How would you do up this tiny bathroom

[Honeybeebloom]

DP and I are buying a new house. It's not big, very small rooms but we think it could be really lovely all the same. It has one shower room, we are going to knock through into a cupboard beside it to make it just slightly bigger so we can have a bath with a shower over it. As it's such a small space we really want to make it look as nice as possible. I've been looking online for ideas of shower/baths that look quite slick/contemporary but struggling to find much so thought I'd turn to the imaginations/image search skills of mumsnet for some help.

This is what it currently looks like now, very small...

We're going to open out the small cupboard so it's just slightly bigger as per this..

What will the dimensions of the room be? I would love a Japanese soaking tub and there are lots of lovely pics showing a shower over or right beside one.

We're quite liking stone/slate effect tiled in baths like this but also like bathrooms with wood effect tiles on floor/some of the wall, but don't know how to make that look good with a tiled in bath as it might be too much if the bath is also tiled in wood effect...

@Ealaigh

Having issues getting in to measure prior to completion so don't have exact dimensions (which doesn't help sorry I know). Will have a look into japanese soaking tubs...

Other thing is it needs to be child friendly, otherwise we would just make it a really nice shower room.

We just had a shower and used a large baby bath in the bottom, the DC could bath in it until they were 6!

I would have the bath on the wall opposite the door, look for close coupled toilet and wall hung sink with cabinet. Also use one tile on floor and walls (large format so it doesn't look busy), and just 2 or 3 colours. If you make it look seamless so your eye isn't drawn to edges, it will seem bigger.

Going against the grain here but I would recommend not doing anything until you have lived in the house a while. You will learn things about the house and how you want to use it during this time. Without a doubt the only times i have regretted house renovations is when I have rushed into them too early. Give it some time and your ideas will evolve in tune with the house and your life there.

Can you make it even bigger using the rest of the cupboard. A decent sized bathroom is a godsend with children.
I would go for 10mm premier finish plastic bath as it’s much less hazardous when they hit themselves on it.
You can get corner toilets and basins or long narrow basins as well

@DrNo007

I know where you're coming from but we are getting the keys shortly and I'm due at the end of September so would really like to have the bathroom done for baby coming. I know I definitely want a bath and would rather have the work done before baby arrives. I'm happy to live in and decide on everything else over time but would like to get the bathroom done straightaway as we could have it done before we even actually move in then gradually do the rest of the house over time. It's just more the style of bathroom I need to decide on.

@mayblossominapril

That's something I've suggested to DP, it would basically be a choice between a bigger bathroom and smaller kitchen or vice versa...

Have attached images of the two potential layouts. Was leaning more towards a bigger kitchen and smaller bathroom though as it would be an open plan kitchen /living room

I would never take space off a kitchen for a bathroom. Think about the amount of time you spend in each one!!

Your idea about the cupboard is a good one, I did the same. Also tried out an Omnitub which is a brand of Japanese soaking tub. In the end went for normal sized bath.

There are options in length of bath which may help, you already seem keen on a sink with storage underneath, really you don't need a lot of floorspace in a bathroom!

I think what you have planned in the first option is great. Mine in my three bed house is quite a lot smaller than that and works fine (although separate toilet).

Layout wise moving a toilet can be hard/expensive depending on where the drainage is. So near that in mind.

I think keep the space in the kitchen. A lot can fit into a small bathroom.

if the bath is primarily for children, get one that is shorter than normal (and possibly wider than normal) to have a good shower over.

make sure you have storage - a cupboard under the sink and some shelves and plenty of space to hang up towels (most towel rails look decorative but are far too small).

Could you put the shower across the window wall, the toilet along the wall where the shower is now or knock through to the cupboard in the corridor & put the shower in that space & move the toilet to the middle of the window wall.

Think you're all definitely right about keeping the space in the kitchen.

Thinking the bath would go either on the right when you come in the door or going across the far wall where the window is.

I'm wondering if something like this would be possible/practical (relatively practical anyway)

Changing layout really depends on the toilet waste.

I had almost exactly this situation.

Toilet is probably under the window as waste goes out the back wall.

To move this would create a long pipe which can be bad news as waste doesn't move along on its own...

@Honeybeebloom

Think you're all definitely right about keeping the space in the kitchen.

Thinking the bath would go either on the right when you come in the door or going across the far wall where the window is.

I'm wondering if something like this would be possible/practical (relatively practical anyway)

I am finding this hard to see - is this just a shower over a bath as usual but with a full height glass screen rather than one that sits on the side of the bath?

How would you clean the corners behind the bath and the bottom of the shower screen on the bath side?

Also does the screen move - because how would you reach across to the taps and shower dial (they could be on the LHS)

With the other style where the shower is a sort of wet room next to the bath - I wonder how this works in practice? I have a wet room - and wish I had put a traditional tray and door in as it’s just not practical in a small space - floor and loo always wet! Looks great when not in use.

If you do the above, move the taps and the shower control to the middle/other side of the bath so that you don’t have to reach around the screen to turn the taps/shower on and also so you’re not showered with cold water every time you turn the shower on.

By the do the above, I mean do what the photos you’ve posted show.

Why is there no kitchen already in the house/flat?

I’d use a pocket door and then put the bath along the back wall (with window) with shower over, then a sink on one wall, toilet on the other (probably put the toilet on the wall furthest away from where the door is). I think I would go with a normal rather than free standing bath, as they are a nightmare for kids splashing loads of water out and it would be difficult to grab a child/ wash hair around that fixed screen, and I would be worried the kids would walk straight into it. Definitely go with a wall hung sink and loo and fit storage somewhere else (above the door on the other side?). Also if it is small consider underfloor heating.

Get a wall to wall bath not one of those round ones you cant actually clean underneath.

Personally....I'd put the bath lengthways under window with screen to the right as you are looking into room. Next to that on the right put the toilet then sink closest to the door.

A good plumber can move a toilet it really doesnt have to be next to a wall. I had this and had NO plumbing issues.

The stone/slate tiles are very dated already IMO.
I would go for bold flooring hexagonal or starburst type design and maybe metro tile with either statement wallpaper or line the walls and just paint it a nice bright colour

Also yy to pocket door

Well lose those massive faux edwardian rims for a start!

What are the actual measurements?