Wet room design for small bathrooms


10 wet room bathroom designs for you |

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(Image credit: Mandarin Stone / Fired Earth / Quick-Step)

Small wet room ideas open up the opportunity for contemporary design, without the need to squeeze in a shower enclosure or raised shower tray to your master bathroom or ensuite.

Small wet rooms provide a spacious showering area and the high-end look of a luxurious hotel spa. They are also level entry, so easily accessible to all, not to mention hygienic and easy to clean. 

However, small wet room ideas are a big project to take on when it comes to bathroom ideas. You may want to weigh this up against the longevity of the space, as a wet room’s seamless design makes it a great option for accessibility and future-proofing your home for years to come.

Small wet room ideas

A wet room or walk-in shower will add a truly luxurious-up, spa-like showering experience to your wet room ideas.  Done well, a wet room is incredibly desirable and can boost your home’s value, too. Here's how to achieve the best results when planning a small wet room.

1. Go for all-over plaster in a small wet room

(Image credit: Quick-Step)

Hygienic, seamless and extremely beautiful, polished plaster is a popular choice right now. In small wet rooms and walk-in shower ideas, polished plaster’s waterproof prowess and elimination of moisture-seeping joints is the big story. Venetian plaster requires waxing to seal out water, but most micro-cements and Tadelakt plasters are inherently waterproof, not to mention stain-resistant, UV-stable and easy to clean. 

The polished plaster look can be very sleek and contemporary, or more rustic for an earthy effect. Adding pigments allows customisable color, and most types of polished plaster are suitable for use on floors, walls, ceilings and even furniture.

2. Take a less is more approach 

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

‘When choosing colors and materials for small bathroom ideas and wet rooms, less is more. Here, we deliberately reduced the palette and created a streamlined design to really bring the focus to the materials,’ explains Katie Lion, interior designer, Kitesgrove . 

‘Natural marble is a quietly luxurious choice that instils a sense of sophistication and calm in any wet room. Its unique veining can be a simple but impactful way of bringing interest and layers to what is often a smaller space. We chose a brass finish for all the trims and fixtures to pick out the warm tones of the marble striations, helping it feel cohesive, elegant and timeless.’

3. Introduce a color hit 

(Image credit: Silestone by Cosentino)

A wet room – no matter how big or small – can often leave you feeling cold and exposed, even if the space is well heated. Here, clever color blocking techniques demonstrate how you can break up an empty space, put the shower area in the spotlight and add a much-needed dose of visual warmth. 

Red tones promote coziness – the color here is Silestone’s earthy, Mediterranean shade Arcilla Red – and also work well with textural materials such as wood accessories and woven storage.  

‘Silestone surfaces come in a great range of colors and large format slabs so there will be minimal grouting to clean,’ adds Ross Stewart, general manager, Cosentino Newmarket.

4. Create cocooning curves

(Image credit: Mandarin Stone)

Tucking your shower into an alcove will contain splashing but, if space allows, a curved showering area is far more impressive. And you can still pop a robe hook nearby without risk of soggy towels. 

‘Curves provide a cocooning environment that will help you unwind physically and mentally while you shower,’ says Mandarin Stone’s creative director, Louisa Morgan. 

‘They also provide welcome relief to all the hard edges and surface finishes typically found in bathrooms.’ The trend for stacking skinny tiles vertically makes creating soft curves easier; add a generous border in a darker shade at floor level to really accentuate the shape.

5. Work the walls in a small shower room

(Image credit: Fired Earth)

It goes without saying that the floor of a wet room needs to be fully tanked but what about the walls? Shower tile ideas – on every inch of your wall – can prove incredibly sterile, not to mention costly. In this small wet room by Richstone Properties the walls are only tiled where absolutely necessary, namely in the main shower area and above the basin, and the space feels much more inviting for this restrained approach. 

Do install tiled or stone upstands rather than timber skirting boards to protect lower walls from water damage. Remaining surfaces can be painted in a moisture resistant paint, like satin or eggshell, and don’t forget decent extraction.

6. Divide your wet room

(Image credit: Drummonds)

In smaller wet rooms, it pays to divide the space into wet and dry zones. A tall metal-framed screen lends an industrial edginess to this striking wet room, while keeping water away from the beautiful marble-topped vanity. 

Making a feature of this dividing point boosts the overall design, particularly the clever mix of fluted and plain glass. The former nods to mid-century industrialism, adding an element of privacy, and the latter lets in maximum daylight from the window beyond. Locating the shower controls well away from the showerhead is also a smart idea.

7. Combine a small wet room with a bathing area

(Image credit: Max Kim-Bee
 /Victoria + Albert Baths at House of Rohl)

‘Side-by-side showers are perfect for ensuite bathroom ideas that are designed for sharing,’ says Emma Joyce, brand manager at House of Rohl . 

