In most cases, the design options for a small bathroom are very limited. After all, the lack of free space does not even allow you to rationally arrange plumbing fixtures in a given area, not to mention some delights of the interior. But don't despair at all. There are many ways how, although not to increase its internal area, but to make it visually more spacious due to planning, as well as design techniques and tricks.
Planning and zoning a small bathroom
To increase the functionality of a small bathroom, designers use the zoning method, that is, dividing the bathroom space, taking into account its purpose. According to this principle, the bathroom room can be divided into three zones: a utility area (cabinets for storing cleaning tools, a washing machine), a zone of natural needs and personal hygiene (bidet, urinal, toilet) and an area for taking water procedures (washbasin, shower, bath) ...
Zoning
Zoning a small bathroom can be done in various ways: combine furniture and plumbing for their intended purpose in one zone, or highlight a zone using design techniques. The latter include lighting, multi-level floors or ceilings, the use of finishing materials or contrasting colors. When redeveloping a small bathroom, it is important to select models of plumbing and furniture that make it possible to use the space with maximum benefit. Pay attention to the corner toilet and bathtub - they take up less space, while their functionality does not suffer from this.
Open or corner stainless steel shelves are also convenient. They can hold towels and other bathroom supplies.
Instead of a tandem from a wall and base cabinet, it is best to choose a tall pencil case. It is much more spacious and, if desired, it can play the role of a partition, dividing the area for taking water procedures and the toilet. At the same time, the shape of the cabinet-pencil case quite successfully increases the space of the bathroom.
An excellent result for enlarging a small bathroom is provided by the construction of additional structures. For example, a sink or washing machine can be installed in a niche, and the construction of an additional partition will make it possible to arrange more items.
They help to save space in a small bathroom and installation systems are special structures with which a wall-hung toilet is attached. Moreover, all systems are built into the wall, and, accordingly, are hidden from view.
Original design solutions in small bathrooms also solve the problem with space. A bathtub, which is installed in the center or diagonally of the room, will make it possible to use free walls for installing plumbing or additional furniture. It's a great idea to install a washing machine under the sink.
Materials for finishing in a small bathroom
Bathroom paint
The cheapest option is waterproof paint combined with a color scheme that can be used to paint the walls. By varying the dosage of the color, you can achieve the perfect match to the desired color. But the whole impression of painting can be spoiled by uneven walls, which must first be leveled.
Plastic panels
Using finishing with plastic panels, you can achieve a quick result without perfect alignment of the walls. The advantage of this material is the variety of colors and ease of installation. But the panels are short-lived and have to be changed from time to time.
Ceramic tile
Most often, ceramic and tile tiles are used to decorate the walls and floor in the bathroom. The tiles are varied both in shape and design. In addition, it is durable and has the waterproofing properties necessary for a bathroom. Glazed light tiles visually expand the space of a small bathroom. Non-slip tiles are the ultimate bathroom flooring material. In addition to it, you can use waterproof laminate or linoleum. White paint or plastic panels are often used to decorate the ceiling.
Choosing between bath and shower
Indeed, the problem of choosing between a bathroom and for arranging a small bathroom worries many of our fellow citizens. This is especially true for those of them who live in the apartments of the old. Of course, a bath is a more familiar and familiar attribute of a bathroom than a shower stall, which is why it is always so difficult to resolve a dilemma.
Bathtub in a small bathroom
First of all, consider how often you and your family members take a bath. Perhaps long-term water treatments help you relieve fatigue, and you bask in the bathroom almost every day. Then you should not deny yourself the pleasure - install a bath - it will allow, moreover, to bathe both the child and the pet without any problems.
To save space in a small bathroom, you can install a 120 cm bathtub instead of standard 150-180 cm long bathtubs.Of course, this option will not be as convenient as a full bath, but it will free up the missing space for placing a laundry basket or a case for hygiene products ... The main misfortune that lies in wait for the owners of miniature bathrooms is a small shoulder, or, in other words, the distance from the bathroom door to the corner, which does not allow to successfully arrange plumbing fixtures and furniture. Remember that you can always move the doorway, unless it is cut through the load-bearing wall.
Shower cubicle for a small bathroom.
In terms of saving space for a small bathroom, the most optimal option for its arrangement is to install a corner shower with radial sliding doors. The main advantage of this model is the absence of external corners in its design. So, having opted for a rounded shower enclosure, you will not touch it like a rectangular structure.
