How to make the most of... - Financial Unions

The household bathroom is one of the busiest rooms in any house. A small bathroom has its challenges, but with a little planning it will function just as well as any large one would.

Our bathroom is tiny, and we will be renovating it this summer, so below are all the areas I am taking into consideration.

Space:

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When it comes to a small bathroom, space is the first thing you need to consider. Can you fit a shower and a separate bath? Shower in a bath? Or just a shower?

We have a tiny bath with a shower, and we have made the decision to get rid of the bath. Controversial, I know. I have two little boys - one that still loves swimming in the bath - but we need to think long term.

What I've learnt from my friend Amy at Wild & Rosie is to consider the size of the shower tray. The long trays are generally 800mm wide in size and baths can be 700mm, which then impacts our current vanity unit (which we now have sold on Adverts).

Every inch counts in a small space, so our plan is to have a rain shower overhead and a smaller hose for the kids to use. Also, consider where your toilet is going. It isn't the prettiest thing to see the toilet as you open the door, but I think you need to fight your battles when you are dealing with a tiny space.

Storage

Storage is key, so you need to box clever on this one. I like everything to go into a cupboard. IKEA have affordable mirrored vanity units and you could place two to three side by side on the wall. House Obsessed on Instagram put IKEA vanity units together inset into the wall and bought different mirrored doors. They look stunning. Don't go for just a sink as you are wasting all the space below for storage. Wall-hung vanity units are a great option and then you can use under the vanity unit for storage.

Heat

If you have the money, put in underfloor heating as this will save you space. If not, go for a heated towel rail. We are moving ours from the wall as you come in the door as my husband says it annoys him to see the towels flung on it. It is now being moved to the end of the shower tray. Here's hoping the towels won't get wet.

Tiles

Having the same-coloured tiles throughout the floor and shower tray will give the illusion of a larger space like a wet room. I am new to the fact that you can buy shower trays you can tile. I've noticed people also using one tile option in the shower and then a different style in the same colour on the floor. That's our plan.

In our previous home, we had small squared mirrored tiles on the shower walls that bounced light around the bathroom. If possible, do a built-in shelf in the shower to hold your products. If you have a bath, use the same tiles at the side of the bath as that will almost trick the eye to make the space look larger.

Flooring

Texture, durability and hygiene are all important factors to consider when choosing your type of flooring. Vinyl, tiles, laminate, marble flooring are all good options. You need to think of durability and what materials might be more slippery than others.

Porcelain tiles are lovely but can be slippery when wet. If you have underfloor heating it will dry up any wet spots. Most designers will say avoid wood in the bathroom as steam and water can cause the wood to warp. Dark flooring can show up dirt and white coloured grout will require more maintenance.

For a small bathroom, larger tiles are a good option as they create a sense of space. Vinyl tiles are cost effective and don't forget to visit carpet warehouses where they have offcuts of vinyl flooring at a fraction of the price.

Lighting

Even if you have a dark bathroom, lighting is going to be really important. A lovely option is to have lighting at the side of the mirror and then a separate switch for spotlights. Lights that are set inside your mirror which also de-fog the mirror are a great space saving option.

For safety, every bathroom is marked into different zones which may have a higher risk. You need to check the safety marks on your lights – for example near the bath you need IP44 approved light. Talk to your electrician if you have any concerns.

If you have a nice window in your bathroom, don't put in frosted glass. A little blind, curtain or shutter is a nice option. We are getting rid of our window and putting in a skylight. You can get electric ones as well, but we have a tight budget, so we'll be using an old-fashioned stick. Dowsing & Reynolds, Pooky, IKEA and Hicken are great.

Mirrors

We are going to get a local carpenter to build a small mirrored storage unit above the sink and toilet that will go right up to the ceiling. We need to maximise every inch of space. I've seen it done on Instagram. You could also do a cheaper version by buying two or three mirrored wall cabinets. Be sure to check out Adverts and Done Deal. The new squiggle mirrors add a bit of an edge to bathrooms too. A firm favourite of mine is a brass mirror as I think they add a touch of luxury.

Accessories

Know what colour scheme you like and try to use it throughout. If you like black, use it on the taps, shower head, door knobs, flush plate, etc. I bought a lovely vacant and free lock on eBay which will add a nice touch.

Hidden Storage

I have noticed people using a tiny section, almost like a small cupboard, at the back of the shower for hidden storage - a great option for extra towels. If your toilet is wall hung use the space for a built in press.

Artwork

A bathroom is another nice place for you to display your prints and if you want to go bolder try wallpaper. Favourites include William Morris, Sanderson and Sandberg. April and the Bear always stock lovely wallpaper options.

Under the stairs toilet

This is where I think you can go mad with colour if you want to. We are going with mustard tiles for the tiny space. I was planning on going with a sink with a small cupboard underneath, but we are so tight on space that we felt a nice small rectangular sink with a nice trap will do the trick.

Everywhere I looked they were about €300, so I have taken a chance and bought one for €117 including delivery from Amazon. There seems to be a lot of parts for a small sink, but sure, we'll give it a try!

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How to make the most of a small bathroom