‘It’s often a feature you’ll find in luxury hotels and allows plenty of personal space while making a bold statement. Try pairing with a freestanding tub to enjoy the best of both worlds.’ 

In this small wet room by Leanne Ford Interiors , the floor has been raised to accommodate drainage pipes, with a stepped front. The entire space inside was then tanked and tiled, essentially creating a giant shower tray that keeps water completely contained.

8. Take a dark and dramatic approach

(Image credit: Sarah Hogan)

Don't be afraid to use a dark color in a small wet room. A good bathroom color scheme is essential for creating the look, feel and design you want in your space – and you can use everything, from tiles and sanitaryware to accessories, to create a unique look.  Introducing a dark and dramatic hue to your wet room – or walk-in shower – will really lift your whole home, bringing this functional space in line with the rest of your decor. 

9. Invest in luxury bathroom materials

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )

There are few materials that can create the feeling of a luxury bathroom design that marble can. Elegant, timeless and effortlessly beautiful, marble is usually used in wet rooms to create a statement finish, and although it is an expensive investment, it is a look that will last a lifetime. 

'Marble bathroom ideas work wonderfully in small wet rooms, and because of the relatively small space, it is also cost-effective, too. However, consider the use of marble carefully for spaces where you are using it in swathes because no slab of marble is the same as another. 

'What I love most with marble is the activity, veining and coloration,' says interior designer Cara Woodhouse. 

10. Make sure you wet room is warm and ventilated

(Image credit: Mandarin Stone)

It’s important to take extra steps with regard to heat, ventilation and drying. No one wants to exit a wet room onto carpeted rooms. A screen will help to contain major puddles, but underfloor heating and heated towel rails will also speed up drying and help prevent slip hazards. And, do consider all non-slip bathroom flooring options when at the initial planning stage.

Mechanical ventilation is a must – and will help to clear steam quickly – look for models with intelligent humidity sensors that automatically boost when required.

Is a wet room good for a small bathroom?

A wet room is a good idea for a small bathroom. There are lots of benefits to having a small wet room – from being able to utilize a tiny or awkward space where a bath or standard shower enclosure cannot fit, to future-proofing your home.

What is the smallest size needed for a wet room?

The smallest size usually recommended for a wet room measures a minimum 800 x 800mm. 

According to the best bathroom designers, when planning a shower design for a small bathroom, there are a few aspects which may determine the space required. Will pipework be exposed or concealed? Do you need to install a glass panel to prevent other areas of the room from getting wet?

Plus, don’t forget that adequate ventilation must also be installed in line with building regulations to prevent mould and damp spots.

Linda graduated from university with a First in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting. Her career began on a trade title for the kitchen and bathroom industry, and she has worked for Homes & Gardens, and sister-brands Livingetc, Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, since 2006, covering interiors topics, though kitchens and bathrooms are her specialism. 

13 wet room ideas and tricks for a minimalist bathroom |

(Image credit: Darren Chung)

For many years, wet room ideas were a divisive choice for a bathroom renovation. While they were favored for the idea that they could make your space look bigger, and that they work well for small spaces, the major drawback was the idea that when you shower, the whole bathroom gets wet.  

Originally, wet rooms were completely open without any glass partition, however, a simple fixed glass panel creating a walk-in shower area is a much more practical choice and the general trend for wet rooms has evolved to include some sort of shower screen. 

Now, in terms of modern bathroom ideas, wet rooms are certainly up there with the most popular. While the process of installing a wet room might be more disruptive and expensive than a standard bathroom re-fit, by tanking the envelope of your bathroom, you can streamline your floor tile finishes and create level-access showers which are more practical. 

All-in-all, this means a more minimalist, modern bathroom, but the design possibilities don't end there. From types of floor and wall finishes to screens and alternative bathroom layouts, take a look at our gallery of the very best in wet room ideas to inspire your space. 

Wet room ideas 

Wet rooms are ideal as small bathroom ideas or awkward spaces such as below sloping ceilings or in rooms with height restrictions. They’re a job best left to the professionals to ensure adequate drainage, tanking, and slip resistance. If you love the spacious look of a wet room, creating a wet room-style showering area is much easier thanks to the variety of off-the-shelf low-profile shower trays, recessed storage niches, and frameless glass shower screens and hinged doorways now on offer.

Bespoke trays and screens offer the option of creating a generously sized shower room – perhaps for two – where you can take advantage of the latest shower systems that transform washing into a wellbeing experience, with their wall-mounted body jets and rainfall showerheads incorporating steam, aromatherapy, and chromotherapy features.

