9 Brilliant Bijou Bathrooms
With artful illusions, smart storage and luxe styling, even the smallest bathroom can be something truly special
Anna Tobin
15 March 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
Armed with the latest bathroom materials and products, plus a little creativity, you can now think big about your little bathroom. Take inspiration from these small but stylishly functional schemes.
1. Open up with a mirror
Mirrors are, of course, famously good at boosting space. However, you need to place them carefully in a bathroom, where you might not want to see yourself all the time.
If you can use a large expanse across the top half of the wall, it will give the illusion of almost doubling the size of the room, as well as brightening it up.
Mirrors are, of course, famously good at boosting space. However, you need to place them carefully in a bathroom, where you might not want to see yourself all the time.
If you can use a large expanse across the top half of the wall, it will give the illusion of almost doubling the size of the room, as well as brightening it up.
2. Consider a wet room
By tanking your bathroom to create a wet room – where the floor and walls are totally waterproof – there’s no need for a wall or screen around the shower at all. Doing away with a screen in this tiny wet room has allowed the homeowner to maximise every last drop of space.
How to plan a wet room
By tanking your bathroom to create a wet room – where the floor and walls are totally waterproof – there’s no need for a wall or screen around the shower at all. Doing away with a screen in this tiny wet room has allowed the homeowner to maximise every last drop of space.
How to plan a wet room
3. Sneak a tub under the eaves
Bathrooms in loft conversions are often limited by the eaves, but this can be the perfect spot to tuck in a bath. If you have a skylight or dormer window, you can then watch the stars while you enjoy a soak.
Bathrooms in loft conversions are often limited by the eaves, but this can be the perfect spot to tuck in a bath. If you have a skylight or dormer window, you can then watch the stars while you enjoy a soak.
4. Get out of the frame
Toughened glass bath and shower screens no longer need to be supported by a bulky frame. They can also be made relatively cheaply as bespoke items to fit any area, which is good news for tight spaces.
In this bathroom, a floor-to-ceiling pane of glass is barely perceptible, helping to make the room feel larger than it is and subtly separating the shower from the toilet and basin.
Toughened glass bath and shower screens no longer need to be supported by a bulky frame. They can also be made relatively cheaply as bespoke items to fit any area, which is good news for tight spaces.
In this bathroom, a floor-to-ceiling pane of glass is barely perceptible, helping to make the room feel larger than it is and subtly separating the shower from the toilet and basin.
5. Don’t discount curtains
There’s still a place for shower curtains – especially in small spaces. Here, the curtain is neat and unobtrusive and when the shower is not in use, the curtain can be pulled right back to open up the space.
A curtain also provides an extra layer of privacy – useful if your flatmate wants to come in and clean their teeth.
Shower doors or curtains?
There’s still a place for shower curtains – especially in small spaces. Here, the curtain is neat and unobtrusive and when the shower is not in use, the curtain can be pulled right back to open up the space.
A curtain also provides an extra layer of privacy – useful if your flatmate wants to come in and clean their teeth.
Shower doors or curtains?
6. Go luxe
The beauty of a small bathroom is that you can go luxe with the materials, as you’ll only need a small amount to make an impact. The marble tiles in this bathroom add the wow factor, while an extra-small bath tucks neatly under the sloping roof.
The beauty of a small bathroom is that you can go luxe with the materials, as you’ll only need a small amount to make an impact. The marble tiles in this bathroom add the wow factor, while an extra-small bath tucks neatly under the sloping roof.
7. Sink the bath
If you have a low ceiling, consider sinking your tub into the floor. You can normally find a few inches in which to bury at least some of your bath between the floor and the ceiling of the room below. This will give a spa-like feel to even the smallest bathroom.
If you have a low ceiling, consider sinking your tub into the floor. You can normally find a few inches in which to bury at least some of your bath between the floor and the ceiling of the room below. This will give a spa-like feel to even the smallest bathroom.
8. Use niches
Make the most of every inch of space as this homeowner has done by exploiting niches and recesses to create extra storage.
Why you should carve out a recess
Make the most of every inch of space as this homeowner has done by exploiting niches and recesses to create extra storage.
Why you should carve out a recess
9. Light it up
Special lighting effects tend to be much more atmospheric in a small, intimate space than when employed over a large area. Use this to your advantage: the latest LED lighting enables you to change the colour of your bathroom at the flick of a switch. You could use an atmospheric blue for a leisurely shower and a sunny yellow for a morning wake-up.
TELL US
Have you turned a small bathroom into something special? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Small Bathroom Ideas That Are Big on Style
15 Cheerful Ideas for Kids’ Bathrooms
10 Storage Rules for a Neat Ensuite
Special lighting effects tend to be much more atmospheric in a small, intimate space than when employed over a large area. Use this to your advantage: the latest LED lighting enables you to change the colour of your bathroom at the flick of a switch. You could use an atmospheric blue for a leisurely shower and a sunny yellow for a morning wake-up.
TELL US
Have you turned a small bathroom into something special? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Small Bathroom Ideas That Are Big on Style
15 Cheerful Ideas for Kids’ Bathrooms
10 Storage Rules for a Neat Ensuite
Related Stories
Most Popular
Pro Panel: How Easy Is It to Change Your Bathroom Layout?
By Cheryl F
Looking to rejig your bathroom or ensuite? Consider this expert advice from UK pros before you rearrange any plumbing
Full Story
Bathrooms
All the Dimensions You Need to Know for Your Bathroom Makeover
Fit everything comfortably in a small or medium-size bathroom by knowing standard dimensions for fixtures and clearances
Full Story
Most Popular
Experts Reveal: The Dos and Don'ts of Designing an Ensuite
Planning an ensuite? You won't want to miss this – four experts share their essential tips for getting the design right
Full Story
Laundry Renovations
The Laundry-Bathroom Combo: How to Design and Do It Well
Get double duty from a single room by combining your laundry and bathroom – two experts reveal how to make it work
Full Story
Picture Perfect
21 Cleverly Designed Laundry-Bathroom Combos
Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
Full Story
Best Of The Week
22 Bathrooms That Rock a Narrow Floor Plan
Do you have a bathroom with tricky dimensions? Gather ideas from these narrow bathrooms with deliberate design features
Full Story
Bathrooms
8 Inspiring Bathrooms Just 4 Square Metres or Less
See how eight designers saved space in these teeny-tiny bathrooms without compromising on style
Full Story
Most Popular
10 Bathroom-Layout Blunders You Don't Want to Make
Four design experts reveal the most common mistakes rookie renovators make with bathroom layouts – and how to avoid them
Full Story
Bathrooms
Picture Perfect: 47 Enchanting Bath Set-Ups From Around the World
Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
Full Story
Bathrooms
The Ensuite Dilemma: One Sink or Two?
Along with space comes choice. Get an architect's advice about dual vs solo sinks, including the pros and cons of both
Full Story
Partners4 design
Would you tell me what material is on the back wall? Thanks - like the room.
mary
It's pure greed. My suggestions for what it's worth would be -
There should be a decent minimum area for every room.
No garage
Use dormer style upstairs which reduces the number of brick courses hence cost saving. (widely used in France etc).
Etc etc.
This was a very narrow bathroom and it was transformed into a colourful shower room