Small Bathroom Designs – Questions to Ask and Answer
Those of us who live in the real world, instead of the world of glossy shelter magazines, often have bathrooms which are much smaller than those in the pretty pictures. Many, if not most, existing homes have bathrooms built when bathrooms were just that, not luxury spas or excercise rooms, and we have to deal with the realities of 5′ x 7′, 6′x 6′, or perhaps even smaller.
Typical small bathroom designs include a toilet, wash basin or vanity, and a bathtub which usually does double duty as a shower. Some small bathrooms are large enough to include a separate shower, or double vanity sinks. There are all kinds of tricks to making the small space work as well as possible.
Tubs and Showers
One big question to answer right away is: do you really need a bathtub? Many people nowadays take showers all the time and never lie in the tub, so if that describes you, consider the possibility or doing away with the tub altogether. Most people want to have one tub in the house somewhere, but if you have more than one bathroom you may not need a tub in every one of them. If you feel you must include a tub, does it need to be full size? Tubs come in different lengths as well as the standard 5ft, and you also have the option of using a Japanese-style sitting/soaking tub.
Whirlpool tubs can be incredible space hogs but you can also get models which fit into the same footprint as a standard tub.
A curved shower curtain rod over the bathtub gives you a much more spacious feeling in the shower but takes up no extra space when the curtain is pulled back. It does take up more visual space when the curtain drawn across, but you’re standing in the tub then so probably no-one is looking at the curtain from the outside!
Sinks and Vanities
Pedestal sinks take up less floor space than vanities and make the room seem bigger because you can see more floor, but they remove the potential storage space of the vanity cabinets. A pedestal sink with a skirt round is the worst of all worlds – the fabric skirt gets dirty and needs washing frequently, gets wet and attracts mildew, doesn’t create a dust-free, clean storage area, and takes up space.
A halfway-point between a pedestal sink and a vanity is a half-depth vanity with a sink that projects over the front of it, sometimes called a “belly sink” because of its shape. This gives you a full size sink, often with some landing space at either side, and enclosed storage space, but the cabinet takes up less floor space than a regular depth vanity.
Double vanities don’t take up a whole lot more space than a single and can really make a difference if you have a “morning rush hour” in the bathroom. Back-to back sinks may be an alternative to side by side.
Toilets
Wall hung toilets, like pedestal sinks, make more floor space visible and make the room seem bigger.
Storage
Storage high on the walls can provide space for towels etc without using space where your body needs to go. Storage outside the bathroom for major piles of spare towels can free up space.
Small bathroom designs often use the tiniest sliver of space to provide more storage. Does your tub reach all the way to both sides of the bathroom? If not, there may be space for shelves at the non-plumbing end. How about a space between the vanity and the tub – could it be used for cubbies to hold towels? It’s common to find bathroom medicine cabinets intended to fit between the wall studs, but you can expand on this idea and make full height cupboards which do the same and can hold huge amounts of toiletries, cosmetics and medicines, all of which normally come in small containers which fit nicely in the small shelves.
For some folks, book storage in the bathroom is important. Make sure it can be reached by a person sitting on the throne!
Hooks and Towel Rails
Use every possible spot to provide hanging space for towels and facecloths. While pictures often show towels neatly hung on a rail in stacks – bath sheet, hand towel, and facecloth – in practice this doesn’t last longer than about 5 minutes because people need to USE the towels, and let them dry after use.
You’ll also need hooks for clothing: nightclothes, robes, the clothes you take off before getting into the shower, and the clothes you plan to put on after you get out. If there aren’t enough places to hang clothes and towels, expect to find them on the floor instead!
Small bathroom designs are like playing the computer video game Tetris: you have these items of various shapes to fit together into a neat pattern without wasting any space.
Small Bathroom Designs
It’s lovely to look at the pretty pictures in the glossy magazines, and we can often get some great renovation ideas from them, but for most existing bathrooms in the real world that need remodeling, they are not very useful.
If your bathroom is a standard 5′ x 7′ shoebox surrounded by stairs, kitchens, and other non-grabbable areas so you can’t make it any bigger, your problems are of a different kind than those of the person designing the 10′ x 16′ master bath.
Small bathroom designs come with a limited number of possible layouts, depending on the size of the room, location of doors and windows, location of exterior walls and existing plumbing, and what you want to squeeze into the room.
Let’s look at a few small bathroom floor plans and discuss pros and cons of each.
Small Bathroom Designs example 1
In this 5′ 6′ x 7′ 6″ room, the bathtub/shower combo occupies one complete end of the room, and the toilet and vanity occupy the rest of the long wall.
Pros:
- no plumbing in exterior wall (good in cold climates)
- all plumbing in the same wall – makes vents and drains easy, supply lines short.
- tub in its own niche – easy to waterproof all 3 walls and install shower curtain rail
- space for a towel hook between the tub and the door
Cons:
- toilet in full view through door
- shower and bath faucets are harder to reach past the vanity/sink
- door may bang against tub
- window right by toilet (OK if it’s high, otherwise may need curtain or obscured glass)
- required floorspace for all 3 fixtures overlaps, hard to have multiple people using the space unless they are VERY close friends
- Little storage space: mainly wall cabinets over the toilet and sink, sink vanity cabinet. Could add a high shelf over the window.
