Narrow bathroom design ideas


Narrow Small Bathroom Layout Ideas for More Function and Style Too

By Vera Dordick | Published on Reviewed by Stefan Gheorghe

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Narrow small bathroom layout ideas are valuable whether you live in a tiny urban apartment or a small country cottage. The bathroom is an essential space and maximizing its functionality is critical.

Williams Burton Leopardi

You must have enough storage for your personal care necessities, a place to hang towels and decent lighting.

Narrow Bathroom Layouts

Many narrow bathroom layouts have a “three-in-a-row” linear design arrangement. This means that the three main fixtures line up in a row. The sink, the toilet and the bathtub or shower are in straight succession.

There are plenty of variations on this trio, in particular for a master bath. However, when the bathroom is narrow, in most cases you have no other option than to go long. When planning a bathroom remodel, it’s essential to know how much space each element needs, in general. On the other hand, if you have a very challenging narrow bathroom, space-saving fixtures and custom elements will be the best route.


Bathtubs

A standard tub is 2’-6” by 5’-0”. For smaller spaces, you can buy tubs as short as 48 inches, which is four feet. Regarding width, available options are as narrow as 27 to 28 inches wide. Some freestanding tub styles can shave a couple more inches off the length.


Shower

A comfortable shower area is 3.5 feet square. In fact, most codes only require 2.5 feet square, but that can feel rather tight.


Toilet

In a home, a space has to be 2.5 feet wide to fit a toilet. For better accessibility, increase the width to 3 feet. You can save extra floor space by choosing a wall-mounted toilet so it doesn’t feel cramped.


Vanity

A typical double sink vanity is at least 6 feet long. But, they can be as short as 5 feet. Going custom and including wall-mounted faucets can make it shorter and narrower.


Doors

No, this isn’t a bathroom fixture but you need to allow space for doors to swing open. This goes for shower doors as well as the main door to the bathroom. If there’s not enough space, consider a sliding door or pocket door, along with a walk-in shower.


Narrow Bathroom Ideas

Of course, every bathroom has its own challenges. The more ideas you can gather, the more stylish and functional your narrow bathroom can be. Check out these options for narrow small bathroom layouts and designs.

Narrow Powder Room

Studio Frank

Long narrow bathroom designs for a powder room can also be challenging. This is especially true when you want it to look stylish for guests.

This bathroom is so narrow it is a tight squeeze indeed. There’s no way a pedestal sink would work. To make the layout work and look good, the vanity is very slim with a trough sink. In addition, the corners are rounded off and the faucet is mounted on the wall.

Tub/Shower Combo

Dixon Projects

In a narrow bathroom, there might be no hope of fitting both a bathtub and a shower. If you can’t choose one or the other, consider a combination. This bathroom has plenty of natural light to make it feel like there’s more space.

Also, in a tight space, sometimes a shower curtain is more convenient and space-saving than a rigid stall. In this bathroom, the ceramic tiles go up more than three-fourths of the way to the ceiling, which also makes the space feel larger.

All-in-one Bathing Space

Andrea West Design

If you want both a shower and tub, another option is putting them both together into one tiled space. The area is glassed off and so that water doesn’t come into the rest of the bathroom.

This style of bathroom layout makes the narrow bathroom seem roomy even though it’s only as wide as the tub. The unique tile design also helps define the space.

Angled Ceiling

Change Your Bathroom©

Some narrow bathrooms have other design challenges like this chic contemporary example. The angled ceiling could be an issue in some cases. However, here the designer kept all the essentials along one wall to save space.

The long vanity is off the floor, which makes the bathroom feel spacious and provides extra storage space. There’s also plenty of counter space. This design also features a walk-in shower and bathtub area behind a glass door.

Airy Powder Room

Homesmith Construction

Although this bathroom is not the narrowest, it still presents some design challenges. The window means that no fixtures can go there. The toilet is set back into the end, slightly out of view from the window area. The saving grace is the alcove, which just fits the storage vanity with a vessel basin.

Because of tall the natural light, the darker wallpaper is not an issue. Its large-scale print is fresh but not overpowering.

Zen-like Simplicity

Acadia-Architecture Davide Giannella

Opting for a simple, soothing design is a great way to make the most of a narrow bathroom. The palette is neutral and the floor tile and shower tile are the same. This makes the space feel even longer.

The floating vanity frees up floor space. However, there’s still built-in storage space for necessities in the drawers and enough counter space. Wall-mounted faucets and lighting emphasize the spa-like feeling.

One Big Space

Elizabeth Baird Architecture & Design

Small bathrooms can require some creativity and this example has plenty. Instead of sectioning off parts of the space, this is one big bathroom space. The floor is the same tile throughout and the bathroom walls are all concrete, as is the basin.

