The Ultimate Small Bathroom Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Making the Space Work for You

Small bathrooms don’t have to be a problem with our tips for making good use of limited space. Image: Four Point Design Build Inc.

Small bathrooms are a plight to many. At times, it can seem like there is nothing you can do to make the space more usable. That’s simply not true. There’s always a way to make your space work better for you. We promise.

If you’re ready to throw in the towel on your bathroom, don’t give up just yet. Our small bathroom guide contains the tips you need to make that room a favorite. Read on below to find out our secrets for making the most of tight spaces.

Think outside the box when it comes to configuring your layout. Image: Caroline McCredie

Get creative with the layout

When you’re dealing with tight space, it’s important to squeeze every last bit of function out of the space, even if it means foregoing convention. In this case, your focus should be ensuring that your small bathroom meets your needs, rather than worrying about how it will appear to the outside world.

Take the picture above, for example. Here, the outlier is the tub that sits inside the shower. While it may seem strange at first, the benefit of this arrangement is that the homeowner gets to enjoy both a walk-in shower and soaking tub. The bathroom also features a floating vanity, shelf and toilet, which are all typical space-saving options.

While you may not want to copy this layout in your own home, you can take a lesson from it. If you’re lucky enough to create your layout from scratch, take full advantage of the opportunity. Be sure to brainstorm ways to use every angle of the space, even if it seems odd at first.

Designing vertically will make your space appear larger. Image: Masquepintura

Think vertical

If there’s one tried-and-true rule to space-saving, it’s to never discount the value of designing vertically. When you don’t have as much horizontal space to work with as you like, thinking vertically is a way to ensure the space remains usable. As an added bonus, vertical lines can trick the eye into believing a room is bigger than it initially seems.

Again, take a second to study the photo above. You notice the shower walls are much higher than normal and there is a shelving unit situated above the toilet. Small design choices like these force the eye upward so it takes in the entirety of the space, rather than staring straight forward.

Other choices, such as adding a vertical mirror or wall hanging, can achieve the same goal. At the end of the day, you just want to ensure that as much of the space is being seen as possible.

Build in storage wherever possible. Image: ArchiBlox

Put storage everywhere

This tip may seem a bit self-explanatory, but it’s so crucial to your success. There’s no question you need somewhere to put all your belongings, especially after inhabiting the space for a while. Do yourself a favor and plan for the inevitable by including storage options wherever possible.

This picture includes a particularly good example because, not only is there extra storage that isn’t present in your typical bathroom design, it’s also embedded. Pay special attention to how the shelves are built into the wall. This allows for extra storage depth, as well as removing any need for inches to be taken up by an out-of-the-wall shelf.

If you can, we’d advise you to copy this maneuver. It’s smart and looks incredibly sleek. However, there’s no reason not to take creativity into your own hands. Feel free to explore other options such as over-door racks and space-saving ladders to give the space your own spin.

Mini spaces love minimalist looks. Image: Ivy Interior Design

Embrace minimalism

Last but not least, small bathrooms seem tailor-made for the minimalist look. Why not make the lack of space seem like a conscious decision by keeping the items inside to the bare minimum. As always, the extra negative space will only serve to highlight the items you do choose to include in your design.

If you do go this route, make sure the aesthetic choices you make are well suited for minimalism. Ultra-modern and Japanese styles are two of our go-to picks for these looks. You also want to ensure you have extra storage available elsewhere to account for items not kept in the bathroom.

Use the tips in this small bathroom guide to get the most out of your space. Image: Estee Design Inc.

Most of us would love to have more space in our bathrooms. While it may not be possible to add any more square footage, there are plenty of things you can do to put the space to better use. Use our small bathroom guide to help you get creative with your bathroom design.

Do you have a small bathroom? What advice do you have to add to this guide? Share your experiences with us in the comments.

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