Small bathroom designs: example 2
This room is square rather than rectangular, and a tub would make the whole room very cramped. This design uses a corner shower instead of a tub.
Pros:
- toilet protected by door, instead the vanity is the view through the door
- no plumbing in exterior wall
- corner shower is attractive and easy to install
Cons:
- door may bang against toilet, or even a person using the toilet
- required floorspace for all 3 fixtures overlaps, hard to have multiple people using the space
- Little storage space: mainly wall cabinets over the toilet and sink, sink vanity cabinet. Could add a high shelf over the window.
- nowhere convenient to hang a towel ready for when you’re done in the shower
Small bathroom designs: example 3
This alternative layout for a 7.5 x 5.5 foot room shows the toilet and sink on the wall at the far end of the room from the tub. This assumes a door which is no wider than normal, and a pedestal sink that doesn’t stick out too far.
Pros:
- required floorspace for all 3 fixtures overlaps, but the area feels a little more spacious than in the other layouts.
- tub in its own niche – easy to waterproof all 3 walls and install shower curtain rail
Cons:
- toilet in partial view through door
- door may bang against tub
- Little storage space: mainly wall cabinets over the toilet and sink. Pedestal sink doesn’t provide storage underneath. High shelf is possible on the sink/toilet wall, or the long wall from toilet to bathtub.
Some of the factors to take into account when you’re designing your small bathroom are:
- Existing plumbing locations, if any: while it’s cheaper to keep locations as they are (and perhaps means you don’t need to get a plumbing permit), if the bathroom is small anyway the cost of moving the tub or sink may not be very much. Moving the toilet is a much more expensive and complex proposition.
- External wall location: in a cold climate it’s better to keep water supply lines, at least, away from cold exterior walls.
- Door location: in a rectangular room a door is better in the middle of a long wall, giving you more options for fixture locations. Worst is right in a corner, which blocks off the wall next to it completely. In a small square room the corner location may be better.
- Type of door: while a pocket door saves space inside the room, my experience is that the water vapor from the bathroom gets into the wall pocket, condenses there, and then you get mold. In a very tight space an outward-opening door may be the only solution.
- View into the room: if you can work it so that the view through the open door is of the vanity area or a pretty shower curtain, do so. If your only option is a view of the toilet, maybe you’ll just need to get into the habit of leaving the door closed.
- Required floor space for fixtures: there are minimum standards for the amount of floor space next to each fixture to make it possible and comfortable to use. In a small bathroom design these will almost always overlap to some extent. If you know that more than one person will use the bath at a time, try to make the free floorspace long and narrow rather than square, making it easier for 2 people to be in the room at once.
- Storage space: while a pedestal sink leaves more floor in view and can make the room feel larger, a vanity cabinet gives you storage. In a small bath your best bet is usually wall storage as there’s no floor space for freestanding cabinets. Storage set into the wall studs (not just medicine cabinets but full height storage) is a good option where a door opens against a wall so you can’t project into the room much, and storage above head height, such as a wall to wall shelf for towels, can take a surprising amount of stuff.
- Fixture choices: do you have to have a tub? Replacing a tub with a shower can give you a better shower experience and more space in the room, maybe even enough for a double vanity.
As you can see, there’s a lot to think about and many options for improving the layout, comfort and function of your small bathroom.
Bathroom Shower Designs
Many small bathroom designs only include a bathtub, rather than a tub and a separate shower. Most of these tubs normally double as showers. Even though it’s often a good thing to have one bathroom fixture that can do two jobs, you may be looking for a shower that’s larger, or more convenient, or more comfortable. If you’re planning a bathroom remodeling project, consider separating the tub and the shower, or even completely replacing the tub with a large shower. That means you’ll need a shower stall, either ready made or built-to-fit. Bathroom shower designs cover a wide range of options, from all-in-one acrylic or fiberglass panel models, through moulded pans to which you add your own wall covering, such as ceramic tile, all the way to custom built mortar pans as a base for tile or stone.
The most important factor when searching for a new shower stall is the amount of space that you have for it to fit into. If you are changing from a combo bathtub/shower to a bathtub and a standalone shower, you may not have a lot of space to work with. If that’s so, your options may be somewhat limited. On the other hand, if you are completely gutting and remodeling the whole room, you may be able to adjust the space available to fit the shower stall you’ve set your heart on.
Once you’ve made the decision that you need to buy a new shower stall, as well as deciding on the appropriate size, you’ll need to start shopping for your shower. You might expect to find all the parts you need all in the same place, but that may be more difficult than you expect. Although there are plenty of retailers, especially large home improvement centers, that sell standalone shower kits, many do not, and you may not be looking for an all-in-one kit. The required parts may include, but aren’t necessarily limited to:
- materials for building niche for shower
- shower pan or floor
- drain fittings
- shower wall materials (panels, tiles, mortar etc)
- shower door or curtain and rod
- shower controls and head
Each of these items has many choices available and you’ll need to make decisions about each one, first the type of item needed, then the specific item you want to use.