(Image credit: Future)

There are some practicalities to consider as part of your wet room design too. One of the first things to consider when planning a wet room is where to position the drain. Ideally, the drain should be as far away from the bathroom door as possible, to minimize any risk of water escaping the room. If you have a wooden sub-floor, the way your joists run is crucial to where your drain can be positioned. A gentle slope or gradient in the main shower area will help ensure that water flows away easily into the waste.

In a wet room, the shower area is flush with the floor level and the drain is fitted into the fully tiled floor. 

1. Use tadelakt for an on-trend wet room 

(Image credit: Darren Chung)

Tadelakt, a traditional Moroccan polished plaster has become a bathroom trend for wet rooms thanks to its good looks and practical nature. 'Homeowners are creating design-led wet rooms without grout lines that can collect dirt and grime,' explains Ian Kozlowski, founder of Decor Tadelakt , 'but it's also an eco-friendly, unique wall covering, offering minimalist beauty and texture.' 

Polished with olive soap for a waterproof finish, tadelakt can be used across all the walls in a wet room for a seamless finish, however, it's not really suitable for flooring, and should be combined with tiles or another bathroom flooring idea.  

(Image credit: James Merrell)

When it comes to choosing bathroom tile ideas, mosaic tiles have a lot to offer. They are not only easy to apply, and can be worked well around a shower drain without awkward cuts and fussy detailing, but they can also be used to create bold designs like this two-tone stripe wet room, which runs into the shower area. 

Mosaic tiles are also great underfoot, with extra grout lines creating a non-slip surface. However, be wary that all this extra grout isn't always a practical choice when it comes to keeping your wet room clean and looking its best. 

3. Or choose large format tiles for a practical wet room 

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)

If you ask Roisin Lafferty, creative director of Kingston Lafferty Design , she'll warn you against using excesses of small tiles in wet rooms.  'I am an absolute lover of detailed and intricate tiling, however not for a wet room – where it’s a case of the less grout the better for longevity and cleanliness,' she says.  

'Large-format marble is timeless and very practical, just make sure you have a slip rating if required. Large-format terrazzo or tiles give a similar streamlined effect. And for the highest-end finish, opt for a seamless full-height glass screen with minimal framing or fittings.'

When using large format tiles for a walk-in shower, you need to make sure you specify anti-slip tiles on the floor, especially for shower tile flooring ideas where there's the greatest chance of slipping on wet flooring. 

4. Pick a folding shower screen for a small wet room 

(Image credit: BC Designs )

Wet rooms have a great advantage in a small bathroom layout in that they don't require bulky shower trays or enclosures, meaning that it's possible to squeeze a shower into a tight corner, often next to a bath. 

'When it comes to showers, a separate shower can often be considered a luxury if space is tight. However, there are a couple of clever ways around it including wet rooms and folding shower screens that take up much less room than a typical shower,' says Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs.  

In this small bathroom shower idea, a fixed screen would have made access to the shower and the bath difficult and cramped, while the folding shower screen still helps to keep water in one area of the wet room. 

(Image credit: Drummonds)

Reeded glass isn't just a huge interior design trend, it's a no-brainer for a beautiful wet room. Not only does the texture of this glass add to a richer scheme, but it can also be used to create pockets of privacy in a wet room, whether it's being used by more than one person at once, or shielding a shower from the view of a window. There are plenty of shower screens on the market featuring reeded glass too, while enclosures using this type of glass are harder to come by. 

Reeded glass is also a little more forgiving than standard glass when it comes to watermarks and limescale, making it a practical choice too. 

6. Opt for a modern Crittall-style shower screen 

(Image credit: Day True)

Just as steel-framed dividers and doors are much-loved elsewhere in our homes, Crittall-style shower screens are a popular choice for bathrooms and wet rooms for a luxe addition to the space.  

In this design by Day True , the wet room also positions the shower underneath a large roof light, bathing the space with natural light while retaining its sense of privacy. 

7. Or go for a minimalist shower screen 

(Image credit: Brian O'Tuama Architects)

While you may be tempted by these feature shower screens, sometimes the best option for a wet room is the simplest. As you have the design possibility to use one tile for flooring throughout a wet room, and with no trays or enclosures to carve up the space, a minimalist shower screen, like this used in this project from Brian O'Tuama Architects , which highlights the seamless nature of the space. 

Consider slimline frames and concealed fixings, as seen in this brass and marble bathroom idea, reducing visual noise for a picture-perfect wet room 

(Image credit: Mandarin Stone)

The beauty of a wet room is that you don't have to have a screen at all if you don't want to. However, practically when using the space, and for those using it after you, it can help to consider where water will sit in the space. In an ideal world, you'll want water and spray to not reach areas like the basin, where you might want to later stand with dry feet. 

