11 Design Tricks From Small Bathrooms Around the World
Don't let the tiny space you have stop you from enjoying your bathroom. Take a tip from these stylish examples
Chiquit Brammall
19 July 2017
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
Some of these bathrooms will make you do a double take because they’re about the same size as a typical Singapore apartment bathroom. They are, however, packed with personality and style.
1. Elongating/widening visual cue
Location: Australia
A mid-height horizontal tile border creates the illusion of a wider bathroom, as does the strategically placed vanity mirror (which visually doubles the number of windows). In a dramatically contrasting colour, black, to the stark whiteness of the wall tiles, the tile border directs eye movement. Grey floor tiles balance the contrasting colours.
Location: Australia
A mid-height horizontal tile border creates the illusion of a wider bathroom, as does the strategically placed vanity mirror (which visually doubles the number of windows). In a dramatically contrasting colour, black, to the stark whiteness of the wall tiles, the tile border directs eye movement. Grey floor tiles balance the contrasting colours.
2. Storage galore
Location: Canada
If you are renovating, plan for built-in storage with a clever combination of wall niches, open shelving and cabinets. This will allow you to maintain a clutter-free bathroom.
Location: Canada
If you are renovating, plan for built-in storage with a clever combination of wall niches, open shelving and cabinets. This will allow you to maintain a clutter-free bathroom.
3. Incorporating a soaking tub
Location: France
Another consideration for renovation: a soaking tub incorporated in your shower space. Inspired by Japanese soaking tubs, this is smaller than a standard bathtub, yet provides you that luxury of a good soak when your body needs it.
Location: France
Another consideration for renovation: a soaking tub incorporated in your shower space. Inspired by Japanese soaking tubs, this is smaller than a standard bathtub, yet provides you that luxury of a good soak when your body needs it.
4. Bring the eye up
Location: Germany
Make the small bathroom simple and straightforward – washbasin, toilet and shower all in one line – and then draw the eye towards a stunning, backlit ceiling. It doesn’t have to be a floral print. Choose your favourite scenic destination or art print, and have it printed onto heat-resistant acrylic to create your own customised light box ceiling.
Location: Germany
Make the small bathroom simple and straightforward – washbasin, toilet and shower all in one line – and then draw the eye towards a stunning, backlit ceiling. It doesn’t have to be a floral print. Choose your favourite scenic destination or art print, and have it printed onto heat-resistant acrylic to create your own customised light box ceiling.
5. Sunny colour
Location: Italy
Visually increase the amount of sunlight coming through your single window by using a cheery, glossy yellow colour on the walls. They bounce off light beautifully, and make the small bathroom seem to glow.
Location: Italy
Visually increase the amount of sunlight coming through your single window by using a cheery, glossy yellow colour on the walls. They bounce off light beautifully, and make the small bathroom seem to glow.
6. Luxe it up with a distracting feature
Location: Russia
The sculptural lighting feature here has the effect of drawing the eye from the vanity mirror up to the ceiling, while the mirror creates the illusion of the lighting feature encompassing more space than it does.
Location: Russia
The sculptural lighting feature here has the effect of drawing the eye from the vanity mirror up to the ceiling, while the mirror creates the illusion of the lighting feature encompassing more space than it does.
7. If you dare, replace walls with glass
Location: Spain
This one makes so much sense, yet is only for the truly bold-hearted. Glass walls are thinner than bathroom walls that have waterproofing underneath the tiles, so you basically reclaim several millimetres on two sides of the bathroom. Plus, they let all the light – whether daylight or artificial light – in to illuminate your small space. The downside is, you have to be either living alone or completely confident doing all your bathroom activities in full view of your partner.
Location: Spain
This one makes so much sense, yet is only for the truly bold-hearted. Glass walls are thinner than bathroom walls that have waterproofing underneath the tiles, so you basically reclaim several millimetres on two sides of the bathroom. Plus, they let all the light – whether daylight or artificial light – in to illuminate your small space. The downside is, you have to be either living alone or completely confident doing all your bathroom activities in full view of your partner.
8. Try open-plan
Location: Leicestershire, UK
Technically known as a wet room, this bathroom design has been around for ages, but lost its popularity due to water from the shower spreading out towards the floor where the washbasin is. In our humidity, a wet room is not ideal unless you’re diligent about cleaning the bathroom floor (that is, pushing all the water down the drain with a squeegee) after every shower. However, it provides much-needed elbow room in a tiny bathroom – you can stretch out and reach your back without hitting the shower partition, you can get a comfortably-sized washbasin that you’re not splashing out of when you wash your face, etc.
Location: Leicestershire, UK
Technically known as a wet room, this bathroom design has been around for ages, but lost its popularity due to water from the shower spreading out towards the floor where the washbasin is. In our humidity, a wet room is not ideal unless you’re diligent about cleaning the bathroom floor (that is, pushing all the water down the drain with a squeegee) after every shower. However, it provides much-needed elbow room in a tiny bathroom – you can stretch out and reach your back without hitting the shower partition, you can get a comfortably-sized washbasin that you’re not splashing out of when you wash your face, etc.
9. Be bold with colour
Location: Italy
Just because it’s a small bathroom doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on style and colour. Have fun with it, as this colour-blocked bathroom does.
Location: Italy
Just because it’s a small bathroom doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on style and colour. Have fun with it, as this colour-blocked bathroom does.
10. Consider a folding glass shower screen
Location Germany
Can’t bear the wetness of the open-plan bathroom? Glass panels fold away into a narrower panel so that you have more space in the bathroom to move.
Location Germany
Can’t bear the wetness of the open-plan bathroom? Glass panels fold away into a narrower panel so that you have more space in the bathroom to move.
11. Play the mirror trick
Location: London, UK
The way the mirrors are used here, as cabinet fronts behind the washbasin, are multi-purpose. They provide storage; visually enlarge the bathroom, especially for the person using the washbasin; and they’re functional mirrors for grooming.
TELL US
How do you maximise and decorate your small bathroom? Share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
See small bathroom design photos
Location: London, UK
The way the mirrors are used here, as cabinet fronts behind the washbasin, are multi-purpose. They provide storage; visually enlarge the bathroom, especially for the person using the washbasin; and they’re functional mirrors for grooming.
TELL US
How do you maximise and decorate your small bathroom? Share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
See small bathroom design photos
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Thank you so much for including our Silver Shadow Marble wetroom, it's one of our favourites!
Thank you for featuring one of our bathrooms in this post.