The lack of vanity is not a problem because there is a ledge on the mirror and one above the sink. The walk-in shower sits behind a sliding shower door. This is a very low-maintenance bathroom design.

Traditional Powder Room

Sarah Brown Interiors

Renovating a powder room in a traditional home means staying true to the style. Here, wainscoting and cane-print wallpaper set the stage.

The old-school toilet is paired with a small hand sink. Exposed plumbing underneath adds metallic accents to the lovely space. In this case, there is no storage, but in general, that is not a major problem in a powder room.

Minimalist Approach

Williams Burton Leopardi

While not confined to one long, narrow space, this bathroom does have a narrow entry that is now functional. By taking a minimalist approach, this narrow bathroom looks very spacious. The all-white palette makes a big difference.

The vanity includes an undermounted trough sink and two faucets. Around the corner are the bathtub and shower. White walls and two sizes of floor tiles round out the airy vibe.

Colorful Distraction

Studio Shamshiri

Sometimes there’s no way to make a tiny bathroom seem like a larger space. Instead, go with the layout and bring life to it with dramatic with color. This small one uses bold blue tile walls and a green door to distract from the narrow bathroom.

Save floor space with a floating basin and keep decor to a minimum. This is one of the more cost-conscious narrow bathroom ideas.

Gorgeous Tiles

JDP Interiors

This bathroom is narrow and wide. There’s just enough space to open the door without hitting the toilet. The entire house is neutral and natural, so the patterned tile here is a touch of unexpected embellishment.

This powder room uses a few good techniques small spaces. These include the smaller sink, a large mirror, sconces and a wall-mounted faucet.

Dark and Dramatic

Frank & Faber

Narrow bathroom ideas don’t have to revolve around light colors. Choosing a dark and dramatic hue with contrasting elements is a wonderful way to dress up a small space.

This narrow bathroom is in a Victorian home that has deep teal walls throughout. In the bathroom, the white floating vanity creates dramatic contrast and the gold metallic accents heighten it.

Unique Design

Nefa Architects

Often a unique space challenge calls for a unique design. This Moscow bathroom has special modern elements throughout. From the large round mirror to the two-part wall-mounted vanity and minimalist faucet, the bathroom is a work of art.

Choosing an unexpected design can draw attention from the size of the bathroom and put it on the elements instead.

Modern Minimalism

Elad Gonen

Long skinny bathroom ideas often trend toward the modern for good reason. The sleek minimalist look makes the most of the square footage in a tiny bathroom.

This narrow bathroom has all the elements along a single side. Moreover, the trough sink is super narrow and features a wall-mounted faucet. Even the storage shelf is long and narrow, perfect for a small space.

Tiny Bathroom

DSOD

It doesn’t get any narrower than this tiny bathroom. This is a variation on the all-in-one wet room. The shower and toilet are next to each other while the towel bar is on the farthest side.

There’s no space for decor in a small bathroom like this one so the concrete-looking tiles have an etched pattern for visual interest. For obvious reason,s the only lighting is on the ceiling.

Shower with a View

SA-DA Architecture

You’ve seen bathtubs with a view, but this shower has one. Instead of fighting the shape of the space, this small narrow bathroom turns the window end of the space into a showering area. In this case, it’s the only solution for including one in the layout. Otherwise, it’s too narrow to have it against a wall.

Go Custom

Paulo Martins Architecture & Design

Sometimes, custom narrow bathroom ideas are the only solution. This modern home is spacious, but the bathroom is very narrow. The entire bathroom is clad in stone and is in general an all-in-one wet room.

A backlit, frameless mirror provides lighting and the narrow trough sink and vanity are the only style that would fit.

Wet Room

Departure l Architecture

Quite popular in Asia, the wet room style of bathroom is gaining in other regions of the world too. This super stylish narrow bathroom has lovely tile and a sliding door to save space.

Having the toilet and the showering area all in one space makes it efficient to clean as well. You can just scrub and then rinse down all the surfaces.

Pack It In

Houzz

When it comes to narrow bathroom ideas, some people prefer just to pack everything into the space. This modern bathroom is narrow but manages to have a spacious shower and a bathtub. The space sacrifice is that the bathtub is partially behind the shower.

Get Creative

Creative Spaces

Bathroom ideas don’t have to be boring. In fact, they can be artsy like this example. Natural stone surfaces on the walls and floor, and unusual custom shapes for the vanity and mirror really elevate the narrow bathroom. This design also puts the focus on the wall space.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

How do you arrange a long narrow bathroom?

When you have a small narrow bathroom, the best practice is to put all your elements on one side. This is the vanity wall in most cases. In general, it should be the one with the most wall space. By leaving one side open you create a walkway.

How do you make a small narrow bathroom look bigger?

