AI illustration of a bathroom with a partition screening the toilet.
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Article • January 18, 2017 • 2 min read • Updated October 15, 2026

Enhancing Toilet Privacy in Your Bathroom Remodel

AI illustration of a bathroom with a partition screening the toilet.

AI-generated design illustration; not a completed GBC project. Materials and layout are illustrative.

Choose toilet privacy by comparing a visual screen with a separate space inside the bathroom. A screen creates a visual divide, while a carved-out area or water closet calls for a different layout discussion. Match the privacy you want with the room available. Discuss your remodeling plan.

ENHANCING TOILET PRIVACY IN YOUR BATHROOM REMODEL

ENHANCING TOILET PRIVACY IN YOUR BATHROOM REMODEL

When you are remodeling your bathroom, one of the major issues you have to consider is privacy of the room. In most homes, the bathroom and in retrospect the toilet, are often shared. GBC Kitchen and Bath has prepared a few tips on how you can increase your privacy while using the bathroom. Follow these tips while remodeling your bathroom and you will be surprised at how private the bathroom can really be.

If you are looking for minimal privacy then you are aiming to make separate part of the bathroom. The best way to achieve this is to put up a privacy screen. It will create a visual divide and at the same time act as a focal point in the bathroom. To improve on the bathroom’s aesthetics, use an architectural artifact or textile fabric as the privacy screen.

When looking to have moderate privacy while using the toilet in your bathroom, then the most ideal solution while remodeling is to locate the toilet behind a wall in its own carved out space. This will create the effect of having a room within a room. You can put up artwork in this smaller room to enhance the aesthetics of the niche or mount a shelf on its wall to place other accessories.

If your intention is to create maximum privacy, then it is advisable to carve out a separate water closet. Please note that this will only work if you have a large enough bathroom design. You can install a pocket door to eliminate door traffic. You can also invest in a glass shower enclosure for the toilet. The enclosure will make the toilet feel like it is miles way when in reality it is still inside the bathroom.

Frequently asked questions

What can a privacy screen add to a shared bathroom?

A screen creates a visual divide within the bathroom. It can also become a design feature. Compare that approach with how the bathroom is shared before deciding whether it provides the kind of separation you want.

When should I discuss a separate water closet?

Discuss it when you want a separate toilet space and the bathroom layout has room for it. The ideas here also include a pocket door as part of that discussion. Compare the arrangement with a screen before choosing your privacy approach.

Related planning references

For older-adult bathroom access and documenting the chosen layout, consult CDC bathroom safety for older adults and FTC written estimates and contracts.

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