Mini Makeovers: 9 Compact Bathroom Renovations
Ready to renovate in 2018? Get inspired by these bathroom projects of less than six square metres
Brenna Malmberg
30 January 2018
In 2017, we featured lots of inspiring bathroom renovations, but it was the small bathroom transformations that really had us saying ‘Wow!’. Many times, we could hardly believe it was the same space.
Let’s take a look at nine bathroom makeovers that happened within 6 square metres. Maybe these will inspire you to overhaul your small bathroom in 2018.
Let’s take a look at nine bathroom makeovers that happened within 6 square metres. Maybe these will inspire you to overhaul your small bathroom in 2018.
1. Dark to Light
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A family’s guests, including the couple’s four adult sons
Location: Ontario, Canada
Size: 4.6 square metres
Before
Even accounting for the fact that this reference photo was snapped without a flash, the dark finish on the walls and benchtops made the bathroom feel small and cramped.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A family’s guests, including the couple’s four adult sons
Location: Ontario, Canada
Size: 4.6 square metres
Before
Even accounting for the fact that this reference photo was snapped without a flash, the dark finish on the walls and benchtops made the bathroom feel small and cramped.
After
A new colour palette made all the difference, making the space feel light, airy and downright delightful. The client didn’t want an all-white bathroom, so designer Laura Hay chose whites that had a warmer limestone look. Other than the colour, the family also updated the windows, vanity, sink, bathtub-shower combo and mirror.
Browse more bright white bathrooms
A new colour palette made all the difference, making the space feel light, airy and downright delightful. The client didn’t want an all-white bathroom, so designer Laura Hay chose whites that had a warmer limestone look. Other than the colour, the family also updated the windows, vanity, sink, bathtub-shower combo and mirror.
Browse more bright white bathrooms
2. Cumbersome to Practical
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A mother and her teenage daughter
Location: Toronto, Canada
Size: 4.6 square metres
Before
Baby blue tiles lined a shower that leaked.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A mother and her teenage daughter
Location: Toronto, Canada
Size: 4.6 square metres
Before
Baby blue tiles lined a shower that leaked.
After
Bright white wall tiles and a glass bathtub-shower enclosure update the room and brighten up the once-dark space. Kate Dickson, principal of Kate Dickson Design, started the redesign by introducing the floor tile to the clients. They loved it right away. After that, Dickson worked with a local cabinet maker to create custom cabinetry that would maximise the clients’ storage options.
Bright white wall tiles and a glass bathtub-shower enclosure update the room and brighten up the once-dark space. Kate Dickson, principal of Kate Dickson Design, started the redesign by introducing the floor tile to the clients. They loved it right away. After that, Dickson worked with a local cabinet maker to create custom cabinetry that would maximise the clients’ storage options.
3. Eww to New
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Steven and Katie Schiffgen
Location: Salt Lake City, USA
Size: 5.6 square metres
Before
The home, built in 1983, had its original bathroom, which felt outdated and dingy to the homeowners.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Steven and Katie Schiffgen
Location: Salt Lake City, USA
Size: 5.6 square metres
Before
The home, built in 1983, had its original bathroom, which felt outdated and dingy to the homeowners.
After
The homeowners ripped everything out of the bathroom but salvaged the shower and bathtub. Then they cut wood themselves to make shiplap, installed a new double vanity, tiled the shower and painted the room for a whole new look, all on a rather small budget.
The homeowners ripped everything out of the bathroom but salvaged the shower and bathtub. Then they cut wood themselves to make shiplap, installed a new double vanity, tiled the shower and painted the room for a whole new look, all on a rather small budget.
4. Cluttered to Crisp
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Size: 4 square metres
Before
The 1980s renovation left these empty nesters with a cluttered, inefficient bathroom that didn’t match their updated kitchen nearby.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Size: 4 square metres
Before
The 1980s renovation left these empty nesters with a cluttered, inefficient bathroom that didn’t match their updated kitchen nearby.
After
A clean, streamlined design by Susan Ozipko of sO Interiors gives the couple function and storage in a small space. The new features, such as the floating toilet and vanity, sit against a wall of statuario marble tiles. The homeowners replaced the bathtub-shower combo with a glass-doored shower.
Standout Shower-Bath Combos for Smaller Bathrooms
A clean, streamlined design by Susan Ozipko of sO Interiors gives the couple function and storage in a small space. The new features, such as the floating toilet and vanity, sit against a wall of statuario marble tiles. The homeowners replaced the bathtub-shower combo with a glass-doored shower.
Standout Shower-Bath Combos for Smaller Bathrooms
5. Failing to Refreshing
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Marita Lynott
Location: Maryland, USA
Size: 3.7 square metres
Before
Leaky pipes, a falling towel rack and other functional issues pushed this homeowner to start imagining a new space.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Marita Lynott
Location: Maryland, USA
Size: 3.7 square metres
Before
Leaky pipes, a falling towel rack and other functional issues pushed this homeowner to start imagining a new space.
