9 Small bathroom ideas that actually make space (and sense)

In most London homes, the bathroom isn’t a grand retreat, it’s a modest little box that has to punch well above its weight. The average footprint is just 2.3 × 2.7 metres, yet we expect it to handle storage, steam, style and daily chaos without flinching.

That small scale can feel like a design trap, but it’s actually an opportunity. Compact bathrooms force every decision to work harder, which is why some of the most striking spaces we’ve seen at Beams have been barely bigger than an airing cupboard. With clever planning, smart lighting and a touch of bravery, even the tightest layout can become a calm, characterful sanctuary.

Here are nine small bathroom renovation ideas we return to time and again — simple, tested moves that make tight spaces feel bigger, brighter and far more inviting.

1. Float everything off the floor

Image credit: RoyalBathrooms.co.uk

Wall-hung fittings are the small-bathroom equivalent of a magic trick. By getting bulky pieces like the toilet, basin and vanity unit up off the floor, you reveal uninterrupted flooring beneath them, and that open run of floor instantly makes the room feel wider and lighter. There’s a reason this is the first trick most hotel designers reach for when they’re handed a shoebox bathroom to work with.

It’s not just visual: it also makes daily life less fiddly. Cleaning becomes quicker when there are no dust-catching plinths or kickboards to navigate, and you can finally mop behind the loo without summoning circus-level flexibility. The whole space just feels calmer and more intentional when you can see clean floor running wall to wall.

Beams tip: This is one of those ideas you need to lock in early. Wall-hung units rely on hidden steel support frames built into the studwork, and these need to go in before first-fix plumbing. They’re rated to carry serious weight, but only if they’re installed properly. If you leave it too late and try to fix a wall-hung loo straight into plasterboard, it’ll end up sagging — and probably taking your new tiles with it.

2. Go all-in on mirrors

Image credit: Livingetc — Where to hang the mirror in a small bathroom: livingetc.com

Mirrors are the closest thing to legal sorcery in a small bathroom. One good, wide slab of mirror will bounce light, double your sightlines and make the whole space feel twice its size — without anyone having to knock through to next door. Even a windowless cloakroom can feel open and airy once you’re seeing more of it at once (and less of yourself pulling a puzzled face at how small it looked before).

To get the full effect, think beyond the standard postage-stamp mirror glued above the basin. Go wall-to-wall if you can, or at least wider than the vanity below — it’ll visually stretch the entire wall. Flank it with soft sconces or vertical strip lighting on either side, rather than a lone ceiling spotlight that makes you look like you’ve just been pulled over. You’ll get softer shadows, better task lighting, and a far calmer atmosphere overall.

Beams tip: Pick a mirror built for humidity — cheap backing peels fast in steamy rooms, and nothing ruins the boutique-hotel mood like mysterious black freckles creeping in around your reflection. A demister pad is worth adding too; after all, there’s no point doubling your space if all you can see is your own fogged-up ghost staring back at you.

Image credit: Livingetc — Where to hang the mirror in a small bathroom:livingetc.com

3. Lose the enclosure: go frameless walk-In

Image Credit: https://au.pinterest.com/RoyalBathrooms/

Traditional shower cubicles do an excellent job of keeping water in — and an equally excellent job of making small bathrooms feel even smaller. The metal frames, bulky trays and swinging doors all create hard visual interruptions, boxing off the corner of the room like a glass wardrobe.

A frameless walk-in removes those barriers. By using a single pane of clear glass and a flush tiled floor, you create one continuous sightline across the space. There’s no step up, no visual edge, just an open run of flooring that instantly makes the room feel wider and calmer. It also shifts the mood: instead of “tight cubicle”, you get that spa-like sense of air and flow — something most compact bathrooms desperately lack.

It’s not just about looks either. Frameless walk-ins are easier to clean (no fiddly tracks or seals), and they’re far more adaptable for awkward layouts, like under-sloped ceilings or tucked between alcoves. You can size them precisely, which means every centimetre of your floorplan is used rather than lost to off-the-shelf constraints.