Some of the ways to make a small bathroom look bigger are the same for any room. Take a minimalist approach, let in more natural light, get a slim vanity and use the same materials throughout. You can also install a larger mirror and opt for an enclosure that does not have a frame.

How much space do you need between toilet and shower?

Most local building codes require a minimum of 21 inches in front of the vanity, toilet and tub. Of course, that is the absolute minimum and most people will want more space. Most codes also call for at least 15 inches from any side wall or obstruction and a minimum of 30 inches measured center to center to any other fixture.

What is the narrowest shower?

You can find compact shower units as small as 32 inches square. These are designed to install in a corner or against one wall in a tiny space.

Do small tiles make a room look bigger or smaller?

In general, bigger tiles will make your small bathroom seem bigger. Using small tiles will do the opposite.

How do you optimize space in a small bathroom?

Adding shelving is the best way to add more storage to a narrow bathroom. You might not have the space for more cabinets, but you can often use vertical space for open shelves and extra storage.

Conclusion

Don’t despair if you have a long narrow small bathroom. It might be a challenge when you don’t have much extra space. However, there are plenty of very narrow bathroom ideas to inspire your renovation.

Think beyond the standard layouts and you can devise something that’s super functional and look cool too.

43 Small Bathroom Ideas to Make Your Bathroom Feel Bigger

Looking for small bathroom ideas that will make the space seem larger than life? So is most of New York City. The lack of square footage, limited natural light, and number of fixtures to squeeze in make a small bathroom one of the more challenging spaces to decorate. But when done right, the whole room can seem brighter and more spacious. And no, you won’t have to spend a zillion dollars to carve a window into the wall (or call on something retro like glass bricks).

These small bathroom ideas go beyond making the most of the available space and prove that bold design elements can be right at home in even the tiniest rooms. Here are the best ways to turn powder rooms, half-baths, and just little tiny (sometimes windowless) bathrooms into less cramped, more enjoyable situations. Your small bath may just be your next favorite room.

1. Keep Your Colors Light and Bright

© Emily Gilbert Photography

A wood floor and vanity give this city bathroom a warm and serene feeling. A soft mint green hue reflects natural light from the window. The space surrounding the freestanding tub makes the room feel more open, as does the lightweight curtain fabric, which allows maximum light to enter.

2. Or Double Down With a Dark Color Scheme

In Gilles Mendel’s Manhattan apartment, the bath’s vanity is granite and the black towels are by Calvin Klein Home.

Photo: Joshua McHugh

Wait, what? “Oftentimes I like to paint small bathrooms [typically windowless rooms] a dark color, like black. It gives depth and creates an illusion of a larger space,” says Jenny Wolf of Jenny Wolf Interiors. “Go with a high-gloss in a super dark color,” advises Fleming James of Oliver Street Designs. The hue will simultaneously impart a big-night-sky effect and also bounce the little light you have around the space. (Doing so will also draw attention to the light fixtures, she points out, so you’ll need to choose them thoughtfully—bulbs that bring in plenty of light, shapes you don’t mind being pretty pronounced.)

3. Mirror a Wall

Even with a bold marble, this bath by Joanne de Guardiola and Jon Bannenberg feels very open thanks to the mirrored upper half.

Photo: William Waldron

Rather than just hanging one above the vanity, consider mirroring a whole wall of your tiny bathroom. The reflection of light and pattern (and, sometimes, that open door) will do the same good work a window does.

4. Opt for a Glass Shower Door

Inspiration for the glass shower door of your dreams, courtesy of a Jenny Wolf–designed space.

Photo: Emily Gilbert

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If you’re starting your small bathroom design from scratch, consider scrapping the curtain entirely. “I also recommend glass shower doors in a small bath, as it will help to open up the space,” Wolf says.

5. Or Remove Your Shower Door Completely

Totally renovated bathroom with shower cabin and bathtub,light cream coloured tiles on floor and wall. Point of focus mainly on tiles in forground.Photo: KristianSeptimiusKrogh

The slightly more adventurous might even consider no shower door at all (a good drain is wise in that case).

6. Backlight the Mirror

Photo: Anton Minin

“This can be a chic and modern way to amplify light,” James says, “if you do not have room for sconces or simply want a more minimalistic look.”

7. Take On Tile

McGrath II used floor tile to cover the walls of this small bathroom.

Photo: Matt Harrington/Courtesy of McGrath II

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Tile is a durable way to add impact and can be used from floor to ceiling. “For smaller bathroom walls, we like to specify ceramic tiles that are small,” says Suzanne McGrath of the design firm McGrath II. The designer is a fan of using one-by-four and two-by-six floor tiles—which are also less expensive—on bathroom walls.

