How to furnish a small bathroom
Second to the kitchen, the bathroom is the main selling point of a property and can either draw tenants in or put them off.
If you’ve been blessed with a large bathroom - great! However, what if it’s on the smaller side - what can you do to maximise the space for functionality as well as still giving it that wow factor?
Design and making the floor space as big as it can be, providing clever storage options is your simple answer. Therefore, choosing the right sanitary ware and furniture is key for a perfect design.
Let’s take a look at the key elements of a bathroom and how you can save space whilst not compromising on design…
The toilet...
A concealed cistern with a floor or wall mounted pan is a great option for a small bathroom, as it frees up floor space and creates a sleek and modern look. These do tend to be slightly more expensive than standard toilets, but they make a bathroom look more high end and most importantly free up space above to add extra precious storage.
If you can't go concealed, look for one labelled "short projection" as they are specifically designed for tight cloakrooms and smaller spaces — we often use these for HMO ensuites as they're usually around 600mm deep instead of 650mm and in a tight space every mm counts!
The sink...
Similarly to the toilet, choosing a wall-mounted sink or vanity rather than a bulky floor standing unit will help give the illusion of more space — those boxy storage sinks can just make the space look, well… boxy. If your space is really small, look for a cloakroom sink or narrow depth vanity unit, our go-to brand is Hudson Reed for natural finishes and Bathroom Mountain / Plumb Warehouse for something with a bit more colour!
Storage
Maximising the space in a small bathroom is all about building into every spare nook and cranny available, which usually means going up! Utilising the dead space above the toilet is especially effective to add lots of storage without a huge amount of effort, plus keeping the bathroom free of clutter is a major win for making it feel bigger and more relaxing.
Extra built-ins are also a great place to add inexpensive LED lighting to enhance the luxury feel, even in the smallest space.
If you can't build in, we recommend wall mounted storage (definitely a common theme here!) as well as open shelving where possible to keep clutter off the floor.
Showers & Baths
You likely won’t have room for a separate shower and bath, so depending on your tenant target market you may want to consider either just a shower or a shower over a bath (a must for families). Use a modern glass shower screen rather than a shower curtain to avoid the space looking even more enclosed, just make sure it can be folded back for cleaning and easy access.
Paint & Tiles
Small bathrooms can easily feel cramped and dark, however, tiles and paint are where you can inject personality and fun, something small bathrooms can often lack. Make a statement with a bold, eye-catching tile on the floor or wall, using a gloss finish to help bounce light around a bathroom with no natural light.
Little visual tricks like tiling the side of your bath and the wall with the same tile design (or using a similar colour palette throughout the room) makes it hard to distinguish the hard edges, making your space feel larger...plus it's always nicer than your standard bath panel!
Some of our favourites at the moment...
Small Bathroom Decor Ideas
Keeping decor to a minimum to avoid the space looking cluttered — perhaps just a plant and some nice hand soap bottles. What is a must is a mirror, as they create the illusion of more space by bouncing the light around. Install a large mirror above the vanity, or even on an entire wall to create a sense of depth and space. (Extra points if it's lit!)
Small bathrooms shouldn’t completely turn you off buying an investment property, they can still provide that wow factor you want for prospective tenants, it just takes some clever designing. Follow all the advice above to get a bathroom that’s swoon worthy.
