Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

ideas on a narrow bathroom

30 replies

Nanabana · 12/04/2013 16:14

Can anyone help with ideas on how to make a narrow bathroom look not so narrow? There is just about enough space to fit a bath, a loo next to the head of the bath, and a basin at the foot end of the bath.

Are there any particular bathroom suites that you may know of, and other decorative cleverness? I have thought about a mirror along the length of the long wall... (dreading having the forever wipe smedges off it though)..have thought of using light colours (white) any other ideas would be very welcome

OP posts:
LauraKiora · 12/04/2013 16:21

Can a bath fit across the narrowest part? That's how we squared ours off.

We also used big white tiles and instead of a traditional hosrizontal band of coloured / pattern tiles wrapped round the room, we have one vertical stripe of mosaic tiles.

And don't use square / stripe pattern on flooring, and avoid laminate. We used a white vinyl with a random squiggle pattern on it. I never think of the room as narrow now, but when we moved in it had the layout you describe above and felt like a cramped corridor.

Nanabana · 12/04/2013 16:25

it's so narrow, i dont think we could fit a bath across the narrowest length.. but will check that when we get in there (haven't moved in yet).. I was thinking about large white tiles too. good too know that works. I was thinking of having a clear shower screen for the tap end of the bath, so we dont have to use shower curtain which can make the place look fussy. Interesting about the vertical mosaic and the floor too - hadn't thought of that, will def bear in mind. Thanks

OP posts:
ILikeBirds · 12/04/2013 16:27

you can get 1500mm baths. I'd be surprised if it was narrower than that

Nanabana · 12/04/2013 16:35

hopefully.. would make the world of difference if we can fit the bath across the width, the possibility hadn't entered my mind

OP posts:
LauraKiora · 12/04/2013 16:35

When we moved in the bathroom had the tap end of the bath, and a pedestal sink next to it across the narrowest part. We now have a deep, shower bath (a bath with a wider bit for the shower) across that end of the room. It looks so much better.

Nanabana · 12/04/2013 16:55

I've just looked up some baths like the one you have LauraKiora, deep with a ledge like seat... which muight actually be even better for us then a full length, as we'll have DPs with us so will definitely be easier for them to be able get up from a seated position.. and will have a shower combined with the bath. Great, feeling very positive now, was dreading the thought of having a claustrophobic bathroom.

OP posts:
Nanabana · 12/04/2013 16:59

although saying that, if I put a bath in across the width, that means that the loo will not be against an external wall, and would need to be against an internal wall. Do you know if that can work? I guess the plumbing/waste pipes will need to go across the wall, and under the bath in order to access the external wall.. not sure if that can be done. Any idea?

OP posts:
Wildwaterfalls · 12/04/2013 17:03

We had a very narrow bathroom in our previous flat - bath would not fit across. There was a mirror against the (narrow) back wall which did help create a spacious feel but you did have to look at yourself showering

architectming · 12/04/2013 17:15

Is fitting a bath the most important thing? Trying to be a devil's advocate here, how about a wet room with shower head towards the end of the bathroom, with toilet and wash basin along the long wall?

You can also have full height glass with a frosted film sticking at the back instead of tiles.

noddyholder · 12/04/2013 17:17

You can get a 5 foot L shaped shower bath which would work and get a beautiful shower mixer and screen and no one will notice the small bath!

doradoo · 12/04/2013 17:22

We had an offset bath - like a corner bath but not so square/wide as a full corner one IYSWIM.

We could still fit the loo on the external wall and had a shower over the bath.

The room was very tiny and you couldn't get a full length bath in any other way.

There are lots of 'small bathroom' suites around so have a look/try in the DIY stores.

There's an interactive planner to have a play here on B&Q

Nanabana · 12/04/2013 17:25

architectming.. have thought about not having a bath at all, but with 2 young DC, I'd prefer to have a tub.

