Bathroom Ideas to Optimize Your Tiny Space

2. Buy freestanding and multi-functional furniture

A limited footprint shouldn’t impact on your creative flair. If your bathroom is verging on the small side, consider using freestanding furniture that you can move around at a moment’s notice. Going for freestanding storage and seating allows you to move your scheme around whenever you like and, unlike fitted bathroom units, you can take freestanding pieces with you when it’s time to move out.

3. Trick the eye with tiles

The amount of space you have and what the eye perceives aren’t necessarily the same thing. Play with the boundaries of perception by tiling the side of your bath and the wall with the same design – it makes it hard to distinguish where each begins, thereby making your space feel larger. Marble is particularly effective here, as it looks almost like one huge sheet and the individual tiles aren’t very obvious.

4. Invest in tall tiered storage

Tiered wire storage keeps luxuriously packaged lotions and practical wash bags on show and easy to grab. If space is limited, you can tote the stand from bedroom to bathroom when needed.

5. Add wall-hung units

Floating fittings visually max the space, as more of the floor can be seen, and make cleaning a breeze. You can always use the area underneath to store toiletries in pretty wicker baskets. A palette of off-whites and tonal greys will make your bathroom feel large and airy, while wall integrated taps keep the look minimal and well-finished.

6. Use the same tiles on the floor and walls

A clever trick to making a small bathroom look bigger is to use the same tiles on the walls and the floor. Not only does the natural stone in this family bathroom add a spa-style touch, but the continuous run of tiles creates a spacious feel, along with the wall-hung fixtures that save on floor area. If natural stone feels too neutral, you can easily pep it up with strong colour pops with your towels, storage and accessories – an on-budget way to add personality to your bathroom.

7. Make the most of a sloping roof

Use every inch of an attic space by building a bath into the eaves. If you have an awkwardly shaped ceiling – like this loft bathroom – turn it into a decorative feature. Paint the ceiling white to contrast with the statement wallpaper behind. It’s a great way to add character in a confined space.

8. Factor in a slipper bath

If you can’t squeeze a standard roll-top bath into the bathroom, consider a shapely slipper bath – many come in short versions and they’ll let you rest your back in style.

9. Furnish to scale

Large items of furniture can dwarf a small room so always buy pieces that suit the scale of your space. In a small bathroom, stick to the basics of a vanity unit and storage rack that you can either hang on the wall or rest on the edge of a bath. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t pack on the personality. Paint a vanity unit in your favorite color and opt for patterned tiles on the floor.

10. Choose furniture and accessories wisely

Bring a nostalgic touch to the bathroom by up cycling a narrow console table to incorporate a small basin. Space-saving wall-mounted taps provide a neat solution. The more of the floor you can see, the more spacious your bathroom will feel, so go for a freestanding basin unit. Plus, you can pop a few baskets underneath if you’re short on storage space.

11. Tile halfway up the wall

Unsure how to tile a sloping ceiling? Then try tiling halfway up the wall. It’ll save on tiles and make the space feel larger. Choose a dark neutral tile and paint the ceiling above it white to maximize brightness from roof lights.

12. Add a hint of color to a white suite

While a white bathroom suite is the best choice for opening up a small space, it can sometimes feel a little stark if the whole room is white. That’s why a hint of colour on the walls is the perfect compromise: light enough to create an airy feel, but with bags more character. Here, the storage alcoves were built from tongue-and-groove panelling, then painted in white to contrast with the raspberry walls and striking cobalt-blue tiles

13. Accessories away!

If you don’t have the budget to give your entire bathroom a makeover, accessories will do wonders for a compact space. Choose a theme – coastal, floral or monochrome are all bang on trend and are easy to implement. Apply the style of your chosen trend to lighting, mirrors, smaller accessories and soft furnishings and instantly transform the space.

14. Decorate with a fresh white scheme

Make a compact bathroom feel more spacious by sticking to a simple all-white scheme. Team a white suite with glossy wall tiles and plenty of plush textured towels to ensure the space feels welcoming rather than cold.

15. Invest in made-to-measure fittings and fixtures

A well-thought-out design can fit all the essentials into as little as two square metres for a bathroom and even less for a shower room. The key is not to squeeze too much in. If you only have a small space, it’s much better to make a focal point of a walk-in shower or a beautiful bath, rather than ending up with a cramped bathroom.

16. Distract from the size with feature wallpaper

Wallpaper will make a statement in any room and the bathroom is no exception. A downstairs cloakroom is a prime space to use wallpaper, as bathrooms with a shower or bath will require specialist paper to prevent steam damaging it. Opt for a unique, bold or interesting print to maximize the impact in a small space like this. Fit a sheet of Perspex as a splash-back behind the basin to prevent water damaging the wallpaper.

