Narrow bathroom design: 35 photos, design nuances

Of course, we would all like to have a spacious bathroom with a view of the warm sea shore, opening from the panoramic window. But, unfortunately, most of us have to spend most of our lives in small city apartments, where the size of the bathroom is sometimes so small that the question constantly arises - how to decorate a small bathroom so that it seems larger and at the same time fit everything you need in it? If your bathroom has a small area, then this publication will help you find a solution for choosing the design of the room, selecting plumbing fixtures and placing them in a small room.

There are quite a lot of ways to make even a small bathroom quite cozy and very functional. Let's look at the best solutions for decorating a small bathroom and making the most efficient use of space.

Below you will find a detailed overview of modern designer finds for decorating a bathroom in a modern small-sized apartment, which will also be useful for those who live in Khrushchev. But before you start changing anything in your bathroom, you need to make a plan by answering several important questions, the answers to which will determine all further steps in its arrangement.

Combining bathroom and toilet

If you have an apartment with a separate bathroom, then the most important question that will confront you is whether it is possible to combine the bathroom and toilet into one or is it fundamentally important for you that they be separate?

If you have a small family of two people, then morning hygiene procedures are unlikely to become a big problem for you if the bathroom and bathroom are combined. But at the same time you will get a much more spacious room.

If there are more than two people in a family, and even more so there are children of different sexes, then increasing the space by combining a bathroom with a bathtub can cause a queue in the morning. In addition, you should understand that after the demolition of the partition you will no longer need two separate entrances. Therefore, it will be necessary to seal up one door so that it is not obvious that it was once there. Also, you may need to move the heated towel rail if it is placed on the partition. Therefore, weigh everything carefully before deciding to demolish the partition between the bathroom and toilet.

Types of corner baths

According to the material of manufacture, corner baths are divided as follows:

Cast iron corner bath
Cast iron corner baths are familiar to many from childhood. They are still in many people's bathrooms and continue to function properly. A small cast-iron bathtub, of course, was less common in Soviet times. Unlike previous production, modern cast iron bathtubs are also varied in shape and color. Advantages: easy to install, excellent heat retention. Disadvantages: heavy weight, higher price than analogues.
Steel corner baths are carefully processed in production. An enamel coating is applied to their surface, which gives the products a more aesthetic appearance. This makes even a small corner bathtub look respectable. Advantages: practical to use (the weight of steel is 3 times less than the weight of cast iron), durable, lowest cost. Disadvantages: high thermal conductivity (hot water temperature reaches room value after 20 minutes).
Acrylic baths. Leader in popularity among consumers. A favorite material of plumbing designers, which affects all sorts of variations of products such as small acrylic bathtubs or large colored bathtubs reminiscent of a jacuzzi. Therefore, in a plumbing store you can even purchase small acrylic bathtubs, which will be the central idea of the space, setting the tone for the entire room. Advantages: durable, wear-resistant, lightweight, retain heat at the level of cast iron. Disadvantages: higher price than steel bathtubs, fragile.
Bathtubs made of a mixture of acrylic and polymer concrete. They come in all sizes, from the smallest bathtubs to the giants in their area. Such products are attractive to buyers because they look completely carved from natural stone, but they are also expensive.
Small acrylic corner bathtub

Advice!
Try not to forcefully hit the sides of the acrylic bathtub, as this may cause it to crack or split.

A small corner bathtub is necessary for people in small apartments, but there are also buyers who need large, spacious plumbing fixtures.

If the area of the room allows, you can install a bath for two people. The most common product sizes range from 115 x 72 cm to 180 x 130 cm.

Corner baths can also be classified according to their shape:

resembling a petal;
in the form of a trimmed drop;
in the form of a fan opened at 90°.

Corner baths can come in different configurations: Jacuzzi, compact, with hydromassage or with glass curtains, in case the consumer wants to take a shower.

Shower or bath?

The second question that should be answered before arranging a small bathroom is the question of whether there is a need for a bulky bathtub in the room, removing which can also significantly increase the area of the room.

If you like to pamper yourself while lying in warm water, and it will be difficult for you to do without this pleasant procedure, then a shower stall instead of a bathtub is unlikely to suit you.

But, if rational use of room space is more important to you, then a shower cabin can be an excellent choice.

