TINY Bathroom need help!

11 years ago

I'm going to be putting an offer in on a property with this bathroom, it has no window and cannot be extended as the back and left wall are outside walls and there is a window just on the other side of the wall to the right(behind the bath).
I'll be doing his house up to sell of as my first project as this is something I have always wanted to do.
I was thinking of overcoming the problem of having no window with a solar tube to allow natural light in. (Would this be a good idea or not?)
Also would replacing the bath for a shower cubicle cause problems when coming to re sale?
The bathroom is going to be fully re-modelled in light colours to make it feel bigger.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

PRO

Style Within Limited

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Hello - some these images may help to spark some ideas. This bathroom was very small so we fitted a short shower bath (1500 long - they also do a 1700 long version). The wider shower section is 850 x 850. Many adults take showers, and the bath remains useful particularly for children, so the combination is suitable for a family. The towel rail was fitted at the end of the bath (and the towels don't get splashed !) which could relieve you of your radiator next to the WC, and allow you to move the WC over if you can rejig the soil waste (and make sure there is still knee space by the wall). Normally, we wouldn't rely just on the warmth from a towel warmer to heat the space and would fit an electric heating mat as in this example, but your existing radiator looks quite small so probably a comparable heat output with a large towel warmer (use an online calculator, eg on Trade Radiators website to check); they also do some larger radiators to which you can fix a separate towel rail if you need more heat.

As Minnie says, the more floor that is visible, the larger it feels, so if you can stretch to a wall hung suite (or at least the basin), this will help.

short shower-bath to fit small bathroom · More Info

small bathroom design with wall-hung suite · More Info

small bathroom design with shower bath and wall-hung suite · More Info

You asked about a solar tube. We fitted this one (by Solatube) in the project below and it was astonishingly good on a bright day. But you do need to be sure that the roof dome collecting the light is located appropriately (so not in the shadow of a chimney stack for example). Whilst we were working there, on a good day, we didn't need the lights on at all once the tube was fitted. When overcast, we did turn on the lights to see clearly for working, but it wouldn't have been necessarily for a casual trip to the loo for example. You may also find some points in this blog useful. Hope this helps.

attic room en-suite shower room · More Info

solar tube for en-suite with no windows · More Info

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Comments (16)

minnie101
11 years ago
Re removing the bath I think it depends on the size of the property. If a 1 bed flat then I don't see an issue with just a shower given your target market. Any bigger and I think it's an issue if you're trying to attract families etc. Can you not have a really good shower over the bath? Use a wall hung vanity unit to make it feel bigger, as you can see the floor, and put an enormous mirror over the top. Using bigger tiles can also make it feel bigger ( less grout lines so appears less busy). I don't really know about solar tubes but make sure you have sufficient artificial light rather than just the one ceiling light
minnie101
11 years ago
Having a high towel rail will also help btw but you will need to think about the pipes. Also a free standing bath works wonders, I did that in my last bathroom, but difficult to tell from the pics whether you have room
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One possible solution. It gives you the bath and shower in one unit behind the door away from the window as well as the sink and WC of course. Admittedly a little tight on plan at the end of the shower bath but your upper body and arms would be free to move over the end of the bath and into the window recess, and your feet, whether standing or sitting, would always be in front of the WC where you have more space. The sink has plenty of space around it with room for a towel rail adjacent. The sanitary where is all taken from the Ideal Standard website but you could use any manufacturer - the point is it can be done. I would also make the glazing obscure, if it is not already, by using an after market stick on film cut to size. You can get plenty of patterns or just frosted. You could also add blinds as previously suggested. Note: any proposed layout could be affected by the proximity of your existing foul water drainage - just bear that in mind.
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Tom Parry
Original Author
11 years ago
It is a two bed end of terrace house. By a high towel rail do you mean from the floor to up high or mounting a smaller one up high?
Pipe work won't paticually be an issue as I can sort things like that myself
minnie101
11 years ago
If it's a road/ area that attracts young families etc I'd stick with a bath with shower. Smaller tower rail high up, keeping the floor visible as much as possible will make it feel bigger
Jonathan
11 years ago
If you are going to flip it then don't spend the money on a sun pipe. Lots of new apartments are built with no bathroom window so your house shouldn't get criticized for it.
People get caught up in making bathrooms seem as bright and as clean as possible but end with a sterile uninviting space.
My advice is buy a compact suite (smaller loo and basin), put a radiator/ towel rail at the end of the bath, ceiling spotlights, a medicine cabinet over the loo and a massive mirror over the sink. Then concentrate on getting a high end look on a budget: I would use inexpensive subway tiles and add brushed steel edging. I would grout in a dark colour and put a dark colour on the little wall that is showing.
Get a cushioned lino for the floor probably in planks or stripes run side to side to trick your eye into thinking it is a wider room.
Najeebah
11 years ago
I like tub-shower combos, and some people find tubs more useful for kids, but in this case, if you replaced the tub with a clear-door shower, visual space would be greatly increased.
you may also be able to replace the basin with one that doesn't go down to the floor (goes diagonally into the wall just under the actual basin)
headers13
11 years ago
I wouldn't bother with the expense of a tube light, lots of places have bathrooms with no window etc. As above depends how big the property is to not have a bath or do a shower over the bath. Lots of white will look more spacious & have a wall mounted towel rail. Get a sink unit with storage underneath rather than a pedestal. Put fitted shelves above the loo area.
PRO
Studio Akiva
11 years ago
Hello Tom,

There are many Bathrooms out there that are smaller than yours. You are right, you could definitely add something to it, redesign it and make it look bigger. Everything is possible!

If I was you I would not remove the bath. Just as others said some people may feel more attracted to have a bath and not a shower only.

After all you can still ad a showered and have 2 in 1.

When you add a mirror and pick light colours you can definitely make your Bathroom look more spacious.

Light installation is also a great idea to make your space look bigger.

Have you considered changing the layout for your Bathroom?

Good luck with your Project!
PRO
carvellassociates
11 years ago
You could also go into a bathroom outlet and 'mock up' the room using the correct dimensions and bathroom furniture to see how it all fits, and to make sure everything works. We did this on a tiny cupboard that we turned into a bathroom under the stairs-it looked ridiculous on plan yet worked beautifully.

Use large mirrors to give an illusion of size.
Alison Heppell
11 years ago
Use modern small size fittings ,it makes such a difference,and a good size mirror
Annette Canning
11 years ago
Hi Tom, we've just had an offer accepted on a cottage in south Cornwall. The bathroom is worse than yours - I'll be really interested to see how you deal with this bathroom. I didn't take any pics, unfortunately. Going down next Monday, so I'll take loads then. I scared & excited at our project!!
PRO
source style design
10 years ago
Hi Tom, do you have an image of the window side of the bathroom to get the complete picture by chance...
fullrenov
9 years ago
Hi Tom,

what are the measurements for your bathroom ? I am in a similar position so it would be good to swap ideas.

Thanks
PRO
Feature Radiators
9 years ago
There are a huge range of compact towel radiators that would do the job and sit nicely at the end of the bath. It is worth double-checking the heat output is adequate though so feel free to give me a call on 01274 515734 with your room measurements and I can work it out for you.
Radiators for small bathrooms · More Info
PRO
The Panel Company
9 years ago
Hi Tom, please take a look at our fantastic alternative to tiles here:

cost effective, waterproof, easy to install and 10 year guarantee!

https://www.panelcompany.co.uk/wall-panels/vox/vox-motivo.html