathroom. And even if you have a cleaner you just know that the day they can’t make it will be the day your mother-in-law is coming over with some of her friends. Designing a low maintenance bathroom can be a great way to save time and money on upkeep while still having a functional and stylish space.
So today we’re going to share some tips to help your next renovation project create a bathroom that looks great and cleans fast.
Designing a hygienic bathroom is an important aspect of ensuring the overall health and cleanliness of your home. There are several factors to consider when designing a bathroom that is both functional and hygienic.
In addition to these design considerations, it's also important to keep your bathroom clean and well-maintained. This means regularly cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, emptying the trash, and replacing old or worn out fixtures and appliances.
By following these guidelines, you can design a hygienic bathroom that not only looks good, but also promotes good health and cleanliness.
Here are some tips to consider when designing a low maintenance bathroom:
“Your shower floor and shower curtain could be harbouring up to 60x more bacteria than your toilet seat” - SafeHome.org
Seed House, Whisker Architecture - Bathroom Featured on Houzz
“This house was clean yesterday - we’re sorry you missed it”
Tips to a Low Maintenance Bathroom
Choose durable materials
When selecting materials for your bathroom, opt for ones that are easy to clean and resistant to wear and tear. Examples include ceramic or porcelain tiles, quartz or granite countertops, and fiberglass or acrylic bathtubs and showers.
Note: Natural materials such as timber and natural stones are porous. They will require sealing at installation and resealing at the intervals defined by the sealant manufacturer.
Breathe
Another important aspect of bathroom hygiene is proper ventilation. Poor ventilation can lead to mold growth, which can be harmful to your health. Make sure to install an exhaust fan that extracts directly to the outside of your home to allow for proper airflow.
Ensure backdraught or backdraft stoppers are installed on your exhaust fans. Backdrafts occur when air is sucked back into the venting system instead of being expelled out of the building. This can cause a number of problems, including reduced efficiency of the heating system. It is typically installed in the venting system near the top, where it can block the flow of air back into the building.
We recommend heat recovery ventilation fans are used to retain as much heat in your home without retaining the moisture.
Delay switches are also recommended - this is a fan that stays on for an additional 10 minutes after being turned off at the wall.
One and done
A single-sink vanity is more hygienic than a double sink, as it reduces the opportunity for a surface that is likely to stay moist, be contaminated with bodily fluids, and be high use.
Having a single basin also means there is typically more room for bench space which can be used for clothes, makeup, and hair products.
Let it rain - then hose it off
A rain shower head provides a gentle, steady stream of water that is easier to clean than a traditional showerhead with multiple nozzles. Plus, it can give your bathroom a modern, spa-like feel.
Regardless of if you use them yourself, hand showers are a brilliant aid during the cleaning process.
Choose frameless
A frameless shower door not only looks sleek and modern, but it is also easier to clean than a framed door. There are no corners or crevices for dirt and grime to accumulate, making it easier to keep your shower looking sparkling clean.
Keep mirrors rimless to maintain a simple ‘wipe on, wipe off’ solution to your bathroom mirrors. If you can’t integrate storage under or next to your basin then consider how to integrate handles into your shaving cabinet for one less thing to clean.
Mirrors are now available with demisting or anti-fog features.
Toilet Suites
A low-flow toilet uses less water per flush, which not only helps to conserve water, but it also requires less cleaning and maintenance. Plus, they often come with a dual-flush option, which allows you to choose a full or partial flush depending on your needs.
Concealed cisterns are another great way of eliminating a flat surface to clean. Keep in mind how you will service it though. If there is a service space behind (like a laundry or garage) that can be a great option.
Cantilevered suites where the pan hangs above the floor eliminates cleaning around the base of the toilet but can be expensive. An alternative is any option that closes flush to the floor and wall with as few curves as possible.
As with the basins, avoid any right angles and rims to keep this as easy to clean as possible.
Basin mounted mixers can be beautiful but they often collect scum around the base.
Richmond Terrace, Whisker Architecture - Bathroom renovation with an example of a wall mounted mixer and large format floor tiles and a back-to-wall bath.
If you don’t have space to mop around a bath we recommend using a back-to-wall model.
An example of a back-to-wall bath - creating a solid seal against the wall.
Beyond the Bathroom: Planning Your Whole Home
Design details matter — but the real magic is in how they all come together. A low-maintenance bathroom works best when it’s part of a bigger plan that considers your whole home, your lifestyle, and your budget.
That’s exactly what our Home Masterplan Report does. It pulls together layout options, council requirements, and cost clarity so you can see how spaces like your bathroom will integrate into the flow of your home. Think of it as your pre-design strategy package — the smartest first step before committing to renovations or a new build.
Curious to see how your ideas stack up in real life?
Examples of Low-Maintenance Bathrooms
Richmond Terrace, Whisker Architecture
Seed House, Whisker Architecture - Bathroom Featured on Houzz
Rainforest Retreat, Whisker Architecture
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