Squeezing the most out of a bathroom that is limited for space can be a challenging task. Showhome Editor Joseph Clarke explores the tricks and trends for smaller bathrooms
With the housing crisis in the UK persisting, ‘Rabbit Hutch Britain’, as named by The Telegraph, shows little signs of improvement. Land space in the UK is hard to come by, but the UK’s population continues to rise, and unfortunately, extra bodies require extra living spaces!
In 2022, Census 2021 revealed that the population of England and Wales had grown by more than 3.5 million (6.3%) since the previous census was recorded in 2011. No previous census has recorded such a high population. For property developers, this poses an incredible opportunity, but a somewhat daunting challenge.
While in the past younger professionals were both keen and able to move out of the family home not long after commencing employment, whether that be as a first-time renter or buyer, prices have sky-rocketed, leaving a much higher percentage of first-time movers paralysed, unable to fly the nest. House shares do offer a little ray of hope, and are becoming more and more frequent, not only in rentals but also property purchases, yet do not offer the same benefits as being the sole proprietor.
Developers are now faced with the hefty task of designing and constructing homes that cater to the living needs of larger households; and house prices are heavily influenced by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as square footage. Therefore, finding a way to make the most of a house, when faced with limited space, is paramount for housing developers across the nation.
Paul Rowland, Managing Director of C.P. Hart highlights that space is not the only thing on the minds of housing developers and house buyers:
“Clients are far more conscious of the sustainability of products, including origin and water usage. They are generally less trend orientated, with minimal & neutral permanent fixtures preferred. More often than not, clients choose to add detail and colour through paint/wallpaper and accessories that can be easily updated with minimal costs.
“We are also seeing clients opt for future-proof designs with a heightened awareness of resale ability, both in terms of increasing the home value and appealing to as broad a market as possible.”
Keeping up with these market trends can be challenging, especially with limited space and the desire to fit more rooms into a house. VitrA Bathrooms Regional Manager Deborah Risbridger reveals:
“Small bathrooms were a key feature at ISH – one of the world’s biggest and most important trade fair for the bathroom industry. The tiny house movement opened the door to the trend toward compact bathrooms for urban homes, prompting the industry and bathroom planners to develop innovative solutions tailored to small spaces.
“The tiny bathroom trend combines high standards of comfort and convenience as it transitions from a niche to a must-have for a growing number of consumers. Its defining characteristics include simple scaled-down products, smart solutions, comfort and convenience and a common-sense approach to using space.
“Developers are now expected to provide downstairs cloaks, a main bathroom and possibly an ensuite shower room in small, two-bedroom homes. Many consumers see the ideal combination as a family bathroom and a small ensuite shower room. This has seen growth in walk-in showers with a single glass sheet screen to protect the room from water rather than an enclosure which can use more space and is less accessible. The presence of the walk-in shower also pays attention to the need for futureproofing to meet the needs of our ageing population.”
Colour
Paul Rowland explains that “colourful bathrooms are back, with Viva Magenta, named the Pantone colour of 2023, imparting power and boldness. This daring colourway promotes joy and optimism and is an excellent choice for furniture, tiling, paint, and wallpaper, working particularly well against neutral tones. We are also seeing a concoction of warm tones (burnt orange, red, yellow, brown, caramel) that are grounding, comforting, and cocooning.”
Too much colour on the walls or ceiling, or using darker colours, will inevitably have a shrinking effect on the bathroom, so when opting to brighten up the room in this way, it is important to employ a colour-minimalistic approach. Painting or wallpapering just one or two walls can be a great way to create a modern bathroom, by giving a splash of power and boldness, but without making the room feel small.
Bathrooms need not be limited to white in order to make them seem more spacious, but careful planning and the correct choice of colour is key. Pastel shades will keep the walls looking uplifting. Sky blue is ideal as it reflects the natural light coming in through the window. A soft grey is another great choice, paired with a white ceiling.
To create the right balance in the room, opting for flooring that is rich in texture and/or colour can also allow for a bold, yet spacious look. Colourful feature floors or walls are a fantastic way to spruce up a bathroom of any size.
Texture
As we often prioritise colour when designing a room, we may forget just how much of a role texture plays in achieving the same effect. The right choice of textures, making sure that they combine from one space to another, can make surfaces look longer or wider. Although many people would confidently state that using lightly coloured walls in a small bathroom is the top way to maximise space, how we incorporate texture into the bathroom is equally as important.
Wallpaper feature walls are a simple yet highly effective decorative technique for smaller bathrooms. Not only will a wallpapered wall make the other walls appear to take a step back, but the pattern itself will distract the eye from the room’s limited size.
Small bathroom tiles can also bring the room to life, especially in tiny bathrooms. Large tiles can also help to make a small bathroom feel bigger because they are less busy and have less grout lines which would otherwise distract the eye.