Beams tip: The key to making this work is hidden underfoot: drainage. A flush wet-room floor needs a subtle fall towards the drain — too shallow and water will wander, too steep and you’ll feel like you’re showering on a hill. Build the gradients into your screed before tiling, and specify anti-slip tiles rated R11 or higher so your elegant new shower doesn’t double as a skating rink. It’s worth doing properly: done right, this single design decision can make a cramped bathroom feel like it just borrowed half a metre from next door.

4. Wrap your floors up the walls

Image credit : Tile Space

Running the exact same large-format tile from the floor up onto the walls — particularly a feature wall — builds a sense of flow and continuity that makes the whole room feel more spacious. It’s like the tile is part of the architecture rather than just decoration. Fewer grout lines means fewer visual breaks, so your eye travels across materials rather than bouncing from tile to tile. The result is a clean, cocooned look that feels simultaneously modern and enveloping — a lot like stepping into a boutique hotel’s shower.

Beyond aesthetics, there are some very practical wins too: large-format tiles are often easier to clean since there’s less grout, and they can feel more luxurious underfoot. In tight spaces, every swipe of the cleaning cloth and every sightline counts — and this tile-tread-up-the-wall trick gives both style and ease.

Beams tip: Large-format tiles are heavyweight. If you're tiling onto studwork, always install cement backer boards rather than plasterboard — the latter won’t support the load over time. Also, make sure the substrate is perfectly flat; any warp will show up across long tile runs. It's worth doing it right, because nothing kills a high-end tile look quicker than a cracked joint or sagging panel.

5. Flip your tiles vertical

Image credit: Porcelain Superstore — Fluted Pink Tiles : porcelainsuperstore.co.uk

Running tiles vertically is a subtle move that makes a big difference. Most of us are used to seeing metro tiles run horizontally — which can visually stretch a wall but also emphasise low ceiling height. Flip them upright, and you instantly pull the eye upwards, elongating the walls and making the whole room feel taller and more elegant. It’s the same trick as wearing pinstripes: the bones don’t change, but the proportions look far more flattering.

Fluted or ribbed tiles work especially well in this layout because they build soft vertical shadows that enhance the effect. Even a single vertical feature strip behind a basin can visually “lift” the space, making it feel taller and calmer. And if you carry those lines all the way up to the ceiling, it draws attention away from the tight footprint and towards the full height of the room — exactly where you want the focus.

Beams tip: Vertical lines are far less forgiving of sloppy setting out. Map your layout carefully before the first tile goes up, especially around mirrors, niches and tap outlets. If your lines don’t align perfectly, you’ll spot it every time you brush your teeth — and once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. This is one detail where being meticulous pays off for years.

6. Commit to one bold focal point

Image credit: BC Designs — Penny 1360mm Slipper Bath: bcdesigns.co.uk

Small bathrooms often end up drenched in white and stripped of personality — not because people love blandness, but because they’re scared colour will make the space feel even smaller. Here’s the twist: a single bold feature can actually make the room feel bigger. A compact freestanding bath painted in a rich colour, a panel of patterned encaustic tiles, or a dramatic wallpapered nook behind the basin draws the eye in, distracts from the tight proportions, and makes the space feel like a deliberate design statement rather than a reluctant compromise.

The trick is to treat it like a focal point, not a free-for-all. You want one hero element that stands out, while everything else plays quietly in the background. Think of it like accessorising a tailored suit — one striking pocket square works wonders; six clashing scarves make you look like a lost theatre prop. In a bathroom, keeping the supporting finishes simple (neutral walls, uncluttered storage, soft lighting) lets that one bold choice sing without overwhelming the room.

Beams tip: A painted bath is an easy way to introduce colour without committing every surface to it. Look for tubs with paintable exteriors (like BC Designs’ Penny) and have them finished in an eggshell or satin durable enough for bathroom use. It adds personality, breaks up all that pale porcelain, and crucially — if you ever tire of it — it’s far easier to repaint a bath than retile an entire wall.

7. Build storage in, not on

Image credit: Real Homes — Shower shelf ideas: realhomes.com

In a small bathroom, surface-mounted storage is the fastest way to make the space feel even smaller. Bulky cabinets and wall shelves jut out into precious elbow room and break up clean sightlines. The smarter move is to carve storage into the walls instead. Recessed shower niches, between-stud shelving, or even full-height cabinets built flush with the wall all give you capacity without eating into the floorplan. The result is a bathroom that feels tailored, not crammed.

