Bathroom renovation in a small apartment. Renovating small bathrooms

In modern new buildings, the bathroom has sufficient dimensions for comfortable use. In old houses it is sometimes impossible to find a bathroom that meets such conditions. Such a bathroom is justified in small apartments built from the last century, because if it were large, what would the living area be like?

All rooms of the apartment are in a certain balance, taking into account a comfortable stay. This article will help you understand how to renovate a small bathroom while saving maximum space.

It will also present design ideas for a small bathroom. Often, problems caused by a small bathroom arise due to the fact that it is impossible to install a washing machine and a minimal storage system there.

Sometimes, in conditions of extreme limitations, the question arises of replacing a bathtub with a shower. There is a definite benefit to this solution; after removing the bathtub from the room, new space becomes available.

Selection of materials

When starting to prepare for repairs, you need to create an action plan that will clearly show the entire list of work. The plan for a small bathroom must include a list of materials for interior decoration.

The most popular material is tile. Tiles for a small bathroom can be absolutely anything; the choice depends on personal preference. You need to think about the design of a small bathroom.

Finishing materials can be moisture-resistant paints, the color palette of which will surpass any tile.

Walls painted with matte paints have proven themselves to be excellent in everyday water tests. Subsequently, the walls of the bathroom can be repainted without special costs for materials.

The good thing about a modern interior is that it allows you to combine different styles. For example, you can combine tiles and moisture-resistant paint in the bathroom, but the best solution would be to make an accent from one material.

For the floor in the bathroom, you can choose tiles or wooden slats coated with yacht varnish. When choosing wooden slats, you should duplicate the pattern on other surfaces.

Note! Bathroom Design Ideas - 2020

When choosing finishing materials with patterns for the bathroom, you should stick to simple geometric motifs, subtle ornaments and Moroccan mosaics. When it comes to choosing bathroom furniture, you should abandon white plastic surfaces in favor of more natural materials.

Necessary accessories are mirrors and lamps. Fittings also play a role in the overall impression. Particular attention should be paid to small details such as taps, hooks and cabinet handles.

A room is considered small if it doesn’t fit a washing machine and a bathtub, but don’t despair. Experts will help you come up with the interior of a small bathroom, although you can figure it out yourself.

Hiring a designer will allow you to see the finished photo of a small bathroom before the renovation begins. The modern design of a small bathroom can be varied, but you should rely on the main fashion trends.

In fashion now, special attention is paid to the choice of toilets and showers, and open pipes are also considered unacceptable. As for the color scheme, it is fashionable to use a single color with a large, sparse pattern.

Modern design

In a modern small bathroom, you can use design options that came to us from Japan and China. This design involves the use of plumbing fixtures, the dimensions of which are significantly smaller than standard ones, and their convenience and performance are at a high level.

If there is not enough space, it is advisable to remove the bathtub from the room and install a shower in its place. The resulting space can be occupied by a washing machine or the necessary furniture.

Another solution to the space problem would be to install a wall-hung toilet and sink, which will give the illusion of space and also make subsequent cleaning of the bathroom easier. Under the wall-mounted sink you can install a miniature cabinet with shelves, suitable for storing household chemicals.

If for some reason it is not possible to use a wall-hung sink, then there is the option of installing an overhead bowl; it is installed on the countertop. In bathrooms with small spaces, it makes sense to install a compact, custom-sized sink. This solution looks very impressive.

Photo of a small bathroom

Unfortunately, not all owners of small apartments are happy with the size of their bathrooms. Often the total area of the room does not exceed 3-4 square meters, which from time to time require repairs and renovations. Nevertheless, small rooms are not without their advantages: renovation of a small bathroom will not be expensive in terms of financial costs.

Significant savings will be made possible by small expenses for purchasing building materials and paying for the labor of specialists who will carry out repairs. Decorating a small area should solve two problems at once:

improving the aesthetics of the room;
visual increase in space.

Financial side of the issue

Renovating a small bathroom should begin with design, only then will it be possible to achieve the desired result. To do this, it is not necessary to resort to the services of professional designers; you can consider typical options for renovations in a small bathroom, among which you will definitely find one that suits you:

Before starting renovations, you need to draw up an estimate so that you have an idea of the financial costs that you will have to incur. Estimate how much you can spend on renovating a small bathroom, and who will do it: you or a team of builders;
You should add at least another 10% to the cost of the necessary materials, because they should be purchased with some reserve. Then you will not have to buy additional building materials that may deteriorate during the repair process;
If you are going to tile the walls, keep in mind that approximately 3 square meters of the room is spent on the door and bathtub (shower stall). Therefore, do not make mistakes in calculations, otherwise you will waste money on unnecessary materials.