'If you are embracing the full wet room look and omitting any sort of enclosure or screen, it is fundamental to think about your choice of sanitaryware, as it is likely that it will get wet from the spray of the shower or the condensation in the room,' says C.P. Hart 's Rebecca Milnes. 'Opt for ceramics that are flush to the wall and are ideally wall-mounted. A wall-hung toilet is a brilliant choice in a wet room, as there are no areas for water to pool and makes cleaning easier.'

(Image credit: Darren Chung)

As wet room ideas don't have to have fixed shower enclosure sizes, you can use this as an opportunity to install a double shower set-up. Do you need or will you use two showers in the same space? Only you can answer that, but for a luxury bathroom idea, they can't be beaten. 

This bathroom design, which includes a BC Designs bathtub, incorporates a micro cement shower floor running throughout the wet room, adding an industrial contrast to the marble and luxury fittings used.  

10. Create an enclosure for a partial wet room

(Image credit: Matthew Williams)

To get the best of both worlds of a wet room, it's possible to divide your bathroom into wet and dry zones. This is usually done by combining the bath and shower into a wet room set-up, separated by an enclosure, but properly tanked in the way a wet room should be. 

This leaves your basin and WC out of the wet zone, making it easier to use these spaces after someone has showered without entering into a wet, humid space. 

11. Create a broken-plan wet room 

(Image credit: McCrum Studio)

This wet room set-up by interior designer Katie McCrum of McCrum Studio is another way you could look to divide up a bathroom for a more contained wet zone. This broken-plan enclosure means that the wall intersecting the bathroom could be used for this clever bathroom mirror idea, freeing up space in the bathroom, while the showers and bath sit beyond in a dedicated wet zone.  

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki c/o BC Designs/C.P. Hart)

Wet rooms are well-loved for their walk-in shower designs, but how about a walk-through shower? In a design such as this, from C.P. Hart, a walk-through wet room set-up allows for an unusual freestanding bath idea, laid out with the tub in the center of the room, meaning the shower can be used from either side without disturbing the flow of the room. 

While walk-through showers may take up extra space for both an entry and exit to the showering area, they have a luxurious feel about them that makes them well-suited to high-end bathrooms. 

13. Try this clever idea to protect wet room windows 

(Image credit: West One Bathrooms)

While this wet room from West One Bathrooms might be small, it's perfectly formed. Not only does this Crittall-style shower screen and hexagonal tile create a modern look, but the designers have come up with a clever way to be able to position the shower next to the window, without exposing it to water spray and excess moisture.  

A hinged screen over the window not only protects it from the shower, but provides privacy when using the shower without sacrificing natural light. Plus, it can still be opened, like a traditional window treatment to enjoy the view. 

What do you need to have a wet room?

To create a wet room, you'll need to create a watertight environment, for example by tanking both the floor and walls of the room to protect it from any leaks. Once a watertight membrane is laid, the room can then be tiled.

When deciding which wet room system to go for, think about what your sub-floor is made of. There are systems for both solid and wooden floors. If you have a concrete floor, it can be quite invasive to channel in a waste and create the gradient fall required for drainage.

Forgoing a shower tray in favor of a wet room allows the floor tiles to run through to the shower area, which adds visual space to a room. However, not all surfaces are safe to use in a wet room setting and it is crucial to know what the slip rating of the material is. C.P Hart's Rebecca Milnes recommends using a material with a structured, textured finish to give extra grip in wet areas. 

Tanking is also essential in a wet room. This is a multi-step process that entails several layers of waterproofing to ensure an excellent seal – much like a swimming pool. The two main approaches for tanking a wet room are using a self-adhesive bitumen-based waterproof membrane or applying a paint-on liquid wall membrane. It is always best to speak to your supplier about the best system for your project.

Hugh is the Deputy Editor of Livingetc.com. From working on a number of home, design and property publications and websites, including Grand Designs, ICON and specialist kitchen and bathroom magazines, Hugh has developed a passion for modern architecture, impactful interiors and green homes. Whether moonlighting as an interior decorator for private clients or renovating the Victorian terrace in Essex where he lives (DIYing as much of the work as possible), you’ll find that Hugh has an overarching fondness for luxurious minimalism, abstract shapes and all things beige. He’s just finished a kitchen and garden renovation, and has eyes set on a bathroom makeover for 2022.  

Design of a small bathroom without a toilet (16 photos), interior options for a small bathroom without a toilet

How to properly arrange plumbing and furniture in a separate bathroom (the part that users traditionally call a bathroom without a toilet)? Where to find a place for a washing machine, how to place something else besides a sink and a bath - without sacrificing beauty. We answer on the example of the design of 28 small bathrooms without a toilet from the projects of Russian designers.