17. Re-position your shower valve

Where space is tight, opt for an over-shower bath that delivers the best of both worlds. Rather than positioning your shower against the short side of the bath, try placing it along the longer side for a more luxe feel. Use a bold tile design around the bath to contrast with the rest of the room.

18. Stick to a monochromatic palette

Keep to a monochrome scheme and add color, texture and pattern with out-there accessories. White will open up a bathroom like no other color, making it feel as spacious as possible. White tiles and black grouting can be a winning combination in a small bathroom.

19. Characterise with color

This compact modern bathroom uses a number of techniques to create real wow factor, despite the small square-footage. Add a hearty dose of color to inject vibrancy and personality into a white bathroom otherwise at risk of feeling clinical and characterless. A bright yellow ceiling and shower screen give this small bathroom a real focal point, while down lighters and white tiles keep the space feeling light and bright.

20. Have recessed shelving built in

Recessed shelves are a great space saver, both practically and visually, keeping toiletries neat and off the surfaces. Building the shelves into false walls that hide pipework is a clever use of a necessary feature. Also consider recessed light fittings – either spot or linear.

21. Work in a wet room

A wet room can make the most of a small space and add value to your property. If you’re converting an attic, consider a wet room instead of a bathroom. It’s a great way to make the most out of a small space and when it’s beautifully finished like this designer-style one, it’s stunning. Ventilation is key as a build-up of moisture could lead to condensation and damp problems, so install a good extractor fan. Underfloor heating doesn’t take up any space but will add warmth and help to dry surfaces quickly.

22. Keep it simple

If you’re in a quandary over how to decorate your small bathroom, just keep it simple with soft, natural shades. Choose furniture and accessories with clean lines and keep the room as clutter-free as possible to create a feeling of space.

23. Make it appear larger with mirrors

Mirrors can completely transform the look and feel of a room, as they reflect light and create the impression of space. It’s a great trick that interior designers use all the time. Whether you hang a mirror on the wall or go for adventurous mirrored tiles, the reflection is guaranteed to brighten your bathroom.

24. Make your bath the star

Go for a freestanding bath – it can work really well as a focal point in a small space. They’re not all as big as you think and you can even buy smaller versions that will fit into tighter spaces. Add a pretty stencil on the wall above to draw the eye up and create the illusion of space.

25. Consider a shelf

Tongue-and-groove paneling visually frames the bath and the handy shelf at the top acts as a mantelpiece to a host of trinkets, toiletries and accessories. The eau de nil color is a relaxing choice for the bathroom, and adds interest to this compact space.

26. Think smart with a narrow space

In a narrow room, the best way of using the space can be to install a walk-in shower that fills the full width of the bathroom. But what if you have a window? The clever design shown here includes a frosted back panel that protects the window from splashes and provides privacy, but still lets in plenty of natural light. A ceiling-mounted shower and frame-less shower door complete the sleek look.

27. Balance a palette

Be brave when using color in a small bathroom – it’s a great opportunity to experiment with shades you may shy away from in larger rooms of the home. Using different colors for tiles and paint will add vibrancy to a space. Add towels and accessories in complementary shades to help unify a color scheme across different materials.

28. Fit a sunken bath

If you’re renovating your bathroom or en suite, consider installing a sunken bath. Provided you have the space for it below your floorboards, a sunken bath will streamline your bathroom, giving it a luxurious, hotel-style feel.

29. Opt for a corner shower enclosure

If there’s no space for a bath, a shower enclosure will work perfectly. Corner designs take up very little room – the door on this shower slides around the frame, so it doesn’t need any more space than what you can see. Square versions can be designed in a similar way – just avoid swinging or pivot doors, which will need extra room.

30. Make space beneath the eaves

Compact fittings are a big help in awkward-shaped loft spaces. Don’t worry about trying to fit a bath – go for a luxurious glass shower enclosure instead. It’s common with loft conversions and attics to box in parts of the room that have a reduced ceiling height for storage. But instead, why not look at ways to work around the reduced heights? A toilet or basin is a smart idea.

31. Be clever with tiles

When decorating a small bathroom, such as an en suite in a loft conversion, introduce a horizontal line around the width of the space, either with tiles or paint. This trick will visually widen the space, creating the illusion of a bigger room.

32. Use those corners

Smaller bathrooms can be a challenge when it comes to squeezing in all the features you need and want. Consider a corner bathtub if you’re short on square footage – you’ll gain an interesting feature as well as a practical bath. And if you can’t go wide, go deep, with steps leading up to the bath if necessary. Use the corner as a shelf to store bathroom necessities.

Ideal Home: Small Bathroom Ideas to Optimize Your Tiny Space. 26. August 2018. https://www.idealhome.co.uk/bathroom/bathroom-ideas/small-bathroom-ideas-179187