Renovating small bathrooms requires adherence to the following basic principles:

Surfaces should be decorated in light colors;
It is advisable to use mirrors in the interior to visually increase the space;
It is advisable to make niches in the wall for bath accessories, so the room will seem larger.

Repair options can be very diverse, but when going to the store to buy building materials, you will in any case have to purchase:

tiles or tiles for walls and floors;
sealant;
special tile adhesive;
self-tapping screws;
for lathing the ceilings, wooden beams (PVC panels will be attached to them);
front corners and PVC panels;
putty;
cement, waterproof gypsum plasterboard (plasterboard);
metal profiles.

Start of renovation

Renovation of small bathrooms always begins with rough types of work:

First you will have to remove all the plumbing and furniture from the room;
Old finishes (tiles, tiles, paint) are removed from surfaces;
All communications are repaired if necessary;
The condition of electrical wiring and ventilation systems is checked.

Now, before renovating a small bathroom, you need to level all surfaces, since tiling does not tolerate curved walls and floors.

How to properly level surfaces?

Repairing a small bathroom cannot be called simple, especially if it is done by yourself. To make the walls perfectly smooth, you will have to apply layers of plaster and then treat them with a putty mixture. In principle, to avoid this, you can use special waterproof drywall, which is mounted as follows:

It is necessary to mark the walls in increments of approximately 0.6 m (this is the traditional width of one sheet of plasterboard). The marking is done vertically; in the future, a metal profile will be installed in these places, which will be covered with plasterboard;
Metal strips are measured in height and cut with special metal scissors;
Guide strips must be secured to each wall. To do this, using a hammer drill, holes are made in the wall into which dowels are driven;
Then longitudinal metal strips are installed;
Aluminum hangers are mounted along the vertical lines marked with a marker at intervals of 25 cm;
All installed vertical strips must fit into the guides that were previously secured;
Then the installed sheathing is sheathed with gypsum board sheets;
All joints should be treated with serpyanka and putty.

Tip: Renovating a small bathroom that is adjacent to the walls of a neighboring apartment requires additional sound insulation. To do this, special materials are placed in the niches of the sheathing, which have good soundproofing properties.

How to veneer surfaces?

Repair of small baths and toilets at the tiling stage always begins with the floor:

First, apply tile adhesive to the floor, starting from the corner of the room. Between the laid squares of tiles, special plastic dividers in the form of crosses are inserted;
When the work is completed, all tile joints should be treated with sealant;
Next, the seams are finished with a special putty that matches the tone of the tile;
Installation of tiles on walls. A photo of a renovation in a small bathroom at the next stage demonstrates the process of finishing the walls, which is practically no different from laying tiles on the floor;
Just lay the tiles on the walls from below, not from above. If financial capabilities do not allow tiling the walls, you can use PVC panels, which will cost several times less;
To avoid unnecessary fuss with the ceiling, you can use PVC panels. Then you won’t have to level the surface and clean it. It is enough to simply make a sheathing from beams and cover it with panels of the required size.

The video describes and demonstrates in more detail all the stages of work on renovating small rooms.

How to place plumbing fixtures?

Making creative renovations to a small bathroom is not easy, but it is possible. When all the main work is completed, you should think about how to disguise all communications that go to the plumbing so that they do not spoil the entire design of the room.

Often, for these purposes, special niches are made in the walls or metal profiles are installed, which are covered with gypsum board sheets. All the unsightly fittings are hidden under them.

The photo shows the renovation of small bathrooms using false walls. This made the room more comfortable and beautiful. As you can see, inspection hatches are made in the box of such devices, thanks to which there is always access to communications.

The nuances of small rooms

It will be easy to carry out renovations in a small apartment if you clearly plan all stages of the work in advance. In this case, you should take into account the nuances of bathrooms of modest dimensions. To bring your own design ideas to life, here are a few tips:

The tiles on the floor should be laid diagonally, this visually expands the space;
The more mirrors, the more light and visual space;
It is not advisable to use too many different colors in a room. A monochromatic design will make the space deeper;
Don't use browns and reds in a very small room, as this will make it appear even smaller;
Walls and floors in pastel colors will make the atmosphere more cozy and warm.

Conclusion

If you decide to renovate your bathroom, do not rush to begin the task. First, you need to carefully consider all the stages of work, thanks to which the space in the room will be rationally used and all the necessary equipment will be correctly arranged.

And if you listen to the advice and use some of the methods of visually expanding the space, your bathroom will turn from a small room into a stylish and spacious bathroom.

The bathroom is one of the rooms in the apartment that helps restore strength after a busy weekday or weekend.

As a rule, in standard apartments there is very little space for this room, but with a competent approach, even the allocated three square meters can be turned into a zone of comfort and practicality.

