Small Space Living: How to Rev Up the Style in a Small Bathroom
Less room doesn’t have to mean less style, as these chic little bathrooms demonstrate
While we might all dream of a ballroom-sized bathroom in which we can splash out on a double walk-in shower, triple basin and huge freestanding tub, the reality is that most of us Brits have little more than a handkerchief-sized space to play with. Fear not, though: today there is a wealth of mini fixtures and fittings on the market (teeny tubs and narrow basins for starters), as well as loads of clever design tricks to steal to help maximise your bathroom’s footprint.
White is always a winner in small spaces – be it on baths, basins, floor or walls – but that doesn’t mean you have to enforce a total colour ban, far from it. In fact, playing with light and shade, colour and contrast, will inject personality and style into what can be a sterile look. After all, doesn’t the saying go, ‘All the best things come in small packages’?
White is always a winner in small spaces – be it on baths, basins, floor or walls – but that doesn’t mean you have to enforce a total colour ban, far from it. In fact, playing with light and shade, colour and contrast, will inject personality and style into what can be a sterile look. After all, doesn’t the saying go, ‘All the best things come in small packages’?
Exploit corners
Corner shower enclosures are one of the best decorating tools for bathrooms that refuse to conform to any sort of standard dimensions. Wall-hung furniture is also a boon for creating the illusion of space, as your eye can see the floor right to the wall.
Corner shower enclosures are one of the best decorating tools for bathrooms that refuse to conform to any sort of standard dimensions. Wall-hung furniture is also a boon for creating the illusion of space, as your eye can see the floor right to the wall.
Finish with a soothing colour
Don’t be afraid to use colour in a small bathroom. This duck egg blue used on the ceiling, walls and panelling lengthens the room by drawing the eye out through the windows. And isn’t it the most restful of shades, to boot?
Don’t be afraid to use colour in a small bathroom. This duck egg blue used on the ceiling, walls and panelling lengthens the room by drawing the eye out through the windows. And isn’t it the most restful of shades, to boot?
Keep it white and bright
You can’t go wrong with white metro tiles in a small bathroom. They are crisp, classic and space-enhancing, and look particularly on-trend with grey grout. Keep the rest of the room simple and unadorned to create maximum impact in the most mini of bathrooms.
You can’t go wrong with white metro tiles in a small bathroom. They are crisp, classic and space-enhancing, and look particularly on-trend with grey grout. Keep the rest of the room simple and unadorned to create maximum impact in the most mini of bathrooms.
Work around awkward architecture
This looks like a troublesome space to work with by anyone’s standards, but the narrow dimensions and sloping roof have been skilfully harnessed to create a stylish bathroom. The mammoth roof window punches in masses of natural light (which is doubled by the mirror wall), while the ‘invisible’ glass shelves and wall-hung basins help to streamline and declutter.
Read expert advice on redesigning your bathroom
This looks like a troublesome space to work with by anyone’s standards, but the narrow dimensions and sloping roof have been skilfully harnessed to create a stylish bathroom. The mammoth roof window punches in masses of natural light (which is doubled by the mirror wall), while the ‘invisible’ glass shelves and wall-hung basins help to streamline and declutter.
Read expert advice on redesigning your bathroom
Experiment with darker shades
White is a classic, and your gut instinct might be to steer clear of darker colours in a small bathroom, but look how warm and cocooning this deep taupe shade is in this walk-in shower room. And the soft washes of light simply add to the spa-like ambience.
See more spa-inspired schemes
White is a classic, and your gut instinct might be to steer clear of darker colours in a small bathroom, but look how warm and cocooning this deep taupe shade is in this walk-in shower room. And the soft washes of light simply add to the spa-like ambience.
See more spa-inspired schemes
Be canny with your fixtures
With small bathrooms, you need to use every trick in the design book to cram in everything you want. In this room with a sloping ceiling, a glass-screened shower has been fitted at the highest end, while a plunge pool-style tub tucks nicely under the lower end and provides the opportunity to add a stylish panel of mosaics. A built-in vanity unit, meanwhile, offers sleek storage.
With small bathrooms, you need to use every trick in the design book to cram in everything you want. In this room with a sloping ceiling, a glass-screened shower has been fitted at the highest end, while a plunge pool-style tub tucks nicely under the lower end and provides the opportunity to add a stylish panel of mosaics. A built-in vanity unit, meanwhile, offers sleek storage.
Display on bespoke shelving
Most of us are always clamouring for more storage, and this canny bathroom utilises every last inch of space, with bespoke shelving fitted into every teeny nook and skinny alcove. The simple chunks of wood look smart against the white background, too.
Most of us are always clamouring for more storage, and this canny bathroom utilises every last inch of space, with bespoke shelving fitted into every teeny nook and skinny alcove. The simple chunks of wood look smart against the white background, too.
Create a space with personality
Who says small always has to mean white and minimal? I love this pocket-sized shower in a wooden tub. It is cute, unassuming and utilises a very small space in a very inventive way.
Who says small always has to mean white and minimal? I love this pocket-sized shower in a wooden tub. It is cute, unassuming and utilises a very small space in a very inventive way.
Try a bath-in-bedroom set-up
Fitting an extra bathroom into a slice of your bedroom is a great idea, and it doesn’t need a lot of square footage to work effectively. This converted loft space includes a full-length bath that sits directly under a skylight, so you can lie back and soak away any stresses and strains as you stare into the sky.
Have you created a bathroom in a small area? Tell us how you maximised the space in the comments below.
Fitting an extra bathroom into a slice of your bedroom is a great idea, and it doesn’t need a lot of square footage to work effectively. This converted loft space includes a full-length bath that sits directly under a skylight, so you can lie back and soak away any stresses and strains as you stare into the sky.
Have you created a bathroom in a small area? Tell us how you maximised the space in the comments below.
Some of today’s roll-top baths have been shrunk so even the tiniest bathroom can squeeze one in. Make best use of an awkward-shaped room by locating your bath underneath the eaves. A teeny space also means you can splash out on luxe materials without breaking the bank, upping the style stakes hugely.