If your bathroom is bijou, planning the space carefully is essential. Do it right, and you can create a cosy sanctuary. But just how do you go about achieving that?
That’s where we come in! We’ve sourced 25 small bathroom floor plans to get the most out of limited space. So step this way for inspiration and ideas!
Small Bathroom Floor Plans
1. Bath and shower cubicle
This floorplan shows it’s possible to fit in both a bath and a separate shower, even in a small space. This bathroom measures just 9 feet by 7 feet.
By positioning the shower cubicle right next to the bath, the design maximises use of every inch of wall space. And placing the smaller elements – the WC and vanity unit – on the opposite wall avoids it feeling cramped. There’s even room here for a double sink.
2. Long and thin
Is your bathroom an awkward shape as well as small? Don’t despair. Clever design can turn this into a bonus.
In this bathroom, the shorter width allows the bathtub to take up the whole of one wall. Positioning a generous shower cubicle at the opposite end creates a feeling of balance. Hey presto – the room no longer looks narrow!
3. Ditch the bathtub
If you’re really short on space, giving up your bathtub can be a good option. And with the right design, it will be so luxurious you’ll barely even notice it’s gone!
This bathroom measures just 9 feet by 5 feet. But without a bathtub, there’s room for a luxurious wet room and double sink unit. And with no awkward nooks and crannies, there’s a real feeling of space.
4. Add a sliding door
When you’re trying to fit fixtures into limited space, allowing room for hinged doors can be a deal-breaker. Swapping a traditional door for a sliding one can give you more room to play with.
The top floorplan fits a WC, wash basin and freestanding shower into a space just 2’8” wide and 7’8” long. And the simple layout means nothing feels as though it’s squashed in.
If your bathroom is wider but shorter, a similar plan can still work. The diagram below turns the WC through 90 degrees, leaving space for a conventional door to open.
5. Keep walkways clear
These two plans show how thinking carefully about the positioning of your fixtures can make the best of a small space.
In the “before” plan, you have to dodge the WC as soon as you enter. And that means negotiating a narrow space between it and the shower.
But turn the WC through 90 degrees and move the wash basin, and all of a sudden, the problem disappears.
Clear walkways to each fixture will help your bathroom feel spacious, no matter how small it is.
6. Use light wisely
This bathroom fits in a shower, WC and vanity unit into a 5 foot by 10 foot space. There’s a clear walkway to each element, so nothing feels awkward.
But the real beauty of this design is in its use of the small window. Positioned opposite the WC, it gives you something to look at when you’re on the throne! And the mirror positioned above the vanity unit on the opposite wall bounces the light back around the room.
The result is a space that’s light and bright, despite its diminutive dimensions.
7. Handling an awkward shape
Not all bathrooms are neat squares or rectangles. In this one, the L-shaped space is put to good use, creating a private area for the WC.
Changing the position of entry points can also be a good way to get the most from the space. The before and after plans here show the difference made by relocating the shower door. By moving it from the corner to one wall of the cubicle, there’s a larger space to step into.
8. Creating separate areas
If you don’t have the luxury of multiple bathrooms, it can be a good idea to separate your WC and bathtub. That will mean no-one has to worry about being caught short while someone else is relaxing in the bath!
In this design, a WC and sink unit is adjacent to a separate bathroom and wash basin. Everything fits into a space 8 feet long by 5 feet wide.
Note, though, that this is about as small as you can get. The space here is inevitably going to feel quite limited.
9. Utilising a square room
A shower works particularly well in a square room, and this classic layout is ideal. The space here is just 6 feet long and the same wide. But there are no awkward corners or narrow passageways.
Note that the WC is positioned to one side of the door. That will avoid a less than flattering view if the door is left open!
10. Fitting everything in
We’ve already seen that it’s possible to fit an adjacent bath and shower cubicle along a 9-foot wall. But with this design, both options can be accommodated whilst keeping the bath and shower apart.
In this case, the bath fits along the shorter wall, while the shower stands in another corner. And by positioning the shower behind the door, the space feels more open as you enter.
Everything here fits into a room measuring just 9 feet by 5 feet.
11. Creating a wet zone
This Japanese-influenced floor plan positions a walk-in shower area directly in front of the bathtub. It creates a whole wet zone that’s efficient in its use of space, as well as easy to clean.
Here the vanity unit with double sinks sits directly in front of the door. And the WC is tucked out of the way in the far corner.
12. Corner shower
This room measures 9’8” by 5’8”, and it’s another case where a bath has been foregone in place of a shower. That shower sits in the corner, separated by a simple curved curtain rail from the rest of the room.
The design allows a spare corner to be used for a built-in linen cupboard. That’s a great way of providing extra storage. And you’ll have fresh towels on hand when you need them.
