12 Designer Tips to Make a Small Bathroom Better
Ensure your small bathroom is comfortable, not cramped, by using every inch wisely
Charmean Neithart
June 17, 2021
I have been in some small bathrooms — you know, the kind that make you feel like you have to lose 5 pounds to enter them. But I really like working on this type of bathroom design. Trying to make everything fit in the available space is like doing a giant crossword puzzle. The challenges include configuring the toilet and sink to code, allowing enough clearance for a shower and, of course, finding a place to put the towels and toilet paper.
In most cases, though, it’s still better to squeeze in an extra bathroom where one is desperately needed, even if it must be small. Here are 12 tips for designing a small bathroom. And yes, you’re off the hook for the 5 pounds.
In most cases, though, it’s still better to squeeze in an extra bathroom where one is desperately needed, even if it must be small. Here are 12 tips for designing a small bathroom. And yes, you’re off the hook for the 5 pounds.
1. Use a Shower Curtain
A shower curtain that moves back and forth saves space over a glass door that moves in and out. Shower-tub combos actually can fit into small spaces, with some tubs coming in at 60 inches in length.
Shop for wall and floor tile on Houzz
A shower curtain that moves back and forth saves space over a glass door that moves in and out. Shower-tub combos actually can fit into small spaces, with some tubs coming in at 60 inches in length.
Shop for wall and floor tile on Houzz
2. Float the Vanity
Besides just visually helping the bathroom appear bigger, mounting a vanity above the floor frees up a little space for small items.
Hire a bathroom designer to help with your small space layout
Besides just visually helping the bathroom appear bigger, mounting a vanity above the floor frees up a little space for small items.
Hire a bathroom designer to help with your small space layout
3. Use a Large-Scale Pattern
A large-scale pattern, like this wallpaper, can trick the eye into seeing expanded space. The square footage might stay the same, but the bathroom will feel bigger.
A large-scale pattern, like this wallpaper, can trick the eye into seeing expanded space. The square footage might stay the same, but the bathroom will feel bigger.
4. Skip the Shower Door
If your bathroom is about 5 feet wide, that’s just enough space to squeeze in a toilet and a 30- by 60-inch tub. With tight conditions such as these, consider a glass panel instead of a glass shower door. It will keep most of the water in the shower and will free up needed elbow room.
If your bathroom is about 5 feet wide, that’s just enough space to squeeze in a toilet and a 30- by 60-inch tub. With tight conditions such as these, consider a glass panel instead of a glass shower door. It will keep most of the water in the shower and will free up needed elbow room.
5. Extend the Counter Over the Toilet
This banjo-style arrangement can be done with stone or a wood slab or another countertop material. The extended counter creates just enough space for a few needed items. Toilet placement is not affected, and the look is minimalist and clean.
This banjo-style arrangement can be done with stone or a wood slab or another countertop material. The extended counter creates just enough space for a few needed items. Toilet placement is not affected, and the look is minimalist and clean.
6. Expand the Mirror
In the tightest spaces, having a mirror stretch across the wall instead of just the vanity can enable two people to use it at once. In less-than-ideal space conditions, every inch helps.
In the tightest spaces, having a mirror stretch across the wall instead of just the vanity can enable two people to use it at once. In less-than-ideal space conditions, every inch helps.
7. Select a Vanity With One Shelf
Pedestal design has gotten smarter. Even a pedestal style with one shelf can hold towels or a basket for toilet paper. I personally love the way fresh, clean towels look folded neatly in a bathroom.
Pedestal design has gotten smarter. Even a pedestal style with one shelf can hold towels or a basket for toilet paper. I personally love the way fresh, clean towels look folded neatly in a bathroom.
8. Mount the Towel Bar on a Door
Where can I put my towels? I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that question.
When space is at a minimum, mounting a towel bar on the shower door keeps towels handy. You might need to store the bulk of your towels in a nearby linen closet, but having that one towel close by to dry off with is essential.
Where can I put my towels? I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that question.
When space is at a minimum, mounting a towel bar on the shower door keeps towels handy. You might need to store the bulk of your towels in a nearby linen closet, but having that one towel close by to dry off with is essential.
9. Install a Corner Sink
Sometimes even a pedestal sink can disrupt the only available traffic lane in a bathroom.
In this case placing a corner sink across from the toilet works better than a sink across from the shower. The opening and closing of the shower door usually creates an awkward walk-around condition.
Sometimes even a pedestal sink can disrupt the only available traffic lane in a bathroom.
In this case placing a corner sink across from the toilet works better than a sink across from the shower. The opening and closing of the shower door usually creates an awkward walk-around condition.
10. Install a Trough Sink
The narrow, clean styling of a trough sink is a good-looking space solution. Trough sinks have a low profile. When wall mounted, they free up floor space as well for storage or foot traffic.
The narrow, clean styling of a trough sink is a good-looking space solution. Trough sinks have a low profile. When wall mounted, they free up floor space as well for storage or foot traffic.
11. Round the Vanity
Tight spaces can make sharp corners hip hazards. If the corners of a vanity would get in the way, opt for a rounded style. Yes, a round vanity can work in a square space. No more bruised hips!
Tight spaces can make sharp corners hip hazards. If the corners of a vanity would get in the way, opt for a rounded style. Yes, a round vanity can work in a square space. No more bruised hips!
12. Use a Wall-Mounted Faucet
Mounting a faucet on the wall allows for a narrower sink or vanity, which in turn frees up square footage in the total bathroom. Don’t be afraid to try a wall-mounted faucet in traditional design. It works anywhere!
Mounting a faucet on the wall allows for a narrower sink or vanity, which in turn frees up square footage in the total bathroom. Don’t be afraid to try a wall-mounted faucet in traditional design. It works anywhere!
Your turn: Please share your small-bathroom design tips in the Comments.
More on Houzz
10 Stylish Small Bathrooms With Walk-In Showers
Get more ideas and inspiration for small bathrooms
Find a bathroom remodeler
Shop for bathroom products
More on Houzz
10 Stylish Small Bathrooms With Walk-In Showers
Get more ideas and inspiration for small bathrooms
Find a bathroom remodeler
Shop for bathroom products
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@Joanne_Cannel_Designs, I love the idea of bifold shower doors. They are hard to find I often see them in UK photos on Pinterest. I plan to put a 48”-long soaking tub in my master bathroom, and folding doors would be ideal, both saving in space and allowing me to more safely reach the faucets.
I don’t know about your bathroom, but mine gets dusty. I think towels on low open shelves look cool, but are impractical in reality.
sherri8768 good job Sherri!