How to Design a Small Bathroom: Layouts and Floor Plan Ideas
A small bathroom doesn’t have to feel cramped. With the right floor plan, even the tiniest space can feel open, functional, and stylish.
A well-planned layout can make even a small bathroom feel spacious and luxurious. If you are considering a remodel or a new home build, it's worth spending the time to think through your bathroom needs and wants, to create the best small bathroom floor plan for your needs.
Types of Small Bathrooms
Half bathrooms
A half bathroom, also known as a powder room, is the smallest and most space-efficient bathroom, as it contains only a sink and a toilet.
You will often find this type of bathroom located near the kitchen, living room, or hallway, to offer residents and guests easy and convenient access.
3/4 bathroom
A ¾ bathroom contains three out of the four key bathroom elements. It will include a sink and a toilet, plus either a standing shower or a bathtub.
As this type of bathroom provides great functionality while being space-efficient, you'll often find them in smaller homes or apartments.
This type is also popular as a guest bathroom. In larger homes, several of the bathrooms may be ¾ layouts.
Full bathroom
While definitions can vary depending on where you live, a full bathroom usually includes the four key bathroom elements: a sink, toilet, bathtub, and shower.
In many homes or apartments, the master bathroom may be the only full bathroom in a house.
For a full bathroom to fit into the small bathroom category, it usually combines the shower and bathtub into one unit to conserve space.
Typical Small Bathroom Sizes
If you don't have to go for the absolute smallest space, you have a lot more options and layouts to work with. Here are some comfortable small bathroom floor plan sizes:
- For a powder or half bathroom, 18-20 sq ft (about 1.7 - 1.9 m2) is a good, average size.
- For a ¾ bath, 40 square feet is a good size (about 3.7 m2).
- A small full bathroom, with a sink, toilet, and combined shower/bathtub is often 40-45 square feet (about 4 - 4.5 m2).
What Is the Best Layout for a Small Bathroom?
One consideration for the layout of any bathroom relates to the positioning of the bathroom door. If you have flexibility with your design, consider the view looking in the open door - it's much better to see the vanity sink than the toilet!
Related to doors, pocket doors take up less room than a standard swing door and can make a small bathroom room easier to navigate. That being said, if you have space, a swing door is often easier to use, and is also more private.
Finally, if you are on a budget, it's a good idea to choose a layout with the sink, toilet, and any shower or bath fixtures along one wall. It's usually more cost-effective when you keep all the plumbing pipes and fixtures together.
Create Your Bathroom with RoomSketcher
Designing your bathroom is simple with the RoomSketcher app. You can:
- Draw your bathroom layout in minutes
- Calculate total area and add measurements
- Furnish and decorate with materials and finishes
- Generate professional 2D and 3D Floor Plans
- Create impressive 3D Photos and Live 3D walkthroughs
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