I have thought about using large mirror panes to help give the illusion of space Wildwaterfalls.. but apart from having to constantly wipe smudges, as you didn't suggest, the thought of having to see myself in my birthday suit everyday would be very unsexy.

Noddyholder, will look at L shapes, haven't come across those

OP posts:
ILikeBirds · 12/04/2013 17:27

If your toilet position is fixed then I'd maybe look at tapered baths.

Nanabana · 12/04/2013 17:30

will have to check on that iLike, if not then would look at tapered. Also would want to check if there are short tapered tubs around, as the length of the bathroom is quite short as well..the basin is currently wedged between the end of the bath and the back wall of the bathroom.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 12/04/2013 17:30

these

Nanabana · 12/04/2013 17:31

doradoo, will check that link out, thanks

OP posts:
notcitrus · 12/04/2013 17:42

Built in white units round the loo, with cupboards in, and a plinth above so it looks like a wide shelf. If you only put a tiered unit in the corner of the shelf, it makes the gap between it and bath look wider, especially if you use the most subtle.glass shower screen you can.

My main bathroom is 5x8 foot but with the basin overhanging the bath and the door opening outwards it actually only feels cramped when getting 3 small children out of the bath, trying to avoid the hot radiator and the potty chair...

fossil971 · 12/04/2013 17:48

The Ideal Standard "Space" range is very clever for small rooms, lots of variations of baths/wcs/basins

quoteunquote · 12/04/2013 18:17

Make sure you get a brilliant tiler, never skimp on the quality of workmanship, it doesn't matter how much you spend on tiles, if the tiler is not a perfectionist it will look shit.

on as many walls as possible at least one long and one short, from about two thirds up, put a mirror, you will need to make templates so that the local glass supplies can cut and bevel them,very reasonable prices, where the mirrors meet will create a feeling of space,

Use light large oblong tiles,, for the remaining walls, best rectangular tile pattern for small space

Either rectangular contemporary engineered cork flooring (trust me it no longer looks like cork, and is the greenest product going) on the floor and as a bath panel, continue the floor patten, up the bath panel this leads the eye to enlarge the floor space.

Make sure the wall and floor tiles match closely in colour, then the eye won't jump, it's better to mix textures than colour in such a small space, use another finish to take the eye round.

down lighter in rows on the ceiling placed so the reflection evenly spaces , also help to widen the space,

keep fittings simple,

Remember to fit Aquapane behind any bath or in shower cubicles,

and make sure any light fittings, or other electrical are bathroom regs ip rated, a part p certificated electrician must be used for anything that is electrical in a bathroom, you must get the certificate and keep it for when you sell your house.

If you want to see good use of small space design search "ensuite luxury yacht", very high end expectations in small spaces.

Nanabana · 17/04/2013 10:16

Sorry for the lateness.. and thank you so much for all the tips, will definitely bear in mind (in fact am going to print this off now)

OP posts:
Nanabana · 17/04/2013 10:17

oooh just had a thought - i'm going to start a scrap book!

OP posts:
MadBusLady · 17/04/2013 17:49

Re: the loo, ask the plumber. Obviously on the outside wall is ideal, but I've seen it further into the room with the waste pipe boxed in and running under the bath or behind the wall, I don't see why not.

JoeVictorian · 28/05/2013 09:58

Hi Nanabana, Might be a little late, but we've always said that wall-hung bathroom furniture is the best way to create a bathroom which looks larger as your eyes can see the whole floor.

Have a look at these [www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/Wall-Mounted-Basins.aspx wall hung basins] which would work. Let me know what you think.

Joe

JoeVictorian · 28/05/2013 09:59

wall hung basins - whoops, sorry!

janey223 · 28/05/2013 11:15

That sounds exactly like my bathroom and its awful (it's a tad under 1.5 wide 2.5 long). Bath down the wall, toilet beside it, sink at the bottom of the bath.

Totally agree with corner bath!

Swipe left for the next trending thread