Expert tips and stylish ideas to help you make the most of a small bathroom.
If you're on the hunt for smart small bathroom ideas to make the most of a compact space, the chances are you're not alone.
According to Richard Ticehurst, brand expert at Crosswater Bathrooms: 'The average bathroom is just 2.3m x 2.7m in size, so many homeowners are looking for creative ways to maximise space and create the illusion of a bigger room.'
The good news is there are a whole host of clever tricks and design choices you can use to enhance this sometimes tricky space and make your small bathroom look – and feel – like a beautiful retreat. Whether you're looking for budget small bathroom ideas to maximise your space or want to create a spa-like luxury bathroom, we've picked the brains of some of the UK's top bathroom design experts and gathered our favourite small bathroom ideas for inspiration.
How to make a small bathroom look bigger
Bathroom expert Richard recommends looking for space-saving bathroom cabinets and fittings when renovating a small bathroom: 'Wall-hung basins, vanity units and toilets work well as they free up additional floor space, giving the illusion of a bigger room.
'Another quick way of creating the illusion of a bigger bathroom is to invest in bathroom mirrors,' he adds. 'Natural light creates the illusion of greater size and space, so the more of it you have, the better.'
Small bathroom storage is your friend, as clutter instantly makes a space feel more cramped. Look for vertical storage solutions, like shelving, where floor space is tight, and make the most of your shower or bath with nook storage, caddies and shower-hung shelving where possible.
Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs, also has the following advice to make a small bathroom look bigger: 'When space is tight, the key is to distract the eye. This can be done by choosing a statement piece, such as a bath, in a colour other than white, as colour draws the eye in and helps to create a striking focal point.'
What is the best flooring for a small bathroom?
Nothing is off limits when it comes to flooring options for a small bathroom. As it's a smaller surface area to cover, consider splashing out on a high quality stone or tile that will elevate the space. Even bold colours or patterned tiles can work when paired with plainer walls.
Large format tiles are a particularly clever choice for small bathroom flooring, as the lack of grout lines means there are fewer visual breaks which gives the illusion of a bigger space.
15 small bathroom ideas
Discover our top pick of small bathroom ideas, encompassing everything from smart storage and clever design solutions to bold colours and pretty patterns.
1
Free up floor space
Wall-mounted basins and storage are a smart solution for small bathrooms, as they maximise floor space and make the room feel larger.
Concealed storage, such as drawers or cupboards, is also useful for keeping clutter out of sight.
2
Maximise storage
Make the most of every possible inch of storage space in a small bathroom with nook shelving to keep surfaces as clear as possible.
3
Utilise mirrors
Pick the largest mirror you can fit to make a small bathroom feel bigger. Positioning lighting near a mirror will also help bounce light around and make your bathroom seem more spacious.
Pictured: Alalpardo porcelain tiles at Bert & May
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4
Tile a walk-in shower
Walk-in showers can minimise visual disruption and make a small bathroom feel larger and lighter, as seen here, with consistent flooring and a glass screen.
5
Use cohesive colours
Stick to a limited palette to avoid overwhelming a small bathroom. This scheme uses bright white and botanical green for a fresh feel.
6
Match floors and walls
Wrapping the same material around a wall and floor removes harsh angles and tricks the eye into making a space feel bigger. A large format tile has fewer visual interruptions to maximise this effect.
Pictured: Rouge tile at Porcelain Superstore
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7
Let the light in
Sheer window treatments are the best way to keep light pouring into a small bathroom while maintaining privacy.
8
Be brave with pattern
There's no need to shy away from pattern in petite spaces. If anything, small bathrooms are the ideal space to experiment with bolder designs: less wall space equals less of a financial investment, and the look will be less overwhelming than on a huge wall – just avoid very large-scale motifs.
9
Consider accessories
Colourful accessories like towels and bathmats will add instant character to a small bathroom, especially if you've opted for a pale neutral scheme that can risk feeling bland or sterile.
Pictured: Check bathmat at Oliver Bonas
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10
Pick smart units
To maximise a small bathroom and keep it clutter-free, combine concealed storage for unsightly cleaning products or pipework with open storage, where you can group more beautiful products, candles and jars.
Pictured: Hackney furniture unit and basin at Britton Bathrooms
11
Make a statement
This gorgeous freestanding tub was especially created by BC Designs with small bathrooms in mind. It has a compact 1.36m footprint and can be custom-painted – we'd recommend a bold shade to create a focal point, which distracts the eye to make a small space feel larger.
Pictured: Penny bath by BC Designs
12
Lay tiles vertically
Laying metro tiles vertically instead of horizontally can make a space feel taller – great if you have limited head height or a sloping ceiling.
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13
Go bold
It's a common misconception that small spaces should be kept pale and neutral: a bold geometric pattern, like this pastel tile motif, can distract the eye and add depth to a scheme.
Pictured: Beck cloakroom basin at Crosswater
14
Think outside the box
While there is a time and a place for clean lines and symmetry, embracing more irregular shapes in your small bathroom can help to zone the space without cutting it off visually.
15
Join the dark side
There's no need to shy away from dark colours in a small bathroom: they can actually make a room seem bigger and more open by making the walls recede.
Dark grey works well in both contemporary and more traditional schemes, like this panelled cloakroom.