The only point that will need to be taken into account is that a sliding system with curved doors will obviously cost more than with rectangular doors. In turn, swing door opening is the most budgetary option of all possible fencing systems for shower cabins. However, in the cramped conditions of a small bathroom, swing doors are not entirely convenient, since they require additional free space to open. When choosing a shower cabin, also pay attention to its overall dimensions - length, width and, especially, depth. Corner cabins, which we advise you, as the best type of shower room for small bathrooms, choose sizes from 80x80 cm to 120x120 cm with a depth of about 40 cm - such a mini bath will allow you to redeem both the child and the dog. Also important is the material from which the shower tray is made. Acrylic, most often used for the production of inexpensive pallets, may not be of the best quality and will quickly lose its presentation due to scratches from the animal's claws. Therefore, in your particular case, it is more logical to take either a steel or ceramic bowl. You can also purchase an acrylic or quartz pallet, but from well-known manufacturers, which will not be cheap.
The most important thing in the interior of small baths is light.
Undoubtedly, the light should be as bright as possible, since this is what visually increases the space. The best option when decorating the interior of a small bathroom is multi-level combined lighting, which looks very attractive. The bathroom design can be decorated with lights around the mirrors, which will provide even lighting throughout the room. It looks very attractive.
Color palette and common mistakes when choosing a finish texture
The design of a small bathroom is very picky about the color scheme of the walls, floor and ceiling of the room. Not all colors have a beneficial effect on the visual perception with a small area, therefore, it is necessary to carefully approach the choice of shade, texture, pattern of finishing materials. Most often, when independently working on the design of a small or dark bathroom, homeowners make the following mistakes:
- Materials of a dark or too bright color are used for cladding the floor and walls. For the design of a small bathroom, it is not recommended to use dark colors, as it makes the room smaller and darker. The best color scheme for a small bathroom is a light pastel color scheme.
- Choose materials with a matte finish. Maybe a matte surface is more convenient to maintain, but it does not reflect light as effectively as a glossy one, therefore it does not give the effect of expanding the space.
- Apply volumetric or textured cladding. Materials with a textured surface make the room visually cramped, so it is recommended to use smooth, glossy materials for finishing a small bathroom.
- Choose finishing materials with too large or too small patterns. A small room does not need a lot of decor, so it is better to use plain finishes.
A small bathroom is often the cause of dissatisfaction among apartment owners in apartment buildings.
However, with a competent approach to the renovation of the premises, you can make it very cozy. Consider what tricks you can use to optimize space in a small bathroom.
Where to start redevelopment
First of all, you should decide which bathroom you need: combined or separate. When the toilet and bath are connected, the area of the bathroom increases, which saves on building materials for repairs.
Of course, there are also disadvantages to such a redevelopment:
- it is necessary to obtain permission from special authorities;
- water or sewer pipes and other communications that can be damaged can be built into the partitions;
- for a large family, a combined bathroom is inconvenient from a practical point of view.
A separate bathroom also has a significant drawback - the small area of both rooms. A few meters of the bathroom can be added by reducing the area of the hallway or corridor.
Bathroom finishes
Due to the fact that the bathroom is always very high humidity, all finishing materials must be resistant to moisture and temperature changes. The floor is most often simply tiled. But if you want to take this issue more seriously, it is advisable to install a floor heating system.
This will allow the room to be set at a comfortable temperature. Also, a dense waterproofing layer will not damage, which will not allow moisture to seep in in the event of a flood.
When choosing tiles, give preference to materials with a rough texture, smooth glossy tiles will be very slippery when wet.
Ceramic tiles, plastic panels, paint, artificial stone or moisture-resistant wallpaper are used to decorate the walls in a small bathroom.
When using tiles, the most important thing is to plaster and prime the walls well. You can also use to level the surface.
It is preferable to choose non-toxic water-based paints. Oil paints are not suitable for such a room, they dry for a long time, smell like acetone and do not tolerate high temperatures well.
For ceiling decoration, a stretch film is best suited. It is durable, moisture resistant and easy to clean. In addition, if the vases are flooded by neighbors, losses will be minimal.
Painting is a more budget option, but in this case, be prepared for the fact that such a coating needs to be renewed annually.
You can also sheathe the bathroom ceiling with plastic panels. In this case, a stainless steel profile should be used as a frame.
Choosing between a bathroom and a shower
For a small bathroom, a shower cabin is certainly more suitable. It will not only help save space, but also reduce the amount of water consumed, which will have a positive effect on the family budget.
If you absolutely want to be able to lie down in the bathroom, it makes sense to pay attention to the angular and curved models.
How to place furniture, appliances and accessories
The correct arrangement of plumbing fixtures and furniture will optimize the use of space in the bathroom, as well as make the room comfortable and practical.
