Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (2024)

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (1)

Back to the news section

Those who are in progress of renovating a small bathroom or have a small room to be used as a service bathroom need space-saving ideas that combine aesthetic appeal with absolute practicality. Here are many solutions for furnishing small bathrooms with taste and a pinch of cleverness, which is essential to make the most of every inch.

Small bathroom cladding ideas

It is often mistakenly thought that the most elegant and styled wall tilings are for the large master bathroom, while we tend to put aesthetics on the back burner in favour of functionality when decorating a small bathroom.

In reality, the two can, or rather must, go hand in hand: to create modern and beautiful small bathrooms, it is sometimes enough to choose small sanitary-ware (even 40x50 ones exist), to prefer harmonious but space-saving decorating solutions such as sit-on sinks, and to choose carefully the colours to match.

Let's review the best space-saving solutions and ideas for a small bathroom that will be the envy of its big brothers.

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (2)

What are the best colours?

One of the most popular clichés about decoration is that, for small sizes, the choice should fall on light and delicate colours such as white, light blues and pastel greens. Yet, playing with the colours of the walls and sanitary-ware of a small bathroom can help disguise its small size: for example, a sink unit with an intense emerald green hue will look even more original if placed against a wall that enhances it, perhaps made with a texture reminiscent of wood grain. In addition, the contrast between different materials and colours allows you to express your own stylistic signature: a porcelain stoneware bathroom vanity topwith light marble effect will look even more sophisticated when combined with vigorous wall claddings such as light grey concrete-effect stoneware floor tiles.

Tiles suitable for a small bathroom

From an aesthetic point of view, the tiles in a small bathroom should be large in size to visually expand the space and give the impression that the volumes are larger, but it is the finishes that overshadow the square footage: if in a small bathroom the polished marble effect gives extreme brightness and elegance, matt stone conveys a feeling of solidity and lightness at the same time. Those who love minimalism, on the other hand, can choose absolute white tops and finishes, and then have fun with taps and fittings as well as furnishing design accessories.

While the finish of the tile is also a matter of taste, in the choice of material it is necessary to follow the technical aspects: humidity is the worst enemy of any room in the house, especially if there are no windows, and the most functional wall tiling ideas for a small bathroom are those involving the use of stoneware slabs. Porcelain stoneware has a compact, non-porous surface, is waterproof and highly resistant to temperature sudden changes; a porcelain stoneware bathroom is also more hygienic and easy to clean, and being resistant to chemicals it will always retain the colour and charm of the first day.

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (3)

Absolute White

See the product

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (4)

Bianco Dolomite

See the product

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (5)

Crystal White

See the product

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (6)

Calacatta Apuano

See the product

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (7)

Calacatta Delicato

See the product

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (8)

How to decorate a small bathroom in a simple and functional way

The ideas for furnishing a small bathroom can be many, but the starting point is always the needs: if the bathroom is for the exclusive use of one of the inhabitants of the house, it should have all the comforts, such as a mirror with dedicated lighting or a spacious vanity top with practical drawers, while if it is a service room, it is advisable to start with the bulkier elements. For example, placing the washing machine in the under-sink compartment optimises space, but makes it necessary to add at least one wall unit or storage cabinet to store toiletries. Finally, the choice of wall-mounted sanitary-ware with soft lines can help to make the room lighter to the eye.

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (9)

Space-saving solutions: some ideas for the small bathroom

Furnishing small bathrooms is not as complex as it sounds, but it is necessary to have some foresight and choose solutions that make good use of every inch and let you keep everything tidy. In this sense, choosing a sink integrated in the countertop and wall-mounted taps and fittings helps to optimise space, but exploiting heights canalso be decisive, for example with closed wall units that touch the ceiling or shallow shelves. When renovating, it is also useful to provide niches in strategic positions such as the inside of the shower, the wall on which the bathtub rests or the wall behind the sink.

Small bathroom with shower or bathtub: space organisation

Setting up a small bathroom with a bathtub can be useful if there is already a shower in the master bathroom, while if it is the only bathroom available, a shower stall is preferable, as it is more functional and less cumbersome, also thanks to the flat shower trays, which are smaller in size. If you really don't want to give up the relaxation of a nice warm bath, or don't want to change the existing structure, you can opt for compact bathtubs that take up less space and give a few inches back to the bathroom. Those who are looking for new ideas for placing the shower in a long, narrow bathroom can instead be inspired by the new trends in bathroom fittings, which have now cleared the way for positioning the shower in front of the window: an original idea for optimising the square footage without giving up the comfort of a large, spacious shower.

