A Bathroom When Space is an Issue

Planning a bathroom when space is an issue is a common, if sometimes frustrating, problem. One of the first things you must consider is what, exactly, your needs for this space are. If you do not need a bath, but do need a shower (or the other way around) then having what you do not need is simply a waste of space. Plan for only those elements of a bathroom suite which your household will use regularly and your small bathroom can become much more spacious.

Measure your space, and make a scale model on paper or with a graphics program on the computer. A 10 cm to 1 meter scale is commonly used. Using simple shapes made to scale with standard measurements, try different arrangements for your suite and furniture. Think about how much room you will need around each element to use it comfortably. Make sure you take into consideration where your existing water and electrical lines are! Using your existing utility points will save you time and money in construction.

Clever use of storage can make the most of a small space. Often overlooked is the storage capabilities of an under basin cabinet. This can be a convenient place to store extra toilet rolls, shampoo and soap, as well as bathroom cleaning supplies. If you have room for a shelf - but not much room - consider using the vertical space to its best advantage. Shelving that extends from floor to ceiling, even if it is quite narrow, can provide much more storage for rolled or folded towels, wash cloths, and other bathroom necessities than a standard height shelf.

Many bathroom suites are available in a smaller than standard size.

This can give you the same facilities in a smaller space, allowing more floor and wall space left over. Using the smaller sized elements makes the entire room seem larger, as each thing takes up less space. Using an entire suite - Bath, shower, basin, toilet and bidet - of a smaller size keeps each element in scale as a whole. A smaller element can be used side by side with standard sized pieces, but try to keep them the same basic styles to create a better design flow.

Heated towel racks can be a good choice in small bathrooms, as they serve to both hold towels and heat the room. Likewise a combined bath and shower unit may serve best if you find that you need to have both a bath and a shower in your bathroom. Any time that a suite or piece of furniture can do double duty, it becomes a better choice for a small bathroom.

Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms who supply Small Baths for the UK market.

Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.

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