With an adjacent bathroom, it is advisable to hide the tank in the wall, leaving the drain button outside. If this does not work out, it is worth considering the option of buying an angular or high narrow tank.
A small side-loading washing machine can easily be built under a sink, boiler, in the corner between the bathroom and the wall, etc. You just need to install an insulated outlet and hide the pipes discreetly. Drainage of dirty water should be taken directly into the sewer hole.
To store bathroom accessories, use tall pencil cases, hanging shelves, pull-out shelves.
Small bathroom lighting
With a modest size of the room, there is no need to install several light sources - one will be enough.
You can install ceiling lights, neon strips or spotlights. It is not recommended to use incandescent lamps in the bathroom, it is better to choose LED ones.
Color solutions for a small bathroom
As with any small room, light colors are best suited for a small bathroom, which visually expand the space.
If you want to use several colors, it is recommended to choose no more than three and try to keep them close in saturation to each other.
Dark shades and voluminous patterns will not be appropriate in a small bathroom. When decorating, white, beige, blue, pale pink, light green are often used.
When solving the issue of visual expansion of space, most designers agree in one opinion that it is necessary to remove all unnecessary things. And what is superfluous can be found in a small bathroom? At first glance, nothing. There is a sink, a bathtub and a shelf with shampoo ... However, this is at first glance, but if you look closely, in every bathroom there are many things that visually “eat up” the meters. Organize the space correctly, remove items that you use only once a month, hide cosmetics, etc. in specially designated places. It is better to store washing powder and cleaning products in the closet, and cosmetics in the bedroom dressing table.
It is best to store special products for showers, water procedures and after them in a special wall cabinet in the bathroom. What else can you find in our baths? Of course, a basket for dirty laundry. Not only does this piece of furniture significantly reduce the area, but also storage of dirty things in the bathroom threatens them with "rotting away" from constant contact with humid air.
To make the room functional and comfortable, you need to think over the design to the smallest detail. How else can you achieve a visual increase in area? Of course, through light, color and shape.
How to make a small bathroom functional and comfortable. Recommendations
There is a global option for increasing the area of the bathroom, but not everyone decides on it. We are talking about a combined bathroom. Removing just one wall, we get a huge amount of additional space for the embodiment of our design solutions, but from an aesthetic point of view, not everyone agrees on such a combination, and even more so when it comes to a family in which more than 3 people live.
Observance of simple rules will help to make the room functional and comfortable.
1. Avoid a lot of dark colors in your bathroom. The lighter the walls of the room are, the more visually its area. As for the design, the minimalist style is ideal for small rooms. No frills, complex curls on the tiles, ruffles on the shower curtain - this will only make the room smaller.
2. A good way to visually enlarge the space is a large wall mirror with clear lines and shapes. Decorative details are acceptable, but in limited quantities, since in conditions of high humidity, bacteria will develop on such objects, and mold will multiply, and this is unacceptable. Whatever bathroom design you choose, it will be beautiful only under one condition - the cleanliness of the room.
3. The bathroom is a place where light colors must be diluted with bright colors. In addition, this option will allow you to avoid troublesome and painstaking care of the walls. If your goal is to make the bathtub wider, use finishing materials with horizontal stripes and patterns, vertical stripes will help to visually raise the ceiling.
4. Wall-mounted or built-in wardrobes will be an excellent solution for storing the necessary personal hygiene products (the latter option is the most advantageous, since they visually form a single whole with the design of the walls). The fewer freestanding parts in the bathroom, the wider and more spacious it will look.
5. Another option to increase the area of the bathroom is to install a shower cabin instead of the usual bath. This solution has a number of advantages. First of all, this is the aesthetic aspect, the shower cabin is stylish and elegant, and secondly, it is high performance. Those who like to soak up the warm foam bath can be recommended to replace the usual model with a corner one. By installing such a bath, you will not only visually enlarge the room, but also free up space for the washing machine. Purchase a compact cab: a stationary one with a complete set, or an ordinary pallet with a special screen.
6. Another popular option for increasing bathroom space is dismantling the washbasin. However, such a radical method is not suitable for everyone, and modern technologies for the production of household appliances and bathroom furniture make it possible to place the necessary items directly under the washbasin (including a washing machine).
7. Using installations. If in the bathroom it is possible to allocate 20-30 cm behind the toilet, then the hanging model will be the ideal solution. Having carved out this space, the owners "kill two birds with one stone" at once. The wall-hung toilet is more compact than its “brother” of standard models. It makes cleaning easier and sits close to the wall. The space in the back, not occupied by communications, is used to accommodate cabinets and shelves.
