Designing a functional yet stylish ensuite or bathroom when you have a limited area to work with can pose a range of challenges. These include freeing up floor space, building into awkward areas, allowing for storage, and lighting up windowless rooms. So if youâre building or ready to renovate, here are 23 small ensuite layouts that will help transform this much-used area of the home.
Floor plan layouts
Image from Board & Vellum
23 Small Ensuite Bathroom Ideas
Good Olâ Classic Ensuite
This is a classically-themed ensuite with a lovely neutral and âcleanâ palette base. However, pops of colour on the splash back and tiling and the timber accents on the textured glass windows keep it from looking too bland. And that vanity! Shaker-style cabinetry and a marble-look top add a luxurious edge. In terms of layout, there is ample space, although theyâve used it efficiently. This can be seen with the âshubâ (shower/tub combination) and the fact that the toilet has been allocated elsewhere. Twin sinks also mean multiple occupants can be in the room at the same time, which is a great option for families at bath time!
Oriental-Decadence Ensuite
Ok, so this ensuite design and colour palette wonât suit everyone, but it certainly exudes an oriental-style personality. Marbled accents, antiquities placed on the above-toilet and feature shelving, and the addition of the gold-edged mirror ⊠pure decadence. Layout-wise, it has the luxury of space, but is still a clever design. The toilet is positioned discreetly and blends seamlessly into the dark tiling, and the shower an amply sized feature. The use of lighting in this windowless bathroom also enhances its size. Oh, and we canât forget that golden, light-splashed basin. Hand-washing would be pure joy in this household.
Sleek Shower Partition and Wood Wall Panel
Image from Pinterest
The sleek shower partition and wood panelling really make this bathroom pop. The wood cabinet, marble benchtop, and stone vessel bathroom sinks are beautiful additions to the bathroom design. The wood panelling recess offers extra storage space to keep bathroom essentials, plants, and scented candles. Allowing sunlight to pour in through the aesthetic window minimises the need for artificial lighting and enhances the natural feel. Be liberal with plants to maximise the calm in your ensuite bathroom.
Streamlined Three-in-a-Row Ensuite
Image from BHG
This is a classic âthree-in-a-rowâ ensuite layout – meaning the plumbing components (the shower, toilet and vanity) are all on the one wall, so construction costs would have been reduced. Design-wise, it is simple and efficient and an ideal layout for a single or small household or a guest bathroom. The colour palette is simple â black and white predominantly with warm accents in the shelving and brass-look tapware. The mosaic floor tiling, the walk-in shower with its feature screen and subway tiles, super-cute in-shower bench and splashes of greenery complete the personality of this bathroom as a sumptuous yet edgy oasis for pampering.
Contemporary Hotel-Style Ensuite
Image from Pinterest
Some would refer to this layout as the âhotel specialâ, as space-wise, it is the type of ensuite youâd find in a smaller hotel. But it does have its advantages in terms of its three-in-a-row cost-saving plumbing design. It is also compact, functional and minimalist. Tap ware, the âbeehiveâ tiled floor, sink and âfloatingâ toilet all give it a contemporary twist as does the matte black tap ware. The timber-look cabinetry is also on-trend (very Scandy). Not a bathroom for a big household, but nonetheless, somewhere to enjoy a long, hot shower and an end-of-night teeth-brushing session.
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Spa-Inspired Stonewashed Bathroom
Image from Pinterest
The classic grey stone walls in this bathroom exude class, sophistication, and luxury. The rain shower and the partition give this bathroom a spa-like elegance. The recessed space, behind the toilet and on the partition column, provides ample storage space for bathroom supplies and grooming products. The matte black fixtures create a beautiful contrast with the grey stone walls and floor.
Dual-Zone Attic-Inspired Powder Room
Image from Ideal Home
OK, no shower or bath to be seen here. Probably because this property owner has another adjoining room that is just as stunning. Side-by-side, the toilet and basin are similar in design as is the mirror and slant-y ceiling feature. This room has clearly defined âzonesâ, which can make smaller spaces feel more generous. Thanks to the contrasting tiled splashback and wood wall panelling, the two areas feel very separate, an effective technique of bathroom renovations in Brisbane. The addition of crisp white towels and an organic-looking basket make it a ârelievingâ spot that is pure class.