Organizing the space of a combined bathroom

First, you need to decide on a set of items that will be placed in the room: bath or shower, toilet, sink, washing machine (if space allows).

Without a corner: All furniture and fixtures in the bathroom are arranged in a semicircle. The bathroom will illusorily appear smaller, but this can be easily corrected with the help of an oversized mirror.

Deliberately combining a bathroom is one way to expand the common space. But it should be remembered that a combined bathroom is convenient only when a small number of people live in the apartment.

Features of the layout of bathrooms in Khrushchev-era buildings

When considering the renovation of a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building, where the bathrooms are both separate and combined, you should first consider masking communications using a special box.

This process reduces the usable space in the room, but it is necessary from an aesthetic point of view.

The following design tricks will help you visually enlarge your bathroom:

wall decor with several mirrors;
glossy stretch ceiling with spot lighting;
light colors;
eliminating unnecessary shelves;
choosing a shower instead of a bath.

To make the decor in a small bathroom more original and cozy, it is recommended to use the following examples of redevelopment.

Example No. 1.

Instead of classic shapes of plumbing fixtures and mirrors, choose unusual ones, such as square ones. The sink can be selected with a countertop built into the side, located up to the bathtub.

This will allow you to make the most of your free space. Aluminum slatted panels are perfect for finishing the ceiling, and mosaic tiles can be used to decorate walls and floors.

Example No. 2.

If the bathroom is combined, you can choose a wall-hung toilet, and the sink should be flat in a set with a washing machine. Instead of a bathtub, install a corner shower stall.

You can place shelves between the shower and the wall, and place a laundry basket along the wall near the door. Be sure to complement the interior with a mirror above the sink.

Example No. 3.

The traditional bathtub should be replaced with a corner bathtub, while expanding the usable area. Place the washing machine under the sink. In the case of a combined bathroom, you can choose a toilet with a wall mount.

Using the shower

Installing a shower cabin can significantly save bathroom space, save water consumption, and also make the interior more stylish.

If sacrificing a bathtub is hard, there is a compromise solution: a walk-in shower with a built-in sitz bathtub.

It is important to note that in small rooms it is recommended to abandon cabins with frosted glass in favor of transparent ones, this will visually increase the space of the room.

It is advisable to keep the glass clean so as not to spoil the overall impression of the design solution.

Using a corner bath

Placing a corner bath can also save room space. A modern consumer can choose one of the options for such a bath:

“oval” corner baths with a rounded edge;
“square” with straight, clear lines;
“round”, which is not recommended for small rooms;
"curved".

Decoration of walls, ceiling and floor

The approach to decorating the ceiling in a small bathroom should be based on the following nuances:

mandatory use of light colors (dark ones are allowed if there are very high ceilings);
bright lighting;
use only durable and moisture-resistant materials.

Based on the above, the optimal ceiling option would be stained glass, tension, slatted or mirrored.

When decorating walls, there is a rule: the size of the tiles should be directly proportional to the size of the bathroom. It is recommended to choose a glossy tile coating, this will make the room illusory.

The floor, like the ceiling, should not be made dark so as not to highlight the zoning of the space.

Selection of furniture

The most important criterion when choosing furniture should be quality: resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Preferred materials are MDF panels, stone, plastic, glass, chipboard.

It is better to replace conventional cabinets with open niches or shelves with sliding doors.

If desired, you can place a laundry basket, but so that it does not draw attention.

A mandatory design element in the bathroom is a mirror. It should be large, well-lit and well-groomed.

Choosing a small bathroom design style

The optimal style for designing a small bathroom is minimalism. The room should be furnished only with the essentials.

But the most important rule is a harmonious combination of all interior elements: from the color of the tiles to small accessories.

Compliance with these conditions will make a small bathroom comfortable, functional and stylish.

Photo of a small bathroom

Whatever the size of the bathroom, you want to arrange it with maximum comfort. By choosing the right finishing materials, plumbing and furniture, a small room will turn into an oasis of peace. And if you add some design tricks to this, you can see that the bathroom was not so miniature, it was simply an irrational use of space and a piling up of unnecessary things. Before you go to the store for new materials, we suggest looking at a small photo selection that will help you choose the right interior.

A small bathroom requires careful preparation for renovation. It is important to decide on a style, and you will need to redo absolutely all the interior details, from replacing the heated towel rail to the decor. Proper planning will help you avoid unnecessary expenses and, to some extent, save money. Unfortunately, there are not many options for decorating a small area; it should not be saturated with decor. A set of plumbing fixtures, a minimum number of storage spaces, and that’s probably all.

Classic small bathroom design: photos of beautiful interiors

Classic style for a small bathroom is the ideal solution. The basic design can be done in the following range:

ivory with gold shimmer;
porcelain shine will expand the boundaries of a small room.

