The Art of the Small Bathroom

In the gallery:

1 Duravit’s Happy D basin, here with its vanity unit above, measures 440mm wide x 335mm deep, £626 (0845 730 7787)
2 The Sail Wet Room Shower Panel from Living House, £423 plus VAT (01722 415000)
3 Modular unit from bluestone measures 540mm, £326 (0808 156 2220)
4 The ProfileTM toilet from SanLamere (UK), with integrated basin (020 8944 7700)
5 Living House’s 500 Series Wall Hung Basin, measures 520mm, £219 plus VAT (as before)

Much has changed over the years when it comes to our homes: how we live in them, what day-to-day tasks we carry out in them and what we expect of them; but the room which has seen the biggest transformation has to be the bathroom.

Where the bathroom was once seen as a luxury, we now see it as not only a necessity, but also somewhere to relax and unwind. Who would have thought that the room most often missing from a house altogether would one day become one of the biggest selling points. However, despite our passion for stylish and luxurious bathrooms, not all of us have the available space for huge bathing areas. Renovators of older houses in particular often find themselves faced with compact bathrooms, and whilst self-builders may be starting from scratch, it is often the bedrooms and living areas which are given priority in the space stakes.

So, just how do you go about making the most of the space you have available? Thankfully, many bathroom manufacturers are aware of the space constraints that a lot of people are faced with and so have good ranges specifically designed to fit in the more bijou bathrooms out there. Making the most of a small space is about more than just which products you choose, it is also based on thorough planning of how to best use your modestly scaled space and good design. Before coming up with any potential layouts, you should give thought to what you need from your bathroom. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Who will be using the room? Is it an en suite, or a family bathroom that needs to take into account the needs of small children? Perhaps there is an elderly member of the family that needs to be considered.

• Will you need a bath, or would a shower be sufficient for your needs? Or would you ideally like both?

• How much storage will you need for towels, toiletries and other bathroom essentials?

Once you have answers to these questions, you can begin to think about drawing up a plan. You cannot just rearrange the bathroom layout if you feel it isn’t working, so make sure you get it right from the start. To draw up a plan, measure the internal dimensions of your bathroom, taking doors and windows into account, as well as any features such as sloping ceilings, awkward corners etc. Using graph paper, draw a scaled plan (using a 10:1 ratio). Finally, don’t forget to consider the direction that doors and windows open, or to mark on heating, ventilation and storage space.

ABOVE: Clever design can maximise the feeling of space When designing your layout pay attention to where your door and windows will be. Although both are necessary for a practical bathroom, they do not have to follow convention. Sliding doors are a fantastic option for small bathrooms, or, failing that, consider doors that open outwards as opposed to encroaching on an otherwise tight space.

Wetrooms

Wetrooms – where the bathroom floor effectively acts as the shower tray – are often one of the first solutions that spring to mind when dealing with a room that seems too small for a traditional bathroom layout. However, they do not always work well in compact areas. Underfloor heating (UFH) is strongly advised to help things dry out quickly and good ventilation is a must. Bear in mind that in a small wetroom all fixtures and fittings are in close proximity to one another — so the room really will be a wet one after showering, including towels, toothbrushes etc. Consider adding a glazed partial wall or screen to contain some of the water.

Planning a small bathroom layout

Plan A: A tapering bath leaves space for the door. The corner WC and basin make sense here.

Plan B: Corner baths save space and provide room for an overbath shower. The wall for the WC and basin offers storage.

Plan C: The angular shower enclosure and corner basin fit neatly into this narrow bathroom.

Plan D: Despite its awkward shape, it has been possible to fit a bath and even a double vanity unit in.

Further reading:

• Wet Rooms
• The Best Basins
• A Buyer's Guide to Bathroom Taps
• The 12 Steps of Self-build: Bathrooms