I thought an L-shaped bath would be perfect for a family bathroom — but these 3 mistakes turned my wet zone into a stress zone

I convinced myself that a L-shaped bath was the perfect solution in a family bathroom where there wasn't enough space for a separate shower and bath.

On paper it seemed ideal. Enough space to shower comfortably without knocking elbows on a shower screen, and a big enough bath for adults or children to fit in comfortably.

If it all seemed so good, why did I pull the plug on an L-shaped bath in future homes? Find out why an L-shaped bath didn't work for me, and the three main mistakes I made when I installed one.

What is an L-shaped bath?

If you're not familiar with the term L-shaped bath, let me explain. It's a type of shower over bath solution that's popular with homeowners who want the best of both worlds – a larger shower when there isn't space for an individual shower cubicle, and a standard sized bath.

Also known as a P or D-shaped bath, the shower end of the bath is larger, taking either a curved form (P) or angular box shape (D/L). A shower screen is installed that fits the the increased outline, while the remainder of the bath is a standard shape and length.

It's often considered a good solution in small bathroom ideas, and in the right situations it absolutely is. But, I didn't think it through properly when I installed one. Here are the mistakes I made, so you can avoid making them too.

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Mistakes I made when installing an L-shaped bath

Like most homeowners who opt for a L-shaped bath, I chose one for a bathroom where there simply wasn't space for a separate shower and a different type of bath. Having had showers over baths before, I'd also experienced the frustrations of a small shower.

Showering in narrow spaces often leads to banged elbows, dropped toiletries and potential water leaks if you knock the shower screen out of place in the process. If you're tall, the problem amplifies.

Therefore, having one item of sanitaryware that provided extra space and performed two functions seemed to me like a brilliant idea on paper. Adults could shower or bathe comfortably, and children could still enjoy a relaxing pre-bedtime bath.

So why didn't it live up to my expectations?

Mistake one: I chose the wrong bathroom layout

The most common location for these type of baths is to be fitted against a wall – and in very small bathrooms, there may even be a wall at either end, or a sink close by (as was the case with my bathroom design ideas). This results in limited access to the bath which turns out to be problematic with younger children.

It also makes accessing the taps difficult when running a bath – unless you install them in the centre of the bath. However, this then means you are running more pipework behind the bath for the water supply to reach the shower head.

The first mistake is also compounded if you do as I did and make an error when choosing a shower screen.

Mistake two: I picked the wrong shower screen

While you can install a hinged shower screen, such as this Milan Hinged L-Shaped Bath Screen from Victorian Plumbing on a shower bath, I chose a fixed one, similar to the Roxbury Brushed Pewter L Shape Fixed Bath Screen with Fixed Return (also from Victorian Plumbing) on my L-shaped bath as I wanted to avoid water dripping down the side of the bath if it hadn't been correctly closed.

This meant, I could only reach directly in and out of the bath in the small space left between the end of the shower screen and the vanity unit. This was less of an issue when bathing smaller babies in baby bath seats that could be positioned in front of me, but when I got to the older wriggly baby and small toddler stage, then the fun began.

Keeping a child contained in the accessible end was challenging to say the least, particularly if you have water-babies who see the bath as a great opportunity to go for a swim. Trying to reach around the corner of the shower screen to grab an escapee wasn't easy, and if like me, you have mischievous boys, you can imagine how quickly this became a regular game.

When they were older and more water safety conscious, it became easier, but for me, it made bathtime less of the relaxing end-of-day routine I was hoping for.

And finally, it also meant the only way to clean the shower-screen was to step inside the bath to clean it. Again, something I just didn't think through at the time. For more advice on shower screens, check out our guide to the best over-bath shower screens.

Mistake three: I underestimated water consumption

Although the P or D/L-shaped addition to your bath might not seem like much, I underestimated the extra volume of hot water that would be needed to fill up the extra space.

This may not be an issue if you have an on-demand combi boiler, where the hot water is immediately available. But I had an added complication. I was using a biomass boiler to heat my home and hot water. Although it supplied a lot of hot water, if I used it all, it wasn't necessarily replaced immediately – particularly later in the day when some had been used for other purposes.

The issue? Filling the L-shaped bath for an older child or adult used lots of water. Running two baths one, after the other, was nigh on impossible without running out of water. Potentially less of an issue when bathing very young children who need a lower volume of water, but certainly one if it's being used by older children or adults.

As well as the risk of running out of hot water, the energy it was taking to heat the water, also concerned me, as did just how much water I was getting through in each bathtime.

Plus, when it came to a relaxing adult soak in the bath, by the time it had filled to a sufficient level, the temperature was already dropping. Topping it up wasn't always possible – particularly if it was the second bath, and it also felt wasteful. As well as increased water and energy costs, in a world where finding ways to conserve water feels more appropriate, using them just didn't sit comfortably with my beliefs.

What would I do differently?

I no longer have young children, and since leaving that property, have always opted for standard baths and moveable shower screens when fitting bathrooms. I've also sacrificed a bath in favour of larger walk-in showers, as once the boys were older, none of us used a bath regularly. It's also not an uncommon bathroom design change, given figures suggest that many of us are ditching the bathtub.

So, would I have an L, P or D-shaped bath again? Maybe, but only in an ensuite bathroom idea that was mainly used by adults for showering and very occasional bathing. I'd also check my heating and hot water system had the capacity to fill the bath, without running out of hot water.

I'd also consider my bathroom layout plans and try to avoid positioning the toilet or sink next to the bath it it could be avoided. And, if there was any chance it might be used by a young child, I'd certainly install a hinged shower screen. No-one wants to have to lean awkwardly around corners to rescue a slippery, wet child who's decided they are a mermaid or dolphin.

For more bathroom advice prior to installing a new bathroom or beginning a bathroom renovation of any kind, discover the main bathroom layout mistakes to avoid, and make sure check out the latest bathroom trends before you make your colour and decor choices.