After
A mellow blue and white palette for the walls and vanity complements the new shower tile and vanity benchtop. Lynott had the contractor remove everything that existed in the space and found materials that gave her an elevated look for less. For example, she used porcelain tiles in the shower instead of marble and used imitation marble tiles on the floor.
A mellow blue and white palette for the walls and vanity complements the new shower tile and vanity benchtop. Lynott had the contractor remove everything that existed in the space and found materials that gave her an elevated look for less. For example, she used porcelain tiles in the shower instead of marble and used imitation marble tiles on the floor.
6. Sad to Happy
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple and their two kids
Location: Chevy Chase, USA
Size: 4.1 square metres
Before
An unfinished bathroom in the basement rarely got used, as it only had a working sink and this towel bar.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple and their two kids
Location: Chevy Chase, USA
Size: 4.1 square metres
Before
An unfinished bathroom in the basement rarely got used, as it only had a working sink and this towel bar.
After
A finished bathroom, complete with a shower, makes use of a once-forgotten part of the family’s home. Interior designer Melissa Cooley and project developer TJ Monahan of Case Design/Remodeling took cues from the rest of the family’s home and gave them a streamlined bathroom with a yellow accent. To make the small space feel more open, the design team installed a floating vanity.
A finished bathroom, complete with a shower, makes use of a once-forgotten part of the family’s home. Interior designer Melissa Cooley and project developer TJ Monahan of Case Design/Remodeling took cues from the rest of the family’s home and gave them a streamlined bathroom with a yellow accent. To make the small space feel more open, the design team installed a floating vanity.
7. Uncomfortable to Luxe
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Adult daughters home for a visit and other overnight guests
Location: Illinois, USA
Size: just under 5 square metres
Before
The 1970s fixtures and finishes had seen better days and the toilet and tub were uncomfortable.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Adult daughters home for a visit and other overnight guests
Location: Illinois, USA
Size: just under 5 square metres
Before
The 1970s fixtures and finishes had seen better days and the toilet and tub were uncomfortable.
After
The black-and-white ceramic tiles on the floor make a fun and fresh statement in the narrow space. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn then added in more black, white and grey features to keep the palette calm and inviting. The most dramatic change comes at the end of the room, where Klimala replaced the brown bath with a sleek white tub and sliding glass door.
Monochrome Marvels in the Bathroom
The black-and-white ceramic tiles on the floor make a fun and fresh statement in the narrow space. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn then added in more black, white and grey features to keep the palette calm and inviting. The most dramatic change comes at the end of the room, where Klimala replaced the brown bath with a sleek white tub and sliding glass door.
Monochrome Marvels in the Bathroom
8. Glum to Gleeful
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A creative couple
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Size: 4 square metres
Before
Black-veined tile covered more than half the wall and made the bathroom look dark.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A creative couple
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Size: 4 square metres
Before
Black-veined tile covered more than half the wall and made the bathroom look dark.
After
White tiles cover the walls and floor, making the space light and airy. Next, Tanya Mclean and Nichole Skladan of Mango Design Co brought in teak and brushed gold materials to give the couple the mid-century style they wanted. Then, the design team added a boho rug, a paisley shower curtain and pieces of the couple’s art collection to give it a personal, fun feel.
White tiles cover the walls and floor, making the space light and airy. Next, Tanya Mclean and Nichole Skladan of Mango Design Co brought in teak and brushed gold materials to give the couple the mid-century style they wanted. Then, the design team added a boho rug, a paisley shower curtain and pieces of the couple’s art collection to give it a personal, fun feel.
9. Blah Beige to Beautiful Blue
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: San Jose, USA
Size: 5.2 square metres
Before
A bulky vanity and a sliding shower door make this Eichler home’s bathroom feel cramped and dark.
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: San Jose, USA
Size: 5.2 square metres
Before
A bulky vanity and a sliding shower door make this Eichler home’s bathroom feel cramped and dark.
After
Vibrant blue tiles in an oversized hexagon pattern give the bathroom an immediate focal point. Next, the client got design advice from designer Pamela Lin of Urbanism Designs and had this custom vanity made for the space. Across from the vanity, the bathroom has a bathtub-shower combo with a glass panel.
Your turn
Will 2018 be the year you decide to overhaul your small space? If yes, let us know what you plan to do and share photos in the Comments. Join the conversation.
More
Read more bathroom renovation stories
Vibrant blue tiles in an oversized hexagon pattern give the bathroom an immediate focal point. Next, the client got design advice from designer Pamela Lin of Urbanism Designs and had this custom vanity made for the space. Across from the vanity, the bathroom has a bathtub-shower combo with a glass panel.
Your turn
Will 2018 be the year you decide to overhaul your small space? If yes, let us know what you plan to do and share photos in the Comments. Join the conversation.
More
Read more bathroom renovation stories
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Number 8...#game!
Where are all the safety rails for these bathrooms? I didn't see any in the after photos. In number 2 there was one for tub use, but it disappeared in the "after".
HU: It seems only you & I know we are going to age. :)