Bathrooms are rarely huge expansive spaces, but there are a lot of functions that we need to fit into the compact room. Finding clever small bathroom shower ideas is a must for the ease of everyday life, but this can be a challenge when space comes at a premium.
Fitting in a shower above a bath is the obvious solution for small bathroom ideas, that isn’t the only option available. Innovative and stylish shower screens, space-saving cubicles and tiled wet room ideas are only some of the ways you can create space for a shower in a small bathroom.
Here's some inspiration to get you started on planning your very own small bathroom shower ideas.
Small bathroom shower ideas
‘In a small bathroom, every centimetre counts; everything needs to fit in correctly, so use a bathroom designer,’ suggests Richard Fox, senior designer at Ripples. ‘Go for a wall-hung basin and WC and, even in a small bathroom, you can still make the most of walk-in shower ideas,’ he adds, ‘but it is best to have glass panels. Fit the showerhead at the end of the showering space and make sure the floor has a suitable fall to allow water to drain away easily.’
1. Stick to a minimal look
When you're faced with fitting a shower in a small bathroom, sometimes it's less about physical space and more about creating an optical illusion.
Choose a simple black and white small bathroom colour scheme to make the space feel larger than it is and reduce visual clutter. For the shower itself, stick to clean, minimal lines so that the shower doesn't obstruct the design.
2. Blur the lines with a frameless screen
A walk-in shower is the ultimate in luxury, but you don’t necessarily need a huge bathroom to make it work. Dispensing with the shower door will make a small walk-in shower feel altogether more spacious.
A fixed panel can be used to separate the shower from the rest of the bathroom and opting for a frameless screen will create a better sense of flow with no harsh lines to interrupt the view.
Plus, if you choose a statement small bathroom tile idea, it will be able to shine through.
3. Opt for neutral colours
Pale, neutral colours will bring a calm and cohesive feel to a bathroom, especially if you use the same materials in the shower and across the rest of the space. But to get the sweet spot between tranquil and just a little bit dull in your simple bathroom ideas, be sure to introduce texture and variations of tone to avoid the look becoming cold and clinical.
‘Using the same or similar pale shades within one space can create a very calming feel,’ advises Rob Whitaker, creative director of Claybrook. ‘Simply removing too much obvious colour allows the eye to appreciate the smaller details of texture and finish.’
A gold-framed shower screen and sanitaryware add another level of interest without making the space look too busy and over-styled.
4. Create a luxe shower in the loft
Showers that fit under the eaves can feel cramped for space, even if they take up the same footprint as a typical shower in family bathroom ideas. This luxe wide shower shows that doesn't have to be the case. Placing the shower at the roof apex provides sufficient head height for even the tallest user, while extending the tiled area beneath the sloping eaves creates a luxe-looking wet room that wouldn't be out of place in a boutique hotel.
The design takeaway? ‘Plan every inch carefully so that all the space works efficiently. Then think creatively and have fun,' says Clare Pascoe, director, Pascoe Interiors.
5. Opt for a half-screen
You will need separation from a shower in a small bathroom, largely so that you don't get everything else soaked, but doing so without creating big visual blockages is the challenge.
This half-height screen adds privacy to the shower area without taking up too much room. The tiled half-wall splits the room cleverly into two adding functionality, while maintaining an open-plan design.
6. Don't rule out a separate bath
If you're short of space – or just not a lie-back-in-the-bath person – it might be tempting to remove the bath and create a more expansive shower room instead. But this may not be the best option.
‘If it’s the only bath in the house, then keep it, especially if you want to keep an eye on resale value,' advises Ruth Foster, interior designer, Victoria Plum. 'You could fit a shower/bath combination, so young children can be bathed while on-the-go teenagers and parents can shower more quickly.
'If you’ve space, a separate shower will allow multiple people to use the bathroom at once – no bad thing in a family bathroom. And if you do decide to replace the bath with a shower, then opt for a large walk-in shower with a footprint that equals a bath, futureproofing the layout.’
Still not sure? Take time to plan your bathroom step by step; you could even draw the outlines of sanitaryware onto your floor to check how they fit in your space.
7. Create a custom fit in a small space
If it's proving difficult to squeeze a shower into a small bathroom, you might need to get creative with where you situate it. This custom glass panel creates a walkway-effect shower that takes up minimal space both physically and visually.
