Before and Afters
Bathroom Design
5 Great Bathroom Remodels in 50 to 65 Square Feet
Dramatic before-and-after photos reveal how designers made the most of these modest-size spaces
Fifty to 65 square feet. A bathroom in that size range isn’t the smallest around, but it’s small enough that a designer needs to use his or her expertise to make it feel roomy and provide ample storage. These five designers made the most of five modestly sized bathrooms in a wide range of styles. Keep reading to see how they did it.
After: Spear removed the bathtub and linen closet to make room for a spacious shower. The shower is curbless for easy access and large enough for a second person to provide assistance inside. She also installed a grab bar that can double as a towel rack. And she added radiant heating to the floor.
One charming original element she was able to preserve was the recessed medicine cabinet. “A lot of people go in and tear everything out,” Spear told Houzz. “Keeping the medicine cabinet is really a statement.” Other elements that acknowledge the home’s original architecture are the era-appropriate pedestal sink, subway tile and mosaic marble floor. Because the floor tiles are small, the grout between them keeps the marble from getting slippery.
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One charming original element she was able to preserve was the recessed medicine cabinet. “A lot of people go in and tear everything out,” Spear told Houzz. “Keeping the medicine cabinet is really a statement.” Other elements that acknowledge the home’s original architecture are the era-appropriate pedestal sink, subway tile and mosaic marble floor. Because the floor tiles are small, the grout between them keeps the marble from getting slippery.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
After: Spear infused the room with color and personality by adding a vintage armoire to the space. Functionally, the armoire makes up for the loss of the linen closet. Though it’s a 1970s piece, she gave it an era-appropriate look by replacing the top doors with these arched glass doors. She added color to the room by painting the armoire Benjamin Moore’s Bainbridge Blue.
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
2. A Childhood Home Grows Up in Washington
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Jason and Shannon Langer
Location: Kent, Washington
Size: About 55 square feet (5.1 square meters)
Designer: Holly Bero Interiors
Before: When Shannon and Jason Langer moved into the 1978 house Shannon had grown up in, they hired designer Holly Bero to help them update it. Because Shannon gets up earlier in the morning than Jason does, she had taken over this hall guest bath so as not to disturb him.
The 55-square-foot room hadn’t changed much since Shannon was a kid. It was tired, and an odd curved wall broke things up, making it feel even smaller.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Jason and Shannon Langer
Location: Kent, Washington
Size: About 55 square feet (5.1 square meters)
Designer: Holly Bero Interiors
Before: When Shannon and Jason Langer moved into the 1978 house Shannon had grown up in, they hired designer Holly Bero to help them update it. Because Shannon gets up earlier in the morning than Jason does, she had taken over this hall guest bath so as not to disturb him.
The 55-square-foot room hadn’t changed much since Shannon was a kid. It was tired, and an odd curved wall broke things up, making it feel even smaller.
After: Bero took out the curved wall to open up the room. She grounded the space with black-and-white porcelain floor tile. This added visual interest, while the white walls maintained an airy feel. Upgrading an existing skylight kept the bathroom light and bright.
The designer removed the framed glass shower enclosure and replaced it with a simple shower curtain. Not using glass meant one less cleaning task for the homeowners. Two-by-9-inch tiles laid in a chevron pattern add subtle pattern and texture to the walls. They also draw the eye up, making the ceiling seem higher.
The designer removed the framed glass shower enclosure and replaced it with a simple shower curtain. Not using glass meant one less cleaning task for the homeowners. Two-by-9-inch tiles laid in a chevron pattern add subtle pattern and texture to the walls. They also draw the eye up, making the ceiling seem higher.
After: Taking out the curved wall made room for a larger vanity that holds all of Shannon’s toiletries. In addition to drawer storage, there are pullout bamboo trays with dividers behind the cabinet doors. The top shelf of the cabinet includes heat-resistant metal bins for storing hairstyling tools. Tucked behind the door on the right is a power strip for plugging in those items.
Bero continued the chevron tile from the shower surround around the bathroom walls as wainscoting. The slate vanity, the mirror frame and the black pencil trim tile create contrast in the room. A Carrara marble countertop adds an elegant touch.
See more photos and learn more about this renovation
Bero continued the chevron tile from the shower surround around the bathroom walls as wainscoting. The slate vanity, the mirror frame and the black pencil trim tile create contrast in the room. A Carrara marble countertop adds an elegant touch.
See more photos and learn more about this renovation
3. Walnut Warms Up White in Nebraska
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Two young girls
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Designer: Doug Kiser of d KISER design.construct
Before: This hall bathroom for a family of four was used primarily by two young girls. But their parents also wanted the dated room to grow with their daughters and be suitable for adult guests. Doug Kiser, principal at design-build firm d KISER design.construct, collaborated with the homeowners to bring the room up to date and improve its functionality.
The 60 square-foot space was dated and there was substantial rot in the subflooring.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Two young girls
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Designer: Doug Kiser of d KISER design.construct
Before: This hall bathroom for a family of four was used primarily by two young girls. But their parents also wanted the dated room to grow with their daughters and be suitable for adult guests. Doug Kiser, principal at design-build firm d KISER design.construct, collaborated with the homeowners to bring the room up to date and improve its functionality.
The 60 square-foot space was dated and there was substantial rot in the subflooring.
After: Kiser kept the layout but gave the room a new contemporary look. Beautiful walnut adds warmth, while digitally printed porcelain tile that mimics marble adds a cool, classic look to the walls and tub surround. The countertop was fabricated from a quartz remnant, which saved money. The homeowners mixed brass and matte black metallic fixtures and hardware for a custom look.
