Bathroom Planning A Small En Suite Bathroom

Date Published:

09/06/2008

Credit: J. de Villiers/Photozest

If space is tight, but you still want to squeeze in the tiniest of en suites, here's how to make it feel bigger than it is...

Walls that aren't
Solid walls in a tiny en suite make it feel smaller and more claustrophobic, but the sliding, frosted glass panels shown above are a brilliant solution - they let in light when they're shut, making the room feel bigger, and can be opened right back to show the room off when not in use.

Walls that are
You'll need at least one solid wall for privacy. If your room is minuscule, cover it with a reflective surface like means glass, or bright white or pale tiles. Large tiles make a small space seem bigger, but conversely, so do very small ones, such as mosaics. Try Fired Earth or Topps Tiles.

One floor is more
Keep the same flooring throughout. Failing that, fit a low shower tray and choose matching flooring. Trays come in all sorts of materials, such as slate (from Kirkstone ); wood (from William Garvey) and Corian.

Eyes up
The taller the ceiling, the more enclosed the space will feel, so consider lowering your en suite's ceiling. Ask the advice of your builder and perhaps experiment with white sheets pinned to the walls. Another must in a small space is good lighting, so have halogen spots installed - they mimic daylight and will instantly make the room seem larger.

Open up your storage
In the tightest of spaces, open shelves are much more practical purely for accessibility. Have yours built under a vanity unit (Next has a good range of off-the-shelf ones) to create more storage around the basin, too.

Match in & out Choose a glazed shower panel that matches the sliding door panels to let more natural light into the shower cubicle. Similar glazed panels can be created by a glazier to your measurements and design.

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