As a compromise, you can consider installing a modern hydrobox, which is a small bathroom hermetically sealed on all sides with transparent walls.

Differences between sitz baths and sizes

Non-standard bathtubs are in demand, so models are being improved and products with new options appear on the market.

Small sitz baths are compact, leaving room to place a toilet, washing machine, or sink in a cramped room.

In addition, they are attractive and look neat, and the price is lower than for a full-fledged model.

A small bathtub has enough space for a child, an adult, or an elderly person to wash comfortably.

Rectangular and square models are now less common, and manufacturers are more likely to produce creative designs that influence the size of the container.

Rectangular mini-baths have 3 standard sizes:

compact sitz bath 90-100×65-70 cm;
medium size – 120×70-110 cm;
reclining with small sides – 130×70 cm.

Choosing a place for a washing machine in a small bathroom

In addition to other issues, you will also have to solve another rather complex, but no less pressing than the others - the issue of choosing a place for the washing machine.

If you use ultrasonic washing or spin things in Malyutka, then you won’t have to rack your brains about this. But, if you have a full-size washing machine in your apartment, then one of the main issues will be finding a place to install it.

It is very convenient when the washing machine is in the bathroom. After washing, all that remains is to unload and hang the laundry, without moving it from room to room. But if you want to free up as much space as possible in the bathroom, then the washing machine can be placed in the kitchen or even in the hallway. The main thing is that the room has a waterproof covering in case of small spills of water. This will prevent the floorboards from rotting if water gets on them, and will also eliminate problems with neighbors in case of leaks.

The main thing when choosing an installation location is the presence of cold water supply and sewage pipes nearby for connecting a washing machine to them.

The most successful solution for placing a washing machine in a small bathroom is to place it under the washbasin or in a cabinet attached to it. But in this case, you need a small-sized car, because a full-size one is unlikely to fit there. In addition, there may be pipes on the floor that will prevent you from installing the washing machine directly under the sink, even if there is enough space there for this.

Manufacturing materials and technical equipment

One of the most important parameters, guided by which you should choose a bathtub, is the material of manufacture. It determines how durable and high quality your mini-bath will be. Various materials are used in the production of bathtubs.

Based on this, mini-baths are:

cast iron,
steel,
acrylic,
from a mixture of acrylic and polymer concrete.

Let's consider their advantages and disadvantages.

Cast iron

This is the same age as our ancestors. One of the very first materials used to make bathtubs was cast iron. The material is strong and powerful. During the so-called “stagnation”, finding a cast-iron bathtub of unusual shapes and sizes on sale was an impossible task.

Now the manufacturer offers cast iron bathtubs of all kinds of shapes and sizes, as well as colors.

Advantages of a bathtub made of this material:

doesn't cool down quickly
easy to install and lasts a long time,
does not cause problems with washing and cleaning.

Minuses:

very heavy,
Expensive.

Steel

Steel is a reliable material, but it is difficult to process in production conditions. To ensure that the bathtub has the proper appearance, a special enamel is used, which is applied as an outer coating. Only then will the steel bathtub acquire a beautiful and pleasant appearance.

A steel bathtub has one drawback: the water cools down quite quickly, which is not very comfortable.

In terms of weight, it is, of course, three times lighter than a cast iron bathtub. Due to this, it is easy to install. Another plus is its cost. For little money you get practicality and durability, which is important these days.

Acrylic

The most popular material among both those who manufacture and those who purchase is acrylic. Designers create bathtubs of the most extraordinary shapes and sizes, since acrylic is easy to process.

A mixture of polymer concrete and acrylic

The symbiosis of these two components provides a wide field for the implementation of a wide variety of design solutions. The shape of such baths can resemble a drop, a fan, a petal and much more. An interesting texture in the form of natural stone looks attractive and attracts buyers. But the pleasure is expensive.

If choosing a small bathtub, add a hydromassage.

When installing them, a number of components are required, starting from a hydraulic pump, a system of pipes and nozzles, and ending with a compressor and a remote control (electronic or pneumatic), which regulates the water flow. It is advisable to use cascade mixers. Then the water in the bath will be drawn much faster.

