Small Bathroom Furniture
Furnishing and decorating a small bathroom is a daunting prospect. Often small, often windowless, and often with plumbing and pipe-work to work around, these spaces can be intimidating. One of my bathrooms measures 4 ½ feet by less than 9 feet and the other one is 4' by 6 ½'. Not much wiggle room when if comes to remodeling and furniture.
Small bathroom remodeling is so difficult that just fitting everything in is a challenge. Small Spaces for Modern Living by Caroline Atkins is one of few books that I have read that devotes an entire section to suggestions and ideas for this project.
Contemporary furniture makes a big difference in a bathroom layout. Modern bath shapes and sizes are more flexible and sink basins come in shallow, streamlined designs that take up less room. By going for a completely new set of fittings you can use your space more efficiently. No, you probably won't be able to fit in all the luxuries, but you can certainly fit in what's practical.
How important is your bathroom to you? Before buying any bathroom furniture, you need to assess your options and figure out what you can live without. You are very lucky if your small bathroom has the luxury of a full bath, a separate shower cubicle, basin and lavatory all in the same room.
Bathrooms are invariably on the small side so you have to be especially strict about keeping clutter under control. Plan plenty of storage, either built-in or with an array of attractive free-standing containers.
If you are short of wall space think about plinth heaters in the base panels of fitted furniture. Keep the bathroom floor and other surfaces clear whenever possible by looking for wall-hung furniture and fittings. Items like wall-mounted soap dispensers, simple glass dividers if you want to divide the lavatory from the shower area, and ladder radiators to provide sleek towel storage can make the most of a small room.
How much space is taken up by the door when it opens into the room? You can free up wall and floor space by hanging the door so that it opens outward, or consider replacing it with a sliding design.
Built in cabinets are available with racks and pull out shelves that will give you additional storage areas instead of just places to stash cleaning supplies.
Tailor made floor-to-ceiling panels or shelving will provide sleek storage solutions. If the room has an alcove or recessed area, you can make the most of it by positioning your toilet or basin there and filling the spaces above with a series of shelves. Rows of attractive baskets on an open shelf afford a tidy way to store cleaning materials and other miscellaneous items. A row of floor baskets can hold clean laundry. Keep clutter under control to create the illusion of more space.
A basin in a vanity gives you the most storage space. Lavatories and basins that are wall-hung are even more efficient when it comes to use of space because there is no pedestal cluttering up the floor and the cistern is hidden behind the wall. They are suspended on brackets and the pipe-work is diverted into the wall in order to keep the floor below clear. The overall effect is less cluttered and more spacious.
Showers are increasingly desirable as the most refreshing, water efficient and space-saving way of washing. Most people don't take that many baths anyway.
If you can’t give up your bath, you can fit the tub with an over bath shower or install an specially designed shower bath. A separate cubicle shower is more satisfactory, partly because the latest models are being designed with luxury extras such as body and steam jets. Bathroom heaters are part of the furniture these days. If your space is limited, extra-narrow radiators can be fitted into narrow strips between appliances or beside the frame or floor-level designs along the baseboards.
Storage space in a small bathroom is always a problem. Use furniture that can play a double role when space is tight. Linen baskets that can double as a seat, radiators that can double as towel racks and bath-side tables will prove quite functional. A heated towel rail beneath the basin or around the pedestal to keep towels on can save on precious wall space (and they keep the towels cozy and warm too).
Simple ways to make a small bathroom seem bigger are to choose one color or similar tones for the walls and ceiling, and also keep your tiles and floor designs unfussy. If you have a window in your bathroom use frosted glass to add privacy but still let in the light. Halogen lights and good mirror lighting will make the room feel more spacious. Use reflective surfaces such as chrome, stainless steel, glass and large mirrors to lighten, open-up, and magnify the space.
I hope I've given you some ideas on how small bathroom furniture can help you make the most of a tight space.
Further reading: Small Spaces for Modern Living: Making the Most of Your Indoor Space
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