Small Bathroom Ideas: Design Tips to Make the Most of Any Bathroom Space

A bathroom makeover project presents plenty of scope for design and style possibilities. A freestanding bathtub, a marble vanity, coloured tapware – it’s incredibly easy to add dream items to your wish list. But what if you’re working with a small bathroom? Sure, you may need to make some compromises but a bathroom of petite proportions is also full of possibilities. The key is to focus on what elements can be seen and how the space makes you feel. To make the most of whatever bathroom style or situation you have, we present our five favourite small bathroom ideas for a space you’ll love. 

Small Bathroom Idea: Get the Foundations Right 

Start with your bathroom transformation with a clean slate, if you will. Look to your large surface areas and features. 

The walls and floors for instance – your best bet here is to go with a one-toned painted wall or large-format tiles for as uninterrupted expanse of colour as possible to visually trick the eye to enhance that feeling of space. Neutral shades are also a space-enhancing go-to and keep the ceiling white to help your bathroom look that bit bigger with a lighter, brighter feel. 

Getting the lighting right is also a small bathroom idea you need to consider – look to ceiling-mounted downlights, a single hero pendant light or wall sconce near the vanity LED or strip lighting around the vanity or a mirrored cabinet. 

Small Bathroom Idea: Keep it off the Floor

For a bathroom with a smaller footprint, going with elements that are elevated is another small bathroom idea you should keep in your design toolkit. Make your walls work that little bit harder and in your favour with a wall-hung vanity, vanity cabinet and toilet. 

Another winning small bathroom idea is to go for streamlined storage solutions, such as a towel rack, wall hooks and a slimline cabinet. And don’t forget about wall sconces – they can provide atmospheric lighting in a feature design  – The Lighting Collective has a brilliant range to suit all styles. 

Small Bathroom Idea: Lose the Clutter & Add in the Polish

In a small bathroom, there is no place for clutter. Instead, a petite space calls for focusing in on the details and getting them right. Start with a mix of concealed and open display storage, particularly with your vanity. 

You may choose a wall niche for shower essentials, a simple wall shelf or even a stool to rest towels on. A tray on the vanity will neatly house your skincare and beauty products – look to IKEA for small bathroom storage ideas and Oliver Thom is the go-to for sophisticated bathroom accessories.

Small Bathroom Idea: Master the Art of Glass

A tried-and-tested small bathroom idea guaranteed to make your bathing zone feel bigger is the use of glass. The big-ticket item must that’ll have the most space-enhancing impact is a frameless glass shower screen. A shower screen takes up its fair share of space, but a frameless one will allow your feature shower fittings and fixtures to be truly appreciated. On a smaller scale, but no less important, is the essential mirror, whether as part of a cabinet or standalone. A mirror will help bounce light around the space – head to Life Interiors for a variety of shapely reflective glass surfaces. 

Small Bathroom Idea: Don't Forget to Bring the Personality

The biggest mistake people make with a small bathroom is to go with clean, sterile style that bypasses the personality factor, and this is a small bathroom idea worth its weight in gold. Showcase a feature tile or wall colour – one bold feature will give your space pizzazz. Look to the abundance of options from Fibonacci Stone for surfaces that offer depth and soul. Adding personality can also be as simple as curating accessories such as a sculptural vase, a favourite candle or a leafy indoor plant, and even your towels. Some of our favourite towels include Baina, Loom Towels and Købn.