Small Bathroom Ideas: 17 Ways to Make Yours Feel Bigger
17 small bathroom ideas from an interior designer: layouts, fittings, tiles, colours, storage and lighting to make a small bathroom feel bigger, plus budget tips.
By Magda Callery, interior designer and florist
Small bathrooms are some of the most common rooms I'm asked about, and some of the most rewarding to design. With the right layout, fittings, colours and storage, even a tiny bathroom or shower room can feel calm, light and surprisingly spacious.
In this guide I'll share 17 small bathroom ideas, from layout and fittings to tiles, colour, lighting and storage, plus the best small bathroom layouts, common mistakes and how to decorate a small bathroom on a budget.
The quick answer: To make a small bathroom feel bigger, use wall-hung fittings to show more floor, swap a bath for a walk-in shower with a single glass panel, choose large-format tiles and a light, consistent colour scheme, add a large mirror or mirrored cabinet, build in niches and recessed storage, and layer your lighting. Keep the palette simple and the surfaces clear, and add one or two characterful details so the room still feels personal.
17 Small Bathroom Ideas
Layout and fittings
1. Choose wall-hung fittings. A floating vanity and a wall-hung toilet show more floor, which makes the room feel bigger and is much easier to clean.
2. Swap the bath for a walk-in shower. If you rarely use the bath, a walk-in shower with one fixed glass panel opens up the room and removes the visual barrier of a shower door.
3. Try a wet room. In a very small space, a fully tiled wet room with a level floor and linear drain makes the whole room part of the shower. A seamless microcement bathroom is a lovely way to finish it.
4. Keep a bath with a shower over. If you need a bath, a shorter or back-to-wall bath with a simple glass bath screen gives you both in the same footprint.
5. Fit a corner or compact basin. A small corner basin or a slim cloakroom basin frees up precious space, especially in an en suite or downstairs WC.
6. Use a pocket or outward-opening door. A door that swings into a small bathroom eats into the space. A sliding pocket door or one that opens outwards can make a big difference.
Tiles, colour and finishes
7. Use large-format tiles. Fewer grout lines make walls and floors feel calmer and larger. Running the same tile from floor to wall makes the room feel even more seamless.
8. Keep one colour throughout. A consistent palette on walls, floor and fittings stops the eye from breaking the room up. Soft whites and warm neutrals are the classic choice, and these best white paint colours are a good place to start.
9. Or go dark and cosy. In a room with little natural light, a deep blue or green can look rich and cocooning rather than cramped, especially with brass taps and good lighting.
10. Add texture with panelling. Tongue and groove or slatted panelling painted in a soft colour adds character and height when it runs vertically.
11. Try bold wallpaper. A patterned wallpaper on one wall or above panelling adds personality without taking up space. These bathroom wallpaper ideas include papers suitable for humid rooms.
Storage
12. Build in a shower niche. A recessed niche in the shower wall holds bottles without shelves or caddies, keeping the room clean and uncluttered.
13. Use a mirrored cabinet. A tall mirrored cabinet above the basin doubles as storage and a mirror, bouncing light around the room.
14. Use the space above the toilet. A narrow shelf or cabinet above the toilet is often the most useful storage spot in a small bathroom.
15. Hang things on the back of the door. Hooks on the door and a heated towel rail on the wall keep towels off the floor and dry them quickly.
Light and details
16. Make the most of daylight. A skylight, a frosted window film instead of blinds or a light-reflecting finish helps a small bathroom feel bright. Layer a ceiling light with a mirror light for the evening.
17. Add one natural touch. A plant that loves humidity, a wooden bath mat or a stone soap dish softens a small bathroom. The ideas in this organic bathroom design guide work at any size, and these Spanish style bathroom accessories add warmth.