After: Kiser removed the existing framing around the cabinetry to maximize space. Then he installed a new storage system, using the same walnut he used on the vanity. Beautiful bookmatching allows the grain patterns to continue seamlessly across the doors and drawers.
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
4. Artistic in a 1906 New Jersey Home’s Attic
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: Montclair, New Jersey
Size: 63 square feet (5.9 square meters); 11¾ feet by 5⅓ feet
Designer: Tracey Stephens
Before: This artistic New Jersey couple embraced the charms of their 1906 home. However, their third-story bath, with its tight shower stall and lack of storage, was almost charmless. The homeowners both work in visually creative fields. They had a vision for the room, but they didn’t have the expertise in bathroom renovation to execute it without professional help. Interior designer Tracey Stephens joined them for a creative collaboration.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: Montclair, New Jersey
Size: 63 square feet (5.9 square meters); 11¾ feet by 5⅓ feet
Designer: Tracey Stephens
Before: This artistic New Jersey couple embraced the charms of their 1906 home. However, their third-story bath, with its tight shower stall and lack of storage, was almost charmless. The homeowners both work in visually creative fields. They had a vision for the room, but they didn’t have the expertise in bathroom renovation to execute it without professional help. Interior designer Tracey Stephens joined them for a creative collaboration.
After: The homeowners wanted to maintain two of the room’s only charms: the original 1906 woodwork and the curved wall. Stephens found a Craftsman-style vanity to suit the home’s age. It’s quartersawn oak and has glass doors with mullions. The vanity is 49 inches wide, with a single sink to free up counter space. Improved storage also includes two medicine cabinets over the vanity. The husband crafted a deep recessed cabinet over the toilet from reclaimed wood to hold extra towels and toilet paper. Unfinished attic space behind the 63-square-foot bathroom provided space for the cabinet’s depth.
Browse vanities in the Houzz Shop
Browse vanities in the Houzz Shop
After: The existing shower was so tiny that it didn’t meet code. Stephens’ solution was to push it out as close to the bathroom door as possible. This stretched it into the part of the room with a higher ceiling. She also expanded it back further into the unfinished attic space behind the room. Even though the angled ceiling dips down low, the space feels larger now. The moves also provided room for the handheld shower head, a shower stool and a basket for toiletries.
The couple came up with their own unique tile pattern, which suits the bathroom’s style and adds a playful touch. Stephens took their pattern and planned the exact scale and composition. This included figuring out the right size for a pleasing repeat and creating scaled renderings. One of the homeowners oversaw the install to make sure the pattern was laid out just right.
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
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The couple came up with their own unique tile pattern, which suits the bathroom’s style and adds a playful touch. Stephens took their pattern and planned the exact scale and composition. This included figuring out the right size for a pleasing repeat and creating scaled renderings. One of the homeowners oversaw the install to make sure the pattern was laid out just right.
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
Find a local tile professional
5. Lofty Goals in Miami
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Miami
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Designer: Francis Domínguez of EFE Creative Lab
Before: When interior designer Francis Domínguez was working on other spaces in their high-rise Miami condo, these homeowners asked him to help them find a more interesting light fixture for their 60-square-foot master bathroom. A year later, that fixture inspired a full bathroom remodel — it’s the only element that remains. And it helped inform the room’s elegant industrial style.
While the rest of the home had loft style, the previous bathroom’s style was plain and boring.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Miami
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Designer: Francis Domínguez of EFE Creative Lab
Before: When interior designer Francis Domínguez was working on other spaces in their high-rise Miami condo, these homeowners asked him to help them find a more interesting light fixture for their 60-square-foot master bathroom. A year later, that fixture inspired a full bathroom remodel — it’s the only element that remains. And it helped inform the room’s elegant industrial style.
While the rest of the home had loft style, the previous bathroom’s style was plain and boring.
After: The light fixture fit right into an industrial-inspired scheme. Domínguez repeated the black from the fixture on the mirror frame, plumbing fixtures, tile, accessories and cabinet hardware. The clients were also fans of subway tile. In here, elongated subway tiles with gray grout provide an updated industrial vibe.
The wood vanity has a refined look. It’s solid American white ash. The concrete countertop and simple pulls are in keeping with the style of the room.
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The wood vanity has a refined look. It’s solid American white ash. The concrete countertop and simple pulls are in keeping with the style of the room.
Shop for black bathroom faucets
Before: The oversize tub took up a lot of space, and the homeowners prefer showers.
After: Domínguez replaced the tub-shower with a more spacious shower stall. The dark hexagonal tiles make it appear deeper than it is. Continuing the white subway tiles around the two other walls kept the stall from feeling too dark.
The custom wood-and-metal open shelves were inspired by library shelving the designer had installed in the home’s library the year before. It was crafted by a local maker of handmade furniture, Grove and Anchor.
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
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The custom wood-and-metal open shelves were inspired by library shelving the designer had installed in the home’s library the year before. It was crafted by a local maker of handmade furniture, Grove and Anchor.
See more photos and learn more about this remodel
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for your bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A parent of one of the homeowners
Location: Webster Groves, Missouri
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Designer: Joni Spear
Before: This 60-square-foot hall bath in Missouri was getting very little use before one of the homeowners’ parents moved in. They hired interior designer Joni Spear to help them make it more functional and attractive in a way that suited the 1927 home’s gracious architecture.
While some of the original features in the room had their charms, there was a lot of wear and tear. Also, it wasn’t safe or comfortable for the elder relative. The biggest obstacle was having to step over the bathtub’s edge to enter the shower.