Small bathrooms are a common site in many homes across the country, which can certainly pose some unique design challenges for interior designers and homeowners. However, don't lose hope, as we have some great tips and tricks for making the very most of the bathroom space that you have.
Here are our top small bathroom ideas for overcoming the problems that a small bathroom space can bring, and making the very most of every inch.
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Create the Illusion of Space
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It's fair to say that many bathrooms are short on space. But there are some easy tricks you can use to make your small bathroom look and feel more spacious.
One decorating trick is to use light colours on the walls and ceiling. This will help create the illusion of extra space, as light colours reflect more light, which makes the space feel lighter and brighter, and ultimately more open. This is especially important in very small bathrooms, where every square inch counts.
In addition to making the space feel bigger, using light colours, like the glossy ceramic tiles above, can also help create a more calming and serene atmosphere. This is a great tip for any size of bathroom, where often all you want to do is relax and unwind after a long day.
Make Use of Baskets and Bins
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Baskets and bins are not only great for separating items for organisational purposes but also give the contents their own dedicated storage place. Easily store toiletries, towels, and other similar items, while still keeping them within reach when you need them.
Baskets are also a practical way to store useful items within a vanity unit or bathroom cabinet, making it easy to pull out exactly what you require in one go (as long as it is all located in the same basket of course!).
Consider Fitting Underfloor Heating
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Although underfloor heating is not what you would consider a cheap option for your small bathroom, it can effectively remove the need for a radiator or wall-mounted heater. This not only frees up valuable wall space but can also save you up to 25% in costs when compared to a radiator. Not only that, but it feels lovely underfoot!
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Add Floating Shelves to your Bathroom
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Adding a floating shelf or a few floating shelves to your family bathroom will help free up floor space and keep your bathroom looking clean and clutter-free.
Choosing rustic wood like the example shown will also add a beautiful warmth and texture to the bathroom space for a touch of modern design.
Install Shelves Directly Above the Toilet
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Installing shelves above the toilet is a particularly useful place for extra wall storage, making the most of the vertical space that is usually not utilised.
Whether you wish to use the shelves for storing toiletries or simply displaying decorative objects, this is a great option for small spaces.
Add Corner Shelves in Bath or Shower
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Installing a corner shelving unit in your compact space is a great way to make use of an often under-utilised part of the bathroom.
There are a few different types of fitting options available for this type of solution, from a floor-to-ceiling spring release pole, as shown here, to suction fittings or screwing directly into the wall for a stronger more permanent fixture.
Declutter your Entire Bathroom Space
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Important in any small bathroom, is to declutter your counters, shelves and any other surfaces that are on show. A cluttered and messy countertop can make your bathroom space feel even smaller and more cramped than it already is.
Also take the time to organise what you have on display, and completely remove any unwanted items and objects from your compact bathroom. The neater, tidier, and more organised that the small space is, the better.
Install Hooks to the Back of the Door
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When it comes to quick and effective small bathroom ideas, adding hooks to the back of your bathroom door is a popular space-saving solution for smaller rooms. The perfect place for hanging your dressing gown or any clothes you may want to change into once you have showered.
Many door hooks need to be either fitted using screws or stuck on with sticky pads, but if you don't want to risk damaging the door surface, you can purchase sets of hooks like those shown in the example above. These hang onto the top of the door, preventing this problem from occurring.
Make Full Use of any Mirrors and Glass
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Another simple trick for making the most of a small space is to use mirrors. Mirrors are very effective at reflecting light and bouncing it around the room, which will ultimately amplify the feeling of space and make the bathroom look and feel bigger than it actually is.
You can also fit glass shower doors or a glass screen to your bath, instead of shower curtains. Shower curtains (unless see-through) block off the open space and make any small bathroom feel even smaller and more claustrophobic, whereas a glass shower door will not block out the light or visually hide any space.
This will without doubt make the small bathroom feel more open and airy.
Add Extra Storage to Shower Curtain Rail
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This hanging storage pouch is a great way to hang your shower gel, flannel, loofah brush, shower cap and washing products. It also has the added benefit of not taking up any extra space to the already present shower curtain.
