12 Decorating Tricks to Make Small Bathrooms Work Harder
These tips will see you using every precious bit of your bathroom space to bring out its best
Some small bathrooms make you feel like you have to lose a couple of kilos to enter them, but I really like working on this type of bathroom design. Trying to make everything fit in the available space is like doing a giant crossword puzzle.
Among the challenges: configuring the toilet and sink, allowing enough clearance for a shower and, of course, where to put the towel rails and toilet roll holder? Despite the challenges, in most cases it’s still better to squeeze in an extra bathroom where one is desperately needed, even if it must be small.
Here are 12 tips for designing a small bathroom. And yes, you’re off the hook for the kilo count.
Among the challenges: configuring the toilet and sink, allowing enough clearance for a shower and, of course, where to put the towel rails and toilet roll holder? Despite the challenges, in most cases it’s still better to squeeze in an extra bathroom where one is desperately needed, even if it must be small.
Here are 12 tips for designing a small bathroom. And yes, you’re off the hook for the kilo count.
2. Use a shower curtain
A shower curtain that moves back and forth saves space over a glass door that moves in and out. Shower-tub combos actually can fit into small spaces, with some tubs coming in at just over 1.5 metres in length.
A shower curtain that moves back and forth saves space over a glass door that moves in and out. Shower-tub combos actually can fit into small spaces, with some tubs coming in at just over 1.5 metres in length.
3. Float the vanity
Besides just visually helping the bathroom appear bigger, mounting a vanity above the floor frees up a little space for small items underneath.
Find out more about floating furniture
Besides just visually helping the bathroom appear bigger, mounting a vanity above the floor frees up a little space for small items underneath.
Find out more about floating furniture
4. Round the vanity
Tight spaces can make sharp corners hip hazards. If the corners of a vanity would get in the way, opt for a rounded style. Yes, a round vanity can work in a square space. No more bruised hips!
Tight spaces can make sharp corners hip hazards. If the corners of a vanity would get in the way, opt for a rounded style. Yes, a round vanity can work in a square space. No more bruised hips!
5. Extend the benchtop over the toilet
This banjo-style arrangement can be done with stone or a wood slab. The extended benchtop creates just enough space for a few needed items. Toilet placement is not affected, and the look is minimalist and clean.
This banjo-style arrangement can be done with stone or a wood slab. The extended benchtop creates just enough space for a few needed items. Toilet placement is not affected, and the look is minimalist and clean.
6. Use a large-scale pattern
A big pattern, like this wide stripe, can trick the eye into seeing expanded space. The size might stay the same, but the bathroom will feel bigger.
A big pattern, like this wide stripe, can trick the eye into seeing expanded space. The size might stay the same, but the bathroom will feel bigger.
7. Skip the shower door
If your bathroom is about 1.5 metres wide, that’s just enough space to squeeze in a toilet and a 75cm by 1.5 metre tub. With tight conditions such as these, consider a glass panel instead of a glass shower door. It will keep water in the shower and free up needed elbow room.
If your bathroom is about 1.5 metres wide, that’s just enough space to squeeze in a toilet and a 75cm by 1.5 metre tub. With tight conditions such as these, consider a glass panel instead of a glass shower door. It will keep water in the shower and free up needed elbow room.
8. Expand the mirror
In the tightest spaces, having a mirror stretch across the wall instead of just the vanity can enable two people to use it at once. In less-than-ideal space conditions, every centimetre helps.
In the tightest spaces, having a mirror stretch across the wall instead of just the vanity can enable two people to use it at once. In less-than-ideal space conditions, every centimetre helps.
9. Mount the towel rail on a door
Where can I hang the towels? I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that question.
When space is at a premium, mounting a towel rail on the shower door keeps towels handy. You might need to store the bulk of your towels in a nearby linen closet, but having that one towel close by to dry off with is essential.
More: Don’t Throw in the Towel! Give Your Bath Towel Pride of Place
Where can I hang the towels? I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard that question.
When space is at a premium, mounting a towel rail on the shower door keeps towels handy. You might need to store the bulk of your towels in a nearby linen closet, but having that one towel close by to dry off with is essential.
More: Don’t Throw in the Towel! Give Your Bath Towel Pride of Place
10. Install a trough sink
The narrow, clean styling of a trough sink is a good-looking space solution. Trough sinks have a low profile. When wall mounted, they free up floor space as well for storage or foot traffic.
The narrow, clean styling of a trough sink is a good-looking space solution. Trough sinks have a low profile. When wall mounted, they free up floor space as well for storage or foot traffic.
11. Select a vanity with one shelf
Pedestal design has gotten smarter. Even a pedestal style with one shelf can hold towels or a basket for toilet paper. I personally love the way fresh, clean towels look when folded neatly in a bathroom.
Pedestal design has gotten smarter. Even a pedestal style with one shelf can hold towels or a basket for toilet paper. I personally love the way fresh, clean towels look when folded neatly in a bathroom.
12. Use a wall-mounted tap
Mounting a tap on the wall allows for a narrower sink or vanity, which in turn frees up square footage in the total bathroom. Don’t be afraid to try a wall-mounted tap in traditional design. It works anywhere!
MORE
Small Bathroom Ideas That Are Big on Style
How to Gain Valuable Space in Tiny Bathrooms
How to Update Your Bathroom Without a Sledgehammer
10 Tips to Save Your Sanity In the Bathroom
DESIGNERS
Please share your latest small-bathroom design tip below!
Mounting a tap on the wall allows for a narrower sink or vanity, which in turn frees up square footage in the total bathroom. Don’t be afraid to try a wall-mounted tap in traditional design. It works anywhere!
MORE
Small Bathroom Ideas That Are Big on Style
How to Gain Valuable Space in Tiny Bathrooms
How to Update Your Bathroom Without a Sledgehammer
10 Tips to Save Your Sanity In the Bathroom
DESIGNERS
Please share your latest small-bathroom design tip below!
Sometimes even a pedestal sink can disrupt the only available traffic lane in a bathroom.
In this case, placing a corner sink across from the toilet works better than a sink across from the shower. The opening and closing of the shower door usually creates an awkward walk-around condition.