How to Renovate a Small Bathroom

What We Have Learned from Years of Designing and Remodelling Small Bathrooms

Small bathrooms can be surprisingly rewarding spaces to work on. They come with challenges such as awkward corners, limited floor area and tight layouts, but with the right design approach, they often become some of the most impressive rooms in the home.

At THT, we design and renovate bathrooms every day, and small spaces are where smart design really matters. We have seen first-hand what works, what doesn’t work, and the changes that make the biggest difference. Here is what we have learned from experience.

1. Start With the Layout. Every Good Bathroom Design Begins There

When we design any bathroom, large or small, the very first thing we look at is the layout.
If a room feels cramped, it is almost always down to how it is arranged rather than the actual size.

In smaller spaces, placing the toilet, basin and shower or bath along one wall can instantly improve flow. Corner showers, wall-hung basins and compact baths can also open up valuable space and make the room feel more comfortable to use.

If you are looking for inspiration, Ideal Home has helpful small bathroom layout ideas.

A thoughtful layout sets the foundation for a successful small bathroom renovation.

2. Use Fixtures That Suit the Room

One of the most common issues we see during small bathroom renovations is fixtures that are simply too large for the room.

Choosing items that fit the space properly always creates a better result.

From our experience, the best options for compact bathrooms include:

• short projection toilets
• compact or wall hung vanity units
• slimline basins
• corner or walk in showers
• shorter baths if a bath is a must

Designing around the room you have, rather than forcing standard sizes in, makes the whole space feel more open.

3. Light and Mirrors Make a Huge Difference

One of the quickest ways to make a small bathroom feel bigger is by improving how light moves through the room. In our experience, even the tightest spaces can feel noticeably more open once the lighting and reflective surfaces are planned properly.

We often use:

• Large mirrors to bounce light around and make the walls feel further apart
• LED mirror cabinets for softer, even lighting and added storage
• Recessed ceiling lights to keep the ceiling clear and uncluttered
• Light reflective tiles to brighten corners that usually feel enclosed

With the right lighting plan, even bathrooms with very little natural light can feel brighter and more spacious.

4. Plan Storage into the Design

Storage needs to work with the room, not against it. During a small bathroom renovation, we often build storage in, rather than adding bulky units that take up floor space.

The most effective options tend to be:

• recessed wall niches
• tall but narrow cabinets
• mirrored wall units
• built-in shelving that stays flush

Keeping surfaces clear makes a small bathroom feel significantly larger.

5. Choose Materials That Enhance the Sense of Space

The materials you choose during a renovation have a huge impact on how spacious a small bathroom feels. It is not just about style; it is about how the eye reads the room.

We often guide customers towards:

• Larger tiles, because fewer grout lines create a cleaner, more continuous look that visually stretches the walls and floor.
• Light, neutral colours, which help the walls feel further away and give the whole room a more open, airy feel.
• Gloss or satin finishes, as they reflect light and brighten corners that would otherwise feel enclosed.
• Simple, unfussy patterns, which keep the space calm and prevent the room from feeling busy or cluttered.
• Flooring that flows, such as large-format tiles or continuous flooring with minimal joints, to help the room feel more open and less broken up.

These choices work together to soften the edges of the space, remove visual noise and make the bathroom feel calmer and more open. It is one of the simplest ways to add a sense of space without altering the physical footprint.

6. Think About the Door Placement

Door placement is something many people overlook, but in a small bathroom it can make more difference than you might expect. An inward-opening door can block access, limit storage options and make the room feel tighter than it needs to.

When we renovate compact bathrooms, we often rehang the door so it opens outwards, which instantly creates more usable space. In narrower layouts, a sliding or pocket door can be even more effective because it removes the door swing altogether.

It is a small adjustment, but it can noticeably improve how easy the room is to move around and use day to day.

7. Keep the Design Simple and Calm

We always find that small bathrooms benefit from a simple, organised design.
Clean lines, coordinated colours and tidy surfaces make the room feel larger and far more inviting.

Choose one standout feature, such as a beautiful tile or a statement mirror, and keep everything else understated.

The Bottom Line

Renovating a small bathroom is all about making smart decisions early. With a well-planned layout, the right fixtures, integrated storage and thoughtful lighting, even the most compact space can feel bright, open and easy to live with.

Ready to make better use of your bathroom space? Speak to our team about designing and renovating a layout that genuinely works for you and your home.

Call us today on: 023 8001 5008