Big ideas for a small bathroom

If you’re looking to make the most of the little space you have, be inspired by these 10 big ideas for a small bathroom.

I know I’ve said it before, but small bathrooms can cause big headaches when the time comes to redecorate or refurbish them. However, with just a little spark of creativity, courtesy of me and my colleagues here at Victoria Plum, you can create a space that is both stylish and functional.

To help get you started, here are 10 of our biggest and best ideas for a small bathroom.

1. Use colours creatively

Our first top tip is to use light colours and reflective surfaces. Light colours will help to make the space feel larger, while reflective surfaces will bounce light around, creating the illusion of more space.

A light and bright colour scheme can really lift a small bathroom

In this Art Deco-inspired cloakroom, for example, white metro tiles, light grey painted walls and strategically-placed mirrors enhance the natural light flooding in through the window. Meanwhile, wall lights are great at providing additional task lighting.

For further inspiration, why not browse our latest blog post on colour ideas for a small bathroom?

2. Select streamlined furniture

Whilst storage is key, there really is no need to clutter a small bathroom with bulky furniture. Look for pieces that are designed to maximise space, such as corner vanity units (as pictured below) and compact cupboards.

Turn corners in your bathroom or cloakroom to your advantage

At Victoria Plum, you’ll find a whole range of cloakroom furniture, specifically designed to make the most of a small bathroom. The MySpace furniture range (pictured below), for example, comes complete with a storage cupboard, sink and space for a back to wall toilet. One of the very best ideas for a small bathroom, in my humble opinion!

Style it your way, even in a small space, with MySpace bathroom furniture

3. The only way is up!

Use vertical space to your advantage. Hang shelves and cabinets on your bathroom walls to free up floor space. Or, as we’ve done in the bathroom below, fit a wall hung toilet. With the cistern neatly concealed within a cavity wall, it’ll help keep things looking neat and is much easier to clean.

Be creative with your wall space

If you think a little more creatively, you can also use vertical space to display artwork, plants or other decorative items. A big mirror, for example, will help create the illusion of space.

4. Keep it simple

When decorating, it pays to keep things simple. A busy pattern on the walls might make the space feel smaller. Instead, opt for a single paint colour, single-coloured tiles or a shower wall panel with a subtle pattern.

Keep things nice and simple with a soft, neutral colour palette

In the bathroom above, we’ve opted for a soft, peach shade right around the walls, complemented by oak-effect furniture. An arched recess (a big bathroom trend this year) provides a neatly enclosed washbasin area, plus plenty of extra storage in the form of shelving.

5. Use light to your advantage

Use natural light whenever possible. If your bathroom doesn't have a window, consider adding a skylight or installing a mirror opposite the window to reflect natural light into the space.

Check this out! A long, thin cloakroom can be transformed with a wall-to-floor window

In the small bathroom above, we’ve maximised the amount of natural light by fitting a full height, floor-to-ceiling window, allowing us to go a little darker with the contemporary “maximum monochrome” theme.

6. Organic touches

Reconnecting with the natural world is a key theme for home interiors, providing plenty of great ideas for a small bathroom.

No matter whether you are looking to create a country style bathroom or something more contemporary, by making use of weathered wood or rough stone surfaces, and complementing with natural wood finishes, you can bring an organic look to your small space.

Bring the outdoors in with these organic ideas for a small bathroom

Quick tip: Stone-effect tiles or flooring, as used in the small bathroom above, are a great way to add to this organic look, without having to spend big.

7. Turn up the luxe with a walk in or wet room

A small shower room or ensuite needn’t limit your ambitions. A shower enclosure with closing doors (or, heaven forbid, a shower curtain!) may make your space feel cramped. Instead, why not consider transforming your space into a luxurious wet room, with easy, level access to your shower?

A small bathroom should never limit your ambitions!

For a contemporary look, choose an on-trend grey colour palette and accessorise with brushed brass or gold taps, shower and accessories.

And, for added storage space, why not consider a shower niche? This is a recessed area in the wall that can be used to store shampoo, conditioner and other shower essentials. Designed to free up counter space, it’ll certainly make your bathroom feel more spacious.

For further inspiration, discover our small wet room ideas.

8. A timeless transformation

If you’re a little nervous about incorporating current trends into your design, and think it might end up looking dated, a traditional theme could be your best option.

Traditional bathroom suites use tried and tested designs to create a timeless appearance that never goes out of fashion.

For a small bathroom that’ll never go out of fashion, a traditional suite is a great choice

Metro tiles are an excellent option when creating this look. In the small family bathroom above, we’ve used green gloss tiles to help reflect light and enhance the feeling of space. Meanwhile, a multi-functional shower bath, designed to look just like a roll top tub, helps save space.

Discover more traditional downstairs toilet ideas and be inspired to create a cloakroom that’s warm and welcoming.

9. Unleash your understairs area

Cloakrooms can be one of the smallest, usable spaces in your whole home. However, this shouldn’t mean skimping on style. With a little imagination and bit of inspiration from us, your understairs space can become greater than the sum of its parts.

A stylish understairs cloakroom

Get creative with your understairs cloakroom

In this space, for example, we’ve kept things light and bright with soft, mint green tiling combined with a warming wood wall panel. To optimise on space, we’ve used a corner vanity unit and wall hung toilet, complete with on-trend gold accents in the form of the tap, towel ring and mirror frame.

Quick tip: Continuing your hallway flooring into the cloakroom helps to create a seamless look, connecting the space with the rest of the house.

10. Don’t be afraid to be bold

Despite everything I’ve said above, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to decorating a small bathroom. The most important thing is to create a space that you love and one that makes you feel comfortable. With a little creativity and planning, you can transform even the smallest bathroom into a stylish and functional space.

Be as bold as you like with your small bathroom

Take a tip out of TV and radio presenter Helen Skelton’s book and discover how to create a colourful yet creative shared family bathroom in a small space, just like the one pictured above!

Shop for your small bathroom

If you’ve enjoyed browsing our big ideas for a small bathroom, you’ll find all the products featured right here at Victoria Plum. From compact vanity units to space-saving shower baths, shop for your small space today by clicking on the image below.