Small bathroom
Small bathrooms: ideas for design options
5 tips for small bathrooms
- Open room design:
A small bathroom should not be further divided, but rather designed to be open in order to appear larger. - Make use of niches:
Small existing niches can be put to optimal use as storage space for bathroom accessories with a few shelves. - Natural materials:
The look of wood and stone increases the coziness factor of a small bathroom. - Enlarge artificially:
Light colors and mirrors can make small bathrooms appear larger. - Less is more:
In small bathrooms, decorations can quickly become overwhelming. Start by choosing high-quality fixtures and fittings, which will make an impact on their own. A few carefully placed decorative elements can emphasize the style.
Designing sink areas for small bathrooms
In small, narrow bathrooms, tidiness is paramount. For this reason, sink areas with storage space, e.g., in the form of drawers, are particularly suitable for small bathrooms. Wall-mounted furniture generally appears somewhat lighter. Asymmetrical vanities with side shelves and matching vanity units that combine drawers and open compartments, such as D-Neo, are also particularly practical. In particularly small sink area applications, there is often not enough space for a vanity unit with drawers. In this case, furniture bases with doors in combination with a matching hand wash basin are ideal for creating additional storage space, as is the case with Duravit No. 1, for example.
Metal consoles with vanity, whose open shelves can also be used for decorative purposes, lend the small room a more homely touch. Duravit, for example, offers both floor-standing and wall-mounted metal consoles in its DuraSquare series, available in matt black or chrome, with matching vanities, even in compact sizes with reduced projection. With an integrated towel rail and glass shelves, this sink area solution offers practical added value.
Designing small bathrooms with showers
In a small bathroom with a shower, a flush-mounted shower tray with a glass shower screen creates a visually calmer look and acts as a natural extension of the room. Tempano, made of white sanitary acrylic, offers a seamless, comfortable shower area in a purist design. The matte finish of the Stonetto shower trays made of DuroCast® UltraResist has an authentic, stone-like appearance and is available in various natural colors. Coordinating the color of the flooring and shower tray creates a feeling of maximum spaciousness. Floors in mini bathrooms can also be dark, as this makes the room appear even more spacious and makes the small bathroom seem larger. Light-colored floors, on the other hand, make the room appear flooded with light.
Tip: To create a more spacious feel, it makes sense to choose large-format tiles in a small bathroom or to avoid tiles altogether in a small bathroom.
Small bathrooms with a bathtub
In small bathrooms, it generally makes sense to forego a bathtub in order to have more freedom of movement and to avoid having the individual bathroom elements crammed together. However, those who enjoy bathing can still do so in a small bathroom. Niches into which a built-in bathtub fits flush are ideal for this purpose. Even freestanding bathtubs are available in slim designs and are therefore also suitable for small bathroom layouts, depending on their shape.
Freestanding bathtub
Corner bathtub
The ideal toilet for small bathrooms
Compact toilets for small bathrooms
Large fixtures take up space in small bathrooms. Duravit offers toilet models and bathroom furniture with reduced projections in its range, especially for small bathrooms ranging from 5 to 10 square meters. This saves valuable centimeters without compromising on comfort. Among other things, this also makes it possible to design very small guest toilets. Space-saving pre-wall elements for toilets can also conceal the cistern in the wall, giving the bathroom a tidier appearance.
Shower toilets instead of toilets and bidets
Practical two-in-one products save space in small bathrooms and provide comfort, such as SensoWash® shower toilets. The combination of toilet and bidet cleans gently and naturally with water.
Bathroom furniture for small bathrooms
Storage furniture for small bathrooms
In small spaces, it’s a good idea to make the most of the ceiling height in your compact bathroom to create storage space. Tall cabinets are one way to achieve this. Duravit offers a range of bathroom furniture designed for small bathrooms—from small shelves to rolling cabinets—that complement the Sink area. A vanity unit, for example, provides additional storage space that would otherwise go unused.
Mirror
Small bathrooms, in particular, benefit from large mirrors. When mounted above the Sink area, they reflect natural light and make the compact bathroom feel more spacious. With its high-quality mirror and mirror cabinet solutions, Duravit offers maximum design flexibility.
Small mirror cabinets
A mirror cabinet has the advantage of providing ample storage space for keeping your Sink area perfectly organized. In addition to optional lighting, a heated mirror offers added convenience in everyday life by reliably preventing the mirror surface from fogging up—an extremely useful feature, especially in small bathrooms.
Adding Accents to Small Bathrooms
Lighting in small bathrooms
The right lighting, with different lighting zones, can also make small bathrooms appear more spacious. One example is bright lighting at the Sink area and softer, more soothing lighting near the shower or tub. Indirect lighting allows you to create beautiful accents in the room that draw the eye and foster a calm and relaxed atmosphere. In very small bathroom layouts, the mirror at the Sink area is often the only light source. In such cases, dimmable mirrors are ideal, as they provide not only side lighting but also ambient lighting and spot lighting for the Sink area.
Accessories for small bathrooms
When everything has its place, even small bathrooms look tidier. Choosing high-quality bathroom accessories enhances the entire space. Coordinated in design with the Starck series and in material with the bathroom faucets, Starck T accessories ensure a harmoniously furnished small bathroom. Thanks to the skillful interplay of chrome, glass, and minimalist forms, the accessories from the Karree series can be used flexibly. Do you prefer more rounded shapes? Then the accessories from the D-Code series offer the perfect alternative.
Decorating Small Bathrooms: Less Is More
The same principles apply to decor as to furniture. Use them sparingly and thoughtfully to keep your small bathroom from looking cluttered. Invest in color-coordinated bathroom textiles, such as hand towels, bath towels, and bath mats, which add a touch of coziness to the small bathroom. Color accents from individual items also help draw attention away from the limited space. Decorative items in the same color family complete the cohesive overall look, while plants give the room a fresh feel.
Light-colored walls for small bathrooms
To prevent small bathrooms from feeling cramped, it’s best to use tiles sparingly in small bathrooms to make the space appear larger, as bare wall space creates a more airy feel. Light pastel shades or light wood work just as well. A well-considered color choice makes the mini-bathroom appear inviting and, depending on the shade, more spacious and open. Soft tones that recede visually into the background are ideal here.