Best Layouts for a Small Bathroom
| Layout | Best for | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in shower, basin and toilet along one wall | Narrow rooms | Keeps a clear walkway |
| Bath with shower over | Families who need a bath | Bath and shower in one footprint |
| Wet room | Very small or awkward rooms | The whole room becomes the shower |
| Corner shower with corner basin | Square rooms | Frees up the middle of the room |
| Cloakroom basin and toilet | Downstairs WC | Compact fittings for tiny spaces |
Small Bathroom Ideas on a Budget
- Paint instead of tiling. Bathroom paint on the walls above a tiled splashback costs far less than full tiling.
- Change the taps and handles. New taps, a new shower head and new cabinet handles make a dated room feel fresh.
- Add a large mirror. One of the cheapest ways to make a small room feel bigger.
- Regrout and reseal. Fresh grout and silicone can make old tiles look almost new.
- Swap the accessories. New towels, a bath mat and a few matching bottles make a big difference for little money.
Small Bathroom Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why it's a problem | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| A bulky floor-standing vanity | Hides the floor and makes the room feel smaller | Choose a wall-hung vanity |
| Too many small tiles and patterns | The room feels busy | Use large tiles and one pattern at most |
| A single overhead light | Harsh shadows and a gloomy feel | Layer ceiling, mirror and accent lighting |
| Open clutter | Bottles and products make the room feel cramped | Build in niches and closed storage |
| Poor ventilation | Damp and mould in a small room | Fit a good extractor fan and keep it clean |
Make Your Small Bathroom Efficient Too
A small bathroom is a good chance to save water and energy. The Energy Saving Trust points out that "Spending less time in the shower will reduce the volume of water that goes down the drain." A water-efficient shower head, a dual-flush toilet and a heated towel rail on a timer all help keep running costs down.
How I Design Small Bathrooms
After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, I've designed plenty of tiny bathrooms and cloakrooms, and the same rules always help.
- I plan the layout first. Moving the toilet or basin a few centimetres can change how the whole room works.
- I keep the floor visible. Wall-hung fittings and a clear floor make the biggest difference.
- I limit materials. Two or three finishes at most keep a small room calm.
- I add flowers or greenery. As a florist, I love a small vase of fresh flowers or a trailing plant on a shelf; it makes even a tiny bathroom feel cared for.
The same small space thinking applies across the home, as in these smart small space tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my small bathroom look bigger?
Use wall-hung fittings, a walk-in shower with a single glass panel, large-format tiles, a consistent colour scheme and a large mirror, and keep surfaces clear with built-in storage.
What colours make a small bathroom look bigger?
Soft whites, warm neutrals and pale colours make a small bathroom feel larger, especially when used on walls and floor together. Deep colours can also work well for a cosy look.
Should a small bathroom have a bath or a shower?
A walk-in shower usually makes a small bathroom feel bigger, but a short bath with a shower over is a good choice if you need a bath.
What tiles are best for a small bathroom?
Large-format tiles in a light colour make a small bathroom feel bigger because there are fewer grout lines.
How do you decorate a small bathroom on a budget?
Paint the walls instead of tiling, add a large mirror, change the taps and handles, regrout and reseal, and refresh the towels and accessories.
How do you add storage to a small bathroom?
Build a niche into the shower wall, use a mirrored cabinet above the basin, add a shelf above the toilet and hang hooks on the back of the door.
Is a wet room good for a small bathroom?
Yes. A wet room uses the whole floor as the shower, which makes a very small bathroom feel open, but it needs careful waterproofing and a good drain.
Small Room, Big Impact
A small bathroom doesn't have to feel cramped. Show more floor, choose your fittings carefully, keep the palette simple, build in clever storage and layer your lighting, and your bathroom can feel calm, bright and beautifully put together.
And if you'd like help planning a small bathroom of your own, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.
About the author
Magda Callery is a UK interior designer and florist with more than 15 years' experience designing homes, pubs, restaurants and bars, and her expert commentary has featured in Homes & Gardens, The Mirror and The Spruce. Explore more of the interior design articles.
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