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Katerina Arzumanova

1. A small bathroom with a shower cabin
a proven move is to abandon the bath in favor of a shower. It was erected in a construction way and won a place nearby: a mini-laundry was placed. Both zones were hidden behind the same doors, as a result, no one even knows about the utility block. And all this in a room of 3.6 sq.m! There is even room for a vanity cabinet with an impressive supply of drawers and storage space.

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Msk Interior

2. A bathroom with a bathtub and a shower cabin - but without a toilet bowl
A rare case: the customers asked to separate the bathroom and toilet, which were combined in the original project. Designer Kristina Izotova chose laconic stone-like tiles for a small room, an elegant free-standing bathtub and a glass door to the shower room to visually increase the area.

Design Studio Four Rooms

3. Design "half separate" bathroom
The owner of the apartment was originally going to enlarge the bathroom at the expense of the bedroom and thereby break the law. To prevent this, Victoria and Yuri Kharchenko (Four rooms design studio) proposed an alternative option - to deepen the bathroom at the expense of the corridor. Formally, the bathroom and toilet are in the same room, but remain separate - due to the partition.

4. Bathroom design without a toilet in Khrushchev
To effectively use the area of ​​a small bathroom, Buro Brainstorm designers applied several tricks at once. Firstly, we separated the bathtub and the sink with a vertical partition, which is used as an additional shelf. Secondly, we chose a top-loading washing machine - its width is only 45 cm. Thirdly, we provided niches in the shower area so as not to hang additional shelves.

Anastasia Morkovkina

5. Design of a bathroom with a shower cabin - after a cunning redevelopment
In this project, designer Anastasia Zaitseva left the bathroom separate, but changed the boundary line between the rooms. The bathtub was replaced with a shower in a construction design and taken out to the territory of the former bathroom - this freed up space for a washing machine. This constructive technique is clearly visible on the plan of the apartment.

Anastasia Morkovkina

Pyotr Pokrovsky

6. Design of a bathroom without a toilet, but with an internal window
In the project of Ivan and Natalia Trofimovs (Blockstudio), light cement tiles lining the walls give a feeling of visual cleanliness. The bathtub of the original form and the horizontal inner window, which was specially made in the wall, come to the fore. At the glass, the transparency mode is switched: lying in the bathroom, you can look at the street or close yourself from the outside world.

QT INTERIOR DESIGN

7. Design of a bathroom without a toilet bowl in « Stalinka »
In order to fit not only a shower, but also a washing machine in a small bathroom, designer Katya Chistova provided a wide sink top. This decision made it possible to install drawers for cosmetics and household chemicals next to the machine.

SunWaveStudio

8. A modest bathroom with a washing machine
In the project of designer Svetlana Krasnova, a narrow shelf became a continuation of a compact sink. To save space, a washing machine was placed below, and a laundry basket next to the communications.

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Yulia Kirpicheva

designer Yulia Kirpichova. Nearby are shelves for household chemicals, and a glass partition separates the bath from the common space, protecting the floor from splashes.

Zi-Design

10. A small bathroom with a large mirror
Designer Victoria Zolina came up with several ways to rationally use the space of a small bathroom. A large mirror was hung over the washbasin, which visually enlarges the space. Instead of a standard sink, a very light, airy washbasin was chosen, and even the place under it was occupied by shelves - for towels and other small things.

Svetlana Lyangasova

11. Interior of a bathroom without a toilet, but with a bench
This bathroom in light gray and blue colors is not the only one in the apartment: the washing machine is located just in the second bathroom. Designer Yulia Kosogorova used the vacated space to put a bench with a soft seat. You can leave clothes on the banquette, and sit down, bathing small children.

Anna Kashentseva

12. A small bathroom with a comfortable pouffe
Anna Kashentseva also offered her customers to organize a small bench with a pillow in the bathroom. It was placed between the bathroom and a narrow sink (both the seat and the washbasin were made to order - to fit the modest size of the room).

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3456 more small bathroom designs

Yuri Grishko

time materials that visually expand the bathroom. You can’t walk around on a small number of square meters, but you can add the function of a make-up room to the bathroom - with the help of good lighting by the mirror, as in this project.

INT2architecture

14. Laconic design of a bathroom with a shower
Designers of small bathrooms without a toilet often ditch the bathtub in favor of a shower cabin, although the size of the bathroom allows you to choose. At the same time, the shower room can be made really large and comfortable - as in the project of Alexander Malinin and Anastasia Sheveleva, where the shower room took its place along the entire wall.

Alien Design

15. Design of a small bathroom without a toilet - 3 sqm
It was impossible to combine a bathroom with a toilet in a Stalinist house: there is a riser between the two rooms. Then the authors of the project from the Alien Design studio installed a 1.7-meter bath along the bathroom wall, and the remaining space was allocated for a washing machine and a sink. Wall decoration in two colors imitates natural stone, and a laconic palette facilitates the interior.