Use wall cabinets

When choosing furniture for such a tiny bathroom, where every centimeter is worth its weight in gold, you should give preference to cabinets that can be hung on the walls to free up as much space as possible on the floor of the room.
Wall cabinets should also be chosen based on their functionality. For example, a mirrored shaving cabinet may have an opening front door with a mirror, behind which shelves for hygiene products are hidden.

Design in light colors

Light rooms always seem more spacious to us than those painted in colored or dark colors. This should definitely be used when decorating a small bathroom. You should not cover the walls with dark-colored tiles. Even if you think that a black bathroom is very stylish, the best choice would be white tiles, which fill the room with light by visually increasing the volume and re-reflecting the rays of light falling on the walls decorated with light tiles

Try not to use dark-colored furniture. Choose white shelves, cabinets, sink and toilet. This will help visually push the walls apart and create the illusion of additional volume.

How to choose a corner bath

Before purchasing, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the dimensions and characteristics of corner baths in advance. To do this, you can, for example, visit several plumbing stores on the Internet, which are abundant on the World Wide Web.

Various shapes of corner baths and more

Important points to pay attention to:

Dimensions of corner baths. In most cases, the size of a corner bathtub is no more than 180 cm. For typical small apartments, a small corner bathtub with dimensions of 150-160 cm is most suitable. It can be installed anywhere in the room, for example, along the wall with the entrance door, while the space is not will be cluttered, and there will be an area for additional furniture. The internal volume of corner baths is larger than that of their standard competitors, so you can bask in them, enjoying warm water, even for two. Naturally, the volume of water consumption in corner products is greater. To ensure that the process of filling the bathtub is not long and tedious, cascade mixers are used that are built into the body of the plumbing fixtures.
Material for making corner baths.

The most common material in demand among buyers is acrylic. The dimensions of this sanitary ware do not affect the quality; a small acrylic bathtub, like a large one, has exactly the same characteristics. The advantages of this material are its lightness, flexibility in the hands of designers, who use it to create the most original models, and ease of restoration of bathtubs. The cost of such a bath can vary. However, this material is quite fragile, so you should not purchase too cheap plumbing fixtures, as they may not last long. The service life of acrylic bathtubs is 10-15 years. More often than others, hydromassage bathtubs are made from acrylic, including small acrylic bathtubs. In simplified terms, hydromassage is a mixed stream of water and air. To operate this system, you need a pump that pumps water, a compressor that mixes air with water, nozzles that spray the mixture, a system of pipes that ensures the movement of the mixture, and a remote control that regulates the flow. The modern small acrylic bathtub even provides a back massage function. In this case, the pump must be of high power. For a more comfortable use of hydromassage baths, it is necessary to take into account the number of nozzles and their location. The optimal number of nozzles is from 12 to 30; if you choose less than 10, the hydromassage will be ineffective. The control panel can be either electronic or pneumatic.
Small corner bathtub with hydromassage

Advice!
If you need a small corner bathtub, then there will be no problems.
If you need a large bathtub with hydromassage, then you need to take into account the power of the pump, and this affects the additional load on the electrical wiring.

Steel is a less common type of material for the manufacture of such plumbing fixtures. When installing steel corner bathtubs, you must pay attention to careful sealing, otherwise it will produce loud noise during operation. For comparison, acrylic bathtubs are small in size and do not reproduce even average sound volume. Steel bathtubs are inexpensive on the plumbing market. Their service life depends on the quality of the enamel coating, and on average is up to 10-15 years.
The highest quality, strongest and most durable are cast iron bathtubs. However, they also have their drawbacks: they are heavy and rarely found in stores. Nevertheless, small cast-iron bathtubs have won their consumers. The service life of such products is up to 25 years or more.

Using mirrors

Another well-known way to visually increase the volume of any small room is the use of large mirrors placed on the walls. A particularly noticeable effect can be achieved by placing large mirrors on opposite or adjacent walls. When multiple reflections of one mirror in another can create the illusion of infinity.

If you do not have the opportunity to place a half-wall mirror in the bathroom, then be sure to use slightly larger hanging mirrors above the washbasin to visually enlarge the bathroom at least a little.

Classification of small baths for cramped spaces

Baths are produced:

corner,
asymmetrical and symmetrical,
oval,
with legs and others.

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Taking into account every centimeter of area, it is worth paying attention to the profile.