You can also opt for floral ornaments - you will get a truly royal room for true aristocrats. Classic implies abundance and gloss, visually this is a bathroom.

Provence style in the bathroom

A small boudoir in France, along with simplicity and freedom. For decoration you need to use only pastel colors:

soft lavender;
muted green;
light pink;
blue.

You can choose finishing materials with a small floral print; it is important that it is also decorated in delicate colors. On light vintage furniture, an element of antiquity is allowed - wear and tear.

Interior of a small bathroom in loft style: photos of finished projects

The design of a 3 m² bathroom involves bare walls with imitation stone or, preferably in a grayish-white shade. The ceilings must be whitewashed, and there must be no decor. This style suits people with an artistic nature, for whom routine is alien and freedom is important.

Related article:

How this style appeared, how to independently decorate residential and non-residential premises in this style, choose the right furniture for your home and apartment - you will find all this and much more in our material.

Design of a small bathroom in minimalist style

Modern minimalism is the most ideal solution for a small bathroom. Compact forms of equipment will save quite a lot of space. All utensils need to be placed in miniature ones. A small room should be filled with lightness and spaciousness.

Bathroom design with a small bathtub in Scandinavian style

A snow-white room with small accents of black and gray resembles a mountain one. This interior invigorates you in the morning and fills you with energy. During finishing, it is not recommended to use bright details and decor.

What should be included in a bathroom renovation project

After choosing a style, they move on to planning the main renovation. It is at this stage that the decision can be made to align and relocate the pipes. This issue must be approached very carefully. It may not be suitable for a large family, but for 1-2 people it is quite reasonable. This will allow you to expand the area, because it is better to have one larger room than two tiny ones.

Important! Changing standard bath sizes, room layouts and moving partitions requires approval from the BTI.

After the decision to redevelop, the sequence of actions is as follows:

it is necessary to complete all measurements and;
On a checkered piece of paper or on a computer, you need to draw up a plan of the room to scale;
on the plan you need to mark all plumbing outlets, as well as the sewer drain;
Next, you should make a list of equipment in priority order and find out whether such products are produced for small rooms;
Cut out all objects from paper to scale. If the diagram is drawn up on a computer, you should check whether the program includes equipment of this size.

With the help of such planning, it is easy to determine the arrangement of equipment and furniture in accordance with recommended standards.

You can watch the video to see how to properly plan a bathroom:

Piping layout for a small bathroom

Next, you can begin planning the pipeline. The layout of water pipes must be suitable for everyone. If possible, small-diameter pipes are installed in a hidden way; you must remember that in case of leaks, everything will have to be dismantled. Therefore, a good solution would be to hide the wiring in a box, the surface of which can also be used as additional storage space. The bulky old-style heated towel rail is replaced with a modern miniature one. There is no need to choose complex designs; for a small bathroom you should stick to the simplest model.

Waterproofing the floor

The next stage of repairs needs to be done. Materials suitable for this:

bitumen mastic;
waterproofing roll or sheet with bitumen impregnation;
cement-polymer mixtures;
rubber-based hydraulic barriers.

You should know this! In the bathroom, you cannot use polyethylene and materials with it for waterproofing, as they do not allow water vapor to pass through, and there will always be high humidity in the room. And this is fraught with the formation of mold and mildew.

Professionals advise using any rolled material; for greater reliability, the waterproofing is covered with a good layer of bitumen mastic.

Space zoning

Zoning can be done in two ways: color or using. Partitions, even lightweight and transparent ones, are not suitable for every bathroom. When choosing bright accents, the main thing is not to overdo it with colors.

Using finishing, you can highlight a certain area, for example, or. An interesting technique is the asymmetric reflection of the pattern on opposite walls. A good option is to finish all surfaces in a light tone, and the area with mosaics or accent tiles. If the bathroom is combined, you can also highlight the placement area with a contrasting color and stretch it to the ceiling.

Using lighting, the shower stall, bathroom area and zone are distinguished. You can use a diode strip to illuminate the horizontal surfaces of the shelves and storage areas; the edging of the bathtub will look interesting and romantic, when turned on, all other lighting should be turned off.

The area should be illuminated with a more natural warm light from both sides. These can be spotlights or decorative sconces. All these subtleties of modern design of a small bathroom without a toilet are presented in a photo selection.

Lighting design for a small bathroom

In a small bathroom, several light sources are installed, but in no case should there be a chandelier. Conventional ones should be replaced with LED ones; they do not heat up and are not afraid of splashes of water. To add some bohemianism and romance, you can stretch a neon strip around the perimeter, install luminescent elements on the floor, and use spotlights to illuminate the shelves. The bathroom has high humidity, so everyone must meet these parameters. Junction boxes should be taken outside the room to prevent a short circuit from occurring during accidental flooding by neighbors.