The nature of the way that this product has been made, means that it is fully waterproof and the perfect addition to a wet and damp shower space.
Light the Bathroom Space Effectively
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The types of lighting that you use are key to decorating any small space, as the correct lighting can be the difference between dark and dreary, and light and airy. Not only that, but have you ever tried using a bathroom mirror to put make-up on or shave, in dull light? If the answer is yes, you will know how hard it can be!
Most importantly, make the most of any natural light that you have in your bathroom, by not blocking the window glass with dark or heavy coverings. If possible, for maximum light, leave it completely clear of any window treatments.
Recessed lighting is a common way to light bathrooms, these are especially popular within the construction of new builds. Just be sure to purchase the correct ones for use in a bathroom, as they need to be protected from the moisture that showers and baths will create.
Also, consider under-cabinet LED strip lighting for your small bathroom ideas. It is small and discreet and low energy, but powerful enough to brighten countertops to create a more even distribution of light within the room.
Over-the-Toilet Storage Cabinet
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This over-the-toilet storage cabinet is a useful and functional place to store toilet paper, bathroom toiletries or cleaning products and cloths. It can even be adorned with sticky hooks on the sides providing extra places to hang flannels and towels.
Having legs at either side of the toilet that support the cabinet may not be to everyone's taste, but it does mean that it needs no form of fixing, and can easily be moved if you wish to decorate behind it.
Wall Mount your Vanity Unit
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As far as small bathroom ideas are concerned, mounting the vanity unit to the wall so that it is 'floating', is a great way to open up the useable and visually free floor space in a small bathroom. This gives you the option of either creating extra storage below it or simply leaving it open, to give the feeling and illusion of more space.
The main thing to bear in mind when fitting a vanity unit in this manner is that it is securely fitted to the wall. This means making sure that the appropriate fixings are used for the wall structure to which you are attaching it.
Fit a Skylight to your Bathroom Ceiling
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As previously mentioned, natural light is very beneficial for improving the feeling of openness in any small space. So, what can you do if you haven't got any natural light coming into your bathroom?
Although an extensive undertaking, adding a glass skylight would undoubtedly make a massive difference to your small bathroom. However, if the cost of this or the workload involved would make this a no-go for you, there is another more cost-effective alternative.
Solar tubes (also known as tubular skylights or sun tunnels) are simple but clever devices that, when placed in the ceiling and directed to the outer roof surface, tunnel and diffuse natural light back into the room. An effective and free source of lighting.
Using the same wall and floor tiles is a great trick for visual cohesion and also serves to make the space feel larger, due to the seamless continuation of the colour and pattern of the tiles.
Make Full use of Multifunctional Furniture
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An optimal way to make the most of your small bathroom space is to add pieces of furniture that are multifunctional.
Multifunctional furniture is a great way to save space in any small room, as the more use that each piece has, the more practical and useful the storage space becomes.
A vanity unit with built-in storage, for example, can help you keep your bathroom organised and tidy, while a wall-mounted cabinet or shelf can also be used to store towels, toiletries, and other useful items.
When choosing which furniture to use in your small bathroom, it is important to consider its optimal function and where it should be located for minimum space saving.
For instance, you may want to choose a pedestal sink if you already have limited countertop space. Adversely, if you don't have enough surface space, swap out the pedestal basin for a countertop and build a sink into it.
If you are planning to fit a shower unit into your small bathroom, but are limited in space, you may need to opt for a corner shower if it suits your bathroom layout better.
Fit a Shelf Above the Bathroom Door
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If you have a high ceiling and have enough space above your bathroom door, utilise it by fitting some form of metal or wooden shelf. This is the perfect place to store linen or towels, giving you more usable space elsewhere.
This is a particularly underutilised space that can be much better harnessed as an additional storage solution for small bathroom ideas.
Change the Bathroom Door
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If you have an annoying door that opens into your bathroom space and stops you from being able to make the most of the floor area that you have, there are a few possible remedies and workarounds. First, you could turn the door round the other way, so that the hinges are on the other side. This may give you a more practical and usable space behind the door to work with.