8. Give the Curtain a Lift

Photo: Steve Freihon

If you have the luxury of choosing where your shower curtain goes, James recommends that you “take the fabric all the way up” past the usual height of the tub. “Extending the curtain nearly to the ceiling will certainly elongate the walls,” she says, adding that the taller your ceiling, the more this will help. The ceiling curtain track in designer Ryan Brooke Thomas’s own apartment does just that.  

9. Keep the Floor Clear

A pedestal sink keeps a slim profile in the bathroom of Elizabeth Locke’s Virginia home.

Photo: Joshua McHugh

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Covering the floor with a bathroom vanity or storage containers can create a cramped space, not to mention tripping hazards. A pedestal or floating vanity keeps the floor clear, and installing floating storage will help keep everything you need at arm’s length.

10. Try a Large-Scale Wall Covering

The powder room of a house in Monte Carlo features Dornbracht fittings and Phillip Jeffries wallpaper.

Photo: Simon Watson

You might think you need to go for a petite motif, but it’s actually better to go big. “Medium- and large-scale wallpapers and tile patterns can actually make a space feel larger,” James explains. Whether you choose big tiles or an even bigger pattern is up to you; she says they’ll both “give an illusionary scale in tight quarters.”

11. Use High-Gloss Paint to Reflect Light and Amplify the Space

A light-filled, narrow bathroom is accented with a sheepskin rug and bamboo roller blinds in the Brooklyn home of designers Casey Kenyon and Jonathon Beck.Photo: Roland Bello

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Designers Casey Kenyon and Jonathan Beck’s Brooklyn bathroom feels decidedly airy thanks to light-reflecting high-gloss paint.

12.

Opt for a Patterned Floor

Photo: Francesco Lagnese

Believe it or not, this bathroom is windowless. Tall mirrored medicine cabinets and a glass shower amplify light from the interior fixtures, brightening up the space. Wolf used built-in cabinets to save floor space. A herringbone wood floor gives the illusion of a larger and warmer bath.

13. Add a Shower Niche

Shower niche trumps plastic caddy every. single. time.Photo: Aubrie Pick

Another major space saver? A shower niche. If you’re designing a small bathroom, make sure to include a shower niche in your plans.

14. Use a Ledge to Create Space

Colored tiles in the bathroom of a renovated row house in Brooklyn, New York.Photo: Evan Jorgensen

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A narrow ledge in front of the mirror in this GRT Architects–designed bathroom is the perfect perch for a plant, toothbrush, and other essentials.

15. Move Your Towel Bar

Photo: Carmen Chan

In a West Village powder room by designer Ashley Darryl, a towel bar is fastened to the side of the floating sink.

16. Rethink Your Sink

If you’re designing your tiny bathroom from scratch (or remodeling), a tiny corner sink may be among the most handy simple small bathroom ideas. There’s no rule that says you have to have a full-size standard sink. A corner sink gets the job done just as well—plus it gives you plenty of space and less to clean.

17. Choose Compact Pieces

Photo: Kyle Knodell; Styling: Jamie Perez Herrera

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Hulking vanities and blocky tubs may look at home in a larger bathroom, but they can make a small bathroom feel claustrophobic. Install compact toilets and sinks or consider floating versions to open up the space, like in this 650-square-foot apartment designed by Brett Masterson. If a tub is a must, consider a Japanese soaking tub to add serenity without taking up square footage.

18. Consider Closed Storage to Stay Organized

Photo: Barbara Corsico 

Bottles and tubes scattered on the countertops are guaranteed to distract from even the most gorgeous room. Samuel suggests closed bathroom storage, such as a linen closet or vanity with drawers and doors, to keep things tucked away. “Display only your favorite and most frequently used, well-designed products.” In this 323 square foot Italian pad by the founders of SCEG Architetti, the exterior of the vanity can really sing thanks to the lack of clutter.  

19. Curve Some Surfaces

Small bathroom with toilet and shower in gray tonesPhoto: yuryRumovsky

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Reclaim some of your space with a curved sink or shower. It might not seem like much, but it can make a difference, especially in a tiny space where real estate matters.

20. Add Stylish Shelving

Photo: Will Ellis

Forget anything basic. Opt for a sleek shelf that fits your decor and gives you extra space (a precious commodity in a small bathroom), like in this bathroom by Fanny Abbes, the creative director of the New Design Project, which employs acrylic shelves that perfectly match the rest of the bathroom feel.

21. Choose a Wall-Mounted Faucet

Photo: Carola Ripamonti; design: Andrea Marcante, Adelaide Testa; from Take a Bath (copyright Gestalten 2017)

Not only is a wall-mounted faucet a real space saver, it’s also stylish, modern, and easy to clean.

22. Get Creative With Storage

Photo: Muk van Lil

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In cramped rooms, any open space is an opportunity. If there’s a niche, add open shelves to make use of that dead space, just as designer Madelon Oudshoorn Spaargaren did in her Amsterdam home. 