Finishing materials for small bathroom renovation: photos of interesting solutions

Finishing materials for a small room are selected in accordance with the chosen style.

Wall decoration

The ideal solution is ceramic; manufacturers produce a variety of collections that can be matched to any room design. For small bathrooms, your choice should be light shades with a glossy surface, which will visually expand the space. An interesting technique is to install separate fragments of mirror panels, this will create an imitation of a window opening. You can visually change the space using different tile laying technologies:

laid horizontally will visually increase the volume of the bathroom;
vertical rows will visually raise the ceilings;
You can make an accent on one wall or a small mosaic panel, but you should not choose bright shades. It looks good in the interior to highlight certain areas, for example, mirrors or shelves. It is important that they match the color with the main style.

They can also be painted; they can be made of plastic, decorative stone can be laid, or they can be chosen with a moisture-resistant effect. Another good solution, although it will cost a little more – it’s beautiful with a protective coating. It will create an intimate atmosphere in a small space.

Related article:

In the publication we will look at sizes, applications, varieties, advantages and disadvantages, criteria for choosing the right panels, average prices, popular models, expert advice.

Ceilings

The ceiling in the bathroom can simply be whitewashed or painted with water-based emulsion; first you need to perfectly level the surfaces. This is quite a troublesome job, and it can take more than one day. Therefore, many people choose, just a few hours - and the repair can be considered almost complete.

A stretch ceiling with a glossy surface will also visually increase the volume of the bathroom. In addition, it will easily hide the consequences of flooding of neighbors. Another good alternative is a suspended ceiling, but it can only be installed if the height of the bathroom allows it. It can be completely replaced by siding; plastic panels are resistant to high humidity, and in addition, it is easy to care for.

Choosing a small bathtub or shower design for bathrooms

What to choose - a small bathtub or a shower for small bathrooms - must be decided by the owners themselves. For some, the priority remains to lie in the fragrant foam, while others love a contrast shower; there are positive aspects on both sides. When choosing a bathroom, it is important to pay attention to its shape:

oval– irrationally takes up a lot of space;
rectangular– this is the best option for small rooms;
angular or asymmetrical– will allow the installation of additional equipment.

When choosing a bathtub for a small room, the main parameter is the width; unfortunately, the height of the users is not always taken into account here, and something can be sacrificed for the sake of the layout and placement of equipment. However, if the parameters of the room do not allow installing a full-fledged bathtub, compact sizes may not be convenient for everyone, in which case it can solve all problems. It is available in rectangular or corner shapes with sliding doors. The main advantages of the equipment include:

significantly saves space;
water consumption is reduced several times;
modern equipment will successfully replace outdated ones.

Along with the positive characteristics, the disadvantages of such equipment should also be noted:

the formation of plaque on the walls and doors of the cabin;
If the water is of poor quality, the filtration system may become clogged frequently.

The most optimal size of the cubicle is 80x80 cm; equipment with parameters of 90x90 cm may also be suitable for small bathrooms.

Choosing a bathtub design in a Khrushchev-era building with a washing machine

Everyone is already accustomed to the comfort of an apartment and cannot imagine life without additional equipment, which significantly saves the housewife’s energy and time. Now the market allows you to choose the optimal model in terms of functionality and size. A compact product with side loading can be installed in a niche, for example, if there is a gap between the wall and the bathtub, about . Manufacturers have created a compact washing machine with a washbasin. Be sure to first remove the insulated socket and think about the location of the pipes; the drain should be led directly into the sewer.

Renovating a bathroom is a pleasure: choosing new plumbing fixtures, neatly arranging cabinets, hanging shelves and neatly fitting in a washing machine. But the technological process in terms of building residential buildings took a slightly different path. Today, sometimes you have to be content with the mini format. Few people know that even in a room of two square meters you can successfully accommodate the most incredible projects.

Fashion trends

Yes, the area of modern bathrooms is practically not designed to relax, relax in a hot bath and enjoy this process to the fullest. And the rhythm of life today often does not allow this. However, a successful design in a small apartment will help to concentrate in the bathroom all the most necessary and trendy things this year. The main style trends in the decoration of bathrooms include the increasingly popular loft, naturalism, fantasy, hi-tech and neoclassicism. Each of them acquired a new zest precisely in the placement of accents in a small bathroom.

Among the colors in the sanitary ware palette, white continues to predominate. But as for the finishing, the decision to create a bathroom in light colors will still be indispensable.

As a rule, light shades allow you to visually enlarge and expand the room, which is what is planned to be achieved in small rooms. The game of contrasts can also significantly affect the appearance of the room and create a kind of internal infinity. Marine shades also confidently hold their positions. Scaly tiles, wavy reliefs in sea green color and imitation of the bottom of a reservoir or reflections of its surface. All this is reflected in modern color combinations in bathrooms.

