7 Things You Don’t Need in Your Small Bathroom
Forget these space-eating features and items that could well be wasting valuable inches in compact bathrooms
Amanda Pollard
30 December 2020
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If you’re struggling to move around in your tiny bathroom, or have nowhere left to store everything, it could be time to rethink the space. Take a look at these common space-wasters to see how you can make the most of the room.
1. Floor-based storage
If there’s one thing that takes up space in a room, it’s furniture that sits on the floor. Yes, you need some storage in your bathroom, but consider alternatives to a vanity unit that starts at ground level.
This one has plenty of space inside the cabinet for toiletries and towels, but the empty void below makes the room feel much more airy than if it were perched on the floor.
Think, too, about how you can use the higher space in the room. Install tall wall cabinets to maximise vertical areas, or go for a less imposing shelf, as the homeowners have done here.
If there’s one thing that takes up space in a room, it’s furniture that sits on the floor. Yes, you need some storage in your bathroom, but consider alternatives to a vanity unit that starts at ground level.
This one has plenty of space inside the cabinet for toiletries and towels, but the empty void below makes the room feel much more airy than if it were perched on the floor.
Think, too, about how you can use the higher space in the room. Install tall wall cabinets to maximise vertical areas, or go for a less imposing shelf, as the homeowners have done here.
2. A bath
Most of us fall into one of two camps when debating whether to ditch the bath – those who can’t imagine life without a long soak, and those who can’t see the point of taking up room with an item they hardly use.
If space is really tight, it might be time to ask yourself how often, realistically, you fill up the tub, and whether a shower alone might be the best use of your space.
In this tiny room, a bath might have made the space feel very cramped, whereas the frameless glass shower enclosure looks neat and streamlined.
Most of us fall into one of two camps when debating whether to ditch the bath – those who can’t imagine life without a long soak, and those who can’t see the point of taking up room with an item they hardly use.
If space is really tight, it might be time to ask yourself how often, realistically, you fill up the tub, and whether a shower alone might be the best use of your space.
In this tiny room, a bath might have made the space feel very cramped, whereas the frameless glass shower enclosure looks neat and streamlined.
3. A huge pile of towels
Got a large stack of towels that’s accumulated over the years? Chances are you never use the bottom third of this cumbersome mound – even the ones you’re saving for those extra guests that might need to stay over in the future.
If your towels are taking over your small bathroom, it could be time for a cull. Go through your bath linen collection and leave yourself with a matching stack you can neatly organise. A good rule of thumb is to have two bath towels and two hand towels per person, as well as two sets per guest bedroom.
Got a large stack of towels that’s accumulated over the years? Chances are you never use the bottom third of this cumbersome mound – even the ones you’re saving for those extra guests that might need to stay over in the future.
If your towels are taking over your small bathroom, it could be time for a cull. Go through your bath linen collection and leave yourself with a matching stack you can neatly organise. A good rule of thumb is to have two bath towels and two hand towels per person, as well as two sets per guest bedroom.
4. Half-used toiletries
Bottles, tubes and packets of toiletries and accessories can take up space in cupboards and on shelves in the bathroom and make the room feel cluttered. Take a look at your product collection and see if you can streamline it.
If your bathroom is very small, perhaps you could find a space elsewhere in your home for those items you rarely use and only leave the things you need on a daily basis. It’s also a good idea to decant your bathing products into attractive jars and dispensers to make the room feel more ordered.
Bottles, tubes and packets of toiletries and accessories can take up space in cupboards and on shelves in the bathroom and make the room feel cluttered. Take a look at your product collection and see if you can streamline it.
If your bathroom is very small, perhaps you could find a space elsewhere in your home for those items you rarely use and only leave the things you need on a daily basis. It’s also a good idea to decant your bathing products into attractive jars and dispensers to make the room feel more ordered.
5. A laundry basket
If your laundry basket is located in the bathroom, it could be taking up valuable floor space. To free up room, relocate it to somewhere else, such as the landing or a bedroom. There are plenty of gorgeous designs on the market, so you should be able to find one that looks good in whichever room you decide to put it.
