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Small Bathroom Design Ideas

Ollie
Written By: | Interiors Specialist
Last Updated Feb 29,2024

If your bathroom is small, it might be hard to make it both stylish and work well. However, you can transform your small bathroom into a spacious, inviting space with clever design tricks and creative solutions.

Whether you are dealing with limited space or layout, this guide will explore various design ideas for small bathrooms. Choosing the right colours and fixtures, we'll help you make the most of your small bathroom without compromising style or functionality.

So, if you're ready to upgrade your small bathroom and turn it into a chic retreat. Let's move in and explore some inspiring small bathroom design ideas together!

How Do You Design A Small Bathroom?

There are plenty of design ideas for small bathrooms. Here, we will explore how to design your small bathroom:

Cottage Style Bathroom Suites Bathroom Takeaway

A. Shower or Bath: What's Better For Your Bathroom?

Deciding between a shower or a bath can be challenging, especially if you have a small bathroom. It's up to you, but we've seen some cool shower baths that look amazing.

B. Toilets: Hanging Or Floor Mounted?

Do you want your toilet hanging on the wall or floor mounted? A hanging toilet can make your bathroom look modern, while floor mounted ones give a more old-fashioned vibe. Consider this an important design aspect when discussing small bathroom design layout ideas.

C. Choosing The Right Sink Area

Think about your sink area carefully. A sink attached to the wall saves space, but a vanity with cabinets might be better if you need storage. Pedestal sinks have little space, but ones with a metal frame can hold towels.

D. Storage Solutions

Find places to store all your bathroom stuff. You'll need space for your creams, makeup, and other things. Adding shelves or hooks can help keep things organised and look nice. Even the top of the toilet tank can hold stuff in some bathrooms. Antique shelves also work well in small bathrooms.

E. Decorating The Walls

You can use panels on the walls to give a classic look, especially if your bathroom doesn't have good airflow. If it does, you can try some fantastic wallpaper. Tiles are great, too, especially as a backdrop for the sink or shower.

18 Small Bathroom Design Ideas

When planning a small bathroom, you can always have a few ideas! Whether fixing up a tiny family bathroom or adding a new one downstairs, many products are made just for small spaces nowadays. This guide will show you some easy bathroom ideas that could be just right for your small bathroom makeover.

1. Combination Vanity Units

Sink and toilet combos are cool for tiny bathrooms because they combine three things in one small bathroom set. These combo units usually have a sink, a toilet, and a cabinet for storing bathroom stuff. This is one of the best bathroom design ideas for small bathrooms in the UK.

Many forms, sizes, and styles are available in the UK, so you may choose one that suits your bathroom décor. The Calm unit, seen above, is ideal for contemporary, small bathrooms.

Stylish Green Combination Unit In Bathroom Space

2. Vertical Storage

Vertical storage refers to utilising your bathroom's wall space by putting in shelves, cabinets or storage units that go up rather than out. It's like placing items high rather than spreading them out on the floor.

For example, you may place a tall, slender cabinet close to your washbasin or toilet. This cabinet might have shelves for storing extra toilet paper, cleaning materials, or perhaps some of your favourite stories or periodicals.

Going vertical allows you to use the room's height rather than its width, saving valuable floor space.

Built In Vertical Bathroom Shelves In White Bathroom

3. Towel Radiators

Think of a cool thing: a special warm radiator to hang your towel. Towel rails only take up a little room. So, when you get out of the bath or shower, your towels are nice and warm.

These towel rails come in different shapes and sizes. Some are straight, like a ladder, and some are curved. If your bathroom is small, the straight ones might be better because they don't stick out as far, so you have more space on the floor.

Modern Bathroom Setting With White Heated Towel Rail

4. Soft Edges

If your bathroom is small, it might feel crowded, and you could bump into things. To avoid this, use bathroom stuff with smooth, curved edges. Pick a round toilet seat instead of a square, and think about getting cabinets with handles that are tucked in, like the ones in the bathroom furniture shown in the picture.

Smooth Edged Bath Mint Green Bathroom Suite

5. Spotlights

Here's a neat trick for making your small bathroom brighter and cosier: Instead of one ample light in the middle of the ceiling, try putting several smaller lights all around. These extra lights will make your bathroom shine more, making it look bigger and welcoming.

Modern Horizontal Spotlight Back Lit Mirror In Bathroom

6. Toilet And Basin Units

Many people like a special kind of bathroom thing: toilets and sinks together in one unit. It's an excellent idea for small bathrooms.

The toilet and sink unit in the picture above has a toilet seat that closes softly and a sink that's built into it, all in a slim design. It helps save a bunch of space and makes going to the bathroom quietly at night easy!

combination toliet and basin set in bathroom setting against green tiled wall

7. Wall-Mounted Vanity Units

Make more room in your bathroom by picking things on the wall instead of the floor. Wall-mounted vanity units, like sinks and cabinets, are famous for small bathrooms. Some wall-mounted cabinets even have sinks built into them.

Another good choice is a small cabinet that looks slim or fits in a corner. You can also make your bathroom look bigger without giving up style by getting a sink hanging on the wall with a special pipe or a half pedestal.

