How to Build a Modern Bathroom

Check with your local building inspector to find out about building code requirements. These codes provide the necessary safety measures to protect you and your family from harm. Find out about design, electrical and plumbing requirements.

Plan your new bathroom by measuring the existing room and drawing it to scale on graph paper. Include windows and doors, along with plumbing and electrical capabilities. Use interior decoration magazines and online sources for inspiration.

Research options for showers, tubs, lighting, vanities, vanity tops, sinks, toilets, tile, flooring and anything else you may want to include by visiting a bathroom showroom. For a modern look, use neutral colors for tile, such as white gray and black. Wall-mounted sinks and sink bowls create a modern feeling, while brushed nickel or chrome faucets blend well with modern design. Cabinets should have clean, straight lines.

Purchase a prefabricated shower and position it against a wall. Install drywall around the shower by anchoring 2-by-4-inch bottom plates with nails and screws, and setting vertical end studs on the plates. Abut and fasten the studs to the main wall, and fasten the studs to the bottom plates. Attach drywall by using a power drill to screw it onto the wall studs with approximately 12 inches between screws for the ceiling and 16 inches for the wall. Make sure to leave 1/8 inch as an expansion gap between drywall sheets. Use a utility knife to cut the drywall.

Install ceramic tile by drawing a plumb line in the center of each wall and across the ceiling to guide the placement of ceramic tiles, placing cut pieces in the corners. To make sure the tiles are installed straight, nail a straight board to the wall to act as a guide for the second row of tile to rest on, then attach the second row of tiles to the wall with thinset. When the thinset is firm, remove the board and add the first row. Use caulk between the first row of tile and the shower and grout between other rows.

Select cabinets with straight lines for a modern look. Bathroom vanities with a modern flair come with such features as glass countertops and bowl sinks. Generally, modern vanities don't come with a back splash, for a minimalistic look. Take the doors off cabinets before installation to prevent damage, and use a level to draw a line where each cabinet top will be. Mark the studs in the bathroom wall with a pencil, and find the vertical and horizontal center of your pipes and mark them. Use an electric drill to make holes at the layout marks on the back of the vanity for the water lines. Screw the vanity to the wall studs, and connect the plumbing with pliers to attach the supply lines to the water valves.