For small rooms, acrylic square or corner bathtubs, similar to a triangle, with a seat are often purchased. The narrowed size will leave additional free space.

Original asymmetrical designer bathtubs are popular. Asymmetrical models have one side narrow and the other wider. In such bathtubs you can even lie diagonally. Available for both left and right side of the room.

Cheaper than the corner option - rectangular, 150 cm long, you can wash in them only while sitting or reclining. These are cast iron, steel and acrylic bathtubs.

Bowl-shaped deep models are attractive, they take up little space and are comfortable to use.

Hanging furniture and toilet

Another trick that is often used by small bathroom designers is to use a sink with a wall-hung cabinet, as well as a wall-hung toilet with an installation. Such solutions allow you to give the room a special lightness.

Bathroom design 4 sq.m.

It is difficult to make a tiny bathroom larger even with all the techniques described above. As a rule, it is difficult to fit a bathtub, washing machine, washbasin and toilet in such an area. Something usually has to be sacrificed. The washbasin and toilet, as a rule, are essential hygiene items that must be present in any bathroom. But the bathtub can be completely replaced with a compact shower cabin, which are not so expensive, have many useful functions and do not take up much space.

In modern shower cabins you can find such useful functions as a Turkish bath, hydromassage and even built-in stereo systems that allow you to complement the pleasure of taking water treatments with pleasant music.

The color of the walls of such a bathroom should be chosen as light as possible with minimal use of any color spots.

The same applies to the choice of furniture, plumbing, and ceiling design. Minimalism and high-tech styles are perfect for such a bathroom, suggesting a minimum number of different elements and geometric simplicity of lines.

sedentary

The sitz bath is a very popular model these days. It is compact and versatile. It can be either angular or regular in shape. This type of bathtub often has a seat.

Sitz baths come in a wide variety of sizes. Therefore, everyone can choose for themselves exactly what is suitable for their bathroom. Another advantage of these baths is their economical water consumption.

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In the cities of our country there are a very large number of so-called “Khrushchev buildings”. For such small-sized apartments, a sitz bath will be an excellent solution. You can choose the shape of a sitz bath that your heart desires.

Manufacturers offer a wide selection. When choosing, don't forget about the tips we shared with you in the sections above.

Bathroom design 5 sq. m.

There’s also not much room to roam around five square meters, but there are already a little more design possibilities than when choosing the design of a 4 sq.m. bathroom, which was discussed above. You should use the same tips and recommendations when choosing colors and placing plumbing fixtures and furniture - maximum light surfaces, use of shelves, hanging cabinets, mirrors. These tricks will allow you to visually increase the volume of a small room.

Bathroom design

First, you need to determine which color is most suitable for your bathtub, and whether tiles for a small bathtub or other finishing material would be better.

For the walls of a small bathroom, you can use light-colored material, which will visually enlarge the space. Adding some dark tones to the light shade.

When thinking about the future design of the bathroom, think about how to optimally lay communications and how to hide them for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance of the room.

If the bathroom area is very small, in this case the best choice would be to install a shower stall.

Bathroom design in Khrushchev

Old houses, called “Khrushchev”, were once built with the goal of providing the maximum number of people with their own housing in the shortest possible time. Therefore, no one puzzled over the design of the premises of such houses, investing maximum efforts in the industrialization of construction and increasing the pace of housing construction. Today, when the quality of life of people has improved and is noticeably different from what life was like in the middle of the last century. It has become fashionable to beautifully decorate the rooms of your apartments, giving them not only individuality, but also special sophistication. Bathrooms in Khrushchev-era buildings were no exception, which can also be “ennobled” a little by working on their interior and placement of plumbing fixtures.

The design of a small bathroom in Khrushchev is not much different from the design of a small bathroom in any other small apartment. All the techniques that are used have already been described above - a minimum of furniture, light finishes, hanging cabinets, mirrors. All these tips are perfect for decorating the interior of a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building. In addition, in Khrushchev-era buildings, pipes were usually laid on top of the floor. Therefore, repairs should include hiding them in special plasterboard boxes if it is not possible to remove them to the floor.