13. One-wall plumbing
Keeping all your plumbing along the same wall is a great way of saving money. This simple shower room design does just that.
The wash basin is opposite the door, next to the WC. And next to that is a generous shower cubicle which takes up the full width of the room. You could make this a walk-in shower too, and save on the costs of a door.
14. The X-Factor
This design shows that even the most unusual room shapes can work beautifully for a small yet practical bathroom.
The cross-shape provides different zones for the bathtub, wash basin and WC. The result is a room that feels deceptively spacious. Clever lighting to highlight each zone would add to its visual impact.
15. Clever corners
Making good use of the space in the corners of the room can give a small bathroom a dramatic look. This plan showcases what’s possible in a space just 6 feet long and 6 feet wide.
A corner shower and corner sink add interest, and open up the center of the room to create an airy feel. And if you don’t want to sacrifice a bath, you could replace the shower with a corner or slipper tub. Hunt around and you can find some great models that take up barely more space.
16. Linear logic
Keeping your fixtures in a straight line can be a great way to utilise a narrow space. And you won’t require a long room either. These plans show rooms with plenty of space for a shower, WC and wash basin in a space just 3 feet by 9 feet, or 4 feet by 8 feet.
If you long for a bath, a slipper tub can be a good option in a small space. These allow you to submerge your body whilst seated, cutting the length of the tub.
17. Add screening
Adding screening is a great way to create more privacy in a bathroom. Here the WC is screened from the sink area. You’ll never need to worry about someone barging in by accident and seeing more than they should!
In this case, the position of the door means neither the WC nor wash basin can go opposite the window. But adding a mirror above the vanity unit will help bounce the light around the room.
18. Handling a windowless space
Small bathrooms can feel smaller still if they’re dark. And that’s a particular problem if there aren’t any windows!
In this small bathroom, a backlit mirror brightens up the space. Choose a statement piece and it will also create a great focal point in the room.
19. Create a sink lobby
This design takes another approach to creating separate areas to maximise privacy. In this 12 foot by 10 foot space, the bath and toilet are separated by a door from the sink lobby. It allows someone to come in and wash their hands, without disturbing anyone soaking in the bath.
Keeping the WC with the bath creates a larger space to relax in. But it does mean you won’t be able to use the lavatory while someone’s in the bath.
20. Use extra walls to create unusual combinations
This design takes an unusual approach to the problem of a lack of space. Here a wall right next to the shower cubicle supports the vanity unit.
Keeping the sink and shower cubicle together can have practical bonuses. Anyone dying their hair at home, for example, will appreciate being able to check their work in the mirror before stepping into the shower to rinse it off.
21. Open doors outwards
We’ve already seen that finding space for doors to open can be a challenge in a small bathroom. Pocket doors are one solution. But even easier is simply to change the direction in which your doors open.
In this shower room, the door opens outwards. That allows a sink to be fitted in a space where it would otherwise obstruct the door.
22. The ultimate wet room
If you’re really pushed for space, you could turn the whole room into a wet room. Ditch the separate shower cubicle, add a drain in the floor, and tile the whole room.
Yes, you’ll need to wipe your WC and sink after you’ve showered. But as this design shows, you can get everything you need in the tiniest of spaces. And it can look great too.
23. Think about the space at every level
This design shows that it’s possible to actually overlap some of your bathroom fixtures.
The top of your bath sits much lower than your shower cubicle. So stealing some of the space above it will give you more room to move your arms as you shower.
You may find you need bespoke shower walls for this, however. So while it’s a cool idea, it’s likely to be expensive to put into practice.
24. Showering for two
A small bathroom needn’t mean missing out on luxury fittings. In this design, the whole width of the room is utilised to provide space for twin shower jets. And there’s a bench to take things easy too.
All of that is possible in a room just 6 feet by 9 feet. And nothing in this design feels like a compromise.
25. Take control
Where you position the door of your shower cubicle is very important. Unless you have a wet area that allows you to step away from the showerhead, you’ll want to access the controls from the outside. Otherwise you’ll be standing in freezing water as you wait for it to warm up!
Here, a corner cubicle allows you to reach inside easily. A differently positioned door would have you squeezing into a small space to get to the controls.
Small is beautiful!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our tour of 25 great plans for small bathrooms. And we hope we’ve proved that limited space needn’t mean sacrificing luxury fixtures.
Remember to take into account the position of plumbing, windows and doors in your design. But don’t be afraid to consider changes too. A simple pocket door, for example, can free up a lot of space.
Have fun with your design, and enjoy your new bathroom!
Resources
- https://www.houseplanshelper.com
- https://www.henrykitchenandbath.com
- https://www.dwell.com
- https://www.finehomebuilding.com
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