How to Hide the Toilet
If you don't want your toilet to be the main feature of your bathroom, here's how to hide it away
What is the one item that no one wants to be the star attraction in their bathroom? Yes, you guessed it – the toilet! Camouflaging a toilet in a bathroom is surprisingly easy. If you have the space for the toilet to be separate, then it is very easy, however, for most of us, we do not have the luxury of an abundance of space. This is when the trick of ‘distraction’ comes in handy.
But just how do we employ the art of distraction to our advantage? Put simply, it’s all about clever design. Installing an interesting bath, vanity, feature wall, shower, or championing an outside view can help make the toilet practically disappear from the foreground. It is there – but not what you remember when you depart from the space. Let’s take a closer look.
But just how do we employ the art of distraction to our advantage? Put simply, it’s all about clever design. Installing an interesting bath, vanity, feature wall, shower, or championing an outside view can help make the toilet practically disappear from the foreground. It is there – but not what you remember when you depart from the space. Let’s take a closer look.
Angled wall
With a tiled angled wall creating a dramatic backdrop within the space, the toilet was never going to be the first thing you notice here. The angled wall is not only a shield for the toilet and shower at the other end, but also creates the feeling of more space. A stepped vanity (one that has different levels) and beautiful freestanding back-to-wall bath keep your attention as you continue your journey through the bathroom.
With a tiled angled wall creating a dramatic backdrop within the space, the toilet was never going to be the first thing you notice here. The angled wall is not only a shield for the toilet and shower at the other end, but also creates the feeling of more space. A stepped vanity (one that has different levels) and beautiful freestanding back-to-wall bath keep your attention as you continue your journey through the bathroom.
Nib wall
The nib wall is a very handy addition to a bathroom. In this case, it has created a logical place for the vanity to run into and has partially blocked the toilet from view. Two birds with one stone! Interesting light fixtures, handles and wallpaper combine with the various textures of the stone and timber to ensure that a feast for the senses is the primary experience.
The nib wall is a very handy addition to a bathroom. In this case, it has created a logical place for the vanity to run into and has partially blocked the toilet from view. Two birds with one stone! Interesting light fixtures, handles and wallpaper combine with the various textures of the stone and timber to ensure that a feast for the senses is the primary experience.
Wow factor
This is a real case of stating the obvious. Toilet paper is used to create a divider and storage point between toilet and basin. This is one powder room that will never be short of a roll or two!
More creative ways to store your loo paper
This is a real case of stating the obvious. Toilet paper is used to create a divider and storage point between toilet and basin. This is one powder room that will never be short of a roll or two!
More creative ways to store your loo paper
LAYOUT
T shape
By planning a ‘T’ shape bathroom, you allow the vanity to be the hero. The toilet sits neatly behind one wing and the shower behind the other. Here, function is taken care of while form is delivered in full.
T shape
By planning a ‘T’ shape bathroom, you allow the vanity to be the hero. The toilet sits neatly behind one wing and the shower behind the other. Here, function is taken care of while form is delivered in full.
Defined areas
Depending on your entry point to this two-door bathroom, the toilet can be seen or not seen at all. Within the layout, it is essentially treated as a room within a room. The cabinet that divides the space creates extra storage and is a great alternative to a wall, cleverly giving privacy to the toilet area.
Depending on your entry point to this two-door bathroom, the toilet can be seen or not seen at all. Within the layout, it is essentially treated as a room within a room. The cabinet that divides the space creates extra storage and is a great alternative to a wall, cleverly giving privacy to the toilet area.
DISTRACTION
Central focus
This bathroom is a perfect example of distraction. It instantly draws your eye to another place – the pool! Originally there was a brick wall here, but by looking at what surrounds the bathroom, a new focus was delivered. Both the vanity and the toilet become secondary in importance, so that walking into this bathroom you find yourself thinking, ‘What toilet?’
Central focus
This bathroom is a perfect example of distraction. It instantly draws your eye to another place – the pool! Originally there was a brick wall here, but by looking at what surrounds the bathroom, a new focus was delivered. Both the vanity and the toilet become secondary in importance, so that walking into this bathroom you find yourself thinking, ‘What toilet?’
Eyes up
Generally, a built-in bath will not be centre stage of a bathroom. In its place, the vanity can be highlighted. This bathroom has made the wall-hung toilet part of the vanity, with the striking green feature tile drawing the eye to its harmonious pairing of timber.
