The Bathroom

The current trend

Tiny bathrooms are moving toward warm, spa-like sanctuaries rather than cold, all-white boxes. Popular right now: open wet-room layouts where the whole room is waterproofed around a central drain; waterless toilets that free the layout from plumbing runs; wall-hung and corner fixtures that open up floor space; natural light from a skylight or high window to make the room feel bigger; and warmer finishes, timber, earthy tones, soft curved mirrors and mixed metal tapware, with smart touches like humidity-sensing exhaust fans and digital shower controls. The throughline is doing more with less: every fixture earns its place.

Keep it proportionate. A common rule of thumb is that the bathroom should take up no more than about a quarter of the home's floor space. Many tiny bathrooms land around 1.5 by 2.4 metres, though they can be smaller.

Go wet-room. Waterproofing the whole room and using a central floor drain reclaims the space a shower enclosure would take, and makes a small room feel open. A folding glass screen or simple curtain keeps the toilet zone dry.

Choose waterless where you can. A composting or other waterless toilet removes plumbing constraints, so the toilet can go where it suits you, including in a corner, freeing the rest of the room for a wider shower or storage.

Wall-hung and corner fixtures. Mounting the toilet and basin off the wall, or tucking a curved basin into a corner, opens up floor area and makes cleaning easier.

Borrow light. A skylight or a high, narrow window adds light and ventilation without sacrificing wall space or privacy, and natural light is the single best way to make a small bathroom feel larger.

Build storage upward. Recessed mirrored cabinets, floating shelves, and hooks carve out storage without eating floor space.

Ventilate hard. Small, well-sealed bathrooms trap moisture, so a good exhaust fan (ideally humidity-sensing) is essential to prevent mould, especially if there is no opening window.