Related articles

Discover all the news

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (10)

Furnishing with porcelain stoneware: ideas for the bathroom

Read

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (11)

Porcelain stoneware: five trends for 2023

Read

Discover all the news

Small bathroom ideas: how to design and tile it | Atlas Plan (2024)

FAQs

What size tile looks best in a small bathroom? ›

Medium-size and large-format tiles 12 x 18 inches and up to 12 x 24 inches with same-colored grout can be a great choice to make smaller rooms seem bigger by taking away visible grout lines and visual clutter.

What tiles make a small bathroom look bigger? ›

Using larger floor tiles is a great way to trick the eye and make a room look bigger than it actually is. Larger tiles used throughout the bathroom look a lot less 'busy' than with smaller tiles, which therefore make the room appear larger; the lack of grout lines also makes the whole space appear more expansive.

What tiles are best for small bathrooms? ›

When choosing tiles for compact bathrooms, there are endless possibilities. You can go large with super-sized tiles or you can opt for any other sized tile, down to miniature mosaics. Colour-wise, dark tiles will make a small room feel more enclosed, while lighter tiles will help to maximise the feeling of space.

Is it OK to put large tiles in a small bathroom? ›

Size considerations will differ

Many designers have differing opinions on what size tile should go in a small room, but the answer will really depend on your unique space. It's usually a good idea to avoid using very large tiles on your bathroom floor if the room is small. Large tiles can make the space seem smaller.

What are the rules for tile layout? ›

Tile layouts should be centered and balanced, like this one, if possible. ANSI directs us that: Tile layouts should be centered and balanced, if possible. We should not have an excessive number of cuts, with no cuts being smaller than a half tile when possible.

Should you tile all the walls in a small bathroom? ›

For smaller bathrooms, the fully tiled look can make the space appear larger. By fully tiling the walls from floor to ceiling, the smaller bathroom can more easily be converted into a wet room at a future stage. Provides a cleaner junction between tiled walls and floors with less fussy detailing.

What Colour tiles make a small bathroom look bigger? ›

White tiles are still the most popular tile color choice, especially for small bathrooms. A light tile color will make your tiny bathroom feel bigger and brighter.

Should bathroom floor be lighter or darker than walls? ›

As a general rule of thumb, it is best for a bathroom floor to be a darker shade than the accompanying walls and ceiling. However, if your personal preference dictates, you can choose to be adventurous and go against the grain in this regard.

What is the best flooring for a small bathroom? ›

When selecting the best flooring for a small bathroom remodel, the key is finding a balance between functionality and aesthetics. Ceramic and porcelain tiles, vinyl flooring, and laminate flooring are among the top choices due to their moisture resistance, durability, and various styles.

How much should it cost to tile a small bathroom? ›

The average cost to install tile in a bathroom is $2,100. You may spend as little as $120 for simple projects with low-cost materials or as much as $6,000 to install high-end materials bathroom tiles in your shower.

What color tiles should I use in a small bathroom? ›

What type and colour of tile should I consider using for my small bathroom? White reflects maximum light and gives a feeling of openness. Therefore, white is highly recommended and a popular choice.

What is the easiest tile to install in a small bathroom? ›

WPC Vinyl tile

WPC stands for wood, plastic, and vinyl and this tile is very easy and simple to install. It and makes a good fit for bathroom flooring as it is also waterproof. This is in stark contrast to porcelain or ceramic tiles, which are very difficult to install.

Is it better to use small or large tiles in a small bathroom? ›

Tile Size. The bigger the tiles, the smaller the room will look…or so they say. Generally, interior designers will say that you shouldn't use large tiles (such as 60×60 cm or 80×80 cm) in a small bathroom as it will make the room look smaller.

Should I use dark or light tile in a small bathroom? ›

Make the Bathroom Feel Smaller

The dark bathroom tiles anchor the floor, making the space appear smaller. To avoid this feeling, we recommend using light-coloured tiles for the floor with dark-coloured tiles for the walls or vice-versa. This contrast will create a horizon that will make the room appear larger.

What color flooring is best for a small bathroom? ›

Whether you choose white tiles, vinyl or painted floorboards, an all-white design for small bathroom flooring ideas is timeless, and allows for you to easily adapt and tweak the scheme later down the line. You can then simply add color and texture through your accessories, fixtures and fittings.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arline Emard IV

Last Updated:

Views: 6073

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arline Emard IV

Birthday: 1996-07-10

Address: 8912 Hintz Shore, West Louie, AZ 69363-0747

Phone: +13454700762376

Job: Administration Technician

Hobby: Paintball, Horseback riding, Cycling, Running, Macrame, Playing musical instruments, Soapmaking

Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.