Living with a small bathroom

Not every home, townhouse, apartment or flat is graced with a luxuriously large bathroom, in fact, most homes have a fairly large master suite and a tiny, cramped second bathroom.

 

 

 

 

But living with a small bathroom doesn't have to be a nightmare. There are so many products on the market these days that are designed to take up less floor space, or combine a dual purpose, so that a small bathroom can be functional without being too cramped and claustrophobic.

 

 

Think big - Plan small

First and foremost when designing or renovating a small bathroom is to plan carefully. While that designer soaking tub looks gorgeous in a magazine spread - will it fit into your tiny bathroom? By all means think big, but make sure your bathroom has enough space for fittings and fixtures before you go out and buy.

 

 

 

Bathroom laundry

If your bathroom also requires space for a washing machine, make sure that you allow space in your design for this purpose. If your washing machine in an undercounter model, choose a colour that matches the bathroom so that it blends in rather than sticks out.

For a top-loading washing machine, look at ways to increase countertop height so that the machine can easily be wheeled out when needed, or stored away when not in use.

If the bathroom has a dedicated space for laundry appliances, fit the space with doors to hide away.

 

Where to save and where to splurge

 

 

A small bathroom doesn't have to limit your options for luxuries. If you want a spa bath but also need a shower, look at ways to combine both. If you shop around for cheaper tile options - like those you will find at your local Builders Warehouse store, you can spend a bit more on luxuries such as taps and fittings.

If you only spend on tiles for essential areas, such as a splashback above a basin or tub, and tiles in a shower, you will have budget left to spend on other areas of the bathroom.

 

Stylish spacesavers

 

 

Shop around for sanitary ware that that can be incorporated into your bathroom design and take up less space. Today's sanitary fittings can be mounted in almost any configuration and a basin or toilet that fits into a cabinet will combine much needed storage at the same time - using the same amount of floor space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to buy space-saving sanitary ware

www.builders.co.za

www.sanitaryware.co.za

www.vaalsan.co.za

www.cobra.co.za

www.macneil.co.za

 

There are obviously many more supplies that offer a diverse choice of sanitaryware options for a small bathroom, making it possible to fit your bathroom with the right fixtures - if you are prepared to shop around.

 

 

Perfectly pretty

Whether your taste is for minimalist and modern or pretty and rustic, there's no reason why a small bathroom can't be practical and good looking. The Internet allows us to browse hundreds of images to find the perfect theme for any bathroom - small or large.

Make the most of what you have, or renovate a more practical design, and then add personal touches here and there depending upon your style. The trick to decorating a small bathroom is to remember the adage that best is less. If you keep accessories to a minimum and pack away the clutter, you too can have a beautiful small bathroom.