A Slice of Nature in the Bathroom
Image from Pinterest
Floral pattern is the way to go if you want to bring a slice of nature into your home. The vibrant, colourful design goes a long way in breathing new life into your ensuite bathroom. It creates a visually appealing focal point and effortlessly grabs eyeballs. Whatâs more? It is a cost-effective way to spruce up the bathroom. From wallpapers to murals, there are different ways to achieve a floral bathroom design without breaking the bank. The presence of gold bathroom fixtures in this bathroom creates a beautiful contrast against the dark blue-green walls. The plants on the ledge are the cherry on top.
Whimsical Vintage Powder Room
Image from Apartment Therapy
The vertical layout of this âpowder roomâ (a term referring to a smaller room without a shower or bath), creates clean lines and enhances the space, as does its white subway tiles. Itâs a whimsical design full of personality from the sprightly floral wallpaper and polished timber flooring to the brass tap ware and Victorian-style exposed metal pipework under the vanity. And we love the open shelving with its menagerie of bottled delights. Itâs a clever feature that proves this often purely functional room can also be used as a storage area (for almost anything!) as well.
Artistic is Great!
Image from Pinterest
Art is great! As this design proves, there is space for art everywhere, even in a bathroom. You can choose a photograph, a poster, or a painting to accentuate the bathroom setting. Ensure the artwork you choose blends with the rest of the bathroom design. If the bathroom design is contemporary, choose abstract artwork. Similarly, if the decor is minimal, ensure the artwork also reflects it. The use of aesthetic tiles for bathroom walls is no less than art and is a durable and cost-effective way to elevate the bathroom setting.
Vintage, Rustic, and Ornate!
Image from Pinterest
When it comes to bathroom redesign, you can never go wrong with vintage aesthetics. From classic floor tiles and the brick-format wall tiles to ornate chandeliers and intricate mirrors, everything in this bathroom design exudes vintage swagger! The teal brick-format tiles create the perfect backdrop for golden fixtures, such as the tap, towel hook, and toilet paper holder, that adorn the bathroom. A narrow ledge running along the walls offers storage space for bathroom essentials.
Retro Revival Shub Ensuite
Image from Elle Decor
Again, a cost-saving ensuite layout with side-by-side plumbing installed in the âshubâ and vanity. And the choice of design elements is divine with an old-world charm â from the shiny, roughly-hewn subway tiles and retro-inspired fixtures to the brass Victorian-style tap ware and marble-look vanity and bath edges. The colour palette is warm and inviting â deep, chocolate browns and sumptuous metallics create a cosy haven for relaxation, but the layout is also thoughtfully designed to make the most of natural light that reflects beautifully off each gilt-edged surface.
Floral Extravaganza!
Image from Pinterest
The timeless black and gold combination is perfect for ever-charming bathrooms. In this bathroom, the matching floral rug and the walls create a cohesive and appealing look thatâs perfect for elevating the overall setting. The opulent accents, such as wall sconces and an old-framed rococo mirror, along with a white pedestal-style console sink, add to the timeless charm. The floral elegance of this bathroom is exceptional and well-suited for ensuite bathrooms of all styles and layouts.
An Art Deco Paradise
Image from Love Renovate
This is another small space with a big, bold personality! Layout-wise, the pedestal tub and toilet are efficiently positioned to allow room for a double-drawer vanity and a contemporary counter-top basin. The design is modern-meets-art-deco with the geometrical wall tiles, star-inspired feature wall and honeycomb patterned tiling on the floor. The statement free-standing bath features openly displayed metallic pipe ware and ornately slippered feet, and verdant potted ferns add softness and an organic ambiance. And for those who love spending plenty of time tub-soaking, there is a convenient bathtub caddy for candles (and, dare we say, wine glass placement).
Marble-Class! Exuding Sophistication
Image from Pinterest
White is right! In this bathroom, the white ceiling, bathtub, and benchtops are made of elegant, eye-catching marble. The black stripes on the floor, the wood cabinets, and the window frames create a seamless visual contrast. The vintage, decorative, semi-flush mount light on the ceiling adds character and charm to the bathroom design. The plants on the benchtops and by the window bring a slice of nature to the bathroom.
