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Adding to or remodeling your house is one of the most exciting and creative processes you can go through. But with all that responsibility comes pressure to make informed decisions that will last. How can you make sure to get the right design for your lifestyle, stay within your budget and maximize the return on your investment? Start with a great design for every room in your house — including (or especially) the bathroom.

Bathrooms, whether big or small, should always be well thought out and carefully located, and should function with multiple users in mind. We’re long past the era where there was one bathroom for every three bedrooms in the house, and everyone had all the time needed to use it. Today’s bathrooms need to be beautiful, use space efficiently and serve the users functionally. Avoiding common design blunders, as these rooms nicely do, can help you be happier with your bathroom for the long haul.

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1. No View Out

No one likes a dark, damp bathroom with bad circulation — it’s no fun spending time in a space like that. If you’re building or relocating a bathroom, try to site it on an outside wall with windows.

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If windows are not an option, installing an operable skylight can allow for the fresh air and natural light needed to make the space feel comfortable.

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2. Clear View in From Public Rooms

I once worked on a large remodel for which the existing design had a bathroom in the dining room — seems kind of like a conflict of interests, right? Whenever possible, avoid locating the bathroom directly off one of the home’s public rooms — like the kitchen, living room or dining room.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to put in a long hallway, but create some sort of formal separation to break up the line of sight. The last thing you want is to be sitting in the living room with a glass of wine and looking straight into the bathroom at the toilet.

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3. Making It All About the Toilet

That leads me to my next blunder: Avoid making the toilet the first thing you see in the bathroom, and avoid any sightlines to it from adjacent rooms. I like to put the toilet and shower in their own room while keeping the sink separate. This allows someone to take a shower while someone else gets ready at the sink.

Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics

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In the bathroom floor plan here, the wall between the two rooms adds only a couple of inches to the overall size of the bathroom but doubles the room’s functionality.

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This design can be fairly easy to achieve in a new bathroom and often in a remodel as well. Just make sure you talk to your architect or contractor about it in the planning stages prior to construction.

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5. Thinking Bigger Is Better

That’s right: Bigger isn’t better; better is better. Whether you’re designing a large master bathroom in your dream home or trying to figure out how to squeeze in an extra bathroom for your growing family, the most important aspect of your new bathroom is that it has a great design that functions efficiently for your specific lifestyle.

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The truth is, great design is less about how a bathroom looks (although it’s always nice when it looks fantastic) and more about how it works. Great design translates to a house that functions better, costs less to build, is more efficient to maintain and gets you more for less.

Tell us: Have you had any bathroom remodeling blunders or successes? Share your experiences in the Comments.

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Przygoda-Montgomery also believes that a thoughtful layout and comfortable seating are essential for creating an inviting landscape, especially if the space will be used for entertaining. “If there’s not a comfortable place to sit or a surface to set down a drink, guests won’t linger long,” she says.

Przygoda-Montgomery, who designed the shaded patio in Oro Valley, Arizona, seen here, says that a way to assess whether your yard is guest-ready is to actually host something. “If people are left standing awkwardly or are unsure where to gather, it’s a sign that the space needs better flow and a better furniture arrangement,” she says.

How to Create an Inviting Outdoor Seating Area



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4. Just for fun — some have said that Superman’s super dog Krypto steals the movie. Are there any specific elements that you would add to your design to make him happy?

“Being a dog lover myself, I would never dare disappoint my actual favorite clients,” Peterson says. “I always take my clients’ pets into consideration when constructing my designs because they are family too and deserve their special little accommodations just as we do. Although I have yet to work with a super dog, I get the sense that there would be some similarities that compare to some of my furry clients’ needs, such as getting their own pantries, doggy spas and sometimes even bedrooms. However, for Krypto, I would absolutely have to design him his own specialty hangar-style dog hangout. There would be a floating racetrack on the ceiling for flight and agility, laser-proof walls that would hold up during training sessions and a salon with a personal stylist to ensure his flawless demeanor is maintained.”



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Industry Overview

Awareness of AI already is widespread across the construction and design industry, with nearly 7 in 10 professionals (69%) reporting familiarity with the technology. Just 23% say they’re not very familiar, and only 8% have had no exposure at all, underscoring AI’s rapid emergence as a topic most pros are actively tracking.

The industry overview section of the report combines data from firms offering residential services, commercial services or both in construction and design. These include remodelers, builders, interior designers, architects, design-build professionals, and specialty contractors and trades such as electricians, plumbers and roofers.



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In addition to controlling the climate on the porch, the homeowners needed to control the bugs. During mosquito season, screens are a must. The screens on either side of the fireplace are fixed, but the screens on the other two sides of the porch are retractable. On the widest side of the porch, these screens are installed on the columns on either side and pull out to meet in the middle. One screen covers the right side of the porch.

