Tiny bathroom help needed

[LetTheCakeCool]

I have recently moved house and the old dated 80s bathroom is the first room that I would like to sort. I can't afford to throw loads of money at it so I need to make sure I get it right first time!

I have attached a diagram with measurements so you can see just how small it is. I'm renting so can't do anything structural and the fittings will have to remain in the same place (not that there's anywhere else for them!)

Ideally I need a walk in bath due to mobility issues and whilst I would love a walk in shower, I can't see how that would be possible? Oh and I do think I'll swap the radiator that is on the small wall next to the sink (95) for a wall mounted towel radiator. Other than that I'm going round in circles trying to decide on small or large tiles, all tiled or just bath and wi down wall, full size bath or short bath. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Rip bath out
Put quadrant shower in
Move toilet to top of where bath was
Long, narrow wall hung radiator

Is your landlord ok with potential changes?
I'd hate to see you spend twice having to reinstate.

Thanks, while I would love to rip the bath out to give extra space, I'm not sure landlord (social housing) would allow, plus it would mean no bath in the house (wet room downstairs) and when my pain levels are through the roof I need a long soak

We got a corner loo put in and a shower bath. It's a bit shorter than normal, kind of P shaped so plenty of room for showering (and we're all on the large side) but can still have a bath when required. It's been worth every Penny. Fully tiled to the ceiling.

Can you put the walk in bath with a shower head over/tap end in the nook to the left of the cupboard so that you see only half of it as you walk in? Baths are usually 90cm by 170cm. The accessible bath door would open either at the right hand side or at the end. Then put the toilet facing the door to the right of the window. Then put the sink/vanity to the right of the door.
The door to the room should be hinged on the left opening into the room. The door to the boiler cupboard should be hinged to the left opening into the room. I have never been able to post diagrams on the app but I've mapped it on a piece of graph paper in a room 220x 164 with allowance for the cupboard.

We’ve just done a bathroom about the same size. We did fancy floor tiles (expensive but only a small area) and cheaper rectangular wall tiles in a brick pattern up to 2.2 meters. Grey grout. I chose wavy glaze for a bit of visual interest, but smooth would be easier to clean.

You’ll probably be surprised how cheap materials are, so I’d spend a little more for something ergonomic or to your taste. Good quality taps are a must (I’m a Hansgröhe snob, not to be confused with Grohe). Whatever bath/shower you choose, go for glass panels not a shower curtain.

Materials are relatively cheap but labour isn’t. Get quotes before you start and be prepared for lots of dust if they’re ripping out the bath and tiles. We moved out for two weeks and paid for a deep clean before we came back.

I think the layout is pretty optimal. The position of the WC allows the user to stretch out their legs if they wish, and the handbasin has sufficient room to stand in front of it.

if you change the radiator for a heated towel rail, it will throw out less heat; and still less if you lag it with a thick layer of inulating towels. But if you leave the radiator where it is and put a towel rail or rack above it, it will heat and dry your towels while not preventing heat from coming off.

Does the boiler enclosure include an airing cupboard? It it built over a staircase?

I think you have very little room for cupboards or shelves. If you can, store your spare towels and bathroom accessories outside. Don't put a shelf or cabinet above the basin, because when a glass jar or bottle falls out, the basin will be cracked. You can put narrow shelves over the WC cisten, but don't put jars or bottles on them.

If you are unsteady, you can put stainless grabrails over the bath. These can also be used for hanging bathmats, towels or flannels, some of them have the appearance of (rather chunky) towel rails, but are much stronger.

I think some of the suggestions are disregarding the fact that this is a rented home.

It's rented but social housing so you are allowed to make changes with permission.

@stayathomegardener

Is your landlord ok with potential changes? I'd hate to see you spend twice having to reinstate.

I've just put a request in so fingers crossed they'll allow it.

@CrotchetyQuaver

We got a corner loo put in and a shower bath. It's a bit shorter than normal, kind of P shaped so plenty of room for showering (and we're all on the large side) but can still have a bath when required. It's been worth every Penny. Fully tiled to the ceiling.

Ooh thanks for that, gives me some ideas to look in to!

@PigletJohn

I think the layout is pretty optimal. The position of the WC allows the user to stretch out their legs if they wish, and the handbasin has sufficient room to stand in front of it.

if you change the radiator for a heated towel rail, it will throw out less heat; and still less if you lag it with a thick layer of inulating towels. But if you leave the radiator where it is and put a towel rail or rack above it, it will heat and dry your towels while not preventing heat from coming off.

Does the boiler enclosure include an airing cupboard? It it built over a staircase?

I think you have very little room for cupboards or shelves. If you can, store your spare towels and bathroom accessories outside. Don't put a shelf or cabinet above the basin, because when a glass jar or bottle falls out, the basin will be cracked. You can put narrow shelves over the WC cisten, but don't put jars or bottles on them.

If you are unsteady, you can put stainless grabrails over the bath. These can also be used for hanging bathmats, towels or flannels, some of them have the appearance of (rather chunky) towel rails, but are much stronger.

I'll try to answer your points!

Yes I agree the toilet is best placed where it is.

I'll keep the radiator abd add a towel rail above.

Yes boiler in airing cupboard, which also has a couple of shelves.

And yes, there needs to be plenty grab rails!

@SlidDownTheElephantsTrunk

It's rented but social housing so you are allowed to make changes with permission.

Permission has just been requested but I think they'll want like for like so I'm not too sure of how much I can change.

I'm in social housing. Ripped the whole bathroom apart last year and put in a walk in shower. They (at least mine) were pretty good as I needed the changes for a disability (I paid).

Just in case you weren't aware of this (not sure it is applicable but maybe worth looking into) www.disability-grants.org/disabled-facilities-grant.html

To maximise storage you could look at fitted bathroom units with a back to wall WC and sink integrated into the units.

We have put these in all the bathrooms in our house this year and it's so much easier to keep the rooms tidy and clean now. It doesn't need to be a huge space either as you can see from the photos of our en-suites.

@SlidDownTheElephantsTrunk

I'm in social housing. Ripped the whole bathroom apart last year and put in a walk in shower. They (at least mine) were pretty good as I needed the changes for a disability (I paid).

I wonder if they'd let me change the request? I think, from reading the form, that someone has to come out and inspect existing bathroom so I may ask them. Do you have to put a bath back in if you move? I can't see us moving tbh, but just so as I can be prepared.

@ChequerBoard

To maximise storage you could look at fitted bathroom units with a back to wall WC and sink integrated into the units.

We have put these in all the bathrooms in our house this year and it's so much easier to keep the rooms tidy and clean now. It doesn't need to be a huge space either as you can see from the photos of our en-suites.

That looks nice Chequer, is the toilet wall hung?

@LetTheCakeCool The WCs in both those pics are both back to wall and floor mounted so are not wall hung.

You can have a wall hung WC (have just done that in our downstairs cloakroom) but it's a lot more expensive as you have to buy the special wall hung frame that fits into the units. I think the wall hung frame was just under £200 extra plus the additional plumbing costs to fit as it took more time.

Oh I'm not angling for a wall mounted loo, I was just checking. I think the cost may be prohibitive.

I'm going to do some googling and check out the measurements of some units - thanks again, I would never have thought of that!