Usually the biggest bathroom in the house, if only by a few inches, the family bathroom can make or break the morning rush and/or bedtime routine. It needs to be loaded with storage, suitable for sharing (if only for toothbrushing and face-washing) and easy to clean. Oh, and it’s also the bathroom most likely to be used by overnight guests, if you’ve no guest en suite - damp towels and Dad’s underwear on the floor is not an option. In short, this isn’t a room you can simply tart up with some fresh paint and fancy towels, although you should do that, too.
If your off-spring are still wee, or yet to be conceived, there are a few practical child-friendly pointers to consider. Choose flooring that can’t be stained by urine (not always the kids at fault here). Forget posh but stain-prone encaustic tiles and natural stone: you need porcelain or ceramic tiles. And go for slip-resistant matt finishes rather than glossy. Underfloor heating can help in the battle to mop up splashes. Soft-close toilet seats and vanity drawers/doors will protect little fingers, not to mention your eardrums. Always opt for a thermostatically controlled shower to prevent scalding. Also, opt for thermostatic bath fillers and basin taps with temperature regulators that prevent them from operating at dangerous levels. Accidents do happen.
On a lighter note, in time your children get old enough to maintain their own personal hygiene. Possibly not up to your standards, but at least you won’t be dealing with ‘there’s soap in my eyeeees’ any more. Many teens prefer a shower, so if you’re dusting the tub more often than scrubbing tidemarks, it might be time to swap it out. Don’t go for a fancy raincloud-style showerhead, though, unless you enjoy watching your water meter/finances spinning out of control. Seek out a water-saving showerhead that injects air into the spray to boost pressure using less water (look at Hansgrohe’s AirPower technology). Also, invest in a shower timer and dock their allowance/screen time for every minute it’s ignored.