Making small bathrooms beautiful and practical

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 27th June 2023

As our population grows and cities become more cramped, the new houses and flats built to accommodate our ever-increasing species have to cut down on square footage. One of the main rooms for the chop is the bathroom, with many forgoing the bath all together. Despite space restrictions, small can be beautiful, and functional.

A few years ago, we saw the 'smallest house in the world' go on sale in London's trendy Barnsbury for £275,OOO. Barely the size of a lock-up garage, this one bedroom terraced house is actually just one room; 188 sq ft of space, including an airborne shelf to sleep on with a requirement to stand on the kitchen work surfaces to get into bed. While a little bit crazy and a very extreme example, our homes are getting smaller and the average bathroom now stands at 1.8 x 1.8m, a challenge for plumbers with customers who still want a luxurious and usable space, despite compact dimensions.

Getting the most out of these small spaces requires some logical thinking and knowhow when it comes to the latest bathroom trends and products. While you may not think of yourself as a 'designer' having some tips and advice for creating the look your customers want will definitely stand you in good stead. A knowledgeable and helpful installer is the kind that gets recommended.

Wall-hung wonders

A bathroom trend that's made for smaller spaces is wall hung WCs, basins and furniture. Removing the need for pedestals gives the illusion of bigger square footage, while making it easier for homeowners to keep the bathroom clean, with nowhere for dust to hide.

Using specialist frames, wall-hung WCs and basins are easy to install and when it comes to the loo, unsightly cisterns can be hidden from view. We recommend going one step further with this concept, housing the cistern in the toilet bowl of a newly popular modern design. This not only saves space, as a boxing for a wall-hung frame isn't required, but also makes for easier installation.

Multi-functionality

One of the key tricks for tiny bathrooms is choosing products that have a multi-functional purpose. Basins with vanity units underneath and baths with hidden storage are ideal, using up areas that would normally be dead space and, therefore, not encroaching unnecessarily on wall or floor area. There are even loos that incorporate sinks above the cistern, such as the type which recycles hand washing water so it can be used for flushing.

The ultimate multi-functional bathroom is the wet room, a good choice for cloakrooms and en-suites. A wet room can be total, or partial, with a dry area delineated while still creating the open feel. Simple glass divides and low lying shower trays provide a designated showering area and keep the rest of the space dry without dividing the room too much.

Space illusions

A sense of space can be created with a clever design tricks and fit for purpose product choices. In particularly small bathrooms, where every millimetre counts, these techniques will make a big difference. Short projection options are available for all vanity units and sanitary ware, cutting down the space they take-up without compromising end-user experience. Choose vanity units and bathroom furniture with mirrored, light and/or gloss finishes to help bounce light around the room. In general, light is good, dark is bad. For attic bathrooms, why not suggest a skylight?

Storage is essential. While you may think cramming cupboards into a small bathroom is counter intuitive, toiletry clutter can make a room look messy. Sleek clean lines, free from shampoo bottles and loo cleaners create a modern, high-end finish, something that's popular with the majority of customers. When it comes to the bathroom, small can most definitely be beautiful. Help your customers make the most of these oh so important spaces, using clever styling and fit-for-purpose products that cover more than just one function. If 'small' is our future, let's make it great.

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