Inna Soltmann | Interior design and decoration

16. Beige bathroom
The base color of this small room is traditional beige, but designer Inna Soltmann has added interesting nuances to the space. The floor was covered with metlakh tiles, and the bathtub was covered with a curtain with a fabric outer side. The bathtub and the vanity unit were selected according to a simple criterion: it was important to fit into the modest dimensions of the bathroom without a toilet bowl.

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The bath is separated from the sink by a transparent glass curtain, which consists of a stationary and a movable part, so that water does not fly onto the floor and onto the adjacent open cabinet.

Nadya Karmin

18. Design of a small bathroom with a cast-iron bath
All the walls in this apartment are load-bearing, so it was impossible to enlarge the bathroom. But designers Nadezhda Trebukhina and Dina Bigaliyeva changed the plumbing in places: for greater convenience, the bathtub moved to the wall, in place of the sink. The bottom of the cast-iron bathtub was not covered with a screen, but was made an accent: it was painted blue and supplemented with legs. The color of the bath is combined with a bright pedestal, which hid the washing machine.

QT INTERIOR DESIGN

19. Design of a small bathroom in cheerful colors
The bathroom used to have a shower cabin, but designer Katya Chistova replaced it with a full, albeit small, bathtub to bathe a child. The decoration adds charm to the space: checkerboard tiles on the floor, combined with a print on the tile and a red line under the ceiling.

QT INTERIOR DESIGN

20. Blue and white interior
The walls of the bathroom do not have to be completely tiled: even with a small area, water still does not scatter all over the bathroom. To save on finishing, walls in dry places can be painted with paint. This technique will allow you to easily change the finish in a couple of years, when you want to refresh the repair and impressions.

Tatyana Kuzmina

21. Small but bright bathroom
The clients asked designers Lilia Lobanova and Tatyana Kuzmina from Jazzberry interiors studio to use blue and orange colors in the project. These shades have been carried throughout the apartment, including the design of a small bathroom without a toilet. The main accents here are the “patchwork” floor tiles and the blue cabinet under the sink. To subdue the brightness of these objects, the walls were decorated with white tiles combined with coffee-colored paint.

Olga Petrova-Podolskaya designer

22. Design of a red bathroom without a toilet bowl
In this project, designer Olga Podolskaya moved the wall separating the bathroom 25 cm deeper into the toilet. So the bathroom managed to accommodate both a comfortable large countertop and a 1.6 m long bathtub. The walls were covered with vinyl wallpaper, tiles were laid in the wet area, and attention was directed to a luxurious shower curtain: the surface imitates velvet, but remains waterproof.

Olga Shangina | Photography

23. Design of a small bathroom with a shower and embossed tiles
First of all, designer Elena Yuzko replaced the bathtub with a shower cabin, since the owner's children were already grown up, and the small bathroom was in critical need of additional space. In the decoration, they relied on embossed tiles - plain, but still unbanal. The tiles did not have any ready-made borders, so the builders cut them on the spot.

Special-style

24. Bathroom with dark glass shower
In this project, the bathroom was separated from the toilet, as guests often come to the hostess. Only the sink in a narrow wall was left in plain sight, and the shower and utility compartments were fenced with dark glass and doors. The black countertop rhymes with the shower door: this is how designer Anastasia Bozhinskaya created an interior with a well-balanced balance of light and dark tones.

Irina Kireeva

25. Bathtub in gray-green cladding
The modest footage of the bathroom is no reason to forget about dark shades. For this project, designer Irina Kireeva used gray-green tiles and furniture. The scenario is complemented by glossy floral tiles and retro-style faucets – in the taste of a romantic customer.

Alena Chashkina's studio

26. Design of a small bathroom without a toilet - with a floating bathtub
Initially, the apartment had two bathrooms of different sizes. The smaller one, the designer Alena Chashkina, gave for a utility room, the large one was divided into two parts: a bathroom and a toilet. The bathroom has been reduced in size, but has not lost in comfort - due to the decoration in soft coffee and wood tones. And thanks to the bottom lighting, the bath seems to soar above the floor.

Belyakov & Karajani Design Studio

27. Interior with gray tiles and anti-vandal shelves
Designers Ekaterina Belyakova and Olga Karajani arranged a bathroom without a toilet, enlarging it at the expense of the hall. The space became larger, and the authors of the project took the risk of using dark colors - brutal tiles that look like concrete. This material not only lined the wall, but also identified a niche in the bathroom area. Glass shelves are light and safe: due to their location in a niche, they cannot be accidentally touched and broken.