Smart solutions to store your laundry basket
If your laundry basket is located in the bathroom, it could be taking up valuable floor space. To free up room, relocate it to somewhere else, such as the landing or a bedroom. There are plenty of gorgeous designs on the market, so you should be able to find one that looks good in whichever room you decide to put it.
Smart solutions to store your laundry basket
6. Unused space
Even if your bathroom has an awkward layout, it’s still possible to make use of every inch of space. Take this loft bathroom, for example – the space below the sloped roof has been fully utilised for a loo and a false wall full of handy storage.
If you’re not sure how to lay out your bathroom to make the most of all the space, it might be worth calling in an expert to help you with the design.
Even if your bathroom has an awkward layout, it’s still possible to make use of every inch of space. Take this loft bathroom, for example – the space below the sloped roof has been fully utilised for a loo and a false wall full of handy storage.
If you’re not sure how to lay out your bathroom to make the most of all the space, it might be worth calling in an expert to help you with the design.
7. A side-hinged door
A door that swings inwards can really limit your choices when laying out a small bathroom. In this scheme, for example, a side-hinged door would have blocked the basin area. The clever designers have fitted a folding door instead, which doesn’t impinge on the space and gives the owners more options for their bathroom furniture.
Read more:
12 Decorating Tricks to Make Small Bathrooms Work HardWhat Are the Key Measurements for Designing a Small Bathroom?
Tell us:
How have you made more room in your own bathroom? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
A door that swings inwards can really limit your choices when laying out a small bathroom. In this scheme, for example, a side-hinged door would have blocked the basin area. The clever designers have fitted a folding door instead, which doesn’t impinge on the space and gives the owners more options for their bathroom furniture.
Read more:
12 Decorating Tricks to Make Small Bathrooms Work HardWhat Are the Key Measurements for Designing a Small Bathroom?
Tell us:
How have you made more room in your own bathroom? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
What are you working on?
Related Stories
More Room Guides
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Has your drying rack become a perpetual eyesore in your home? These dapper laundry drying solutions have you covered
Full Story
Indian Homes
4 Amazing Indian Homes Less Than 1000 Sq Ft
Get inspired by these fabulous homes that are small in size but big on style and comfort
Full Story
Houzz Around the World
Houzz Tour: A Tiny, 600-Sq-Ft House Sits by the River
Clever architecture turns this surprisingly small Japanese house into a family home – with stunning river views
Full Story
Living Rooms
9 Seating Arrangement Ideas for Small Living Rooms
Discover ways to live large with these pocket-sized living areas
Full Story
More Room Guides
40 Incredible Hallways To Take You From One World To Another
Here's a selection of narrow to wide, modern to traditional passageways infused with colour, art and space-boosting ideas
Full Story
Colour Guides
5 Best Colours for Small Living Rooms
These paint colours will set the mood, update your space and make a small space seem larger than it is
Full Story
Kitchen Guides
Compact Kitchen Layouts That Are Perfect for Small Apartments
Tackle space crunches in the kitchen with layouts that make every square foot count
Full Story
Photo Books
12 Small Bedrooms Go Big on Dark Colours
These small bedrooms prove that small size and bold colour can go hand in hand
Full Story
Outdoors
How to Fit a Pergola in a Tiny Gaden
Even if your space is limited, there are ways to add an open roof to create the feeling of an outdoor room
Full Story
More Room Guides
How to Achieve Big Things With Small Laundry Rooms
By Kate Burt
If you’re finding it tricky to carve out space for a laundry zone, take a look at these ingenious ideas
Full Story
@ Kim Hook. It's your home, so I wouldn't worry about second-guessing what a potential future purchaser might want in a bathroom, particularly as many are (we hope!) becoming more eco-aware and so might not see a bath tub as a plus point – in any case, If the plumbing is good, they might decide to install a washing machine or a hammam or whatever. We have a large family home too, but I had no hesitation about turfing out both bath tubs as nobody had used either for well over 20 years and I couldn't be doing any more with having to clamber in and out of a tub to take a shower. Remember the playing in the bath period doesn't last for long; our two preferred showering once they started primary school.
@debora eade - many thanks for your response.
Best to do what suits YOU. one only needs to read these comments to realise that there is no one size fits all, so don’t try to predict what a random future buyer may want, because you are equally likely to guess wrong