Is your bathroom due a much-needed update?
You could be in the market for bathroom suites, toilets, basins or purchases, like bath taps and mirrors. But those working with smaller spaces have to do more planning than the rest of us.
The bathroom is an appliance-focused room, so making sure you’ve got enough space for your shower, bath, and cabinets can be incredibly challenging. But with our five favourite bathroom design ideas for small spaces, you can live in what’s possible.
1. Vertical space
When it comes to bathroom design ideas for small spaces, you can only work with what you’ve got (even if it’s not much).
With minimal square footage comes certain adjustments, and one way to get around a cramped bathroom is by thinking vertically. Rather than buying bulky cabinets that take up floor space, why not switch to wall-mounted storage?
Floating vanity units aren’t just physically lighter, but also visually: slim or reduced-depth versions provide the same amount of space while freeing up the floor.
Heated towel rails or designer vertical radiators can also be wall-mounted, so you can keep linens warm and organised without the need for freestanding pieces.
To make use of those awkward, often ignored areas, corner shelves or triangular wall cabinets will work a treat. Strategically ‘lifting’ items off the floor might seem like quite a literal tip, but it’s certainly effective!
2. Compact fixtures
While we love freestanding furniture, it’s not the most space-effective. But that doesn’t mean you can’t create the bathroom you want; it’s more about keeping a close eye on measurements and looking for more compact, even combined fixtures.
What if you’re short on storage with no room for a vanity? One space-savvy solution is a slimline, mirrored cabinet. Then, there are back-to-wall toilets with cabinets: with these fixtures, the cistern is hidden inside a furniture unit.
Some products even integrate both a toilet and a basin into a single unit, with the basin typically positioned on top of a WC unit that houses a back-to-wall toilet. Then, there are wall-hung basins, short-projection toilets and waterfall taps.
As you can see, bathroom design ideas for small spaces aren’t limited. With forethought (and thorough shopping), you can make the most of what you have.
3. Opt for smart shower and bath solutions
A freestanding bath in a small room might feel like a luxury, but it could be more of a hindrance.
If scaling down your shower or bath is something you’re willing to compromise on for space, there are plenty of smaller, more functional equivalents out there. Corner baths, for example, fit into a corner and are built into the wall.
Their quadrant or D-shaped designs are made for sitting, and reduce the extent to which they extend into the room compared to straight-edge baths.
Then, there are enhancements like electric showers, which can be integrated as an overhead shower over a bath. Quadrant shower enclosures are ultimate space-savers, however, especially corner entry designs fitted with sliding shower doors.
4. Lighting
For some, the best bathroom design ideas for small spaces won’t be furniture-related at all! It may simply be a matter of lighting.
Creating the illusion of a larger environment can be as easy as adding spotlights or LEDs. One trick is to make sure your bathroom has a mirror: if hung in the optimal position, it should reflect sunlight throughout the day.
If you have a window, consider maximising the light around the room using clear glass and glossy finishes. Glossy tiles, in particular, are great at diffusing light. For worktops, recessed spotlights are favoured because they take up little to no space.
But don’t limit lighting to just walls or ceilings! Waterproof LED strip lights or shelf lights can create a spa-like experience in your small bathroom.
5. Reflective finishes and patterns
We’ve touched on using mirrors and glossy finishes, but how else can homeowners maximise our bathroom design ideas for small spaces? With strategic colour selection!
Pair your optimised lighting scheme with light-coloured walls, such as white paint or earth-toned tiles. We recommend avoiding saturated, dark colours to stop your space feeling oppressive.
A white tint can be a good starting point, or a light grey paint combined with white to keep a bright, airy feel.
Shop for ex-display bathrooms with Rehome!
If you’re serious about starting a budget-friendly bathroom renovation, we’re the ones to call! Rehome’s reputation as the UK’s number one Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom outlet is all down to our fantastic prices on top-name suites.
Here, you’ll find used, heavily reduced listings from industry leaders like Nobilia and Smallbone of Devizes. Shop for mixer taps and bath taps from Westco, but don’t forget about our ex-display vanity units, mirrors and cabinets!
It’s all here, so why wait to live in possible? Take the first steps in your renovation journey with Rehome.