Vera Tarlovskaya Interiors

28. Design of a small bathroom with tiles and wood
Designer Vera Tarlovskaya used natural wood in the bathroom: the bath screen was lined with larch, tinted and covered with yacht varnish. According to the designer, the terrace board is well suited for wet rooms. Pay attention to the brush with which the textile curtain was fixed: thanks to this technique, the wet area looks cozier.

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Show us your bathrooms with a walk-in shower or a bathtub but no toilet. Tell us what challenges you faced during the implementation of the project

Design of a small bathroom - location options and many photos

What unites Khrushchev and modern studio apartments? Often this is a small bathroom. Only 3-4 "squares" for plumbing and comfort. Is it a lot or a little? Someone will say that it is inexcusably small. But if you try, you can create an attractive design for a small bathroom with a shower and other plumbing.

What tasks face the owners of the apartment when arranging a small bathroom?

  • Place plumbing, furniture, accessories and storage systems. It is difficult, but possible, to fit a bathtub or shower cabin, a toilet bowl and a washbasin, cabinets and heated towel rails into a tiny room. The main thing is to follow the advice of designers and remember the little tricks.
  • Create a functional and aesthetically attractive room in which you can not only wash, but also relax or retire, which is especially important for every member of a large family.
  • Choose finishing materials, plumbing and furniture in such a way that they are not only functional and comfortable, but also combined.

How to put a shower in a small bathroom if the dimensions of the room cannot be physically changed? You will have to choose the “right” plumbing and furniture, as well as use effective design techniques to visually expand the space. If you do everything according to the rules, you will like the result.

Where to begin?

Before ordering everything you need for repairs in plumbing and building materials stores, you need to prepare the room. It is important to carefully, literally down to the smallest detail, think over the layout of a small bathroom with a shower and other interior features. Here's what it's for:

  • maintain the overall concept and not regret the repair in a couple of weeks;
  • save time and money by choosing finishing materials, plumbing and furniture wisely;
  • get a comfortable and functional space for relaxation and daily hygiene procedures.

Here are 5 steps to the perfect layout:

  1. Consider the shape of the room. In most apartments, bathrooms almost always have a standard layout, they are small or medium in size.
  2. Consider the location of communication lines. Engineering systems can be moved for convenient location and use of plumbing.
  3. Decide where the doorway, bathtub or shower, towel warmer, mirror, washbasin, cabinets and storage systems will be located.
  4. Determine how the ventilation system will fit into the interior with a small bath or shower. In a humid room, you can not do without it.
  5. Choose ergonomic sanitary ware, furniture and finishing materials in the same color scheme to visually enlarge the bathroom.


Many designers agree that renovations in a small bathroom with a shower should be done with the right design concept in mind. In the case of small rooms, the best solution is minimalism, when everything in the interior is simple and concise, functional and no frills.

How can you furnish a small bathroom?

To make this room as comfortable as possible, you will have to make a choice between several types of plumbing and furniture at the repair stage:

  • compact shower or standard bath;
  • bathroom, combined with a toilet, or without it;
  • additional plumbing or storage systems.

Bath or shower?

A shower in a small bathroom is often the only correct way out. It is clear that you will have to choose an ergonomic model, and not a large hydrobox. But here the question arises: can a cabin replace a bath if you want to not only take a quick shower, but also fully relax after a hard day?

You need shower enclosure models that have the following features:

  • deep trays, with a jacuzzi to take a bath and bathe the children;
  • angular configurations, which, for all their ergonomics, are roomy;
  • the presence of an electronic control panel and hydromassage jets for relaxation.

The advantages of the shower cabin are convincing:

  • a corner shower in a small bathroom saves usable space;
  • you do not overpay for utilities and significantly save water;
  • the bathroom has an optimal level of humidity: ventilation above the cabin removes excess moisture;
  • you get a functional solution for hygiene procedures, aqua massage and relaxation;
  • a modern shower cabin in a small bathroom has an affordable price and stylish design.

If you are for traditional solutions, then it is better to choose a bath. But not the standard rectangular, but angular or curved. So you get a roomy and ergonomic plumbing that does not interfere with the placement of a washing machine, a washbasin with a mirror, a heated towel rail and cabinets.

Bathroom and toilet: together or apart?

In small apartments, there are often combined bathrooms. How to place a toilet in a small bathroom so that there is room for other plumbing? You should choose either a suspended model or a flush-mounted installation. These options have several undeniable advantages:

  • all communications are hidden, which saves additional space and makes the interior of the room aesthetically pleasing;
  • ergonomic toilet frees up space for installing a bath or shower, washing machine, washbasin, cabinet with a mirror;
  • installations and wall-mounted toilets have a solid construction, manufacturers give them an extended warranty, and they are easy to care for.