This approach works especially well in showers and above baths, where bottles and clutter tend to gather like they’re breeding. A simple tiled recess keeps everything accessible but tucked neatly out of the way, and it creates a subtle design feature at the same time. You can even run LED strips inside the niche for soft accent lighting that doubles as a night light — practical and just a little bit showy (in the best way).

Beams tip: Recessed storage only works if you plan for it early. These voids need to be framed and waterproofed before tiling starts. Trying to cut a niche into a finished tiled wall is the kind of decision that sounds quick and ends with someone gently weeping in a pile of broken porcelain. Plan it properly at first fix, and it’ll feel like your bathroom was made to measure — because it was.

8. Layer your lighting

Image credit: Livingetc — Lighting tricks that make a small bathroom seem bigger: livingetc.com

Lighting is often treated like an afterthought — a token ceiling spotlight plonked above the basin — but in a small bathroom it can completely transform the mood. Done well, it softens harsh corners, adds depth to flat walls, and creates the illusion of space where there isn’t any. The trick is to layer it. Instead of relying on one blinding downlight, combine three types: bright task lighting for mirrors, soft ambient lighting overhead, and warm accent lighting tucked into niches or under floating vanities. It makes the whole space feel curated instead of crammed.

This approach also helps with how the bathroom actually functions. Task lighting lets you see what you’re doing when shaving or applying makeup without casting sharp shadows across your face. Ambient lighting sets the overall mood, making even the smallest cloakroom feel calm and composed rather than like a dental surgery. And subtle accent lighting gives the room a touch of drama — the good kind, not the “tripped over the towel rail” kind.

Beams tip: Plan your lighting at first fix, not as an afterthought. Bathrooms have strict electrical zones and IP rating requirements — fittings near water need the right protection, and all circuits must be RCD-protected. Get this right, and your lighting will quietly elevate the space every single day; get it wrong, and you’ll be stuck with ceiling spots that make you look like you’ve been caught shoplifting.

9. Pick a shower-bath or space-savvy Tub

Image credit: Ideal Standard — Concept Space Shower Bath: idealstandard.co.uk

There’s a long-running myth that if your bathroom is small, you have to choose between a bath or a shower — as though the two can’t possibly co-exist. In truth, it just means you need to be more strategic about how you fit them in. A well-designed shower-bath is the classic solution: it gives you the flexibility of a standing shower and the comfort of a soak, all in the footprint of one fixture. The key is picking a model that’s actually generous enough to stand in without elbowing the screen every time you shampoo.

If you’re set on a standalone tub, go compact — and make it the star. There are beautiful small-scale freestanding baths designed specifically for petite spaces. Painted in a rich colour and positioned as the focal point, they can turn what could be a purely functional corner into the kind of spa-like feature that makes guests raise their eyebrows (in a good way). In a room this small, your bath isn’t just a fixture — it’s the statement piece.

Beams tip: Always check the internal dimensions of a compact bath, not just the external footprint. Some space-saving tubs look generous on paper but feel like trying to bathe in a salad bowl. And if you opt for a shower-bath, make sure the screen seals align with the slope of the bath so you don’t end up with a daily puddle. These small planning details are what separate a clever small bathroom from one that’s just… small.

Small bathroom renovation FAQs

How much does it cost to renovate a small bathroom in the UK?

Budgets vary depending on specification, layout and how much work is hidden behind the walls — things like plumbing runs, electrical upgrades and waterproofing. In London, a high-quality refurbishment for a compact bathroom typically falls between £7,000 and £15,000. For a clearer idea of what that looks like across different project sizes, Beams has published a detailed guide on renovation costs in the UK based on data from thousands of projects.

Is a bath or a walk-in shower better for small spaces?

Walk-in showers are usually easier to fit within a tight footprint, but a compact bath can work beautifully if you choose the right model. There’s also the question of future value: our piece on baths versus walk-in showers looks at how each option affects space, running costs and resale appeal — all useful factors to weigh up early in the design process.

Will a small bathroom renovation add value to my home?

Yes, especially in city flats where space is at a premium but presentation matters. A well-planned bathroom can lift the entire feel of a property, and it often complements larger projects.