9 Small-Bathroom Challenges and How to Solve Them
Follow these handy tips to overcome problems when designing a tiny wash space
For every bijou bathroom dilemma, there’s always a solution. Check out these great ideas to help you address the challenges that may come up when designing your compact washroom.
2. Build in to awkward areas
Problem: Your loft bathroom’s sloping roof is presenting a challenge.
Solution: Take the opportunity to be creative with your design and build right into the space. Here, the designers have used every centimetre by constructing a mirrored unit that fits snugly into the eaves. The toilet has been placed directly below the shortest area, which leaves more vertical room for standing at the washbasin.
Problem: Your loft bathroom’s sloping roof is presenting a challenge.
Solution: Take the opportunity to be creative with your design and build right into the space. Here, the designers have used every centimetre by constructing a mirrored unit that fits snugly into the eaves. The toilet has been placed directly below the shortest area, which leaves more vertical room for standing at the washbasin.
3. Create extra storage
Problem: You’ve squeezed in your shower, loo and sink, but now you’re left with zero room for storage.
Solution: Rather than use up valuable space, create some extra areas by getting a builder or joiner to cut into the wall. In this compact washroom, storage niches have been built into the shower area and wall above the toilet, providing plenty of space for towels and toiletries.
Problem: You’ve squeezed in your shower, loo and sink, but now you’re left with zero room for storage.
Solution: Rather than use up valuable space, create some extra areas by getting a builder or joiner to cut into the wall. In this compact washroom, storage niches have been built into the shower area and wall above the toilet, providing plenty of space for towels and toiletries.
4. Be a space invader
Problem: You’re unable to build recessed shelving, or you need even more storage.
Solution: Think creatively about your small-space storage and look around for under-used areas, such as the foot of the bath. Here, a simple platform has been built above the ledge to give two tiers of storage instead of one.
Make the most of small areas, such as wall space beside a window or a high spot above the doorway, and construct shelves to fit. Even a small shelf can be useful for storing toiletries.
Nifty ways with bathroom niches
Problem: You’re unable to build recessed shelving, or you need even more storage.
Solution: Think creatively about your small-space storage and look around for under-used areas, such as the foot of the bath. Here, a simple platform has been built above the ledge to give two tiers of storage instead of one.
Make the most of small areas, such as wall space beside a window or a high spot above the doorway, and construct shelves to fit. Even a small shelf can be useful for storing toiletries.
Nifty ways with bathroom niches
5. Light up a windowless room
Problem: Your bathroom is tucked into a room with no windows and it feels a little dark.
Solution: Think carefully about your lighting design to include as much illumination as possible. Incorporate both overhead fittings and ones around the mirror to reflect the light around the room.
You could also make a feature of your lighting, as they’ve done here with LED strips concealed within the ceiling recesses. The alcoves give off a diffused light, which creates a pretty dappled glow on the grey walls.
Problem: Your bathroom is tucked into a room with no windows and it feels a little dark.
Solution: Think carefully about your lighting design to include as much illumination as possible. Incorporate both overhead fittings and ones around the mirror to reflect the light around the room.
You could also make a feature of your lighting, as they’ve done here with LED strips concealed within the ceiling recesses. The alcoves give off a diffused light, which creates a pretty dappled glow on the grey walls.
6. Fit in a shower and bath
Problem: There’s not enough space for the separate shower and bath you’ve always wanted.
Solution: In this cleverly designed wash space, a wet room floor means there’s no need for a dedicated shower enclosure. Instead, the designers have installed a showerhead next to the bath. A neat screen divides the space from the rest of the room, but the transparent glass keeps it looking airy.
Problem: There’s not enough space for the separate shower and bath you’ve always wanted.
Solution: In this cleverly designed wash space, a wet room floor means there’s no need for a dedicated shower enclosure. Instead, the designers have installed a showerhead next to the bath. A neat screen divides the space from the rest of the room, but the transparent glass keeps it looking airy.
7. Style up your over-the-bath shower
Problem: You still can’t include a separate shower space, but want to make a feature of your fittings.
Solution: Here, the on-trend black shower has turned an over-bath spray into a stylish statement. If you don’t fancy black, you could go for another finish, such as copper.
Shower-bath combos for smaller bathrooms
Problem: You still can’t include a separate shower space, but want to make a feature of your fittings.
Solution: Here, the on-trend black shower has turned an over-bath spray into a stylish statement. If you don’t fancy black, you could go for another finish, such as copper.
Shower-bath combos for smaller bathrooms
8. Pop in a basin
Problem: The room is so tiny, there’s not even space for a sink.
Solution: Get around this by opting for a very small washbasin, and maximise space by fixing your taps to the wall. This round sink fits perfectly into the area and the neat tap and faucet above don’t take up too much room.
Problem: The room is so tiny, there’s not even space for a sink.
Solution: Get around this by opting for a very small washbasin, and maximise space by fixing your taps to the wall. This round sink fits perfectly into the area and the neat tap and faucet above don’t take up too much room.
9. Squeeze in a vanity
Problem: A below-the-sink vanity unit will be too bulky for your small space.
Solution: Employ a joiner to build a narrow vanity unit that doesn’t take over the space, or hunt around for a ready-made version. If you’re worried about whether the sink will fit, there are a number of slim basins on the market.
In this bathroom, the owners have managed to include a slightly larger sink by adding a protruding curve to the wooden surface for the basin to sit on.
Tell us
How have you maximised space in your small bathroom? Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments below.
More
See more compact bathrooms
Problem: A below-the-sink vanity unit will be too bulky for your small space.
Solution: Employ a joiner to build a narrow vanity unit that doesn’t take over the space, or hunt around for a ready-made version. If you’re worried about whether the sink will fit, there are a number of slim basins on the market.
In this bathroom, the owners have managed to include a slightly larger sink by adding a protruding curve to the wooden surface for the basin to sit on.
Tell us
How have you maximised space in your small bathroom? Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments below.
More
See more compact bathrooms
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Problem: You’re feeling crammed in your tiny bathroom.
Solution: Create the illusion of space by freeing up the floor area. Choose wall-hung sinks and toilets that float above ground and leave the area below clear. Your washroom will feel airier, and you’ll create some versatile storage space for stowing baskets or rubbish bins beneath the sink.
Browse bathrooms with wall-hung toilets