What to avoid when renovating a bathroom in 2026

As one of the smallest rooms in a house, a bathroom might typically receive less attention in the planning stages than other, more visible, areas.

But the opposite should be true, says Erin Fairmaid of HeHe Design. These compact spaces are high-traffic zones that often need to meet the needs of multiple people: clever design and forethought are essential in ensuring they work at optimal capacity.

“The most common mistake, and the most expensive, is starting the build before the design is finalised and properly documented,” Fairmaid says. “People often treat renovations as a collection of things they can decide on and pick as they go. But renovations are a puzzle of millimetres, with bathrooms even more so.”

Domain chatted with the experts and compiled a list of things to avoid to ensure your bathroom renovation runs smoothly and delivers a result that endures.

1. Locking in a poor layout

If the exact layout and specifications have not been finalised before the build begins, Fairmaid says, then decisions may be required on the spot to avoid delaying the project, and this can create a flow-on effect.

“Something as simple as moving a towel rail by 100 millimetres might mean it no longer aligns with the wall studs, or it now impacts the shower door clearance,” she says.

This not only results in variations and additional costs, she warns, but can also lead to decision and compromise fatigue. “Ultimately, home owners can end up with a bathroom they don’t love as a result.”

Another key element of successful spatial flow is ensuring the bathroom feels like a sanctuary the moment you enter, Fairmaid says.

Where possible, the layout should tuck the toilet behind a return or nib wall, or a fluted or frosted glazed panel.

“By shifting the visual focus toward a beautiful vignette, like a vanity or a free-standing bath, the room feels more like a retreat and less like a utility space,” Fairmaid says.

Architect Georgina Wilson warns that toilets should not be placed in narrow spaces, directly in your line of sight, or immediately in front of mirrors. “Minimum clearances matter; so does dignity,” she says.

Bathroom entries off living or dining spaces are another big no-no, Wilson adds. “Nobody needs a soundtrack!” she says with a laugh.

2. Adding features that are tricky to clean

When designing a new bathroom, make sure you run the scheme through your inner house cleaner, cautions interior decorator Lauren Egan.

“You don’t want to be scrubbing away at a tile in a high-use area that’s tricky to clean, or desperately reaching into a gap between a fixture and a wall that can only be reached by a rag on a stick,” she says.

In addition, tiny tiles with light grouting in high-use wet areas, awkwardly placed baths, and above-bench basins can all be a real pain to keep clean.

Award-winning interior designer Greg Natale says that many mistakes home owners make when creating a bathroom aren’t dramatic; rather, they’re practical oversights. But when left unresolved, they can be expensive, frustrating and hard to fix.

“Overall, I avoid anything that compromises function, durability, or a sense of considered design,” he says. “Especially in a space that’s used every day.”

While natural stone such as marble and limestone offer a luxurious aesthetic, they can also require significant maintenance that doesn’t suit every lifestyle, Fairmaid says.

“They are susceptible to permanent staining from oils and creams, or even standing water if they aren’t regularly and professionally sealed,” she says.

“For a high-traffic family bathroom, it is often worth exploring alternatives like sintered stone or porcelain that are engineered to withstand daily use and moisture without the intensive upkeep.”

3. Harsh or insufficient lighting

“Harsh, direct overhead lighting can create unflattering shadows and make a bathroom feel cold or sterile,” says architect Tom Andrews of Studio A2.

“Proper lighting is crucial in a bathroom for both functionality and ambience, so it’s important to avoid overly bright or harsh lights that might distort reflection, especially around mirrors.”

Andrews says this can be remedied with a layered lighting approach – soft ambient lights, task lighting around the vanity, and accent lighting – to create a more comfortable and flattering atmosphere, ensuring enough light without casting shadows.

Egan believes in multiple sources of light for different functions and times of day. “I like to have something overhead, something on the wall [or mirror] and a dim light option for the evening so you can slip gently into sleep mode,” she says.

4. Excessive visual clutter

Empire Interiors founder Nicole Chapman says it’s best to avoid bulky shower screens with heavy aluminium framing “in favour of frameless or beautifully detailed semi-frameless options”.

Chapman also suggests skylights as  a better choice than highlight windows in bathrooms as they provide a “softer, more elevated” light source.

For Natale, minimising open storage is the key. “I avoid open storage in bathrooms,” he says.

“Bathrooms function best when everything can be hidden away – open shelving quickly becomes cluttered and detracts from the calm, designed feeling the space should have.”

5. Choosing materials that wear over time

Property expert and seasoned renovator Amy Lunardi says she has seen staining in people’s houses due to the poor application and sealing of Venetian plaster in showers and bath spaces.

“I do love the product and appreciate that when it is done properly, it can be great,” she says. “In my new renovation, I put it on the bathroom walls but chose to tile the shower and around the bath.”

Natural timber – specifically, too much of it – can also be an issue. While it can add warmth and character to a bathroom, it’s important to use it appropriately, Andrews says.

“Bathrooms are high-moisture environments, and timber can easily suffer from water damage, warping or discolouration over time,” he says.

If you do choose natural timber, Andrews suggests it should only be used in areas where it’s less likely to be exposed to excessive moisture – not around basins, baths or showers.