London homes are famous for their compact bathrooms – Victorian terraces, converted flats and box rooms rarely offer much floor space. The good news is that a small bathroom, planned well, can feel bright, calm and surprisingly roomy. Here are the ideas we use most often on compact London projects.

Start with the right layout

Before choosing tiles or taps, get the layout right. Keeping the plumbing where it is saves money, but a small tweak – swapping a bulky bath for a walk-in shower, or moving the basin into a corner – can free up valuable floor space. A wall-hung toilet and basin expose more floor, which instantly makes the room feel larger.

Choose space-saving fixtures

• Wall-hung units – toilets and vanities that float above the floor create a sense of space and are easier to clean under.
• Walk-in or corner showers – a frameless glass screen keeps sightlines open rather than boxing the room in.
• Compact and short-projection sanitaryware – designed specifically for small bathrooms.
• A single large mirror – or a mirrored cabinet to bounce light and double the visual space.

Build in clever storage

Clutter makes a small bathroom feel smaller. Recessed niches in the shower wall, a vanity unit under the basin, and a mirrored cabinet keep everyday items tidy without eating into the room. Built-in storage almost always beats freestanding units in a compact space.

Use tiling and colour to open up the room

Large-format tiles mean fewer grout lines, which makes a floor or wall read as one continuous surface and feel bigger. Light, neutral colours reflect more light, while running the same tile from floor up the wall blurs the boundaries of the room. For the full range of finishes, see our wall & floor tiling service.

Get the lighting right

Good lighting transforms a small bathroom. Layer it: recessed ceiling spots for general light, plus a mirror or wall light to remove shadows. Where possible, keep natural light unobstructed – obscured glazing or a rooflight in an internal bathroom makes a huge difference.

Consider a wet room

For the smallest bathrooms, a wet room can be the smartest use of space. With no shower tray or enclosure to work around, the whole room becomes usable and the open floor makes it feel more generous – as well as being easy to clean and step-free.