How to Put Together Basement Bathroom Plans

Measure each area of your basement bathroom. Write down the measurements for each wall, opening and alcove.

Transfer the measurements you took onto graph paper. Use one inch of space of your graph paper to represent one foot of your basement space. Draw the space to scale and write the measurements for each area on your paper.

Draw in existing plumbing and electrical lines in your house. Using a blue colored pencil for plumbing lines and a red one for electrical lines can help avoid confusion.

Draw in the location for the door to scale if you do not have one yet. Draw in a location for a window, if possible, so you can get some natural light into the bathroom. Lighting is one of the biggest design concerns for a basement renovation since it is underground.

Research online or go to a home improvement store to get ideas on the type and size of fixtures you want to use. To save space, you may want to install only a toilet and sink or use a shower stall instead of a tub-shower combination; a standard bathtub is 60 inches long, 30 inches wide and about 18 inches deep. Write down the measurements for the fixtures for future reference.

Draw the location and dimensions for the fixtures you want to use. Try to place the fixtures on a wall that already includes plumbing. Another option is to plan to place fixtures near the water heater to cut down on the amount of new pipes you need. Consider the location of existing sewer lines to reduce the work and expense of adding a toilet.

Cut pieces of cardboard to the size of your fixtures to form templates. Place the templates in the locations where you drew them on your floor plan. Evaluate whether you have enough space and move the pieces around until you are satisfied with the layout.

Write down the measurements between each fixture. Add a vanity and any additional cabinetry to the plan.

Draw in the location of any additional plumbing or electrical lines, based on your plan. Mark locations for electrical outlets.