Bringing Big Style Choices to a Small Bathroom
Small bathrooms don’t have to skimp on style. Working with a smaller space takes creativity and conscious decision-making, but it’s possible to achieve everything you want (and more) in a little bathroom.
We’ve partnered with Hillarys, experts in window dressing, to create this guide on small bathroom design. From choosing the right blinds to finding a perfect sink unit, get inspired to transform your space with these ideas.
Use Blinds to Dress Windows
In a small bathroom, your window dressing needs to work pretty hard. It has to look stylish, but it also needs to stand up to daily humidity, without losing its shape or finish.
Moisture-resistant roller blinds are a stylish and practical choice of window dressing for small bathrooms. They have a slim profile that doesn’t crowd your window, helping the room feel more sleek, streamlined, and practical with their water-resistant finishes.
When discussing Hillary's blinds, Yvonne Keal, Product Management specialist, says, “Roller blinds are consistently our top choice for compact spaces. They bring less visual stimuli than some of the more extravagant blind styles, like Roman blinds, while still offering plenty of aesthetic appeal. Think coordinated function over unnecessary clutter.”
If you’re after something with a bit more of a premium, architectural feel, water-resistant shutters are another fantastic option. They’re incredibly durable in damp environments and give the room a clean, finished look.
Thanks to Hillarys bathroom blinds' minimal aesthetic, they give you room to experiment with design. Go bold with colour or introduce a standout pattern to bring personality into your bathroom without overwhelming the space.
Choose a Wall-Hung Vanity Unit
Wall-hung basins and units attach directly to your wall, leaving a gap between the bottom of the unit and the floor. This simple design choice makes your bathroom feel lighter and more open, adding the illusion of space in tight interiors.
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For more compact bathrooms, our wall-hung Shoreditch Collection is a great option. Designed with smaller spaces in mind, Shoreditch is a practical choice for tighter layouts, helping you maximise every inch while maintaining a clean, modern finish. |
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Our Camberwell Collection, on the other hand, features a range of wall-hung vanity units that are perfect if you’re looking to incorporate a more soothing or grounding colour palette into your bathroom. The seamless flow between the sink and the rest of the unit helps your bathroom feel cohesive and considered. |
Diversify Your Bathroom Accessories
One of the biggest concerns when working with little spaces is storage. When it comes to small bathroom ideas, we highly recommend playing around with different options, including hooks and towel rails.
Well-placed and considered accessories can add functionality and convenience with a modern style to a small space. The trick here is not to overdo your bathroom accessories.
One or two well-placed shelves or towel rails can be incredibly useful without overwhelming the room. Start covering every wall, though, and the space quickly begins to feel crowded.
Everything works in moderation, and consciously designed storage can transform a small bathroom.
Use Mirrors to Add Space
Mirrors create the illusion of space by bringing more depth and light into your bathroom. They’re a practical must-have, too, making this an interior win-win.
When it comes to small bathroom decor ideas, opt for mirrors with curved lines. These feel softer and less imposing than sharp, straight-edged designs, helping compact spaces appear more fluid and less boxy.
The Shoreditch Oblong Mirror, for instance, is excellent for narrow bathrooms where wall space is hard to come by. Its elongated shape enhances the perception of height, drawing the eye upward and making ceilings feel taller. Positioned above a basin or opposite a window, it also reflects natural light around the room, instantly brightening darker corners.
Opt for Minimal Bathroom Fixtures
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In a small space, every design choice you make matters, including when it comes to your bathroom fixtures and fittings. Here, it pays to follow a more minimal approach to avoid cluttering your space. The Hoxton Shower Head and Arm, for instance, is a beautiful option that brings understated elegance to small bathrooms. In a Matt Black finish, it feels elevated and luxurious, but takes up very little space on the wall - especially when compared to arm and outlet systems. The rain shower nozzles create an enveloping flow of water, too, for ultimate comfort and zero compromise. Pair with complementary accessories and taps in Matt Black to ensure cohesion. Your choices don’t have to be bold, but by keeping finishes consistent and silhouettes streamlined, you create a calm, intentional look that works beautifully in a compact room. |
Embrace Minimal Toilets
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Back-to-wall toilets remove clunky cisterns, making them a staple amongst small bathroom ideas. By concealing pipework, they create a far cleaner, more streamlined aesthetic for spaces that feel less crowded and more thoughtfully designed. The Milan Back-to-Wall WC, for instance, is ultra minimal. The rimless design removes unnecessary visual clutter, while the curved lines are easy on the eye. Rather than taking over your bathroom, it slots neatly into your space for a natural, cohesive flow. You can also opt for wall-hung toilets, which take the minimal look a step further. This completely lifts the toilet off the floor, exposing more surface area to encourage that illusion of space.
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Choose a Clever Colour Palette
When designing a small bathroom, many of your choices need to err on the minimal side - except when it comes to colour.
While it’s true that lighter tones work well in compact bathrooms, you don’t need to rule out bolder hues from your colour palette. This is all about balance: a neutral base allows you to introduce splashes of deeper, richer tones that elevate your aesthetic.
You might, for instance, choose a warm white or beige for your walls. For your sink unit, though, you can be bolder with an earthy green, adding life and visual interest without overwhelming your interior.
Bathroom tiles are another excellent way to introduce colour in small spaces. Opt for a brightly tiled shower wall, for instance, that creates a clear zone, or add half-height wall tiles around the entirety of your room for a fun feature.
Remember those Matt Black accessories we were talking about earlier? These pair excellently with jewel-tones and earthy colour palettes, bringing plenty of dimension to your small spaces.
Final Thoughts
Small bathrooms don’t have to feel compact. By making smart design choices that work with your space and opting for cohesion rather than clutter, you can create a room that aligns with your vision. Hopefully, the ideas and products in this guide are exactly what you need to inspire your next steps.