Once extremely important practical point, especially where you’re replacing an existing shower stall, is the location of the drain piping in relation to the drain hole in the new shower pan. It’s essential that these match up!
Once the buying process starts, many homeowners go searching for the nicest looking standalone shower but may be disappointed that it doesn’t fall within their budget. Perhaps you may be looking for the best, but you might be remodeling your bathroom on a tight budget. If so, you’ll be happy to learn that standalone showers and otehr shower components come in many different sizes, shapes, colors and styles. Whether you’re considering an expensive trendy looking shower, a traditionally styled one, something with dozens of nozzles for water, steam and who knows what else, or simply the most affordable one that does what you need, there’s a strong chance that you can find exactly what you are looking for.
Most home improvement stores, online and offline, carry a selection of shower components and supplies, including some that are grouped into kits and which can be cheaper than buying all the parts separately.On the other hand, if you have the time and patience to watch for bargains, you can get great deals on separate components and match them together yourself.
Offline “real world” stores have the advantage that you can see the actual shower stall you’re planning to buy, step into it, and try it out for size and comfort. Large stores sometimes have quite extensive displays of stalls and pans, and even more plumbing fixtures so you can see all the choices of faucets, valves, controls and shower heads. Modern bathroom shower designs have changed a lot since our parents “two separate faucets on the wall, and a shower head”.
Many kit showers, or pans and wall panels made from acrylic or fiberglass, are simple for a moderately experienced DIY-er to install him or herself. The most important thing to remember is “measure twice, cut once”: especially for cutting holes for plumbing pipes, consider making a full-size template of the layout and transferring it to your wall panels.
Bathroom Tile Design Ideas
The bathroom and tile design go together like… hmmm…. rhubarb and custard? Maybe even better than that! Seriously though, the beauty of tile and its tough, waterproof surface make it the perfect material for bathroom walls and floors, especially in wet areas.
Functionally, there are many things to take into account. When choosing tiles, make sure the tile you pick is suitable for the area you plan to use it – waterproof enough for the bath or shower, and textured and tough enough for the floor.
Here are some pictures of tile use in bathrooms to help you come up with your own bathroom tile design ideas.
Large wall tiles broken up with narrow contrast stripes behind a white vessel sink
The large pale mottled/marbled effect tiles have a quiet, soothing effect, while the contrast stripes are made up of multiple small stone tiles in different colors, and break up the expanse to a more human scale.
Pale blue/grey/silver mosaic tiles behind a white vessel sink
The subtle damask-type pattern in these pale blue-grey tiles sweeps over all the bathroom walls. It gives the walls lots of interest while not being obtrusive, and makes a great background for the natural wood, metal and stone finishes.
Shades of black, grey, white and silver mosaic tiles
This is quite a busy mosaic tile pattern. It might make a good shower or bathtub surround for a morning-use bathroom when you want to be woken up! Alternatively, panels of this pattern surrounded by white would pop out and make a statement without being overwhelming.
Large pale diagonal tiles with narrow striped accent
These are the same pale marbled tiles in the first picture above, with the same small rectangular stone accent tiles, but here the large tiles are set on the diagonal. The swoopy towel ring makes a nice contrast with the straight lines of the tiles.
Bathroom Design: Pictures and Photos
One fun way to get more bathroom ideas for your new bathroom designs is to look at pictures of what other people have done with their bathrooms. Here are pictures of some nicely remodeled bathrooms, from the basic to the luxurious, and of several sizes.
Of course, you don’t have to copy all the ideas from one bathroom picture – you can mix and match compatible ideas to come up with your own unique bathroom decor style. The textured metal in the first picture, for example, gives a very sparkly look which could be paired with blue granite counters and deep colored walls instead of the natural wood and pale walls shown. The more of your own imagination you can include in your bathroom designs, the better!
Modern bathroom with lots of sparkly textured stainless steel and natural wood.
Antique-style natural wood vanity with white solid-surfacing top, integral sink and gold-finish faucet
Traditional-style bathroom with wallpaper, beige fixtures, bathtub in alcove, light wood double vanity.
Wall-to-wall double bathroom vanity with white vessel sinks, tiled walls and granite counter
A romantic bathroom scene with candles, roses and wine carefully placed on the rim of the set-in tub.
Updated bathroom using old and new materials: natural stone window seat, elaborate but subtly-colored tile mosaic walls, and white vessel sink.
Glass tiles with wide grout lines in many shades of blue
Old but still attractive bathroom in shades of green with white pedestal sink
Romantic-style bathroom vanity with ornate wood mirror, boudoir lamp, granite counter and waterfall faucet
Modern toilet alcove, completely tiled, with built in hand-held shower plus a telephone
Inset tub with columns, swagged curtains, candle-holders; all ready for your romantic evening
Modern toilet alcove with hidden tank, completely tiled walls and floor, stainless steel accessories
Fancy white and gold bathtub faucet, dark blue marble walls, white tub
Grey and green marble and tile, plus natural wood finishes; unusual toilet shape.