8. Correct placement of the mixer. Side installation is considered the best option. A practical solution will save a lot of space in the bathroom. If the sink fits a standard width and is located near the bathtub, you can choose a universal mixer with a long spout. It will cover both the bathroom and the washbasin.
9. The play of light also largely depends on the material of the bathroom walls. Glossy tiles of warm light colors will help to visually expand the space. Avoid colorful patterns, contrasting joints, and oversized tiles.
Lighting in a small bathroom
A bathroom is a place of soft, diffused light created using spotlights or LED strips placed around the perimeter of the room. When choosing lighting devices, it should be remembered that high humidity negatively affects their performance, choose special models of lamps.
The use of LED strips in and under the wall cabinets will create comfortable lighting in which it will be pleasant to soak up a warm bathroom. As for the number of devices and their placement, it all depends on your preferences. The main thing to remember is no clear shadows and a well-lit mirror (especially if a representative of the fairer sex lives in the apartment).
We hope our ideas and the photos we have presented will encourage you to make radical or more modest changes in the interior!
The bathroom is such a small but important room. How to properly manage the footage when all you have is four, three, or even only two "squares"? A well-thought-out organization of the space will allow you to place all the necessary functionality even in the smallest dungeons, and the correct design of the bathroom will visually expand the room and organically fit the bathroom into the overall style of the apartment.
Little by little: functionality and organization
assembled exclusively from vital functionality. Everyone understands that fromexcesses in the form of a bidet and other toilet fads will have to be abandoned. In some cases, it makes sense to donate and familiar participants in the bathroom life, such as a washbasin. If you prefer a bathtub to a shower cabin, abandoning a sink with a cabinet will save you valuable floor space. If you install a convenient faucet in the bath- you will easily survive this loss.The vacant space can be taken by a washing machine. Forsmall bathroomsthe best option would be a narrow "washer" with a shallow chamber depth. If there was no room for her in the room either- no one will be surprised to find a washing machine “hidden” in the kitchen or pantry.
A toilet bowl mounted in the floorsmall bathroom standsprefer installation. A compact suspended plumbing system will save space, visually relieve the interior, and will look much more expressive than a standard white throne.
The traditional choice of owners of a small bathroom is a shower cabin. On the modern plumbing market, more interesting solutions for small footage are presented - compact hybrids of shower and sit-down baths. In addition, the ergonomic corner version can be preferred to the standard bulky bathtub. The same applies to the washbasin.
But it is better to refuse from corner shelves in the design of a small bathroom. They only seem to be a good solution, while in fact they visually eat up space.
When making a choice in favor of a bath, choose for one and a bath screen with sliding sections - here you can hide household appliances and assorted household equipment from prying eyes.
The storage system also has a place above the doorway - a compact hanging cabinet or shelf will fit here.
Moving the walls apart: color scheme and materials
For the design of small bathrooms, it is customary to select light colors that visually expand the footage. The color range can be either cool or warm. If the soul asks for juicy shades and intricate ornaments - do not deny yourself. In the interior of a small bathroom, tiles with a variegated print or a bright accent wall can settle. If you choose the right lighting scenario, even dark tones in a tiny room will look good.
A favorite among finishing materials for a small bathroom is glossy ceramic tiles that reflect light well. What reflects light better than gloss? That's right - mirrors. When choosing a mirror above the sink, the standard options are a floor-to-ceiling sheet mirror that will add perspective to the room. Then you will have to give up the cabinet under the washbasin. A stylish counterpart will be a sink on a pendant panel that opens a view of the mirrored bottom of the wall. As in the case of installing a toilet, such a solution will visually relieve the interior.
If you gravitate towards experimentation, seriously consider a mirrored ceiling. Such a solution will visually extend the room, increase its volume and improve illumination. Speaking of a mirrored ceiling, we do not necessarily mean a finish made of pieces of glass; treated aluminum panels or a coating with a mirrored polymer film will have the same reflectivity.
It must be borne in mind that the mirror reflects well not only the light, but also you (lying in the bathroom)- think about how comfortable you will be watching this picture. In addition, it is a capricious and easily soiled coating. Due to its specific features, the mirrored ceiling remains an option for the amateur, giving way to a universal white gloss.
Considering the high humidity and temperature extremes in the bathroom, the traditional solution for wall and floor decorationis a tile or porcelain stoneware.To save on materials whenbathroom renovation,only the lower half of the walls can be tiled with tiles, and for the upper one you can choose paint, textured plaster or vinyl wallpaper. The manufacturers of the latter assure that their wonderful wallpaper is in no way inferior in its characteristics to tiles.- they are not afraid of steam, moisture, or high temperatures. It's up to you to judge.
