Stop wasting money on bathroom extras you don't need
Most people planning a kit home spend six months obsessing over the kitchen layout but give the bathroom about ten minutes of thought. They just slap a standard 2400mm x 2400mm square on the floor plan and call it a day. That's a mistake. Especially when you're the owner-builder and you're the one who has to live with the fallout of poor ventilation or a shower that's too small for a grown adult to soap their feet in without hitting their head on the glass.
Your kit home is going to arrive on a semi-trailer with every wall frame and roof truss ready to go. Because we use BlueScope TRUECORE steel, those frames are dead straight. They won't warp or twist like timber, which is a massive win for your tiling. But even the straightest walls won't save a bad design. I've seen blokes spend forty grand on Italian marble only to realize they didn't leave enough room for the toilet roll holder. It sounds funny until it's your house.
The Wet Room Revolution in Kit Homes
The biggest trend right now is the open wet room. We're talking about getting rid of the hob, that annoying little step into the shower that everyone trips over in the dark. Designing your kit home with a level access floor makes the space feel twice as big. It's also smart for the long haul. You might be fit as a trout now, but in twenty years, you'll be glad you don't have to climb a mountain just to get under the rose.
But here is the catch. If you're going for a wet room, you've got to suss out your fall early. You need to talk to your concreter before the slab is poured. If the slab isn't set down in the bathroom area, you'll end up with a massive lip at the bathroom door instead. It's these technical bits that separate the pros from the amateurs. High-end lifestyle isn't about gold taps. It's about a floor that drains properly so you aren't chasing soapy water with a squeegee every morning.
And let's chat about natural light. Most kit home bathrooms are tucked away in a corner with one tiny frosted window. Why? If you've got a decent block of land in the sticks or even a private backyard in the burbs, put in a floor-to-ceiling window next to the bath. Just make sure you check your BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings if you're in a high-risk zone. There's nothing like soaking in a tub while looking out at the gum trees.
Steel Frames and the Moisture Myth
I get asked all the time if steel frames are okay in bathrooms. Look, it's BlueScope steel. It's literally designed for the Aussie environment. Unlike timber, it doesn't rot if a pipe leaks. But that doesn't mean you can be lazy with your waterproofing. AS 3740 is the standard you need to know. If you're an owner-builder doing your own waterproofing, get a pro to sign it off. Your council will want to see that certificate before they give you the final tick of approval.
Because the steel frames are so precise, you can actually design some pretty slick features. Want a recessed wall niche for your shampoo? It's easy to frame up. Plus, you don't have to worry about timber shrinkage cracking your grout lines three months after you move in. That's a huge lifestyle benefit. No one wants to be re-grouting on their weekends.
Practical Tips for Your Kit Home Bathroom
1. Wall-hung vanities are king. They make the room look bigger because you can see the floor all the way to the wall. It also makes cleaning a breeze. No more dust bunnies hiding behind the vanity legs.
2. Double shower heads. If you're building a home with your partner, just do it. It stops the morning arguments about who's taking too long. Use a twin rail system so you have a big rain head and a handheld wand for cleaning the glass.
3. Ventilation is non-negotiable. Don't just rely on a cheap fan from the hardware store. If you're building in a humid spot like Darwin or the Sunshine Coast, you need a high-capacity exhaust. Steam is the enemy of your paintwork and your health. If you can, duct it through the wall or roof rather than just blowing it into the ceiling space.
4. Power points inside drawers. This is the ultimate lifestyle hack. Get your sparky to put a GPO inside the vanity drawer. You can keep your hairdryer and electric toothbrush plugged in and off the benchtop. No messy cords. Clean as a whistle.
The Color Palette: Thinking Beyond White
White on white is safe. It's also boring. We're seeing a lot of owner-builders move towards earthy tones. Think eucalyptus greens, deep ochres, or even dark charcoal tiles. Because our kit homes often feature corrugated cladding like COLORBOND steel on the outside, bringing those industrial vibes inside works really well. Black tapware looks sharp, but a word of warning: if you have hard water or high calcium in your area, those black taps will look like a chalk drawing within a month. Chrome or brushed nickel is much more forgiving if you aren't keen on scrubbing daily.
Managing the Trades for Your Fit-out
When you buy one of our kits, we give you the shell. The rest is on you. If you're acting as the owner-builder, your biggest job is scheduling. Don't book the tiler until the plumber has finished the rough-in and the waterproofer has done their bit. I've seen guys try to rush it and end up with a mess. Plumbers love steel frames because they can drill through the pre-punched holes without weakening the structure. It makes the rough-in much faster, which should save you a few bucks on the hourly rate if your tradie is honest.
Check your floor wastes too. Nothing ruins a beautiful tile job like a cheap plastic grate right in the middle of the floor. Spend the extra fifty bucks on a tile-insert drain. It disappears into the floor and looks like a million bucks.
The Verdict on Kit Home Bathrooms
Ultimately, a kit home gives you the freedom to build something better than the mass-produced stuff. You aren't stuck with whatever the big developers decide is 'standard' this month. Use that freedom. Push the walls out an extra 300mm. Put in the underfloor heating if you're down south in Victoria or the Highlands. It costs peanuts to lay the heating mats before the tiles go down, but it's the best feeling in the world on a July morning. You're building a home, not just a house. Make it comfortable.
