SUITE PETITE
Embrace the space you have with our top 10 design strategies for creating maximum impact within a minimal footprint.
1Measure up, carefully
Space matters in all bathrooms, but when you’re working with a limited floor area, it’s absolutely critical to consider the dimensions of any fixtures you’re considering installing, says Franco Parisi, chief operating officer of Parisi Bathware. “Measure, then remeasure,” he says. “It’s vital you have a realistic appreciation for what will fit in so you avoid overcrowding.”
2 Make two lists
Vanessa Cook, design manager for Smarter Bathrooms+ in Melbourne, suggests you make one list of ‘must haves’ and another for ‘like to haves’. “If, for example, storage is a must-have then you might have to compromise on, say, the size of your shower enclosure. It’s all about tailoring your bathroom to maximise functionality.”
3Get smart with tiles
The tiles you choose can make or break a small bathroom, say Tina Di Lorenzo, marketing manager for Di Lorenzo Tiles. “White wall tiles combined with a striking patterned floor tile can look stunning in a small space,” she says. “Light walls make a bathroom appear open, while a patterned floor adds personality.” Small mosaics are another a good choice for petite bathrooms. “A 50x50mm mosaic used floor-to-ceiling or on both the wall and floor can look great.”
4Take on a vanity project
When space is tight, getting the vanity right is doubly important. “Always opt for the best-quality vanity you can afford,” says Parisi. “Storage and good accessibility to the products you use daily is vital.” A wall-hung unit is a smart choice for a small bathroom because it reveals more of the floor, which fools the eye into thinking the room is larger. A built-in vanity that runs wall to wall, such as the one made by Smarter Bathrooms+ (above), achieves the same result.
5Think beyond the frame
Do without the door and opt for a frameless glass-panel showerscreen. “Without these visual obstructions, your bathroom will feel more spacious,” says Wesley Sinclair, brand specialist with Highrove Bathrooms.
6Get more from your walls
While the vanity takes centrestage, it’s certainly not the only storage option. Don’t forget hooks, niches and wall space. “Wall-hung towel ladders can be a great space-saving alternative,” says Parisi. Recesses are your friend, too: a concealed in-wall cistern means your wall-hung pan will project about 150mm less into the bathroom space compared to a toilet suite with ceramic cistern. Shower niches look neat and inset shaving cabinets make great use of the wall cavity.
7 Consider which basin is best
Whether you opt for an undermount or benchmount basin is a matter of personal choice, adds Parisi. “Above-bench basins leave more room for storage under the bench, which can be beneficial in a small bathroom, but the most compact option is often a semi-recessed basin.”
8A small bath – or none?
Bath manufacturers have noted that many of us live in small homes today and have released models as short as 1300mm (standard length is 1700mm). “A bath has to be functional first, so ensure it’s still comfortable to use,” says Cook. If it’s a bit squeezy, she suggests ditching the bath. “Fit wall spa jets and a bench seat for a luxurious shower to rival any bath.”
9Best- placed taps
“Wall-mounted tapware frees up space on your vanity,” says Parisi. But your tapware options might ride on whether the bathroom is being renovated or built. “If you’re gutting a bathroom, you can have plumbing repiped to suit the fixtures; if not, your choice may be limited to what fits where the existing pipes are.”
10Work the lines
“Vertical lines make a small bathroom look bigger, and that’s what we’ve achieved with the V-groove panelling in this Sydney vanity [opposite],” says
Chris Ruffé, director of Bondi Kitchens. He also recommends opting for a slim vanity top, a visually ‘light’ choice.
‘INCORPORATING MIRROR STORAGE MEANS YOU DON’ T NEED A LARGE VANITY .’ Franco Parisi