23. Add a Ladder for Towels

A vintage vanity with an undermount basin. Photo courtesy of Making Home Base

We love this country-chic small bathroom that gets creative with a ladder. It can hang more towels than a bar, and it gives the bathroom a unique feel. If you don’t have enough space for a ladder that stands alone, choose one that is made to sit above a toilet.

24. Pare Down Your Bottles

Photo: Douglas Friedman

Let’s be honest: We usually don’t need all those toiletry bottles. Streamlining your grooming products will give you more space, so do a Marie Kondo and pare down your shampoo collection. Or, at the very least, store the products you don’t use daily somewhere other than your counters or bathtub ledges. Getting rid of any clutter will make your small bathroom seem much bigger.

25. Install a Skylight

Bathroom renovated with mosaic of grey tiles; a washbasin, shower, and skylight. 

Photo: piovesempre

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This is one of the more ambitious small bathroom designs, but it will make a major impact. Installing a skylight will open up your entire bathroom and significantly brighten the space.

26. Get a High Tank Toilet

Photo: Simon Brown

When stuck with a bathroom that’s cramped but features inordinately tall ceilings, a high tank toilet can be just the thing to distract the eye. In this Beata Heuman–designed apartment, a bold paint color is used to double down on those tall walls.  

27. Try an Interesting Tile Pattern

Photo: Yohann Fontaine

No matter what color bathroom tile you go for, arranging them in an interesting pattern can up the visual interest. The options are practically endless: This Paris apartment features a zigzag herringbone design with a bright white grout against the dark tile.

28. Pick Natural Accent Colors For a White Bathroom 

Photo: Charlie Schuck

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If you want your bathroom to be calming no matter how cramped it is, use a natural color palette and don’t worry about painting the walls. Despite the bright flooring in her own apartment, architect Corey Kingston paired a terracotta curtain and bathmat with wicker baskets for storage. If you’re set on subway tile, natural colors pair well with them too. 

29. Go for a Theme

Photo: Jenna Ohnemus Peffley

“Especially for a bathroom with an unusual shape, going after a theme can help make the space feel more cohesive. I had a friend growing up who had a bathroom with a theme of lips. Her mother loved lips. I loved that bathroom and found it incredibly fanciful,” homeowner Fanny Singer said during our tour of her space, explaining how she arrived at the bum-centric art in her bathroom. “I’m not going to go to that degree, but it just became a thing.” 

30. Go for Unusual Shapes

Photo: Rory Gardiner

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Architect Vincent Appel paired a round floating sink with a Gio Ponti mirror in a 300-square-foot apartment’s minimalist bathroom. Without creating chaos in the small space, these two pieces added plenty of personality. 

31. Use Brass Hardware

Photo: Kirsten Francis

Brass hardware and fixtures can add an unexpected, refined look to any bathroom—no full renovation needed. Though the difference is slight, this Margaret Costello–designed bathroom still looks luxurious thanks to its impactful fixtures. 

32.

Go Monochromatic

Photo: Melanie Landsman

Nearly everything in this bathroom is pink—floor tile and tub included—and we love the look of a monochrome escape. Though this bathroom is vintage, it’s easily replicable for any design sensibility. 

33. Get A Mirror with Built-In Storage

Photo: Joe Kramm; Styling: Mieke ten Have

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The best small space pieces are multifunctional, and a mirror that also offers storage can be a life saver. The medicine cabinet is the gold standard, but if that feels a little too retro, try a mirror with shelves, like this one in a New York City apartment designed by Project AZ. 

34. Use the Space Above the Toilet

In the bathroom, guests leave messages tucked into in the wooden hands that Philip purchased in South Kensington Farmers' Market when he lived in London. Strings of beads hang above. “The common thread amongst them all is they offer protection, and I think I’ve got just about every major religion represented last I looked. "Photo: Joshua McHugh

Whether you use it for storage or for eye-catching decoration, as designer Philip Gorrivan chose to, do not leave the space above the toilet empty. 

35. Skip the Full Towel Rack

Photo: Christopher Stark

If your extra-small bathroom doesn’t have storage space, don’t force it! Skip a full towel rack and add either a hook for shower time or a small rack for a hand towel, as in this Noz Nozawa–designed space. 

36. Simplify It

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When dealing with a powder room, keep things as simple as possible. There’s no need to add storage space if you don’t have much to store, and your space will be all the more pleasing for it! We should all take the note from this Chicago home designed by Wendy Labrum.

37. Stick to Evocative Neutrals 

Photo: Jacob Snavely

Neutral doesn’t have to mean boring! This Aamir Khandwala–designed space employs a deep beige to create a room that is both calming and dynamic.  