Generally, a built-in bath will not be centre stage of a bathroom. In its place, the vanity can be highlighted. This bathroom has made the wall-hung toilet part of the vanity, with the striking green feature tile drawing the eye to its harmonious pairing of timber.
Feature walls
A feature shower and mosaic wall in this bathroom is enough to draw your attention past the toilet. By keeping the toilet off the floor, a visual of light and space is created. What’s more, the timber flooring gives lineal interest to the room.
A feature shower and mosaic wall in this bathroom is enough to draw your attention past the toilet. By keeping the toilet off the floor, a visual of light and space is created. What’s more, the timber flooring gives lineal interest to the room.
Art is a wonderful medium that evokes such varied responses in our emotions. This natural stone is beautiful to behold – it fills the room, and is framed artfully by the doorway. The whiteness in the stone also allows the toilet to become almost obscure.
Feature joinery
In this tight space, everything is on display. However, as the toilet is white on a white wall, it recedes into the background while the framed cabinets catch your attention.
In this tight space, everything is on display. However, as the toilet is white on a white wall, it recedes into the background while the framed cabinets catch your attention.
Decorative items
Sometimes, the toilet must be on view. When this happens, embrace it! Again, decorative items like screens and lights work wonders to distract attention from these details. The white floor and accessories also mean that the toilet does not stand out but rather forms a ‘part’ in the overall composition of the room.
Sometimes, the toilet must be on view. When this happens, embrace it! Again, decorative items like screens and lights work wonders to distract attention from these details. The white floor and accessories also mean that the toilet does not stand out but rather forms a ‘part’ in the overall composition of the room.
TRICKS OF THE EYE
Floating walls
It is hard not to want to touch the floor and wall here. They are so textural and inviting. Your interest is drawn to the slimness of the basin that complements the line of the timber perfectly. Everything appears to float. The softness of the mirror shape follows the internal curve of the basin as though it has been lifted out of its niche. Finally, there is the toilet – last and definitely least!
Floating walls
It is hard not to want to touch the floor and wall here. They are so textural and inviting. Your interest is drawn to the slimness of the basin that complements the line of the timber perfectly. Everything appears to float. The softness of the mirror shape follows the internal curve of the basin as though it has been lifted out of its niche. Finally, there is the toilet – last and definitely least!
Unique
Now, this is different. The toilet is bench mounted. This unusual set up would lead most people to think a toilet were missing from this bathroom altogether – but they’d be very wrong. A very high basin allows the single stone bench to be at a suitable seating height for the toilet, which is discreetly mounted on top. The bonus is that the bench extends into the shower, doubling as a built-in shower seat.
Now, this is different. The toilet is bench mounted. This unusual set up would lead most people to think a toilet were missing from this bathroom altogether – but they’d be very wrong. A very high basin allows the single stone bench to be at a suitable seating height for the toilet, which is discreetly mounted on top. The bonus is that the bench extends into the shower, doubling as a built-in shower seat.
Dark colour
The dark, moody colours of this bathroom make the toilet stand out. A brave move, but one that works with enough detail elsewhere to draw the eye.
More: Here’s Looking at Loo: Showing Off Your Toilet
The dark, moody colours of this bathroom make the toilet stand out. A brave move, but one that works with enough detail elsewhere to draw the eye.
More: Here’s Looking at Loo: Showing Off Your Toilet
Light colour
At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the toilet that almost disappears. With the whites of the wall and floor, this wall-hung toilet can barely be seen.
TELL US
How have you made your toilet ‘invisible’? Show us your pictures or tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
Just Where Do You Put the Toilet?
How to Pick a Royal Flush When Shopping for a Toilet
5 Common Bathroom Blunders and How to Avoid Them
At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the toilet that almost disappears. With the whites of the wall and floor, this wall-hung toilet can barely be seen.
TELL US
How have you made your toilet ‘invisible’? Show us your pictures or tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
Just Where Do You Put the Toilet?
How to Pick a Royal Flush When Shopping for a Toilet
5 Common Bathroom Blunders and How to Avoid Them
Low wall
This bathroom has been designed to maximise the view (not the toilet!). A sense of calm and contentment is created as you soak in the bath, with shelves and seat conveniently close by for magazines and maybe a bottle of bubbly! The low wall, while seemingly insignificant, underpins this illusion and ensures that at no point in your bathing experience do you notice the toilet.