In some cases, the design of a small bathroom without a toilet is preferable. For example, if there are several people in the family, there are children of different ages or elderly people. In this case, you should not combine the bathroom with the toilet, so as not to create difficulties for anyone.

Which fixtures and fittings to choose?

A small bathroom often does not allow plumbing fixtures and furniture of standard dimensions to fit into the space. Someone sacrifices a mirror and a cabinet for the sake of a washing machine, while someone refuses plumbing in favor of storage systems. Such solutions have the right to exist, but it is better to find a reasonable compromise:

  • When choosing a corner bathtub or shower enclosure, you will find space for an ergonomic washing machine. Even if there is very little space, you can install the washing machine under the sink, thereby freeing up space for a wall-mounted toilet or installation.
  • A cabinet for storing accessories with mirrored doors can be placed not only on the wall above the washbasin, but also on the wall above the installation, if the design project does not provide for the presence of a washbasin in a small bathroom. So you free up space for a heated towel rail.
  • The compact washing machine can be built in between the wall and the bathtub/shower, or in another free niche. Storage systems (shelves-doors on brackets) can be equipped in the side parts of the bath. They are suitable for shampoos and other hygiene products.

As for the heated towel rail, in a small bathroom, the compact models of these devices, which have a U-shape, are optimal. You can install them anywhere, but it is important to consider the type of device. If the electric one can be installed in any part of the room, then it will not work with the water one.

What mistakes should not be made?

Many owners of apartments with small bathrooms often think that they have taken everything into account: they have thought through the layout, chosen ergonomic plumbing, and selected furniture. But they forget about the most important thing: the rules of design. And already at the stage of repair they make unforgivable mistakes:

  • pick up tiles and other finishing materials of the wrong size and shape;
  • forget that decoration, furniture and plumbing must be combined and complement each other;
  • use too many color accents, or mix different designs and styles, which is unacceptable.

A small shower room without a cabin or with a toilet, without furniture or with plumbing will not look attractive if the design concept is not maintained in the room. When every square centimeter is worth its weight in gold, you should not fantasize, you need to adhere to working rules.

Here are the rules:

  • The walls and ceiling should be done in light colors, but classic white is best avoided, it's too boring and trivial.
  • To visually increase the space of the room, be sure to use medium-sized smooth ceramic tiles with a reflective surface.
  • When choosing a tile with a pattern, you need to give preference to a medium-sized vertical ornament that does not visually reduce the size of the room.
  • The color of the tile itself and the patterns / patterns on it should be a tone lighter than the walls in the bathroom in order to achieve color harmony and a visual increase in space.
  • A wall in a contrasting color behind a bathtub or shower will help visually lengthen a short bathroom, and also make the interior original.
  • A large corner mirror visually expands the boundaries of a narrow bathroom, and the presence of a second mirror on the adjacent long wall creates a perspective effect.
  • The lighting should be uniform, spotlights are needed, as well as the illumination of mirrors and cabinets to visually enlarge the room.
  • When choosing the type of shower cabin for a small bathroom, it is better to choose a corner model with a deep tray that can be used as a bathtub.
  • To save space as much as possible, you should install the washing machine under the washbasin, place a cabinet with mirrored doors above the washbasin.

What about the color scheme?

Although white is considered a classic, today it is increasingly associated with the hospital ward. And I want to bring something more original to the interior of a small bathroom in my own apartment. And this can be done if you correctly place color accents. Here's how to achieve this:

  • “Dilute” white wall tiles with wooden surfaces. These are the facades of hanging cabinets and shelves, or imitation of wood on ceramic tiles in places where floors are finished.
  • Cover the floor with tiles or other coating, 2-3 tones darker than the colors of the walls and ceiling. It is on the floor that the coating with patterns and drawings looks very good.
  • For a small bathroom of a standard or irregular shape, finishing materials in pastel colors, such as light beige, are good.
  • The gray color in the wall decoration emphasizes the whiteness of plumbing and the shine of chrome-plated accessories and appliances (faucets, holders, heated towel rails).
  • Dark and deep shades emphasize the geometry of the bathroom and highlight functional areas (for example, separate the shower cabin).
  • Tiles with bright patterns and drawings, as well as color inserts, are also appropriate. So you can add more comfort and space to the room.
  • The presence of one wall with a contrasting color scheme is appropriate in cases where you want to make the bathroom interior original.

How to choose a shower cabin, sanitary ware and furniture in a small bathroom with non-standard colors? The main rule is simple: everything must be combined. Bathrooms in the spirit of minimalism should be equipped with sanitary ware and furniture with strict geometric shapes. But you can play with color.

You should not choose plumbing and furniture of the same color, otherwise everything will merge into one spot.


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