Create maximum impact in a tiny bathroom with spacesaving fittings, clever storage and eyecatching décor
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The typical British bathroom has an area of around six square metres, while en suites, cloakrooms and shower rooms are even more compact. But bijou doesn’t have to be boring, and the smallest room can also be the most stylish. When refitting, measure up carefully, taking into account the position of doors, windows, sloping ceilings and awkward angles, and choose slimline sanitaryware that provides sufficient circulation space (approx one metre in front of the bath and 700mm for the basin and WC), plus adequate storage. Ramp up the wow factor by introducing bold colour or pattern.
The clue’s in the name – this Mini basin incorporates storage and is slender enough to cope with the tightest spaces – show it off by mounting it on a jewel-toned wall 450 x 250 x 575mm Mini basin with soft close door in textured oak, £281.20, Roca
Practical and good-looking, a wallmounted mixer tap doesn’t encroach on the basin or countertop, and all pipework is conveniently concealed
Arezzo Round wall-mounted two hole mixer in Rose Gold, £129.95, Victorian Plumbing
Drape these super-soft towels from hooks or a peg rack to save on space Renaissance Egyptian cotton towels in Peony, from £7, Christy
If you love the idea of a wet room but are worried about splashes, a glazed panel with an integrated shower tray keeps the room open and bright while ensuring water’s contained Boutique panel with 50mm integrated tray, from £1,180, Matki
This ultra-compact yet powerful shower features an innovative control that adjusts temperature from a single dial
Minimal Dual, comprising a 200mm deluge showerhead and 110mm hand shower, from £285, Mira Showers
Turn the room into a talking point by fitting patterned tiles on the floor and up to dado height on one wall, and papering another in a botanical print. Leave some surfaces plain to avoid it looking too busy, and invest in wall-hung fittings to maximise the tile’s impact Lily Pad hexagon porcelain tiles in Plaster Pink and Bubblegum Pink, £69.12 per sq m, Duchy Living; for similar wallpaper, try Arthouse Tropical Palm Green, £10 per 10m roll, Matalan; Caversham 700mm wall hung vanity unit and basin, £593; Granley wall-hung WC, £285, both Heritage Bathrooms
Black accessories are classy and suit almost every scheme Soap dispenser, £4, Primark
A genius way to utilise wasted space, this all-in-one basin and vanity unit simply slots into a corner 400mm quartz gloss White corner basin vanity unit with reversible door, £189.99, Bathroom Mountain
Highlight interesting features by pairing two-tone geometric and white subway tiles, combined with wall-hung fittings, shelves and hooks to make the tiniest room feel light and bright
Ca’ Pietra Parisian Café Porcelain Tri Rosa Blush and White 20 x 20cm tiles, £74.70 per sq m; Delicate metro
10 x 20cm ceramic tiles, £30 per sq m, both Real Stone & Tile
As it’s somewhere you don’t spend prolonged periods of time, indulge your wild side in a WC or cloakroom by going for an all-over print
Kingdom Lion wallpaper in Yellow,
£65 for a 10m roll, Graham & Brown
Perk up a plain wall with a quirky print How to
Have a
Spa Day at Home print, from £16, Fy!
Think vertically and invest in a long, narrow fitted cupboard that takes care of all your storage needs Shoreditch tall matt Blue
300 x 240 x 1400mm cabinet, £380, Britton Bathrooms
Don’t have room for a freestanding tub and separate shower? This traditional rolltop bath is slightly shorter than standard and sits neatly against the wall – convert it into a shower bath by adding a screen. It can be painted virtually any colour, too BC Designs Tye 1,500mm shower bath, from £1,390.84, Just Baths
Stretch the space in your en suite with a wetroom-style shower area. This low-level, non-slip tray is ideal, as sizes start from just 80cm x 80cm and it’s available in over 2,000 shades
Base Slate shower tray in antibacterial Akron, a composite material made of resin and natural minerals, from £549, Acquabella
So colourful it’s impossible to miss! Frida soap dish, £13, Red Candy