'Use good-quality materials, products and tiles to enhance longevity in a classic style that won’t become outdated quickly,’ says Ruth Foster from Victoria Plum. It may cost more to refit your small bathroom initially, but you'll save money over time as the fittings will last for years.
8. Open up the space with a wet room
Forgo the traditional shower tray and bulky enclosure in a small bathroom and open the space up fully by creating a walk-in wet room idea. The flooring area needs to be fully waterproofed and should be laid on a gradient so that water drains away completely.
With any wet room, you’ll need to decide whether the showering space is to be fully open, where the whole of the bathroom is designed to get wet, or semi-open (like this one) with a half wall and screen so that water splashes are confined to the immediate shower area.
9. Go big with bright colours
Bright colours and light-reflective surfaces are a brilliant way of making small bathrooms feel more spacious and airy. But instead of matching tiles wall-to-wall, try using tiles in a combination of colours, shapes and patterns to break up the space and make it more visually appealing.
Using large format tiles and light-coloured grout lines is a great way of increasing the sense of space in a small bathroom or en-suite idea. Fewer lines create less of a visual distraction and give a clean, uninterrupted look that helps open up the space.
10. Opt for a shower over the bath
A refreshing shower makes a brilliant start to the morning, but if a long, leisurely soak is a must-have too, then try combining both and opt for an over-bath shower. Finding space for both a separate bath and shower cubicle can be a squeeze in a small bathroom, but using the same footprint for both is a much better use of space.
Make the bath and shower area the centrepiece of the bathroom by opting for a standout tile treatment. While white tiles can help increase the feeling of space in a small bathroom, adding a contrast panel of colour above the bath adds punch to the room and helps an all-white scheme feel less stark and clinical.
11. Save space with sliding doors
Outward-opening shower doors can eat into valuable floor space in a small bathroom, so opt for neat, space-saving sliding shower doors instead. These feature one fixed panel with a second panel that slides back behind it, so require no extra opening space and allow other fixtures and fittings to be positioned nearer to the shower area.
Alternatively, opt for bi-fold shower doors that fold back on themselves, with no extra room needed to allow the doors to open fully.
12. Make storage a priority
Bathroom storage is key, especially in a small space and can be the difference between a comfortable bathroom space and one that feels cluttered and crowded. Factoring in shower storage at the build stage is a sensible idea. Recessed alcoves, niches and shelves can be built into a stud wall and then tiled to give a waterproof finish and will provide handy storage for shampoo and shower gel.
Wall-hung storage is another option that can help save space in a small bathroom. Off-the-floor storage frees up floor space and will make a small bathroom feel less crowded. A wall-hung vanity unit is neat and compact and will come in super-useful for storing towels, toiletries, loo rolls and cleaning kit.
FAQs
What is the smallest shower enclosure?
When it comes to shower enclosures for small bathrooms, opt for a corner-shaped or quadrant shower enclosure if you’re after a design that will take up minimum floor space. They are called quadrant because they are effectively one quarter of a full circle, with two straight edges at a 90 degree angle and a curved front. Designs range from enclosures with space-saving sliding doors, hinged doors, or sleek frameless enclosures for a more modern look.
Taking up slightly more floor space than a quadrant enclosure, an ‘offset quadrant’ enclosure will still sit flush in the corner of a bathroom, but is slightly lengthier in shape, so gives a little more space inside for a comfier shower experience.
Can you put a walk-in shower in a small bathroom?
With smart small bathroom shower ideas, anything is possible. While walk-in showers are perfect for larger bathrooms, don’t rule one out if your bathroom is smaller. Walk-in shower enclosures are available in smaller sizes, going from 1200mm in length upwards, so they can be worked into a small bathroom if you are savvy with the layout.
Opting for an all-glass walk-in shower enclosure is a clever way of making bathroom space feel less crowded. With no frame to obstruct the sightline, it will let more light flow through and help make the bathroom feel less busy.
Dispensing with the door is another way of making a walk-in shower work in a small bathroom. A single fixed panel instead of a shower enclosure will take up less space while separating the shower area from the rest of the bathroom. Waterproofing the floor and surrounding area might be necessary, but is a small compromise for the luxury of a walk-in.
How are you going to squeeze a shower into your small bathroom? No matter your taste, these ideas should give you plenty of inspiration.