“These pleated screens are a really cool product,” Trakas says. “They are on a track, and they fold up into themselves like an accordion.” The screens are opened and closed manually, and when the homeowners aren’t using them, they tuck right up next to the columns.

Retractable screens: ZigZag2, Genius

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Everyone needs a comforting space where they can recharge and feel safe. Superman™ built the Fortress of Solitude as his secret sanctuary. Now’s your chance to dream up something equally nurturing for yourself. You could even win two tickets to Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank, California, plus a travel fund (total value: $3,100).

To celebrate the world premiere of SUPERMAN on July 11, 2025, Houzz has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures to give participants the chance to win tickets to tour the iconic studio. To enter for a chance to win, use the Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner to visualize your own SUPERMAN-inspired Fortress of Solitude, a private space for recharging. An internal Houzz committee will select four finalists from the eligible entries, and the winner will be chosen in a public vote. Submissions open June 16 and will close June 30. Community voting will begin July 7, and one voter will also win two tickets to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, plus a travel fund.

Here’s more on how you can wield your design powers toward victory.



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Jennifer Radakovic DesignSave Photo
Floating Desks

Consider your desk first. Think about whether the desk should float in the room, as here, be placed against a wall or be built in. The standard desk height is 29 to 30 inches (74 to 76 centimeters).

Freestanding desks range in size, but common dimensions are 48, 60 and 72 in. (122, 152 and 183 cm) wide and 24, 30 and 36 in. (61, 76 and 91 cm) deep. Get the largest desk that fits comfortably in your space, as you can never have enough work surface.

If you float your desk, leave at least 30 in. (76 cm) between your desk and wall or shelves behind it. On the other side of the desk, allow 48 to 60 in. (122 to 152 cm) for additional chairs and tables, if needed.

Note: Conversions to metric dimensions are approximately translated from standard U.S. dimensions. Each country can be unique in its standards. Investigate the customs in your locale or work with a design pro before committing to a plan.



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Budget

A good estimate on the total cost, properly divided into each stage, is imperative for this plan to work.

If your plan is simple and includes new appliances, new paint and some new hardware, then the estimate will be easy. Go to an appliance store or go online and price out the appliances. Get that painting bid for your cabinets and walls. Count up the hardware requirements, price out your selection, and there you have it. Three simple stages and not much risk (as long as you confirm your appliance selections fit their respective spaces — more on that later).

In larger, more complex jobs, though, it’s difficult to properly price things out without some experience, as kitchen remodels can potentially involve framers, finish carpenters, drywallers, electricians, plumbers, tile setters, slab fabricators, painters and possibly even foundation contractors, roofers, insulators and more.

The point is that it can be challenging to properly estimate a phased remodel, or any remodel, but you need to have a go at it and keep refining and updating as needed. Contractors are experienced at the task, but if you are estimating on your own, make sure you get bids for every subcontractor task and price out the fixtures and materials. And, if you can, try to get some consultation from someone with experience.



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Why Hire a Designer?

1. You’ll Save Time

You may not know how structural choices can impact the installation of the mechanical system. Or about options for new materials or technologies that might be cheaper, better or more appropriate than what you are familiar with. Figuring those things out takes time, and lots of it. A skilled professional will have this information at the ready for you.

Plus, with advances in technology, new building envelope techniques are coming on the market with increasing frequency, and new, tougher energy-efficiency requirements are transforming how walls are constructed and bringing an end to many traditional building practices. So it’s more crucial than ever to have someone on your team who understands how your building assembly meets current building code requirements.

These codes are typically complex texts that are difficult for those outside the building industry to understand. When designers submit drawings to the building authority, a plans examiner reviews them and issues a revision notice to address any variances from the current codes and construction standards.

A well-informed designer with up-to-date knowledge of building science can get building projects through with the minimum number of revisions. Since each revision takes time to be completed, having fewer revisions will allow you to get your permit faster. Low-quality or incomplete documents can delay your construction. Hiring a designer will help ensure that your project meets relevant codes so it can progress smoothly through your municipality’s process.

This could save you many sleepless nights and potentially weeks on your project trying to determine what is needed to satisfy the code requirements.

Find an architect near you



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These days, finding home design inspiration often starts in a search bar. Ideas for color schemes, decor styles, fun features to enliven a home — it all starts with typing in a few key phrases. A look at how these search terms evolve over time can give fascinating insights into current design trends.

So we reviewed search terms on Houzz from January through March 2025 and compared them with searches from the same period last year to see how homeowner preferences might be changing. The results, highlighted below from the 2025 U.S. Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report, show rising interest in French country style, wood elements, warm metal accents and other design inspiration worth searching for.



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