Cloakroom Ideas and Designs
How to find the right ideas for a cloakroom?
How do you start planning your cloakroom when you’re starting from scratch? Serving a practical purpose first and foremost, the ideal downstairs toilet is fitted with a few basic items: the cloakroom suite (a toilet and a hand basin), a storage unit and a mirror. These four are essentials and should be small enough to avoid crowding the small space. Specially-designed short-projection units are made to maximise space. If space is really tight, storage ideas are important. Consider space-savers such as corner basins and wall-hung toilets.
How should cloakrooms be decorated?
As with all small spaces, light and bright is often best – avoid decorating your cloakroom with any dark colours, although a well-patterned wallpaper can actually serve to open up the space if chosen carefully. Keep the scheme of tiles, wallpaper and decoration relatively simple, and create space with a large mirror. Also feel free to let the cloakroom reflect your personal style, whether that is sleek and modern or kitschy and cheerful, and it has become a British tradition to add liberal personal touches such as certificates, photographs, artwork and books.
However, as the cloakroom is often small and the toilet will take up most of the room, try to not go overboard with the decor. One pot plant will do, as will one large mirror. A stack of fluffy towels, a fragrant room diffuser and some nice handwash and maybe hand lotion next to your basin, will be all you need to make visitors feel pampered and welcome. Choosing a fancy wall colour is a great way to make your cloakroom exciting – soon you’ll be using your downstairs toilet more than your main bathroom.
If you're still unsure about what kind of design you'd like for your cloakroom, take inspiration from the beautiful photos and save the best one to your ideabook. You can save cloakroom ideas to an ideabook so that you can put together your vision for your newly decorated downstairs toilet.
- Porcelain Tile (3180)
- Medium Hardwood (2975)
- Ceramic Tile (2695)
- Dark Hardwood (1863)
- Marble (1402)
- Light Hardwood (1376)
- Mosaic Tile (497)
- Concrete (431)
- Travertine (392)
- Vinyl (383)
- Cement Tile (372)
- Slate (301)
- Limestone (280)
- Terracotta Tile (179)
- Laminate (132)
- Lino (100)
- Plywood (93)
- Pebble Tile (63)
- Cork (60)
- Brick (55)
- Painted Wood (53)
- Bamboo (35)
- Terrazzo (24)
Siobhan Doran
Small classic cloakroom in London with a two-piece toilet, blue walls, a wall-mounted sink and grey floors.
Fishwallpaper for boys bathroom - alyse_webster
Small traditional cloakroom in London with a wall mounted toilet, beige tiles, mosaic tiles, white walls, a wall-mounted sink and light hardwood flooring.
The colour and neatness - webuser_864754694
Richard Parr + Associates - Architecture and Interior Design - photos by Nia Morris
This is an example of a large bohemian cloakroom in Gloucestershire with pink walls, cement flooring, a wall-mounted sink, wooden worktops and green floors.
Like the simple shelf/sink so there’s space for soap etc - webuser_20836099
Inspiration for a mediterranean cloakroom in London with freestanding cabinets, black cabinets, a wall mounted toilet, white walls and a built-in sink.
Love the quirky lights and mirrors - emmabrassfield
Contemporary cloakroom in London with multi-coloured walls, a built-in sink, a wall mounted toilet, dark hardwood flooring and brown floors.
Use of space and shape of the room - stefania_clemente
Contemporary cloakroom in London.
colours and skirting - marfre1311
Popular Filters to Try:
Simon Maxwell
Paint colour is Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue
Inspiration for a contemporary cloakroom in Other with a vessel sink and blue walls.
colours dark wood with this paint - cemc
Photo of a medium sized contemporary cloakroom in London with a pedestal sink, a wall mounted toilet and purple walls.
Cool concept for downstairs toilet - michelle_dalton61
Jon Day
This is an example of a bohemian cloakroom in London with flat-panel cabinets and purple walls.
Bright - surjit_chopra
Jame French
Inspiration for a small classic cloakroom in Sussex with grey walls, porcelain flooring, black and white tiles, white tiles, a console sink, a two-piece toilet and multi-coloured floors.
remember the little touches....door handles - webuser_279274938
To add drama and fun to the cloakroom the clients were inspired by the WC at the hobsons|choice Swindon showroom. A back painted glass monolith wall and drop ceiling is back-lit with colour changing LED lights.
The grey 'Royal Mosa' tiles with a stone pattern create contrast and visual interest whilst reflecting the remote control led light colour of choice.
The wall mounted Duravit '2nd Floor' toilet floats effortlessly in front of the white glass wall operated by the chrome Vola push plate above.
A Vola 1 handle mixer tap protrudes from the wall above the Alape 'WT.PR800.R' washstand
and the exposed bottle trap underneath is chrome plated to ensure the cloakroom looks perfect from every angle.
Darren Chung
hobsons|choice designer bathroom with wall hung WC and basin, glass wc back panel with illumination to sides and around ceiling bulkhead feature. - hobsonschoice
Sasfi Hope-Ross
Design ideas for a large traditional cloakroom in Dorset with grey cabinets, grey tiles, a two-piece toilet, grey walls, grey floors and an integrated sink.
Small wash basin idea in balcony - khushboonahar9
David Aldrich
Design ideas for a small contemporary cloakroom in London with black and white tiles, white walls, porcelain flooring, a wall-mounted sink and a two-piece toilet.
if v small, this looks good. - webuser_818869184
Lighttrapper Photography
Inspiration for a rural cloakroom in London.
Colour of TV stand - jane_wambugu
This is an example of a large contemporary cloakroom in London with a wall mounted toilet, multi-coloured walls, light hardwood flooring, a wall-mounted sink, glass worktops and beige floors.
Colour on walls and purple basin - dannii_barclay
Guest cloakroom.
Photo by Chris Snook
Inspiration for a small classic cloakroom in London with a two-piece toilet, porcelain tiles, white walls, porcelain flooring, a wall-mounted sink and blue floors.
everything - doreenhamusimbi
Fresh flowers and the intricate wallpaper design capture the wonder of nature.
Jake Fitzjones Photography Ltd
This is an example of a small world-inspired cloakroom in London with multi-coloured walls, marble flooring, white floors, a one-piece toilet and marble tiles.
Idea of marble tiles on floor and behind loo - emmaemallon
Contemporary cloakroom in London.
This is a very swish cloakroom. - poppey99