When it comes to comfort and convenience for all family members, the bathroom weighs in as the most important room in the house. Most homeowners, especially those with growing families, agree that you can never have enough bathrooms. That’s why adding a half bath to your home is a wise investment, both in terms of resale value and family comfort.

The tiniest of all rooms, a half bath features space enough for a toilet and sink. That means you can squeeze in a half bath just about anywhere. Existing underused spaces such as a spare closet or an area beneath a stairway can be better employed as a half bath. Or you could make over an existing small bath, replacing fixtures and updating its look to unlock its hidden potential.

Either way, listening to the experts in construction and design gets you off on the right foot. Solutions at Hand interviewed specialists in plumbing, general contracting, architecture and interior design to bring you the best information and advice.

SMALL-BATH BASICS. The beauty of a half bath or powder room is that dramatic design can take precedence over practical considerations. A small bathroom is not expected to receive the heavy-duty use of a main bathroom, so it’s a safe place to be daring.

Architect and interior designer Debbie Gualco says: “This is your opportunity to create an Architectural Digest bath, if that’s the approach you want to take. It can be all about sparkle and wow.” Gualco headed the team that won first place in the powder room category of the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2007 Design Competition. (You can see examples from her firm, Reynolds Gualco Architecture & Interior Design of Sacramento, California, online at rgaid.com.)

When it comes to finding a location for a new half bath, however, practical considerations rule. Involving a contractor during the planning stages helps you avoid costly mistakes. Chicago contractor Don Van Cura says: “By all means talk to a designer, but we recommend you talk to a contractor at the same time so they can work together as a team. This saves a lot of wasted effort in finding the location that will be structurally sound and practical from a cost standpoint.” Don Van Cura Construction Company won first place in the residential bath category in the 2006 Remodeling Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Greater Chicagoland chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (narichicago.org/awards.html).

WHERE TO BEGIN. If you’re on the lookout for found space, follow Van Cura’s advice and call in both a designer and contractor. Together they can help you scout your house for a good location. Van Cura offers these tips:

• Locate a new bathroom near existing plumbing, if possible.


• Avoid a floor plan that places a door in a congested area.
  


• Consider code issues, including ventilation, heating and cooling.
  

DÉCOR TRENDS. Although traditional styling in bathrooms is still popular, Americans are catching up to Europeans, who tend toward more contemporary tastes. “We are definitely seeing a trend toward clean-lined designs,” says Gualco. “People want a spa look, and that shows in freestanding bathroom vanities, pedestal sinks, sculptural faucets and toilets that are mounted to the wall as if they are in a commercial setting.”

Gualco’s work shows how these trends lend themselves especially well to small bathrooms. For example, she likes using large floor tiles, which are common commercially. She installs them on the diagonal to make the space seem larger than it is. “Porcelain tiles are great because the color goes all the way through the body,” she says. “And now, with photographic reproduction possible on porcelain, you can achieve a natural look with low maintenance.” She also likes using glass mosaics as accents to give a contrasting scale.

Small spaces benefit from having as much of the floor visible as possible. That’s one happy consequence of the trend away from built-in cabinetry and toward freestanding units. “Allowing the floor to flow under the vanity opens the space visually, as does open shelving,” Gualco says.

Contrast is as important in the use of color. If you play it safe with white and beige, there’s little impact. But when you put a dark vanity against white porcelain and choose a bold color for the walls, the result is a dramatic design that when properly lit, really pops. This is the kind of bold design adventure you might not want to try in a large bath, but it can work beautifully in a powder room.

BATHROOM BLING. Accessories can be especially whimsical in a half bath or powder room. Use rich finishes, such as oiled bronze, on towel bars, glass mosaic accent tiles around the mirror and open shelving of exotic hardwood. Consider giving your new powder room a theme that reflects your interests. Let the accessories support that: A world traveler might display Murano glass from Italy; a beachcomber, seashells; or a gardener, favorite plants. The point is make it personal, don’t be afraid to try something different and show off a little. Have fun!