Modern White Walk In Shower Enclosure With Wall Mounted Vanity Unit

8. Small Quadrant Shower Enclosures

More and more people are choosing small showers instead of baths in their bathrooms. They do this to make their bathroom look more prominent and to save time. You can get ready faster in the morning by showering instead of bathing. The curved corner is a favourite type of shower because it fits well in small spaces. You can also build a Shower Enclosure by yourself.

Quadrant Shower Enclosure In Corner Of Bathroom

9. Shower Baths

If you want a bath in your small bathroom, why not pick a shower bath? You can choose from different shapes like L-shaped and P-shaped baths. Also, check how long the tub is because sometimes there are shorter versions of the same one you like.

Right Hand L Shape Shower Bath with Screen and Panel

10. Short Projection Toilets

When picking a toilet for your small bathroom or downstairs, remember you can get toilets that stick out less. These toilets take up less space on your floor. There are many great options to think about. This is considered when we launch it for small apartment bathroom design ideas.

Small Projection Bath In Modern Space

11. Wall-Mounted Taps

Having enough room near your sink is super important because we all want to keep our stuff nearby when we're getting ready in the morning. One excellent way to make more space around your sink is by tapping on the wall instead of the sink.

Wall-mounted taps not only look nice, but they also help save space. Check out the different kinds available and pick one that matches how your bathroom looks. You can also change bathroom taps as you update your bathroom.

wall mounted running  tap against grey tiled wall

12. Cloakroom Taps

Another kind of faucet that saves space is called cloakroom taps. These taps are thinner than regular ones, so they can fit in small places where others can't. One tap that many people liked this year is the Modern Waterfall Tap shown above.

Stylish Modern Cloakroom Tap In Home Setting

13. Corner Toilets

Remember when we talked about how using the corners of your bathroom can make it feel bigger? Let's consider putting the toilet in one of those corners instead of in the middle of the wall like usual.

That way, you can have more room for other bathroom stuff! It's like giving our bathroom more space to fit everything you need.

Corner Toilet In Modern Bathroom Space

14. Floating Shelves

They are magic tricks for showing off fancy bathroom fixtures, like nice-smelling candles, pretty soaps, and lotions. You can pick shelves that fit into corners or just stack them up in a line. Glass shelves are excellent because they don't make weird shadows on your bathroom walls.

Floating Bathroom Shelves

15. Bath Screen Instead Of A Shower Curtain

In tiny bathrooms, big shower curtains can make the room crowded and tight. Instead of curtains, you can pick a bath or shower screen. It lets more light into your bathroom and keeps the floor from getting all wet when you shower. So, it's a better choice for small bathrooms!

shower bath in modern bathroom with a bath glass screen

16. Solid Colours

When picking the colour for your bathroom walls, choosing one solid colour instead of many different colours is best. Suppose your bathroom is small and has too many colours. It might look dark and crowded. But if you want lots of colours, you can make one wall stand out with a bright colour to add some fun!

Solid Colour Black Bathroom

17. Reflect Light With Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are great for bouncing light in your small bathroom, whether from the sun or the light bulbs. Take your time picking out the one you like best. Remember, you can get a small piece of the tile to check if you want the colour before getting a bunch. As shown above, one of the Mediterranean small bathroom design ideas.

Reflective Light Ceramic Panels

18. Sliding Shower Doors

Instead of swinging open like a regular shower door, a sliding door slides to the side when you go in and out. It's an excellent idea for small bathrooms because it keeps the space before the shower clear.

Sliding shower doors come in many shapes and sizes, so just measure your bathroom and pick the best one! It is one of the best small bathroom design ideas for a shower.

Man Fitting Sliding Shower Door

Conclusion

These eighteen small bathroom design ideas are all about making them look great and feel roomier. They're like little tricks to use the space wisely. You can find intelligent ways to store items, arrange things, and pick colours that make the bathroom look bright.

Also, using mirrors in the right spots or choosing fixtures that save space are a great way to make your bathroom trendy.

FAQs

What Colours Make A Small Bathroom Look Bigger?

To make a small bathroom look bigger, use light colours like white, cream, light blue, grey, or yellow. These colours help the room seem more spacious. However, dark colours like deep red, green, or brown can make the room feel even smaller.

What Kind Of Flooring Is Best For Small Bathrooms?

Choose small ceramic or mosaic tiles for your small bathroom to make it look bigger. If you're worried about safety, consider textured porcelain tiles for the floor. They can help prevent slipping and give you peace of mind.

How To Decorate A Wall In A Small Bathroom?

For a small bathroom, use space-saving shelves or cupboards to showcase ornamental objects such as miniature plants, candles, and artwork. Mirrors may also give the appearance of space while providing a decorative touch. Choose waterproof materials and brighter hues to keep the area bright and airy.

Ollie

Interiors Specialist

Ollie is your guru for all housing interior inspiration, top tips, and new trends. The born & raised northerner has a keen eye for modern and stylish-looking interiors and is constantly on the lookout for the newest and best looks to suit your style.