Top 10 Small Bathroom Ideas & Interior Design Tips

We’re not all blessed with vast amounts of space, so we must maximise the space we have to remodel our small bathroom layout and make it as beautiful and impressive as possible.

There are a gazillion ways, tips, and tricks, but we have narrowed it down for you to just ten top tips that we think count the most when remodelling a small bathroom.

1. Lighter, Brighter Colours

Brighter colours will reflect more light than darker ones, so going with lighter muted colours such as cream, off-white, light grey, and even subtle shades of baby blue or pink is a great way to start, as this will set the tone of the room.

Just look at how the same room can look so different optimising the light in every aspect.

2. Interesting Flooring

Any bathroom begins with the floor and walls, so you must consider the aesthetic you want. One modern yet classic flooring is a warm herringbone. Herringbone flooring is perfectly suitable in bathrooms, particularly LVT herringbone, which is waterproof (unlike engineered wood).

Herringbone floors add space to any room because of the direction the chevron pattern takes your eyes.

3. Creative Tiles

Alternatively, you can go for just tiles, and there are several ways to maximise the space of a small bathroom with the right tile design. Here are three ways you can incorporate tiles cleverly:

Big tiles

Big tiles have fewer grout lines and create one complete space on the floor. The design will run smoothly across the floor if they have a pattern, such as in an onyx tile.

Small tiles

Small tiles (still with thin grout lines, ideally) disguise a small space by attacking your eyes with interest. It’s the same reason that small checks or stripes on a shirt can make someone short appear taller instead of mid-size or big checks or stripes.

Matching Floor & Wall Tiles

Contrasting tiles on the floor and wall is a good idea, but so is matching them so that your attention runs from floor to wall in one seamless gaze.

Whichever type of tile you go for, they must be nice. That may sound funny, but you must go for something that will last ten or twenty years — high-quality tiles with an eye-catching pattern that you like and not any old run-of-the-mill tat.

4. Focal Point

Designing a small bathroom, whether it’s a master bathroom or a compact ensuite, you must do your best to create zones (distinct spaces for each item) and choose one of them to be the main focal point.

If you want a bath, choose a small freestanding bath optimised for the space. Short bathtubs are more traditional, so if you are that way inclined, go for it!

Otherwise, a great big shower in the corner will be just as eye-catching.

5. Glass & Wetrooms

Going for glass is a brilliant way to maximise the space of a small bathroom because you have no block enclosure that cuts off any space on the eye. Seeing through the glass will create more depth.

Walk-in showers for small bathrooms will create an exciting focal point and a feeling of openness. Small shower enclosures will do the trick, but a compact small wet room is taking things to a whole other level.

6. Save floor space with wall-hung furniture

A great space saver in small bathrooms is to eliminate unnecessary blots of space that could be used to create a little cove, nook, or cranny where a typical toilet or sink would take space.

Wall-hung toilets leave you with a bit of space below and won’t ‘break’ the floor space like typical back-to-wall toilets will.

Similarly, wall-hung cabinet and basin units are a great way to combine storage space with your sink. Such furniture will save floor space and make the floor easier to clean overall.

7. Vessel Basins

On the other hand, if you feel extra chic and bold enough to go for something impressively-modern, you might want to consider a countertop vessel basin to create another little cove between the basin and the wall. Pair this with a wall-mounted mixer tap, and you are ready to go.

8. Mirrors

Mirrors are a detail you should not overlook.

We have several vital reasons you should think carefully about your bathroom mirror to optimise the space:

Smaller bathrooms may have more awkward spaces, so floating round mirrors will fit better in any space and thus save more of it.

Backlighting from an LED Mirror is another little luxury to add, as lighting is generally essential, but so many mirrors now come with an LED light that is all sorted for you. Plus, you can turn them on and off according to your mood.

9. Add Interest

You can still go for conservative bathroom suite items, but add interest where you can!

For example, putting gold or matt black on your hardware, such as taps, cabinet handles, shower enclosure wall brackets, and hooks, goes a long way. Consider these the accessory intrigue you can add to your small bathroom to make a big impression.

10. Remove Clutter

You don’t have to be a minimalist to crack down on the clutter. Get rid of any rugs on the floor. You don’t need that when your floor is already gorgeous enough.

More importantly, you need to get creative with your storage needs. Integrated storage will be essential to maximising the space of a small bathroom. Do you need a full-height mirror cabinet? Do you have a big family and need four or five towels always ready? Consider your needs and options carefully, as storage can pile up quickly, so it’s best to plan it properly and creatively.

If you’re still unsure how best to design your small bathroom before renovating, you can always get in touch with us via email (hello@bathroom-house.co.uk), phone (0333 012 4841), or social media!