A tiny bathroom is not everyone’s preferred state of being. The belief that you can’t have it all in a small space is somewhat understandable—but in our experience, with the right approach, small bathroom spaces don’t need to compromise on style and function. We’ve pulled together five key considerations when planning a small bathroom renovation.
One
Where possible, line up all services and plumbing along one wall. This simplifies the build and helps open up the other side of the room, allowing the area to feel more spacious.
It also creates an opportunity to define wet areas more clearly—tiling one side of the room while keeping the other softer. When you keep elements consistent and avoid too many visual breaks, the room just feels bigger
Two
Wall-hung fixtures are one of the easiest ways to create a sense of space. Over the years, we’ve seen how simply freeing up floor area can make a room feel more open.
While floor-standing vanities may offer additional storage, keeping the visual space beneath a wall-mounted piece is one of the best design moves in a small space.
Three
Stay small. Large format floor tiles are not your friend in small spaces. We’ve found they can lead to awkward cuts and tricky edges, particularly in tighter areas such as showers.
When selecting tiles, it’s worth working out how they will repeat across the room. In most smaller bathrooms, tiles around 300 x 300 (and smaller) tend to repeat better in the given space, resulting in a cleaner finish.
Four
A busy surface will quickly make a room feel crowded. Keeping surfaces as clear as possible makes a big difference.
Wall-mounted plumbing fixtures help to free up counter space, and you’ll notice straight away how much bigger the room feels.
Five
Harness the natural light. If possible, enlarging windows and allowing in more natural light will make your small space feel larger.
Skylights are a simple and effective way to bring light into darker bathrooms, and in our experience, they’re often easier to incorporate than expected.
An oversized mirror also helps to bounce the light around and make the space feel more open and brighter.
A really important note to remember – a small bathroom renovation doesn’t mean shorter timeframes. If anything, we’ve found these spaces require more careful planning and considered detailing. Take your time and focus on getting the work done properly.
Learn how to design and renovate your home like a pro. Contact us on hello@thehomestudio.co.za