21 Jack and Jill Bathroom Ideas and Layouts

Highlight Favorite Colors

In a Jack and Jill bathroom for twin boys, architect and interior designer Barry Goralnick drew inspiration from each child's bedroom—one blue and one green—incorporating some of each hue.

"The bath is white with touches of each color, separate toilet and shower spaces, twin sinks, and plenty of storage for each kid," he says.

Use Cohesive Design

The key to a successful Jack and Jill bathroom is cohesive design.

"Usually the plumbing fixtures, tile, counters, cabinetry, and lighting are the same," designer Judy Pickett says of Jack and Jill-style bathrooms. "I use the same color palette and possibly add wall covering that is fun for both," Pickett adds.

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Hire an Architect

If you're renovating, make a shared kids' bathroom more convenient by altering your floor plan to create a Jack and Jill bathroom.

Interior designer Emily Henderson hired an architect to reconfigure the layout of her home so that her young son and daughter could each have access to a shared bathroom from their own rooms.

Add Personal Touches

Not all Jack and Jill bathrooms feature two separate vanities, but a bit of clever styling can help make the most of this shared space.

"If you have a double vanity, I always recommend giving each kid their own bath mat and step stool, as it can help them 'mark their territory,'" says designer Georgia Zikas. "If you only have one sink, then give each kid their own toothbrush cup or their own piece of art to hang so they feel the room is uniquely theirs."

Match Bedroom and Bathroom

Create a sense of cohesion by using similar decor elements in the bathroom and adjoining bedrooms. Emily Henderson Design used the same wallpaper in a different color for the pink baby girl nursery on one side of the Jack and Jill bathroom that adds cohesion while personalizing the bedroom space and color palette.

Keep Basics Neutral

When designing a Jack and Jill bathroom, interior designer Malka Helft suggests using decor accents to personalize a neutral base.

"Have fun with design elements that will bring the bathroom to life for its daily users," she says. Here, pink linens add a pop of color but can easily be swapped out for more muted options down the line.

Service Double Guest Rooms

If you have double guest rooms to accommodate visiting family, a Jack and Jill bathroom is an elegant solution.

A Beautiful Mess decorated this space with a double vanity painted in a cheery shade of bubblegum pink and finished with gold-tone accents.

Maximize Storage Space

Two people sharing a bathroom equals an increased need for clever bathroom storage solutions.

"Carve out all the storage space you possibly can with a modern-day mirrored medicine cabinet that vanishes behind the wall," says interior designer Lynn Stone. "Choose deep vanity drawers over small ones to tuck away products, bottles, and larger items."

Use Graphic Finishes

Use graphic patterns to create interest. Mindy Gayer Design Co. chose a black, white, and forest green color palette and mixed patterns and textures to decorate this Jack and Jill bathroom that has a a boys' room on one side and a bunk room on the other.

Choose Two of Everything

When designing a Jack and Jill bathroom from scratch, opt for two of everything.

"Keep in mind how notoriously territorial kids can be," says interior designer Tony Mariotti. "The more you can divide and conquer in the design the better. Especially when they’re teenagers, kids don’t want their products co-mingling."

Incorporate a Laundry Chute

Don't let the bathroom floor become a dumping ground for t-shirts and sweatpants galore.

"If you’re in a two-story home, a laundry chute is key for a Jack and Jill," says Mariotti, "especially as teenagers can be incredibly messy."

Stagger the Doors

Many Jack and Jill bathrooms are galley-style spaces that open up to separate rooms with a straight shot.

But depending on the layout of your home, a shared bathroom may include staggered doors that aren't positioned opposite one another but on adjacent walls, like this space from A Beautiful Mess.

Limit Your Color Palette

Stick to a cohesive color palette for a seamless feel.

My 100 Year Old Home maintained a blue-and-white color palette on adjacent bedrooms and a Jack and Jill bathroom that creates flow and cohesion in the shared space.

Include Door Locks

In a Jack and Jill bathroom for older children, install locks for added privacy.

"Both doors need locks, and on both sides of the door so that each bedroom has privacy while the bathroom is in use," says interior designer Billy Ceglia.

Add Multiple Light Switches

The more light switches, the more functional a Jack and Jill bathroom will be.

"Three-way light switches should be installed by each door so that the lights can be turned off from either side," Ceglia says.

Light With Sconces

Sconces are an excellent choice for a Jack and Jill bathroom, particularly when a double vanity is used.

"In this situation, we place a single sconce on each outer side of the sinks, and one double sconce in the middle of the two sinks," says interior designer Jennifer Barron. "This gives a very cohesive look."

Separate the Vanities

You can separate vanities by placing a hutch-style cabinet in the middle of the countertop, or place vanities on opposite sides of the bathroom, Barron notes.

Make Durable Choices

In the process of designing a bathroom that will appeal to your children, be sure to think about the long haul.

"Use materials and colors that will not feel dated as the kids grow up," says interior designer Kristina Phillips.

Embrace Symmetry

Use a symmetrical layout to unify the space.

"The best Jack and Jill bathrooms have a strong sense of symmetry," says interior designer Christina Kim. "Sometimes the architecture doesn't allow for this however, and you have to trick the eye a bit. Placing one long mirror above both vanities goes a long way in balancing an asymmetrical layout."

Tweak the Layout

Interior designer Nicole Michael offers a twist on the traditional Jack and Jill layout.

"Each of the bedrooms has an en suite bathroom with a sink and a toilet, but then those two rooms connect to a common shower room," she suggests. "This is especially if you have kids of the opposite sex: It gives them privacy but also a great opportunity to learn how to share a space. You also save on construction by not duplicating a tub or shower."

Incorporate Boho Style

Decorate your Jack and Jill bathroom to reflect your style. A Beautiful Mess finished this shared space with boho-style touches like a tasseled shower curtain, macrame window panel, and a large plant.