The interior contents of rooms (furniture and plumbing fixtures) cannot always be properly placed in a small area. But you really want the bathroom to be full. So that in this place everything is at hand and there is no feeling of discomfort. For this purpose, wall-hung toilets and overhead structures have become fashionable today at just the right time. They allow you to hide ugly pipes and use this space as practical as possible. An ergonomic washbasin, a transparent shower cubicle and a rain shower go beyond design thinking. They become universally accessible and proudly cross the threshold of the most ordinary bathrooms to bring an element of organization and orderliness into them.

Leading designers advise using ceramic tiles to a minimum. Only when it is necessary to focus on a certain area or record a smooth transition from one point in the room to another. Moisture-resistant paints and varnishes, natural or artificial stone, and wood come into first place today. Environmental friendliness is paramount today. In order for a small bathroom not to seem like a clutter of plumbing fixtures, furniture and equipment, you need to carefully select the design of the room. It is imperative to take into account the unity of style both in decoration and content (we are also talking about decor). Select colors and shades depending on their impact on the visual perception of the area, but use no more than 2-3 when renovating your bathroom. Get closer to the new generation of plumbing: floating toilets and small sinks installed in countertops, on top of washing machines and in the corners of rooms.

Possibilities of square meters

Taking an appraising glance at your bathroom, it is worth determining what furniture should remain in it after the renovation is completed.

There are things that certainly will not tolerate disappearing from such a small bathroom, namely:

toilet;
bath with shower;
wash basin;
washing machine.

Everyone chooses the future content of the room for themselves. This list is intended to show the most necessary items. In this case, a combined bathroom or not also plays a very important role. Our standard “Khrushchev” apartments delight with two-meter separate bathrooms and toilets. When each such room had two square meters, there was no need to think much about comfort and usable space. Today people put forward more specific and practical requirements for these premises.

Of course, large bathrooms can allow the imagination to run wild. But if it is not stopped in time, then the bathroom can turn into an additional storage room, where all the trash is stored “until better times” or moving to the country house or garage. Small bathrooms keep the owner on his toes. They are very demanding and selective about what should be inside and adjacent to the new plumbing and decoration. Small bathrooms are good because everything can be placed in them so mobile that even the morning shower ritual and brushing your teeth can go unnoticed: comfortably, quickly and easily.

Small room dimensions do not mean constantly banging your elbows against surrounding objects or sitting on the toilet with your knees resting on the cabinet. This area becomes a playing field for professional designers and quality consumers.

Stylish solutions

In order to somehow understand the possibilities of the usable area of a small bathroom, it is worth paying attention to several options for solving this problem. At first glance, doing anything intelligible and adequate seems like an absolute fairy tale and completely unrealistic. But a way out can always be found.

Combined option

Talking about placing furniture and plumbing in a separate bathroom is pointless. Everything there is already in its place and has a clear structure. It simply cannot be any other way, although nuances do occur. What can be done when the dangerous proximity of the bathtub and toilet can prevent each other from functioning normally. It should be understood that combining a toilet and a washing room may not provide the privacy that exists in separate rooms. This is especially true for families with small children. But competent renovation can help here, which will put everything in its place even in a typical nine-story apartment. In such situations, plumbing fixtures of minimal sizes, but acceptable for all family members, come to the rescue, a corner design of a bathtub or shower that harmoniously fits into even the tiniest project.

Standard project

The standard finishing of a bathroom in a panel house, as a rule, directly depends on the water supply and sewer lines that the builders performed. They did everything correctly, according to the project and construction plan. However, sometimes this does not at all fit into dreams of a beautiful and practical bathroom design. Often, owners leave the wiring alone, agreeing to a standard design for a standard bathroom. But, as practice shows, even here you should not lose heart. Since a wide selection of modern plumbing fixtures allows you to choose exactly the model that suits all parameters.

In "Khrushchev"

In the old five-story buildings, called “Khrushchev”, everything was thought out at the design stage. The bathroom was divided into two rooms by a thin partition. One had the same standard white toilets, the other had the same featureless bathtubs and sinks. The decoration was as standard as everything around.

The main mistakes are as follows:

tiles on the floor and walls;
pipes and tubes sticking out everywhere;
a partition that eats up useful space.

In such rooms it was really possible to retire. The only window that provided natural light in the bathroom overlooked the kitchen. Often, the owners sealed it up to use the wall for shelves and hooks. Thus, clogging and narrowing of the already cramped space occurred.

If you want to fix just such a typical room with your own hands, you should try to start with a partition, if it does not provide any special functionality.

After this, it’s worth taking a closer look at the plumbing benefits of civilization of non-standard shapes and sizes.

