Who says small bathrooms can’t be stylish, too? With clever design tricks and creative thinking, even the most compact of rooms can be turned into a pretty and practical space.
If you’re thinking about renovating your bathroom but it’s on the smaller side or you’re working with a tricky layout, which limits the space you can play with, cheer up! We’ve rounded up some beautiful, real projects and asked the experts for their tips on maximising every inch.
From boutique ensuites to calming designs, read on to discover how you can transform a small bathroom into your very own chic sanctuary…
Boutique bathroom
Are you team bath but unsure how to make it work in a small room? Back-to-wall designs are space-saving, easy to maintain, and offer you plenty of design opportunities in terms of aesthetics.
Here, Sophie Harrold of Simply Bathrooms Ltd. (Surrey) had to work around challenging pipework, a pitched roof, and a difficult layout in order to transform this compact bathroom, which sits in a listed cottage, into a practical space that charmingly blends old and new.
The bathtub, from Bette, is placed where the window is located, which floods the space with natural light. “The vanity unit was fitted into the right-hand corner to maximise space and hide the pipework. We deliberately planned a large double vanity to provide plenty of storage space for larger items and bathroom essentials,” says Sophie. “We had a bespoke cabinet made for above the vanity as standard cabinets were too high for this small room. There is also a towel rack and a shelf above the toilet for additional storage.”
What’s more, as the period property has a low ceiling, Sophie visually raised it while also disguising uneven walls by adding three-quarter height panelling. “This architectural detail draws the eye upward, creating a more spacious feel,” she adds.
Art Deco gem
Do you love a dash of luxury into your bathroom? Dare to make a splash with daring design choices. Erik Munro, founder of interior design studio Munro in London’s Fitzrovia, used an antique mirror with aged and sealed brass edging in this compact ensuite to help enlarge the room and reflect the natural light.
The dark shade of green and gleaming gold accents combine to give the bathroom an opulent look, while the vanity mirror and flooring ooze Art Deco-inspired charm.
Showstopping shower room
Are you team shower? You can truly achieve a stunning design even in a compact room with the help of eye-catching tiles, durable brassware, clever storage for your toiletries, and a sleek enclosure. “We focused on clever detailing to maximise functionality without compromising on style,” says Pia Pelkonen, creative director at Pia Design. “A recessed niche in the shower keeps bottles neatly tucked away, while a second niche above the wall-hung toilet makes use of space typically lost to the concealed cistern.”
“The vanity unit offers additional concealed storage, helping to keep surfaces clear and the room feeling calm and uncluttered. In terms of the layout, we wanted the shower to be the focal point at the end of the room. So, the eye is drawn to the length of the space,” explains Pia.
Whimsical wetroom
Make the most of a restrictive layout with a wetroom-style bathroom. In this space, Mia Karlsson of Mia Karlsson Design found the perfect balance between aesthetically pleasing looks and practicality – from the geometric wall and floor coverings to the copper accents and quirky accessories.
She selected durable, easy-to-clean materials bound to withstand daily use, including porcelain tiles and a solid concrete sink adorned with fluting. The soft peach and blush palette creates an inviting and calm atmosphere, while rounded edges on the vanity and stool enhance safety.
Some of her space-saving tips for creating a similar bathroom include opting for wall-mounted taps to free up surface space and considering bespoke vanity units to make the most of the full-width of your basin.
If this is something you want to achieve, consult a bathroom expert who can advise on waterproofing your space.
Serene retreat
Want your small bathroom to have that calming, spa-like feeling? Draw inspiration from this guest ensuite, tucked into a Victorian villa overlooking the River Clyde.
What makes it special? A cocooning curved shower wall. “To make the most of the available footprint in this newly formed guest ensuite, we designed a bespoke curved shower wall that nestles neatly beside the WC, softening the layout while allowing for a more generous showering area,” says Georgina Frazer, managing director at Jeffreys Interiors.
“This subtle architectural gesture creates flow and balance within the compact footprint, without compromising on comfort or style. The curve not only softens the geometry but also echoes a wider design language running through the house — a nod to the original turret that inspired the use of curved walls,” she explains.
Up the wall
“Small space design skills are essential for us as bathroom designers, especially in our area where typically the average bathroom footprint is compact, to say the least,” Justine Bullock, director at The Tap End in South Wales, tells me.
“Here, The Tap End designer Zoe created a space that even with the introduction of a half-height boxing still works to maximise the space,” she says. The clever boxing allowed for wall-hung products, such as the toilet, as well as adding a concealed shower valve and a compact storage niche for bath bottles.
“Some other space-saving products used were the compact-size radiator, the slim-width mirror with cubby holes behind, and the short projection vanity unit,” adds Justine.
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