A COMPACT BATHROOM Making the most of a small space

WE SQUEEZED IN A SHOWER

Joanna’s choice: A COMPACT BATHROOM

Finding the right fittings to suit a small space needn’t put a squeeze on your style

he average UK bathroom

Tmeasures just 2.5sq m; roughly the size of two king-size beds. Add windows, awkward alcoves and restricting soil pipe positions into the mix and the space can get very tight. Happily, there are space-saving fittings designed to make planning a small bathroom easier.

Where do I start? First, draw up a list of essentials. Every bathroom needs a loo and basin, but do you need a bath? Many estate agents still advise keeping the bath, particularly if it’s the only one in the house, but if you are ‘shower people’, rip it out. You only need a 90x90cm footprint for a decent shower, while a standard bath requires 170x80cm.

What if I want it all? A two-in-one shower-bath is a great compromise. The showering area in a bath is actually much more spacious than any separate enclosure you’ll be able to shoehorn in next to it. Do think about the volume of water required – some showerbaths are wider at one end, which requires more water to fill when in bath mode.

BEST FOR

COMPACT SUITES Bathstore’s space-saving sanitaryware includes short-projection WCs, corner basins and slimline baths.

PRECISION PLANNING B&Q’s online bathroom planner, planmybathroom.diy.com/home, lets you create 3D designs using a simple click-and-drag program.

EXPERT HELP Ripples Bathrooms’ professionally trained designers are kept abreast of all the latest bathroom trends, storage solutions and innovations. Showrooms nationwide. Can I save more space? Get a basin vanity unit – pedestal basins are a wasted storage opportunity. Slimline cloakroom vanity units are worth exploring, but make sure the bowl is big enough to wash your face/ clean your teeth in comfort. Shower enclosures with pivot or sliding doors are better in a tight space than outward-opening models. A compact bath – around 150cm long – can make all the difference. They are usually deeper to ensure good coverage in a more upright position, so even tall people can enjoy a nice soak.

Will it all fit in? The easiest way to work out any bathroom layout is good old-fashioned graph paper. Cut out scale-size pieces for your fittings and move them around a floorplan of your room. Some bathroom websites include simple online planning tools, too – try B&Q or Bathstore. Allow at least 70cm clear walkway in front of all fittings, and think about the direction that doors will open – the main entrance, shower door and any vanity or storage units – to prevent clashes.

How about corner fittings? Corner toilets, baths and basins come into their own when there is a window or doorway taking up precious wall space. They can also allow you to squeeze in a towel rail or slimline storage unit that won’t fit otherwise. Corner fittings don’t always save space though, and can cost more, so check that you’re gaining a worthwhile area.