12 Design Tips To Make A Small Bathroom Better

If you have a super small bathroom, trying to make everything fit in the available space is like doing a giant crossword puzzle.

Among the challenges: configuring the toilet and sink to code, allowing enough clearance for a shower and, of course, where to put the towels and t.p. Despite the challenges, in most cases it’s still better to squeeze in an extra bathroom where one is desperately needed, even if it must be small. If you plan on going this route, here are 12 tips for designing that picture-perfect small bathroom.

1. Install a corner sink. Sometimes even a pedestal sink can disrupt the only available traffic lane in a bathroom.

In this case placing a corner sink across from the toilet works better than a sink across from the shower. The opening and closing of the shower door usually creates an awkward walk-around condition.

2. Use a shower curtain. A shower curtain that moves back and forth saves space over a glass door that moves in and out. Shower-tub combos actually can fit into small spaces, with some tubs coming in at 60 inches in length.

3. Float the vanity. Besides just visually helping the bathroom appear bigger, mounting a vanity above the floor frees up a little space for small items.

4. Round the vanity. Tight spaces can make sharp corners hip hazards. If the corners of a vanity would get in the way, opt for a rounded style. Yes, a round vanity can work in a square space. No more bruised hips!

5. Extend the counter over the toilet. This banjo-style arrangement can be done with stone or a wood slab. The extended counter creates just enough space for a few needed items. Toilet placement is not affected, and the look is minimalist and clean.

6. Use a large-scale pattern. A large-scale pattern, like this wide stripe, can trick the eye into seeing expanded space. The square footage might stay the same, but the bathroom will feel bigger.

7. Skip the shower door. If your bathroom is about 5 feet wide, that’s just enough space to squeeze in a toilet and a 30- by 60-inch tub. With tight conditions such as these, consider a glass panel instead of a glass shower door. It will keep most of the water in the shower and will free up needed elbow room.

8. Expand the mirror. In the tightest spaces, having a mirror stretch across the wall instead of just the vanity can enable two people to use it at once. In less-than-ideal space conditions, every inch helps.

9. Mount the towel bar on a door. When space is at a minimum, mounting a towel bar on the shower door keeps towels handy. You might need to store the bulk of your towels in a nearby linen closet, but having that one towel close by to dry off with is essential.

10. Install a trough sink. The narrow, clean styling of a trough sink is a good-looking space solution. Trough sinks have a low profile. When wall mounted, they free up floor space as well for storage or foot traffic.

11. Select a vanity with one shelf. Pedestal design has gotten smarter. Even a pedestal style with one shelf can hold towels or a basket for toilet paper.

12. Use a wall-mounted faucet. Mounting a faucet on the wall allows for a narrower sink or vanity, which in turn frees up square footage in the total bathroom. Don’t be afraid to try a wall-mounted faucet in traditional design. It works anywhere!

Choosing the Right Type of Basins for Your Bathroom

Buyer's Guide to Basins: Choosing the Right Type for Your Bathroom

Choosing the perfect basin for your bathroom can be a difficult task, given the range of choice on the market today. Here’s a little guide to bathroom basins to help you on your way.

Pedestal Basins

Pedestal basins are the most popular and most cost effective basin purchase throughout Britain. The pedestal section of the basin not only looks sleek and contemporary but also supports the basin and masks the pipework in the walls or floor. Pedestal basins come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as with a variety of tap holes to suit almost any bathroom.

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Wall Hung Basins

Wall hung basins are a great space saving tool when fitting a new bathroom. Because they aren't touching the floor they create an illusion of greater space in your bathroom, and help to make it less cluttered. Wall-mounted basins are usually fitted with either a chrome-plated bottle trap underneath, or with a matching white ceramic semi-pedestal. The latter has become increasingly popular because it is easier to keep clean than a polished chrome bottle trap, whilst still giving a stylish wall-hung look.

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Semi Recessed Basins

Semi-recessed basins are crafted for use with ledges, shelves or with co-ordinating bathroom furniture. The front of the basin usually has a smooth and rounded edge with the reverse specifically cut to fit easily into where it’s needed to sit. The end result is that the basin looks like a seamless part of the furniture.

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Countertop Basins

Also known as vessel basins or sit-on bowls, countertop basins are often the choice of the contemporary or minimalistic bathroom design. It usually sits on top of a worktop or shelf and is paired with a tall basin tap or wall mounted mixer or spout. Since countertop basins are not built for a distinct purpose, such as saving space or fitting into a corner, they are available in all sorts of stunning shapes, sizes, finishes and designs.

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Under Counter Basins

The under counter basin are installed into a vanity with the whole basin underneath the benchtop, creating a minimalist look and showcasing the benchtop. These basins are perfect if you have a stone benchtop to show off, or looking for more benchtop space for that business family lifestyle. The bathroom basin is something we come into close contact with several times a day, so it not only needs to look great but also suit your lifestyle and bathroom use.

 

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Over Counter Basins

The over counter basin are sometimes called drop-in, these basins sit over the counter top with a lip around the edge. They are easy to find, and of all basin types, can change the look of the furniture you pair them with the least, as it's possible for the top surface of the piece to be retained.