Highlighting the merits: lighting scenario
Light scenario of the room- an integral part of the design project. Timely development of the lighting scheme allows you to pre-stretch the cables where they belong, without spoiling the finish and appearance of the room.
The right bathroom lighting will make your life much easier. If the mirror above the sink is not well lit, it will not be so easy to put beauty in front of it. Two symmetrical pendant lights or wall sconces, located on either side of the mirror, will allow you to achieve the most comfortable lighting. It is recommended to place lighting devices just above eye level.
The presence of several sources makes it possible to play with the lighting scheme. If frank "hospital" light is indispensable for cosmetic procedures, then subdued lighting will help you relax in a bubble bath.
Modern bathroom designs tend to use point light sources to illuminate the room evenly. In addition, a rare interior project today does without LED lighting. Additional illumination of mirrors, hanging cabinets, niches and shelves will make the bathroom interior not only practical, but also expressive. Flexible LED strips can be used to design the contours of a bathtub or washbasin. Objects illuminated in this way seem weightless, which means they do not weigh down the interior.- that's all we need.
When it comes to retro designs, ceiling spots give way to a traditional chandelier, accompanied by wall sconces.
To avoid a lack of light in the ablution area, a glass sliding partition should be preferred to a plastic curtain.- one of the main trends in small bathroom design.
Small bathroom design ideas
Small bathroom interior - not the easiest case for a designer. It should not stand out from the general style of the apartment, while deploying on such a footage within a certain style- hard. But you can. Let's see how the designers of Mossebo solved this problem.
For the designers we picked up a colorful patchwork tile,rough white plaster and a spectacular washbasin. A carved wooden cabinet and accessories added ethnic flavor to the interior. A compact bathtub in vintage style harmoniously blended into the overall picture.
Of controversial decisions- wall decor. It is unusual for the Russian eye to see posters above the bathroom, but who said they shouldn't be there?The result of the design work was the bathroom, which will do honor to any five-star hotel from the southern latitudes.
A bright canary wall and tiles that imitate wood have appeared in. The washing machine fits comfortably under the worktop.
- a sample of the competent organization of space. The compact size of the bath-shower room made it possible to place the washing machine ergonomically. Ceramic tiles imitating brickwork were used for decoration.
Bath or shower?
What to choose: a full bath or a shower cabin? You can argue on this topic endlessly, it all depends on your preferences. But if the question "When was the last time you took a bath?" you are at a loss to answer, we still advise you to stay at the shower. This way you save space for additional furniture and a washing machine. And taking a shower in a spacious cabin without getting into the bath every time is a great pleasure!
Pay attention to hanging furniture and plumbing fixtures. This will make the room visually more spacious and also make cleaning easier.
Use the space under the sink. You can put clean towels or pretty baskets of detergents on the shelves. It is important not to leave bottles and bags of powders in plain sight - this creates a cluttered look and “eats up” extra space. I wrote in detail about the options for storing little things in the bathroom and putting things in order.
The game of reflections
Mirrors are our main helpers when designing small spaces. They are especially relevant in small bathrooms, because combine practical and aesthetic functions. If you are not afraid of some impracticality, you can install them in the entire wall, and your bathroom will look much larger.
Corner mirrors work very effectively - they not only visually expand the space, but also create an interesting play of reflections.
Small bathroom design: Niches
Use niches. You can make a niche in the wall that separates the zones in the combined bathroom, or above the bath or in the shower room. Don't be afraid to build up a wall to create a niche. It looks more neat than hanging shelves, and visually disappears into the room, merging with the wall. By placing beautiful cosmetic boxes and clean towels in niches, you get a functional and stylish shelving unit.
Attractive accents
Zone the space with interesting, bright tiles. For example, make a strip of contrasting tiles on the wall and floor in the washbasin area.
The contrasting wall behind the bathroom will make the room look longer. You can use a beautiful mosaic, tiles with an interesting texture - wood, stone, or bright saturated colors.
A large drawing deceives the eye and the room seems larger. Use wide stripes or a bold print on the curtain.
Not a fan of bathroom curtains? Replace it with a glass partition or door. It perfectly fulfills its main function, but it looks more elegant and neat.
Important little things
Be attentive to bathroom textiles. It would seem, what does the color of the towels have to do with the design of the bathroom? However, motley multi-colored towels visually litter the room as well. A universal option is white towels and a bathrobe. Contrary to popular belief, they are quite practical, because are erased all at once, but they look fresh and neat. Don't like white - choose any other color or a combination of them, but then when buying new towels, try to stick to the chosen color scheme.