You don’t see indoor-outdoor bathrooms every day, but they really should be considered for any new home build or renovation. These baths bring a luxurious yet still natural element into your daily rituals by creating an atmosphere more similar to a spa that many homeowners find appealing. In some situations, an indoor-outdoor setup can also be a clever way to expand living spaces and increase the appraised value of your property.
However, some key considerations make these types of bathrooms less common. A true indoor-outdoor bathroom will necessarily be exposed to the elements, which means that they may not be practical for year-round use in all regions. Privacy issues also make them impractical in some neighbourhoods. Lastly, ensuring indoor and outdoor materials work harmoniously together in terms of both durability and aesthetics isn’t always straightforward, as indoor and outdoor elements tend to have different rates of wear and tear.
Regardless, thousands of these bathrooms are set up each year all over New Zealand, particularly in areas with favourable year-round weather like Auckland. We have a few tips prepared that will help your next indoor-outdoor bathroom achieve perfect balance between function and aesthetic value. If you’re interested in unique bathroom renovations in Auckland, our team at TJ’s Kitchens and Bathrooms is ready to offer expert advice.
Privacy is a major concern for these types of baths, and a less-than-adequate solution can result in an unusable space. Fortunately, there are many ways to tackle this issue like installing frosted glass, one-way glass, wooden slats, and strategically placed outdoor walls. Clever landscaping can also shield views without fully closing off the outdoor area. Each of these approaches has its pros and cons, so be sure to discuss them with your contractors.
While regular bathroom tiles will survive outdoor conditions with little issue, they tend to look a bit jarring and disconnected from nature, even when they incorporate muted colours. Generally speaking, you’ll get better results with natural materials like moisture-resistant wood and stone or modern tiles that mimic the qualities of those materials. These materials will provide a seamless visual transition between the bath’s indoor and outdoor portions while still ensuring durability in the changing seasons.
Consider large, retractable, one-way glass doors or floor-to-ceiling windows that can open up entirely to provide access to the outdoors. This lets you keep your bathroom effectively indoors while still allowing it to blend into the outdoor environment. As a huge plus, this also maximises natural light, which helps suppress mould growth while also giving a modern, airy feel.
Speaking of light, even if you ultimately decide against a full indoor-outdoor setup, you should always let in as much sunlight and fresh air into the bathroom as possible. This helps strengthen the indoor-outdoor connection while also preventing the stuffiness that’s all too common in normal bathrooms.
The typical layout of indoor-outdoor baths has showers or freestanding baths in the indoor sections. However, placing them directly in the outdoor area can be an especially relaxing experience, allowing you to bathe out in the sun or wash your hair in the summer rain. If you want this setup, work with your designer and contractors so that you have a good solution for maintaining your privacy.
Fixtures that work well in an indoor bath may corrode prematurely when subjected to the outdoors. Your bathroom renovation contractors should be able to recommend specific materials and fixture models that will still look great even years later.
Lastly, consider how the outdoor portions drain water to prevent water damage as well as potentially dangerous pooling. Pooling is something to be avoided as it can result in unattractive mould and moss growth and may undermine sections of the bath’s foundations. Expert contractors will generally slope the flooring slightly towards a drain and use weather-resistant materials that can handle moisture and rain. They may also recommend specific drain designs so that both bathwater and rainwater are consistently directed away from vulnerable areas.
Carefully weighing your choices is key to lasting success in any bathroom project, particularly one as complex as an indoor-outdoor setup. Being intentional in these areas will do much to avoid needless future fixes while also ensuring a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces, leaving you with a private, spa-like retreat that connects you with the outside.
The unique challenges in building an indoor-outdoor bath mean that you’ll want expert advice every step of the way. TJ’s Kitchens and Bathrooms offers the rare expertise needed to execute your next bath’s special features to your satisfaction. Regardless of whether you’re renovating a conventional bathroom or having a new indoor-outdoor bath set up, our experts will leave you with something you’ll be happy with for years to come.