Sinks. They can be overhead and suspended, with a minimum diameter (30x20 or 25x15) or corner structures.
Toilets. Suspended compact models will require the installation of additional bulky equipment - installation, which, however, will allow you to hide the pipes behind a false wall.
A bath, or better yet a shower. For a minimal space, either a modest sit-down corner bathtub or an equally angular, radial shower with clear or frosted sliding doors that won’t sharply divide the room into “before” and “after” will do. And also today there are original bathtubs of irregular geometric shapes on sale, which also solve the issue of space in a small “Khrushchev” or studio bathroom.

With corner bowl

So, corner designs in mini-format bathrooms are becoming more common. Today you can install not only a radial shower in the corner of the bathroom. Wall-hung toilets, sinks, bathtubs - these are also convenient and practical to hide in the corners of a small toilet and bathroom. And the rounded edges of all plumbing items allow them to be used as safely as possible.

The corner bath has such undeniable advantages as:

takes up little space - the first and most important requirement that must be achieved;
It is light in weight, which saves on loaders;
easy to install - even a person who has never done this before can handle the installation.

At the same time, such a thicket has the following disadvantages:

it is impossible for a full-length adult to sit comfortably in it;
It is difficult to choose curtains that cover a person while using the shower. Water splashes all over the room;
There is not enough space on the surface of the bath to place personal hygiene products.

Nevertheless, all of the listed nuances make it possible to increase the usable area of the available space and, if necessary, install a washing machine in the bathroom. As for the corner bowls of sinks, everything here is much more prosaic and clear. There are both standard wall-mounted washbasins, which are attached directly to the corner of the room, and special overhead models. The advantage of the latter is that it creates an additional working surface for arranging the necessary tools, in the form of a small table top. There are also unique sinks that are installed directly above the wall-hung toilet; they are mounted in one installation - a false wall in which all pipes and communications are hidden.

With shower

Today, professionals increasingly recommend installing showers in small bathrooms. There can be plenty of variations on the theme. Of course, it’s absolutely not worth choosing massive hydroboxes, since saving space in this situation is no longer expected. Shower stalls, like their bowls, come in a wide variety of sizes and types. They are open and closed; semicircular, oval, square, rectangular; shallow, medium and deep. Their functionality can hardly be overestimated, however, and they can make the bathroom as attractive and practical as possible.

Today it is very fashionable to install shower stalls without bowls. The so-called tropical shower. A simple drainage system is installed in the floor, and a special watering can diffuser is attached to the ceiling. Often this design is equipped with transparent glass walls or a door. The trick of transparent shower stalls in general is that they allow you to zone the space without eating up the usable area. In this case, it is very beneficial to use a mosaic of ceramic tiles, as if combining the bathing and washing area.

The unity of style and space distracts attention and turns a minimalist bathroom into a spacious bathroom.

With washing machine

Experts still differ on where the washing machine should be located: in the bathroom or in the kitchen. We haven’t reached a common point, but we still need to establish it. While theorists are thinking, practitioners are coming up with a large number of designs for a combined bathroom, where the machine either acts as a pronounced detail or is hidden in a false cabinet under the sink. In any case, equipping a small bathroom with a washing machine no longer seems something wild and impossible. The various layouts and filling methods will be discussed in more detail using examples of the interior of specific bathroom areas.

Interior for 5 sq.m.

Arranging everything you need for a toilet and bathroom on five squares is as easy as shelling pears. But you should still adhere to certain rules and subtleties here. There are much fewer restrictions here in terms of the number and type of furniture and plumbing. But the right selection of materials, style and color palette can give the room an unusual look. For small rooms, designers recommend using no more than two different colors. It is desirable that they be approximately close to each other. Although the game of contrasts is also welcome.

Here you can already take a walk and install a separate bath, shower, stationary washbasin and even a washing machine. But here it is very important not to overdo it. Depending on what will become the center of the exhibition, you will have to choose the content of the room and its color scheme.

You can decorate a small bathroom with a wide variety of materials.

Ceramic tile. But you need to be careful, because you should choose the most non-slip surface for the floor; the squares of material should be placed diagonally, so the room becomes visually larger. Don't be afraid to decorate your interior with bright colors. You can make a beautiful accent using an unusual color and repeat it in the design elements of furniture, flooring or plumbing.
Moisture resistant paint. This material very easily took second place in popularity. In terms of price, it is practically not inferior to tiles, but is less dangerous. In case of an unsuccessful experiment or a change of mood, you can change the main color of the bathroom at any time.