Ceramic tiles for bathroom walls should be chosen in one light shade from floor to ceiling, without highlighting the base with a different color, in order to maximize the visual volume of the room. If it is possible to move the washing machine into the kitchen, this will free up additional space. If this is not possible, you should choose a small machine that will fit under the sink.

If you have a regular bathtub installed along one of the walls, then it is advisable to use the space under it to place various household items - household chemicals, buckets for cleaning the floor, rubber gloves, washing powders, etc.

What are bathtubs made from?

The main parameter is the material from which the bathtub is made; it affects its durability, cost and external dimensions.

Steel baths

Bathtubs made of steel - with sides, light and durable, which are not difficult to clean. In addition, they are durable and inexpensive, and restoration is possible.

Disadvantages include frequent damage to the enamel coating with chips and microcracks, which leads to metal corrosion. Thin steel does not retain heat and makes noise when filled with water.

Cast iron

Cast iron is a durable and strong material that does not absorb heat from water. The bathtub is stable, the metal is not damaged, and the enamel can be repaired if necessary.

This metal is difficult to process, which is why the models are monotonous and also heavy. The price is reasonable, but it is difficult to find a small bathtub. To avoid stains, a cast iron bathtub should be carefully maintained and cleaned.

Wooden baths

Wooden bathtubs are elite sanitary ware, for the manufacture of which specially treated valuable wood species are used. These are beautiful, pleasant to the touch products that retain the warmth of water. Dear ones, they require careful regular care to prevent mold and mildew from appearing.

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Custom oak models are in demand. In addition to the fact that oak is good for health, this wood becomes stronger when exposed to moisture.

Stone

A bathtub made of stone (natural and cast marble) is also considered elite. Durable, luxurious products that are easy to clean.

The stone retains heat, is durable, and easy to restore. However, such baths are expensive and heavy in weight. When impacted, chips and scratches appear, colored liquid leaves stains, and acidic cleaners destroy the material.

Acrylic

The acrylic bathtub is first in the ranking:

light weight, easy to install;
ergonomics and variety of models;
Easy to clean, wear-resistant material is resistant to fungi.

Minus: installation of a special rigid frame, because the bathtub is fragile and difficult to restore.

Corner bath

A very good solution for a small bathroom is to replace the bulky bathtub with a much more compact corner bath, which will allow you to gain a little more space in a cramped room. This bathtub, despite its compactness, has its advantages:

modern bathtubs look very stylish, giving the interior a special sophistication;
the use of acrylic bathtubs will reduce the noise from water flowing from the tap, as well as save heat due to the excellent thermal characteristics of this modern material;
There are models equipped with hydromassage functions, which will not only save space in the room, but also significantly expand functionality, allowing you to take healthy hydromassage procedures in such a bath.

When choosing a corner bathtub, pay attention first of all to light-colored bathtubs. If you are planning to install bath curtains, then choose frameless designs with transparent glass. Frosted glass and frames will visually reduce the volume.

Sizes and shapes

Corner mini-bath is one of the most popular models. Agree, if the bathroom area is so small that there is simply not enough space to install both a shower and a bathtub, then a corner mini-bath is the only option. Of course, the lying position for this type of bath is only available to a child. Manufacturers offer mini-baths in a variety of shapes: triangular, oval, quadrangular, with rounded edges, etc. There are bathtubs of even the most unusual shapes, which are already special design developments and are intended for a specific interior.

The shape of the bathtub plays an important role in the interior of the bathroom. After all, you can choose a bathtub that is narrow but long. Then the feeling of bathing in such a bath will be practically no different from the process in a standard-sized bath. And such a bathtub will take up much less space. This way you will save already limited space. Or use it usefully to install, for example, a shelf or a pencil case for small items and bathroom accessories. Many manufacturers design mini-baths with maximum comfort in mind, so that you can at least sit in a reclining position. And if this is a sit-down mini-bath, then it should also be comfortable.

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A bowl-shaped mini-bath is an equally attractive model. During operation, the owner is convinced not only of its efficiency in the space it occupies, but also of its comfort. It is quite deep, so plunging into a sea of foam and relaxing is an affordable pleasure that such a bath can provide. In general, mini-baths usually have an irregular shape. Based on this, they can be classified into asymmetrical, deep and sessile. Experts say that a short and wide bathtub is considered the most comfortable. Such parameters are completely satisfied by a corner bathtub.