Luxurious Bathroom Designs for Small Spaces
This article will explore our design ideas for small toilets and bathrooms based on over 80 years of luxury bathroom knowledge. Referencing bathroom pictures from our many case studies of expertly curated bathrooms, we aim to spark inspiration for your next project, from which products to choose to tips on how to decorate a small bathroom.
Whether you are designing a downstairs cloakroom or a cosy en-suite, we explore the best bathroom designs for how to optimise lighting, create more floor space, and choose the right space-saving sanitaryware to make the most of your new bathroom.
Considered Bathroom Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important factors to consider when designing a small bathroom. Before the design process begins, it is well worth assessing the space’s natural light to understand how you can curate the bathroom around it.
Natural Bathroom Lighting
Natural lighting is, naturally, the best way to brighten your space. If you are fortunate to have windows in the area, recognise them as a great starting point for your design.
This featured cloakroom from a recent design project in Chelsea demonstrates how a window, whether large or otherwise, can illuminate a small space. In this case, the window is well-positioned above the toilet to give the washbasin area plenty of natural light.
As with any bathroom window, you will want to consider privacy. Blinds, shutters, and frosted glass are great options.
Featured: Duravit Luv Washbowl and Duravit ME by Starck Rimless Wall-Mounted Pan.
Bathroom Downlights
Downlights are an excellent way of lighting a small bathroom due to their discreet design and easy placement in the areas that need brightening the most. Install as many or as few as necessary to effectively illuminate the space, and don’t be afraid to play with the positioning and brightness levels to help create the desired ambience.
The C.P. Hart Design team recently installed fitted downlights into alcove shelving at our Albion Riverside project, drawing attention to the bathroom’s design features while creating attractive mood lighting. If you are unable to install downlights, consider selecting an illuminating mirror or mirror cabinet for a similar low-lit effect.
Featured: the Gessi Cono Bath Shower Mixer in black.
Mirrors for Small Bathrooms
Mirrors play a vital role in maximising space. Usually fitted above the basin or vanity unit, our range of bathroom mirrors includes large, small, plain, and decorative styles.
For those who wish to add another element of light into the bathroom, our selection of LED mirrors - a great alternative to downlights - add ambience to your bathroom to create a spa-like feel. For bathrooms where storage is a concern, may we suggest exploring our range of LED mirror cabinets? In addition to lighting, many of our mirrors and mirror cabinets have built-in demisting technologies, such as those from our exclusive GLOW and Radiant collections.
Featured: neutral room set display in our flagship Waterloo showroom featuring our Kali WC and basin, an Artelinea Monolite furniture, and a Matki Eauzone Mesh wetroom panel.
Space-Saving Sanitaryware
When designing a small bathroom, the space can often begin to feel somewhat ‘cramped’. As a solution, we stock compact toilets, basins, and even bathtubs that are specifically designed for small bathrooms, cloakrooms, and en-suites. Our space-saving sanitaryware presents smaller versions of best-selling products without compromising on quality or function.
Space Saving Toilets, Basins & Baths
If you're looking to acquire toilets for small spaces, we recommend browsing our exclusive Kali range, and the Starck and Darling Duravit ranges. These compact toilets are wall-hung, meaning the bathroom tiling can be installed right up to the wall to create the sense of a larger space.
For the basin, we stock many small bathroom vanity units that display ingenious storage capacity without requiring excessive floor space. If you cannot contemplate a bathroom without a bath, please consider one of our space-saving baths, created to smaller dimensions that don't compromise on quality or comfort.
Featured: room set display in our Tunbridge Wells showroom, featuring the Cielo Era WC and bidet, the Cielo I Narcisi basin vanity, and the Makti Eauzone Mesh wetroom panel.
Co-ordinated Brassware
Another excellent design idea for small bathrooms, matching brassware - in both design and finish - will give the bathroom a harmonious feel. While chrome brassware is undoubtedly the most classic option, we stock brassware in an array of finishes, including on-trend matt black, nickel, gold, dark platinum. Should you be interested in selecting brassware from different ranges, we strongly recommend contacting our design team who are available to help you accurately match the finishes.
Our Dornbracht Design Studio, located in C.P. Hart Waterloo, proudly displays Dornbracht’s most sought-after brassware ranges, including FIL, VAIA, and CYO. Our Waterloo showroom is also home to the UK's largest AXOR Design Studio. Please book an appointment to have one of our designers talk you through the product specifications.
Featured: a client’s 17th century home designed by C.P. Hart, featuring a Drench Frahm shower screen with matching matt-black shower fittings from the Dornbracht Tara range.
Smart Storage Vanity Units and Washstands
Our diverse range of vanity units and washstands suit bathrooms of all styles and sizes, including small bathrooms where space is at a premium.
In an en-suite, you are more likely to require a vanity unit for its storage capabilities. Our Artelinea collection offers vanity units in many different configurations, with bespoke options available. With a bespoke vanity unit, you are able to customise not only the appearance but also the storage layout of your space-saving furniture.
If storage is not a concern, we recommend looking to Cielo’s I Catini collection – a completely customisable designer range that is available in 16 colours with a choice of round, oval, or double washbowls.
Featured: a basin alcove created by the C.P. Hart design team, featuring the Cantino Ovale with one shelf, complete with arches, bookshelves, and a large mirror to bring the space to life.