Secondly, you could move the door position completely, by creating a new opening (although I agree in most cases, this will be a bit extreme!) or thirdly you could replace the existing one with a concertina folding door or pocket doors, that slides in and out of the wall. Both of these would result in all of the bathroom floor space being fully usable.
Go Large with your Bathroom Tiles
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When choosing tiles for a small bathroom, it is tempting to think that you need to stay small with the tiles too. But although it may seem a little counterintuitive, large tiles can actually work much better in small spaces. This is because using larger tiles means that there are fewer grout lines interrupting the visual flow.
That's not to say that you can't use some smaller tiles to complement the larger ones. In fact, if you are creative with the design, it could benefit the whole decor scheme.
Replace Shower Cubicle with Bath Shower
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If you currently have both a bath and separate shower cubicle in your bathroom, you may want to consider removing the shower cubicle completely and going for a bath/shower combo. This will create a great deal more space that can be better utilised, whilst not losing the benefit of being able to bath or shower.
By using a glass shower screen instead of a shower curtain, the most is not only being made of the visual space but also the amount of light there is when showering.
Match the Wall Tiles to the Floor Tiles
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Another visual interior design trick to make a small bathroom space feel larger is to use the same tiles on the entire wall as the floor. By removing the separation between the two, the eyes are tricked into thinking that the walls are actually further away, opening up the visual space before you.
For small bathroom ideas, the addition of floating storage drawers and a freestanding bath make even more of the open space, by leaving as much of the floor exposed as possible.
Turn your Bathroom into a Wet Room
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This small bathroom solution is always going to be a simpler task if you are starting the design of your shower room from scratch, but if you are willing to completely transform your current space, it can also be achieved by renovating an existing bathroom.
Wet rooms are great for small bathrooms, as they use seamless transitions from one area to the next, keeping the small space fully open and airy. No curtains, shower doors or other hinderances to visually block your view.
Create Recessed Shelving in your Bathroom
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Recessed shelves are an effective way to add storage without intruding into the rest of the bathroom space. This option is only really possible if you have stud walls, as the already existing void within them can be utilised to create the recess needed.
Solid plaster walls would, without doubt, be a much more difficult proposition and would most likely require a false wall being installed.
This would obviously defeat the whole object of trying to gain more space!
Consider Fitting a Floating Toilet
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A floating wall-hung toilet not only frees up physical floor space but will also create the illusion of more space in any small bathroom or downstairs cloakroom. This allows you to fit other items into the room such as more storage solutions or larger fixtures, like a double sink for example.
Additionally, wall-mounted toilets come with useful accessibility benefits, They are higher off the ground than traditional toilets, and much easier for elderly family members or those with mobility issues to use.
As an added bonus to using this particular idea, the structure needed to hide the toilet cistern creates an extra shelf space. This can be used for displaying decorative items, useful objects, bathroom plants or cleaning products.
Use a Curtain Rod for Clothes
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For obvious reasons, curtain rods are usually only seen in a bathroom setting with shower curtains hanging from them. However, as you can see from this tiny bathroom idea, they can also be used to simply hang clothes or towels.
The protruding U-shaped design of the curtain rail used in this example is particularly useful for this purpose, as it provides a deeper space to be able to hang clothes neatly without them being squashed against the wall.
This is without a doubt one of the best small bathroom ideas that you probably haven't even considered and one that I will be using myself.
Shrink the Bath in a Compact Bathroom
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Sometimes the limited space that a small bathroom provides can mean that a full-size bath is simply not an option. One obvious way to get around this is to buy a smaller bath!
However, if you like to stretch out and lie down to relax in your bath, this may be a compromise too far. Maybe stick with a walk-in shower!
Add Suction Hooks to Your Tiles
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Suction hooks are widely available and do a very simple but efficient job of holding objects onto tiled bathroom wall surfaces or shower door.