38. Add a Fun Pendant Light

Photo: Michael Clifford

In bathroom design the focus often lands on sconce lighting, but a fun pendant light can serve as an impactful focal point, no matter the square footage of your bathroom. For proof, just take a glimpse at this Jake Arnold–designed bathroom’s rattan pendant. 

39. Mirror Multiple Walls

Photo: Sean Litchfield

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Adding multiple mirrors to a space not only makes it feel bigger, it also has the potential to create a memorable fun house-like vibe in the bathroom. Wouldn’t you want to take a selfie in this space designed by homeowner Chris Aswad? 

40. Match Your Hardware Finishes

Photo: Kyle Knodell

Tying everything together in your bathroom can be satisfying even if it may not make the space feel larger, exactly. In bathrooms that feature a glass shower door or wall, like this Dumbo loft’s, tie the shower in with the rest of the space by matching the finishes of the sink, light fixtures, and towel rod.

41. Add Shallow Shelves for Trinkets

By choosing a basic tile in an not-so-basic color and size, Conti, Cert was able to save some money in the bathroom. The vanity is baltic birch plywood with unfinished edges.Photo: Coke Bartrina

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If you don’t want to dedicate counter space to items that are purely for decorative purposes, shallow floating shelves will take up a small footprint in your space but still allow for much more personality than a cramped vanity ever could. Photographer Coke Bartrina’s filled his simple shelves with small plants.

42. Go for Terrazzo

Photo: Max Burkhalter

As far as we’re concerned, terrazzo is timeless—just look at Matthew Stewart’s gorgeous terrazzo-lined bathroom! With the mesmerizing pattern enveloping the room, it’ll be hard to stress about lack of space.

43. Add a Gallery Wall

Photo: Kyle Knodell

Though it might not be the first place to spring to mind for your art collection, a gallery wall is sure to add a stately air to even the tiniest of bathrooms. Going for all black and white prints ups the classiness factor, as the bathroom at designer Peter Sandel’s own studio apartment proves. 

Long and narrow bathrooms - 135 best bathroom interior design ideas

Apartment with work space and dressing room

Alexander Tischler fronts, black fronts, full built-in bathtub, installation, beige tile, ceramic tile, beige walls, porcelain stoneware floor, countertop sink, faux quartz countertop, beige floor, gray countertop, single vanity unit and hanging vanity unit for outdoor and garden

Cool Gray

Change Your Bathroom©

The detailed plans for this bathroom can be purchased here: https://www.changeyourbathroom.com/shop/cool-gray-bathroom-plans/ Brushed nickel shower head with digital shower valve, freestanding bathtub, curbless shower with hidden shower drain, flat pebble shower floor, shelf over tub with LED lighting, gray vanity with drawer fronts, white square ceramic sinks, wall mount faucets and lighting under vanity. Hidden Drain shower system. This bathroom is about 19'long by 6' wide. Atlanta Bathroom.

Autonomi in 60 mq: Casa, Ufficio, Palestra, Cinema

Liadesign

Liadesign
Inspiration for homeliness: narrow and long medium-sized loft-style bathroom with open cabinets, light wood cabinets, alcove shower, separate toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, gray walls, porcelain stoneware flooring, walk-in shower, countertop sink, wood countertop, gray floor, sliding door shower, single vanity unit, floor vanity unit and tiered ceiling

Colgate Cottage

Annie Bowen Design

The owners love color and were excited for us to invite fun through colour, pattern and texture across the kitchen cabinets, bathroom tiles and powder room wallpaper.

Omaha, Nebraska Residence- Interior Design for New Build

Haven Design and Construction

This sophisticated black and white bath belongs to the clients' teenage son. He requested a masculine design with a warming towel rack and radiant heated flooring. A few gold accents provide contrast against the black cabinets and pair nicely with the matte black plumbing fixtures. A tall linen cabinet provides a handy storage area for towels and toiletries. The focal point of the room is the bold shower accent wall that provides a welcoming surprise when entering the bath from the basement hallway.

Berlin Altbau Bathroom in Sage Green

Kristy Kropat Design GmbH

A refresh for a Berlin Altbau bathroom. Our design features soft sage green wall tile laid in a straight set pattern with white and gray circle patterned floor tiles and accents. We closed off one door way to make this bathroom more spacious and give more privacy to the previously adjoining room. Even though all the plumbing locations stayed in the same place, this space went through a great transformation resulting in a relaxing and calm bathroom. The modern fixtures include a “Dusch-WC” (shower toilet) from Tece that saves the space of installing both a toilet and a bidet and this model uses a hot water intake instead of an internal heater which is better for the budget and uses no electricity.