 

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Furniture Basins

The furniture basin are meant to be sold with a storage vanity, mix-and-match style, by a bathroom company or showroom. The basin, countertop, and sometimes upstand (small backsplash) are one solid piece, with the storage unit fitting neatly underneath. As such, they can be difficult to use with vintage pieces— unless you follow the brilliant lead in this photo from GST Hardware, and use them overmount basin-style, on top of a much larger piece.

 

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Corner Basins

The corner basin has been designed to fit into a right angle corner in almost any room. They are ideal for cloakrooms or smaller bathrooms where the only available space is in the corner of the room. Available in both wall-mounted and floor standing forms, the corner basin is a practical and affordable solution for your space.

 

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The choice of basins available nowadays is vast, from the humble pedestal basin through to the stylish sit-on bowl. Wall-mounted basins with a half or 'semi' pedestal are very popular due to the illusion of space they create.

Ready to start shopping? Visit our basins & sinks page here as a starting point. 

5 Space Saving Solutions For Your Bathroom

Creating a spacious yet functional bathroom is hard at even the best of times, particularly when you are limited on space. Thankfully there are many space saving solutions available for your bathroom, some you may not even know exist. From space saving toilets, to hidden storage solutions, there will be something to suit your bathroom needs. Here are our top 5 space saving solutions.

Wall Hung Toilet

Wall hung toilets create the ultimate designer look and illusion of more floor space in your bathroom.  A wall hung toilet can create a minimalist style for your bathroom due to the unique concealed cisterns as well as being a space saving option. View our wide range of wall hung toilets to add a touch of functionality to your bathroom.

Click to buy -> Johnson Suisse Bergamo Square Washdown Wall-hung WC

Mirrored Cabinets

A mirrored bathroom cabinet is the perfect 2-in-1 space saving solution for your bathroom. Whilst providing much needed storage for your belongings it also provides the mirror vital in every bathroom. Mirrors are also great for creating the illusion of a larger space, which is ideal in a small bathroom. These wall hung mirror cabinets have numerous finishes and storage options within to help you create the perfect stylish solution for your bathroom.

Small Toilets

Sadly, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a large bathroom, so we have to ensure we make use of every last inch of space. Short projection back to wall toilets are a good way to effectively do this. They protrude a very minimal amount giving you the vital extra space you need. Our extensive small toilets range will provide the perfect match for your bathroom whilst keeping it stylish.

Click to buy -> Small Toilets

Shower Suites

Choosing the right shower for your bathroom can depend on many factors – size, style, design, colour & cost. You’ll also own it for a long time, so you have to make sure you get it right. For those with a small bathroom, a small shower cubicle is the ideal solution to ensure best use of space & prevent any regrets with your shower choice. Fortunately, our modern shower enclosure range doesn’t compromise on style, and ensure full functionality in your bathroom whilst making use of every inch of space you have. 

Corner Vanity Units

Storage is often the main factor that takes up space in a bathroom. We own a lot of things, from towels, to shampoo to accessories, so it’s important they’re stored safely and stylishly. To maximize space, corner vanity units are now available to make user of a space that you may have previously wasted. Corner bathroom vanity units are an excellent means of using ‘dead’ space for the purposes of storage and if you have a small en-suite bathroom or cloakroom we highly recommend a corner vanity unit. 

Click to buy -> Corner Wall Hung Basin

We hope these space saving solutions have opened your eyes up to the possibilities in your small bathroom. Just because you may be limited on space, you do not need to compromise on style and functionality. Facebook us or comment below if you have any questions.

Water Closet Buying Tips

Rough-In Size

Make sure the new toilet will fit your space. To do this, measure the rough-in size. This is the distance between the wall behind the toilet and the center of the drainpipe or the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. It's best to perform this measurement before you remove the old toilet.

The distance between the floor drain and the wall called rough-in, is one factor to consider when selecting you WC. The standard distance is 10 inches or 12 inches and 8 inches are occasionally found in older home. You can determine the rough-in on an existing WC by measuring from the wall behind the WC to the middle of the bolts on the base.

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Toilet Models: One Piece or Two?

Toilets are made in one or two-piece models. Most toilets are two-piece, meaning that the bowl is bolted to the tank. Two-piece toilets are generally less expensive than one-piece. Both function comparably, though a one-piece toilet may be easier to clean.

• Click Here to Shop One-Piece Toilets
• Click Here to Shop Two-Piece Toilets

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WC Flush Action

• Syphonic pan utilize a powerful suction to remove human waste. All symphonic WCs incorporate an “S” shape trap. The traps in these toilets are designed with slightly smaller diameters than a non-syphoning toilet, so that the water-way will naturally fill up the water, each time it is flushed, thus creating the syphon action
• Washdown pans utilize the sheer force and volume of the flush water (push) to remove human waste

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Toilet Flush Type

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Toilet Bowls Shape

One more attribute to take into consideration when buying a toilet is the shape of the bowl. Toilet bowls are provided in round and lengthened. Before choosing you need to examine the space that the commode is going in and determine the area.

The next decision you may need to consider is how much available space you have in your bathroom, if you have a large bathroom where space isn’t much an issue, a toilet with elongated bowl will work great. if you have a smaller bathroom, such as a half bath choose a round bowl WC that will fit into tight spaces.