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Original poster

Make a small en-suite look bigger

29 replies

Failedloftconversion · 16/05/2021 21:25

I’m in the process of buying fixtures and fittings for my en-suite. I am not sure the measurements but I know it will be small bathroom with an 800x 800 quadrant shower.

I was thinking white marble effect tiles for the floor and wall (just tile around the shower enclosure) and a black shower quadrant enclosure, however I’m not sure if the black will make the space appear smaller?

How can I make a small en-suite feel bigger and luxurious?

OP posts:
waltzingparrot · 16/05/2021 21:27

Mirror tiles on one wall?

TaraR2020 · 16/05/2021 21:31

Large mirror

Keep clutter to an absolute minimum

Should be OK with the black but...op, we need a diagram...

Newstepchild · 16/05/2021 21:33

Wall hanging toilet and basin

MaggieFS · 16/05/2021 21:34

Use light colours and stick to just one type. No feature tiles or changing the colour in the shower.

Personally, I couldn't face cleaning mirror tiles, but they would work!

HannibalHayes · 16/05/2021 21:39

Corner toilet. Absolutely the best.

User0ne · 16/05/2021 21:41

Keep everything very simple and minimalist.

No patterned tiles. One paint colour. Nothing on floor - get a wall hung toilet brush etc. Spare loo roll on shelf under wall mounted sink

AsTheRiverBends · 16/05/2021 21:45

We've got a small en suite. Not sure about using black, I'd have thought I'd would makes a room appear smaller. We've used a frameless quadrant shower enclosure, which makes the space appear much bigger, and really large glossy white tiles. There was one of those drop in shower cubicles there before and it now looks completely different.

AsTheRiverBends · 16/05/2021 21:46

Oh and a glass shelf, so it doesn't appear to encroach.

whistleinthewind · 16/05/2021 21:48

Small rooms often hold bold colours well so I wouldn't be scared of the black enclosure - they look awesome. I think the marble could be overwhelming in a small room - I love how this looks in Victoria plum!

Make a small en-suite look bigger
Thecazelets · 16/05/2021 21:49

Not black. Will show water stains horribly.

AsTheRiverBends · 16/05/2021 21:50

The OP's going for an 80 cm quadrant shower though.

AsTheRiverBends · 16/05/2021 21:51

@AsTheRiverBends

The OP's going for an 80 cm quadrant shower though.
That's in response to the photo of the rectangular shower btw
WellTidy · 16/05/2021 21:53

If it were me, I’d choose built in storage, or a vanity unit, so that’s there’s no clutter making it look busy.

That said, the standard advice is that a wall hung basin and loo would definitely make it look bigger.

wtftodo · 16/05/2021 21:54

We have a small family bathroom. We used a wall hung basin/unit, and the same tiles on the floor + walls around the bath/shower. Rest of the room is just painted but in a smaller room we’d have gone for plain tiles everywhere. We have minimal clutter, nothing on the floor except a small bin, works pretty well

whistleinthewind · 16/05/2021 21:55

Also, do you have the capability to build a recess in the shower area to hold shampoo etc? Warm lighting and a few small feature lights will make a huge difference and make it inviting

whistleinthewind · 16/05/2021 21:56

My photo is an example of style, not a literal recommendation of what they should put in Hmm

whistleinthewind · 16/05/2021 21:59

@WellTidy

If it were me, I’d choose built in storage, or a vanity unit, so that’s there’s no clutter making it look busy.

That said, the standard advice is that a wall hung basin and loo would definitely make it look bigger.

Yes. We have a vanity cupboard with a light and demister in which stores so much.
pooeylouie · 16/05/2021 22:00

We just refurbished our house and we have a tiny shower room which has actually turned out to be one of my favourite spaces in the house. Things we did:

  • the same large scale (60 x30) porcelain marble effect tiles in the shower and on the floor - large tiles mean less grout lines to distract the eye!
  • frameless sliding shower enclosure
  • wall hung basin with curved edges (wanted to have a vanity but honestly even a slim lime one would have been too heavy in the space)
  • slim line toilet
  • large mirror and glass shelf for bits and bobs.
LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 16/05/2021 22:01

what about a basin toilet combi?..there's quite a few options about now

Also I'd probably go wetwall in a small space, and I know it's a cliche but I'd stick with white and use colour on accessories

Have been looking at house details recently and somethings date horribly, those giant brown/beige tiles (travertine??) and sparkly black marble is going to join them I reckon!

AsTheRiverBends · 16/05/2021 22:05

@whistleinthewind

My photo is an example of style, not a literal recommendation of what they should put in Hmm
Mmm I know, but an 80cm quadrant will look really different because its very small and enclosed. The one you linked to is lovely, but black for a different style won't be half as nice. That's all I meant Smile
whistleinthewind · 16/05/2021 22:07

Meant the tiles but perhaps that wasn't clear as I only said how marble would be overwhelming.

I don't think marble tiles are the way to go in a small space personally - but plenty do and it looks great!

Original poster
Failedloftconversion · 16/05/2021 23:39

This pic is similar to the shower enclosure I wish to buy. Based on the feedback from this thread. I will team it with plain white tiles on wall and floors. Wall hung toilet and basin.

Make a small en-suite look bigger
OP posts:
Bluesheep8 · 17/05/2021 07:19

Short projection loo.

Wildwood6 · 17/05/2021 09:26

@pooeylouie

We just refurbished our house and we have a tiny shower room which has actually turned out to be one of my favourite spaces in the house. Things we did: * the same large scale (60 x30) porcelain marble effect tiles in the shower and on the floor - large tiles mean less grout lines to distract the eye! * frameless sliding shower enclosure * wall hung basin with curved edges (wanted to have a vanity but honestly even a slim lime one would have been too heavy in the space) * slim line toilet * large mirror and glass shelf for bits and bobs.
I was basically logging on to say all of this! The only thing I’d add is that on one wall I’d tile half way up, and then get a mirror company to cut a large piece of mirror exactly the size of the top half of the wall (ideally opposite a window if possible). I had this in a previous home and it made a huge difference to the feel of the room.
Africa2go · 17/05/2021 10:08

As above.

We have a long thin ensuite - about 2.8m x 1m with the shower built in at one end, short projection loo at the other end (built in cistern), a wall hung sink and vanity unit in the middle.

Then large format tiles 80 x 40 tiled up to window sill level (and full height around shower) and same tiles on the floor. White walls.

Frameless shower enclosure, and no lip (so shower tray edge is level with the floor, shower tray slightly lower). Makes it all seem seamless.

Agree with the tip for the mirrored wall above the tiles - we had a large piece of mirror cut to fit - so its from about middle of wall to the ceiling, and along the whole wall (up to shower) so about 1.1/2m high and 2m wide.

Just have a towel rail on the other side of the wall - nothing else in there other than a plant. No shelves, no pictures, no clutter.

Oh and door opening into the bedroom rather than opening into the bathroom.