The Change That HGTV Star Leanne Ford Says You Should Always Make To A Bathroom Layout

Your bathroom sees a lot of daily use, from getting ready in the morning to preparing for an evening out to a relaxing spa night after a long week. Since you spend so much time there, the room not only needs to be functional but also stylish. Both of these can be accomplished with the correct layout.

The three-in-a-row layout is often the standard, especially with smaller bathrooms. This layout has the sink, toilet, and shower/bath all in a line, which creates efficiency, particularly with the plumbing, according to Board & Vellum. Larger bathrooms often place fixtures on opposite walls, creating a galley-style layout. But no matter the size or features of the bathroom, Leanna Ford has a bathroom layout pet peeve.

The star of HGTV's "Restored by The Fords" has tackled many renovation projects alongside her brother Steve. "I've been in this business long enough to have a vocabulary and an understanding of what's out there and what works and what doesn't," Leanne Ford tells The Expert. She explains the one change to always make to a bathroom layout.

Yes, the toilet might be the main reason you use the bathroom, but that doesn't mean it has to be the feature of the design. "When the toilet is the first thing you see in a bathroom [is her biggest pet peeve]. I don't understand why we design that way. If you are in the blueprint phase, hide the toilet," Leanne Ford tells The Expert. Ford urges you to move the fixture from a featured location if you're planning on a bathroom renovation or building a home.

Don't fret if you're not starting from scratch; you can move an existing toilet, though it will come at a price. The cost of moving a toilet, on average, can fall between $1,500 and $6,500, according to Home Decor Bliss. The final price depends on how much plumbing work is required for the job. And the distance between the sewer line and the new toilet location can also affect the price. Plus, the cost of replacing flooring or moving other fixtures in the bathroom.

The upgrade of moving your toilet is well worth the cost, according to Ford (via The Expert). Instead of placing the toilet in a featured spot, opt for other bathroom fixtures. "Sinks are gorgeous, tubs are gorgeous, and showers are gorgeous. Toilets are not. Hide it." When you first walk into the bathroom, take note of what you see first and what your eyes are drawn to. If you see the toilet first, consider moving the layout to hide the toilet from the center of the design.

There are a couple of ways to hide the toilet. You can create a designated space by putting up a partition, wall, or screen that blocks it from the rest of the bathroom, suggests Quality Bath. Or opt for a water closet to make a private toilet room. Use a half wall to create division but still allow an open design. Then consider putting placing your sink or bathtub as the central design.