Modern Bathroom

Home-style inspiration: narrow and long modern style bathroom with sink, flat cabinets, dark wood cabinets, alcove shower and beige tiles

Montecito Shores Remodel Master Bath

Allen Construction

Architect: Wade Davis Design Photo Credit: Jim Bartsch Photography Creative solutions were used to brighten interior spaces in this second floor condo unit. To bring natural light and a sense of openness to the master bathroom, a translucent glass wall panel was installed in the wall dividing the master bathroom from the master bedroom. In addition, numerous pendant lights and mirrors - to reflect those lights - were added to further brighten the space.

Vivienda Sant Gervasi

RETABLO DECORACIÓN

Fresh design idea: small, narrow and long neoclassical (modern classic) bathroom with flat fronts, beige fronts, rimless shower, installation, white tiles, marble tiles, white walls, marble floor, walk-in shower, countertop sink, faux stone countertop, white floor, sliding door shower, white countertop, double vanity unit, built-in vanity unit and brick walls for outdoors and gardens - great interior photo

Metamorphose d'une salle de bain

Raison Home - Corentin CELKA

Renovation complète de la salle de bain J'ai remplacé la baignoire par une grande douche, changé les toilettes par un modèle suspendu. Ajout de placards sur mesure pour plus rangements. Nous avons repris l'intégralité du sol: démolition de l'anciens, et installation d'un carrelage plus moderne. Electricité et plomberie ontétéégalementété modifiés.

Chirag Enclave

Essentia Environments

Photo of a small, narrow and long modern style bathroom with flat cabinets, light wood cabinets and a countertop sink for outdoors and gardens c and a long neoclassical (modern classic) bathroom with white cabinets, white walls, countertop sink, wood countertops and brown countertops - the latest trend

Ristrutturazione a Milano

studio wok

Federico Villa Fotografo
Inspiration for home comfort: narrow and long medium-sized bathroom in modern style with flat cabinets, white cabinets, corner shower, installation, green tiles, ceramic tiles, white walls, light-coloured parquet floors and shower cabin

Rehabilitación de un piso en el Barrio Gótico | AAGF arquitectura

Simón Garcia Asensio

Simon Garcia | arqfoto. com
Original design example of a medium sized, narrow and long neoclassical (modern classic) bathroom with open cabinets, alcove shower, monobloc toilet, white tile, boar tile, white walls, light parquet flooring, walk-in shower, cantilever washbasin and mid-tone wood cabinets

London Loft Apartment

Sigmar

Petr Krejci
Photo of a long and narrow neoclassical (modern classic) bathroom with countertop sink, exposed cabinets, installation and beige tiles

CC58 APARTAMENTO EN EL BARRIO SALAMANCA

LUCAS Y HERNANDEZ - GIL

Photografía: Adriana Merlo
Inspiration for homeliness: narrow and long medium-sized modern bathroom with flat wood-coloured cabinets medium tone, one-piece WC, alcove shower, gray tiles, stone tiles, gray walls, travertine floors, walk-in shower, quartzite countertops and solid washbasin

Oakhill Court

Ardesia Design

Victorian print blue tile with a fabric-like texture were fitted inside the niche.
Stylish design: Long and narrow Victorian style bathroom with cantilevered sink, white cabinets, overhead bathtub, over-tub shower, porcelain tile, medium hardwood floors, installation and recessed infill cabinets - latest trend

Kinley Residence

2Scale Architects

Benjamin Hill Photography
Inspiration for homeliness: a narrow and long classic bathroom with recessed panels, blue cabinets and mosaic floor

Narrow bathroom design - 75 interior photos, best ideas for renovation

An elongated bathroom is not an exception, but rather the rule for small apartments, lofts and buildings where a water treatment room was not originally intended. But even a modest footage is enough if you think through the future result to the smallest detail even before the start of the repair. How to design a narrow bathroom so that it is as convenient as possible to use? Rules for the placement of furniture and plumbing, finishes, unusual ways to expand the space - all this you will find in this article.

The main mistakes in the design of a narrow bathroom

Due to their non-standard dimensions, elongated rooms sometimes resemble corridors or storerooms. The main reason for this perception is the tasteless interior, which does not take into account the features of the layout. When designing a narrow bathroom design, it is necessary to be guided by clear geometric and artistic laws. Keeping the harmony of proportions, lines, colors and materials plays a huge role in the setting of a cramped room, and errors in a compressed rectangular space are very noticeable.

Among the frequently encountered design flaws, it is worth highlighting the excessive brightness and contrast of the palette, the use of too dark and matte colors that darken the interior. However, noticeable combinations can be useful if used wisely.

The second problem is the lack of balance between vertical and horizontal. Elongated tiles, borders, wide mirrors and a large rectangular bath will make the interior blurry. A shower cabin with high glass walls, as well as columns, ledges, and vertical patterns will help to correct the situation.

