Small bathroom ideas: Seven ways to maximise space

A small bathroom poses unique challenges for design and layout. 

You need to be creative to make the most of all the space in your small bathroom and ensure that it looks great and functions brilliantly. A bit of imagination will help you keep the costs down too.

Use a corner and/or wall-hung basin and toilet to make the most of your space and squeeze your shower and bath into your corners too.

The more floor area you can see in your small bathroom, the larger it will appear. Opt for a wall-hung basin and toilet that is fixed directly to your wall without a floor stand. This will streamline your space to create a contemporary, minimalist aesthetic and make the room easier to clean.

A shower-bath combination, where your bath doubles as a shower enclosure, is a practical solution if you don’t have room for a separate shower and bathtub. It means you can have a quick shower when you’re in a rush and a relaxing bath when you have time to unwind.

To save valuable space and improve accessibility in your small bathroom, choose an accordion-style shower door or a door that swings open into your shower. You could also go for a long thin walk-in shower that doesn’t require a door.

Play with light tones and bold accents to visually enlarge your small bathroom. A lick of paint can give your space a complete makeover at very little cost; just make sure that the paint you choose is suitable for a bathroom's damp and steamy atmosphere.

Light and neutral tones, which reflect natural and artificial light, will push the walls of your small bathroom outwards, creating a feeling of openness and space.

These on-trend light colours will help your mini bathroom feel that bit bigger:

• Off-white: softer than pure white, this will bring a warmth to your room and, if it has reflective properties, it will make your bathroom feel more welcoming and spacious.
• Pale grey: a perennial favourite for modern bathrooms, this sleek, contemporary canvas pairs beautifully with white tiles, black fixtures and timber accents.
• Sand: this warm beige adds subtle depth while keeping things calm and inviting, it provides a backdrop for a grounded, nature-inspired scheme.
• Taupe: this sophisticated hybrid of grey and brown creates warmth without making your room feel closed in. Add brass details and natural textures for an understated, luxurious look.
• Very pale blue: this whisper-soft blue brings clarity and lightness to your small bathroom, offering a fresh and airy, New England, seaside feel.
• Pastel green: soothing and versatile, this pairs beautifully with white and terrazzo to give your compact bathroom the elegance of a Mediterranean boutique hotel.   

Incorporating roof windows into your scheme will flood your bathroom with natural light and enhance the effect of your colour palette, making your room feel even more inviting and spacious.

While neutral tones are recommended for small bathrooms for their space-enhancing properties, they still leave room for creative expression. A thoughtfully designed feature wall —whether that introduces a new texture, material or a soft tonal shift — is a way to inject your personality into your space, without overpowering it or blowing the budget.

If you're considering adding a feature wall into your small bathroom, opt for colour combinations that feel elevated and intentional. Here are a few design-forward pairings to inspire:

• Deep blue and grey tones: a deep inky blue on one wall, paired with light grey tones on the other sides of your bathroom evokes an inspiring, yet calm atmosphere. 
• Emerald green and off-white: an emerald green accent wall adds a touch of luxury to your small bathroom, balance this with off-white on adjacent walls to set a light, graceful scene.  
• Mustard yellow and beige: a rich yellow feature wall paired with soft beige walls gives your bathroom the feel of a sunny Mediterranean courtyard. 
• Terracotta and taupe: add warmth and depth to your small bathroom with a terracotta accent wall set alongside taupe walls; this wakes you up in the morning when lit with natural light and relaxes you when lit with artificial light at the end of the day. 
• Charcoal grey and white: a charcoal grey wall set alongside bright white walls, gives your space a chic modern architectural vibe.

You can visually enlarge your mini bathroom by harnessing the power of artificial light. 

LED lights use less energy and last much longer than traditional light bulbs, making them more sustainable and cheaper to run. They are also available in a host of formats and colours. 

Look for a bathroom mirror with integrated LED lights for a clean shave and perfect make up. Use colour-changing strip LED lighting along skirting boards to provide gentle, flexible illumination at night. LED sconces on your walls will eliminate unwanted shadows and overhead LED spots will illuminate your whole space.

Natural light can completely transform your small bathroom, making it feel brighter, higher and more open. If your space allows, consider budgeting for roof windows or a sun tunnel — both are clever ways to bring in more  natural daylight  where traditional windows aren’t an option.

Sun tunnels are especially effective if your bathroom has no windows or sits under your eaves. While roof windows will bring fresh air and natural ventilation into your space — key for maintaining a healthy, comfortable environment. To ensure privacy and to screen your bathroom from the sun, choose from a selection of stylish VELUX roof window accessories. 

Smart storage solutions are an essential part of any small bathroom design.

Available in a range of materials and finishes, floating shelves look refined, free up floor space and provide a useful storage area for attractive toiletries, piles of fluffy towels and, perhaps, a trailing plant. 

In compact bathrooms, every design choice counts. Your storage should feel as intentional as your finishes. A built-in medicine cabinet, for medicines, cosmetics and other less attractive necessities, offers a sleek, space-saving solution that blends seamlessly into your wall, ensuring clean lines and visual flow.
A mirrored option will bounce light further around your bathroom, creating the illusion of more space. 

Adding built-in wall niches is a clever technique for efficiently utilising every square inch of your small bathroom. Integrate them into your bath or shower area to hold shampoo, bubble bath and shower gel bottles.

The latest ‘smart’ taps combine advanced technology with modern design. Equipped with motion sensors and water-saving devices, these reduce your water consumption and make your home more sustainable.

Some programmable models allow you to precisely adjust your water temperature to your preference, this avoids scalding and guarantees the perfect bath temperature every time.

If you don’t have room for a full-size bath, you may be able to squeeze in a compact version. You’ll find a selection of bathtub styles available in smaller sizes, so you won’t have to give up the pleasure of a relaxing bath, even in a small space. You will also use less water filling up a small bath, which will help reduce your utility bills.

To make your bathroom feel bright and airy, opt for a clutter-free, minimalist  design that focuses on clean lines and simple shapes.

Accessories should feel curated, not cluttered. Think sculptural towel hooks, streamlined radiators and a beautiful soap dispenser.

Multifunctional products, such as mirrors with integrated storage and heated towel rails, are smart solutions for small rooms. They make the most of your limited space while maintaining an attractive aesthetic

Large-format tiles are a clever way to visually open up your compact bathroom. Fewer grout lines mean fewer visual breaks, creating a seamless, expansive feel. Opt for soft, light tones to enhance brightness and consider a glossy finish to reflect light and further amplify your space.

Use geometric patterned tiles to add energy and interest to your small room without overwhelming it. Whether on an accent wall or your floor, stick to a light colour palette to keep the look cohesive and avoid visual clutter. 

Install a discreet extractor fan to maintain optimum air quality in your small bathroom. This will also help remove humidity and prevent mould growth, ensuring a healthy and comfortable environment.

Hidden door and window grills will improve the ventilation in your small bathroom, but modern roof windows are the best way to draw in fresh air, remove stale air and ventilate your space. They will make your small room feel bigger and brighter too and they make a great alternative to an extractor fan, which can emit an annoying hum.