âLightâ-hearted Guest Ensuite
As far as guest ensuites go, this one is far from a âsecond thoughtâ addition to the home. The layout is simple and efficient, and a shutter-free window bathes the room in soft, natural light. The substantial mirror enhances the roomâs size with its reflective qualities, and visual interest is added with the soft grey geometric tiling, and metallic finishes on the mirror, towel rack, vanity handles and tap ware. But the star of this design show? The deep, dark blue finish on the vanity that adds vibrancy and creates a focal point for the entire room.
Stone Walls And Plants
Image from Pinterest
White is right! In this bathroom, the white ceiling, bathtub, and benchtops are made of elegant, eye-catching marble. The black stripes on the floor, the wood cabinets, and the window frames create a seamless visual contrast. The vintage, decorative, semi-flush mount light on the ceiling adds character and charm to the bathroom design. The plants on the benchtops and by the window bring a slice of nature to the bathroom.
Under-Stair Designer Shower Room
Image from Interior Design Ideas
Even the smallest of spaces can look elegant, modern and chic, and this displayed exceptionally well in this under-stair shower room. Itâs cutting-edge design is a combination of shapes, textures and a neutral colour palette of white, matte black and variegated timber-look flooring that continues up the vanity wall to unite the space. The mirror, contemporary tap ware and freestanding vanity (no pipe ware to be seen here!) add an uber-modern twist, and oh, the shower. Big, bold and with an impressive rain head shower head, it exudes resort-style sophistication.
Minimalist Grey-and-White Shower Ensuite
Image from Houzz
The owners of this simplistic yet stylish ensuite are clearly shower fans, and its size and features ensure an undoubtedly pleasurable cleansing experience. The clear glass shower screen and mottled grey/white tiling add to the sense of space, and the shower niche adds an up-to-the minute design twist. The rest of the room features all-white walls, understated cabinetry and an unobtrusive toilet, allowing the darker grey tiling on the shower floor to become an aesthetic focus. A stack of fluffy towels and a pop of stylish, natural greenery complete the look.
Stone Walls And Plants
Image from Pinterest
Who doesnât like a bit of nature in the bathroom to make it more appealing? If you are a biophile, this bathroom design will strike the right chords with you. The contrast between the plants and the shower area, in terms of colour and spacing, makes the bathroom cohesive and easy on the eye. The wooden base by the plants is a noteworthy design element that adds to theânaturalâ look and feel of the bathroom. The warm light keeps things subtle and doesnât take attention away from the design features.
White, Bright, and Just Right
Image from Pinterest
The intricate, geometric floor tiles and the clawfoot bathtub are classic vintage designs. The monochromatic design does a great job of adding depth to the narrow bathroom. A circular shower curtain rod, the subway-style white tiles on the wall, and the beautiful window by the toilet enhance the aesthetics of the long, narrow bathroom. The natural light flooding in makes the monochromatic, whitewashed bathroom look bright, airy, and spacious. The mirror cabinet and vanity by the window add extra charm and offer adequate storage space.
Pattern-Rich Contemporary Powder Room
Image from Pinterest
Tiling has been used to great effect in this tiny, yet functional powder room. Subway tiles are a popular current choice for wet areas in a home and add a contemporary edge. However, it is the multitude of patterns on the muted grey floor tiling that give this room a unique twist. The free-standing toilet and splashes of matte black break up the neutral colour palette, as does the open timber shelving, which provides the perfect âsupportâ for an edgy bench-mounted basin.
The Mirror Magic
Image from Pinterest
If you are not a fan of having a dedicated laundry room, you can seek inspiration from this bathroom design. The symmetry of this bathroom is hard to miss. Thereâs a dedicated space for everything, from the washing machine to the mirror cabinet. The understorage cabinets, wall-hung vertical shelves, and mirror cabinet together provide ample storage space in ensuite bathrooms. The extra-large sink, the focus lighting, and the stone walls make the bathroom exceptionally aesthetic.
References
- Jeff Pelletier, 2019, Common Bathroom Floor Plans: Rules of Thumb for Layouts, Board & Vellum
- Amanda Pollard, 2017, 9 small-bathroom challenges and how to solve them, Houzz