Overloading with details is a disadvantage of almost all small rooms, including narrow bathrooms. It can be too colorful decoration, lack of full-fledged storage systems, a large number of extra items left in plain sight. That is why it is so important to fill the vertical space with cabinets and shelves, and for the necessary hygiene products, choose a stylish set of dispensers.

Finishes and materials

The particularity of finishing the narrow bathroom is the increased attention to lines and forms, with which you can visually distance the walls and give the room a neat look. Usually, moisture-resistant materials are used for this room - ceramic tiles, glass, smooth artificial and natural stone, plastic.

Floor

Due to the small area, the flooring in the bathroom has a significant impact on how the interior will look like as a whole. Light tiles, translucent self-leveling floor, monochromatic gloss seem to illuminate the bathroom from below, adding volume to it.

To avoid the “corridor” effect, a narrow room can be divided into zones: lay a small mosaic next to the toilet and/or sink, and larger elements of similar colors along the bathtub, or vice versa. It is better to choose a tile square, 6- or 8-coal.

To expand the space, we recommend laying diagonally, in rhombuses. Large drawings and noticeable contrasts are very undesirable (unless they serve the function of differentiation). The size of the floor tiles should be larger than the wall tiles.

Walls

In the design of the walls of a narrow bathroom, one should adhere to a calm range and smooth halftones. The tighter the room, the smaller the tiles will be needed for cladding. A light glossy surface, horizontal borders, large mirrors will help to visually “open” narrow walls. A bathroom that is too long can be zoned using different finishes - different colors, shapes, materials.

In addition to glazed ceramics, sea pebbles, plastic panels, vinyl wall murals (great if with a perspective or panoramic view), brick, decorative stone are suitable as wall coverings. It is desirable that these materials look natural and do not attract too much attention.

Ceiling

From a practical and aesthetic point of view, one of the best ways to finish a bathroom ceiling is PVC stretch foil. It can be glossy, with a slight pearl or silk sheen, light matte texture, and if the restraint of the rest of the interior allows, then with photo printing. For example, a realistic image of green branches, sunlight against the sky, or a night scene with constellations, with internal illumination, may well imitate a real window in the ceiling.

Sanitary ware for narrow bathroom

The pure white radiance of the bathtub, sink and other sanitary ware fits perfectly into the design of any bathing room. But in a narrow room, the dimensions of the products are important, as well as the space they occupy.

Given the small area, it is worth giving preference to compact models with a clear rectangular or asymmetrical triangular shape. If the width allows, you can put a bath in a niche near a short wall (parallel to this wall), if not, equip a shower or put a toilet. Sometimes this area is divided into two zones - one part is occupied by a bath located along a long wall, the other is a cabinet turned towards it, and then a sink.

A wall-hung washbasin will free up space for a small cabinet or a washing machine, a toilet bowl with a cistern hidden in the wall will look neat and discreet, and a flat side panel of the bathtub can be supplemented with a convenient folding shelf.

Storage systems

If the bathroom footage allows you to place a floor cabinet, chest of drawers or shelving - it's just great, and there should be no problems with their location. When the space is critically small, you will have to effectively use the space on the walls and in the corners. All kinds of hanging structures, retractable and folding shelves, rotating shelves will become a convenient storage for bathing trifles and hygiene products.

A complete bathroom set placed in a corner or along one of the walls will look very stylish. With a small size of the room, it is better to order a similar set of cabinets, shelves and drawers in a private workshop, but it is recommended to immediately determine the desired depth of the shelves so that in the end the furniture does not occupy half the room.

The construction material must be waterproof, resistant to deformation under frequent changes in humidity levels and changing temperatures. Based on these criteria, laminated MDF panels, plastic, tempered glass and its acrylic counterparts are suitable.

Lighting and illumination

To prevent the bathroom from looking like a long narrow corridor, it is extremely important to organize bright lighting in all areas. The only lamp on the ceiling will not cope with this, so twilight will still reign in the corners. Spotlights around the perimeter (or in a row in the center) of the ceiling will help fill the bathroom with a sufficient number of lumens; elongated sconces on both sides of the mirror or several hinged mini spotlights above it; a couple of wall lights above the bathroom.

The illusion of a soaring ceiling and high walls in the bathroom will be created by an LED strip hidden behind the cornice of a suspended sheet (film). You can also highlight a separate figure or area, thus highlighting several functional areas (shower, toilet) and dividing a long room into several logical squares.

In some cases, additional lighting on the floor will not hurt either - it can be a special fluorescent tile, an LED strip located under the facade of the bath, a neon tube around the perimeter, luminous figures inside a transparent bulk or glass floor.

The main thing here is to ensure maximum waterproofing so that water does not come into contact with wires or electrical appliances.


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