Tree. Oddly enough, today you can’t do without it in the wettest room. Wooden wall panels, flooring and simply decorative elements made from this simple and environmentally friendly material look stylish and rich. All surfaces, as a rule, are treated with special moisture-resistant compounds, thanks to which they serve for a long time and faithfully.
Natural or artificial stone not very often used in floor finishing, but sometimes it is used to lay out a pattern or ornament on one of the walls. The floor in a shower stall without a bowl is also usually made of this material. In bathrooms with an area of 5 m², it is very convenient to install a mobile countertop made of precious stone, into which a built-in or counter-mounted sink fits.

In such fairly spacious rooms there is already a small opportunity to roam around. It is necessary to ensure that the designer’s wild imagination does not lead him away from practicality and functionality.

Ideas for 4 sq.m.

In a combined bathroom with a small area of four square meters it is also convenient to place the most basic components of the interior. Well, to make the design not only beautiful, but also as convenient as possible, you should use a few secrets.

More light. Designers advise not just increasing the number of lamps, but choosing an individual model for each zone. For example, original bright spotlights with warm light are suitable for a bath or shower stall. In the center of the room, mini-chandeliers “not for toilet purposes” will look good. If earlier lamps were divided into categories depending on the room in which they were used, now this line has already been blurred. This year's new trend is unusual chandeliers in the overall style of the bathroom.

Light furniture, more than ever, will come in handy in the interior of a 4 m² bathroom. Glossy surfaces, mirrored facades or a large mirror above the washbasin - this will make the room almost dimensionless.
A combination of the incongruous. Finishing materials will also look harmonious even in contrast. For example, dark tiles and soft light paint, delicate light wood and rough pristine stone.

After such a renovation, even the most inconvenient apartment layout will seem like an excellent opportunity and inspiration for future design solutions.

Chic and shine for 3 sq.m.

In a small bathroom it is much more difficult to create an oasis of your own preferences. But even here there are techniques and means that allow you not only to visually increase the space of the room, but also to do everything with the latest fashion and technology. It is proposed to start arranging the “baby” with a complete refusal of the bath. It is fully replaced by a shower, as mentioned earlier. On the walls, the best option would be simple tiles or PVC panels and waterproof paint.

A washing machine would not be very appropriate in such a small room. Therefore, it is better to install this equipment in another place. The most suitable style trends for a small three-square bathroom are modern, ethno and retro. Chic and brilliance in details and decoration will create an incredible combination of designer imagination and reasonable approach.

Every little detail in such an interior plays its role, so everything must be in its place.

Economy class transformation

A budget option for decorating mini-bathrooms involves independent design and DIY repairs. Such work is usually carried out when there is no need to touch the water supply and sewer lines. When finishing represents a minimal investment of money and effort. It’s worth talking in detail about homemade wall conversion using PVC panels.

A standard set of works with an economical approach looks something like this:

Replacement of plumbing. This stage may be complete, or may include only some elements. For example, replacing only the toilet or only the bathtub;
Wall cladding with ceramic tiles or PVC panels. You will have to choose the color based not so much on fashion trends, but on the cost of the coating itself. The most popular shades have the highest cost;
Treatment of the genital area. Here we also select the most economical option. This is often ordinary tile that does not slip. This can be dangerous for the bathroom;
Bathroom decoration. Mount it in a box, which can serve as additional storage space. The main thing is not to start putting extra and unnecessary rubbish behind a convenient façade;
Working with the ceiling. Today, suspended structures are ready to be installed everywhere. But in a small room this is not only inconvenient, but also pointless, since 20–30 cm of the existing height are lost. PVC panels can also be suitable for working with this part of the room.

A material such as polyvinyl chloride has all the positive qualities of facing raw materials, namely:

durability;
efficiency;
water resistance;
simplicity.

The last point concerns the installation method rather than the appearance. The choice of PVC panels is so wide that it allows you to arrange a safari, black and white confrontation, gray-blue silence and others in the bathroom. The great news for owners of small bathrooms is that this type of renovation is economical not only in terms of material costs, but also in terms of time. Interior finishing of a room using PVC is quick, simple and with minimal discomfort.

Beautiful examples

The small bathroom with an area of 2 m² contains a sit-down bathtub with a shower stall with transparent walls that protect against splashing water on the floor. A rectangular wall-hung sink that looks like it is installed on a wooden bedside table for bath amenities. Pleasant color scheme, which is organized by white ceramic tiles on the floor and as an apron on the walls in combination with waterproof pale green paint. The room contains everything you need; light colors allow you to see a decent space, in which there is nothing superfluous.

Another small, but already combined bathroom. All items are placed on the free walls, and there is still a free space near the washing machine, which would be nice to decorate with an original decorative element to match the overall style of the room. Bright orange tiles on the floor and half the wall around the perimeter. The bathtub frame is also lined with a brightly colored material. Snow-white plumbing and the same walls up to the ceiling enliven the space and make it breathable, voluminous and spacious. All communications are hidden by additional boxes lined with ceramics.