As long as you use the correct hooks for the weight involved, you can easily hang your shampoo, conditioner, soap and washing accessory of choice, keeping them conveniently accessible at all times.
Small Bathroom Design Inspiration
For those looking for small bathroom design inspiration that you can incorporate into your own bathroom decor, these examples will help you create a stunning and practical haven in your home.
Small Contemporary Blue and White Bathroom
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The deep blue of the walls is a beautiful contrast to the bright white of the contemporary bath and sink and the more subtle off-white of the brick-patterned subway tiles.
The window, mirror, shiny silver taps and outlet pipes all work together to make the most of the natural light that this small bathroom receives.
A repetitive geometric pattern within the floor tiles has a similar tonal value to the walls, tying the two elements cleverly together, without simply matching the same colour in some way.
Finally, the plants and decorative objects on the shelf add some greenery and texture to an otherwise flat design.
Modern Black and White Small Bathroom
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The crisp nature of white against black works well in any style of bathroom, whether modern or more traditional, especially with an Art Deco bathroom design.
The black from the sink unit and mirror have been carried through the interior design, using the towel rail and shower fittings, creating a cohesion between the two areas of the bathroom.
Adding the mirror itself will also reflect light back into the room that is emitted from the lights above, making the most of all of this artificial light.
Small Cosy White and Grey Bathroom
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Although a tiny space, the most is being made of the room that they have and a good use of features that help to make the room feel larger.
Not only does the skylight add a great deal of light into the bathroom space, but the wide mirror above the double sinks bounces this back into the room, making it even more effective.
The addition of plants around the bath not only adds an element of nature and calm but also helps to break up the harsh edges of the bath surround and mosaic tiling.
Neutral Beige Small Bathroom Design
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The subtlety of this neutral beige bathroom is what gives it a warm and inviting feel. There is suitable practical lighting above the mirror and a good amount of natural light entering from the window above the toilet, for an open and airy ambience.
Glass has been chosen for the shower doors, which makes the most of the entire bathroom dimensions, helping the room feel as large as possible to the eye.
Decor-wise, the darkness of the vanity unit doors and drawers is nicely contrasted by the white of the marble top and sanitaryware.
Fully Tiled Modern Small Bathroom
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This fully tiled modern bathroom uses a minimal colour palette to create a stunning and practical space. The beautiful wood of the mirror, sink unit and shelves add a warmth and natural element to this small bathroom, while the white and grey floor and wall tiles all fuel the modern interior design.
The benefits of using wall-hung toilets to save on valuable floor space and a clear glass door and shower enclosure to allow light in, are again evident within this small bathroom space, showing how valuable these space-saving ideas are.
The decorative vases, geometric patterned rug and towels all play their part in the overall colour scheme and are the perfect finishing touches to the space.
Luxury Grey Marble Tiled Bathroom
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The large charcoal grey marbled tiles are a stunning choice for this small bathroom, and along with the highly decorative silver wall mirror and modern dark wood sink unit, create an eye-catching air of luxury in this space.
Downlighters have been used to minimise intrusion from any hanging lights and also to create a more even ambience.
As with most of our examples, the use of glass, good lighting and a mirror, along with a minimalist design, makes this small bathroom feel cosy and elegant whilst the most is still being made of every inch of space available.
Small Loft Bathroom with Skylight
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When it comes to tiny bathroom ideas, using the loft or attic space is a great way to utilise often wasted and unused parts of the home.
Keeping a very minimal design in this narrow bathroom, and raising both the toilet and sink unit off the floor tiles, has kept the entire room clear of unnecessary clutter so that the focus remains on the sleek modern design.
My Final Thoughts
It is clear from these examples and ideas that clever storage solutions, lighting, mirrors and the overall design style are important elements of any bathroom design, so with some careful planning and a bit of creativity, any small bathroom can be made into a functional and stylish space.
With a few exceptions, these small bathroom ideas are easy and inexpensive to implement and can make a big impact on the overall look and feel of your bathroom. So don't be afraid to try some of them out, you may be surprised at the results you can achieve.
Author: Matthew Chiappini