Rowland states: “Regarding texture, different natural materials are being incorporated into bathroom design, including untreated timber, cane, rattan, stone, clay, and terracotta. Simple, uncluttered, bright, and light-filled, Balearic schemes are becoming increasingly popular where modern interiors are blended with rustic charm.”
Perhaps obvious to many, but worth noting nonetheless, is the use of horizontal and vertical tiles to make the walls look wider or taller. In a bathroom with a low ceiling, vertical tiles can add inches to its height, while horizontal tiles will make all bathrooms appear wider.
Mirrors
An alternative to a feature wall created from bright or dark colour is found in a mirrored wall. This might be with one single large mirror that covers the entire wall space, a mirror collage or mirror tiles. Tall and wide mirrors do a fabulous job at extending the room, and mirrored frames will also have an elongating effect. It is best to avoid dark-framed mirrors, as these draw the eye’s focus to the mirror as opposed to the room that is being reflected.
Combining this reflective surface with light will also stretch the room. Decorative pendant lights should be placed close by, bouncing extra light around the bathroom and intensifying the overall brightness of the space. Placing a mirror on a wall opposite another mirrored wall will have the same positive effect.
Of course, mirrors do not need to be limited to just the walls. They can, and indeed should, be incorporated into bathroom storage.
Storage
While larger bathrooms allow for space to be taken up by larger units, in a small bathroom designers need to be much more careful with storage. The good news is that there are several intelligent ways that storage can be incorporated into a bathroom, not only making the room look smaller by de-cluttering, but also through clever tricks in how the storage units are designed and placed.
The space that is freed up under units that stand on legs allows the eye to see beneath and beyond. Adding wheels to the legs will also permit freer movement around a wider area of the room. Attaching units to the walls or creating a wall of fitted furniture will instantly make your bathroom floor area, and therefore the entire space, look bigger.
Wall-hung units are well-suited to petite bathrooms as they free up floor space and open up the room. Many designs now offer reduced depths of units and can therefore fit easily into smaller spaces, offering flexible storage. These should then be matched with semi-recessed basins and sleek toilet units to complete the tidy and spacious look.
As mirrored walls undoubtedly increase the size of a bathroom, why not use this reflective surface on storage units? Wall cabinets made from mirrors or even with mirrors around them will instantly create a more spacious feel.
Lighting
Another bright idea for bathrooms is the clever use and positioning of lights. White lampshades will add brightness and space higher up, while pale fixtures and fittings to the sides of a mirror will provide softly diffused light that pairs perfectly with brighter ceiling fixtures.
A popular choice of lighting for any room of the house is recessed lights. Recessed lights have the ability to illuminate the room while remaining out of the way, as they are either recessed into or flush with the ceiling. Given that they take up such little space, they can also be installed under sinks or storage units.
In larger bathrooms, recessed lights might be found along the room parameters, as well as in the centre. In smaller bathrooms, however, it is recommended that these lights be spread solely along the parameters. Not only will this positioning favour a more spacious feel, as the light bounces off the different wall-ceiling joints, but they will also provide more general light from the outside of the room inwards, allowing for a clearer view when leaning over the sink into a mirror, for example.
Showers and baths
Space can also be obtained by replacing more traditional and bulky shower units with frameless, glass ones. Firstly, these showers physically take up less room, and secondly, more space will be visually gained due to their glass screen and lack of tray.
Showers with infolding doors are also a good option for space-restricted bathrooms. Infolding or bifolding doors prevent any extra space from being taken up when getting in or out of the shower and will prevent difficulties from being too close to a sink or toilet.
Those still wishing to take a long, relaxing soak in a bathtub need not feel threatened by a smaller bathroom. Similar to storage units with feet or wheels, Bijou baths will allow for views both under and around the bath, thus creating a more spacious feel.
Accessories
Once the right colours and fixtures have been installed, the final touch to achieve a trendy bathroom look is through accessorising.
Paul Rowland, C.P. Hart, advises that “perfectly placed accessories can lift your bathroom from mundane to masterpiece. In fact, your bathroom should be as well-curated as any other room in your home.”
Deborah Risbridger, Vitra Bathrooms, concludes, “Bathroom accessories have been described as the jewellery that finishes the look. Accessories fitted to the wall are the best choice for a small space. Choose a range that includes everything you need – towel rails and rings, robe hooks, toilet roll holder, toilet brush, a shelf for the shampoo etc, a soap dispenser and toothbrush holder that will keep space-consuming clutter at bay.”
Bathrooms and shower rooms don’t need to be big to be brilliant. Less can be more, and with a careful and creative approach, there are many ways in which designers and developers are able to create bathrooms that look spacious and à la mode, while offering maximum practicality and accessibility for the entire household to enjoy.
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Joseph Clarke
Editor, Showhome
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920
Email: editor@yourshow-home.com
