Small Bathroom Layout: Tips and Ideas to Maximise Your Space

Assess Your Space: Measuring and Planning the Perfect Layout

Before you can think about tiling the floor or deciding on a bathroom vanity, first take a piece of paper and a pencil, and a tape measure. This is something that many homeowners skip over, which can result in mistakes later. Measure the full width and length of your bathroom at floor level, then again at 900mm height where fixtures sit. Note down where the door is located and the direction in which it opens and, perhaps more importantly, where the water connections for your bathroom fixtures already are.
For a small bathroom layout under 5 square metres, every centimetre genuinely counts. I have met with some bathroom design experts who claim they fit the fixtures in their spaces in 50mm increments. Draw out 3 different configurations on graph paper, moving around the toilet, vanity and shower or bathtub to different positions. This is a basic exercise but helps give you the ability to visually see where and what is going to fit into your space before you end up picking a configuration that may look great in the showroom but may not fit in your space.

Choosing Compact Bathroom Fixtures That Fit Your Footprint

This is where it starts to get exciting, because small bathroom fixtures have come a long way! An average full-sized bath in Australia is around 1,700mm long, while the more compact models range from 1,200mm to 1,400mm in length and 700mm to 750mm in width. This is quite a difference in size that results in you are saving anywhere from 300mm to 500mm of wall space, which in a bathroom, makes a significant difference between feeling like your design works or is just too cramped.
The more compact options are great, too. Take a wall-hung toilet, for example, it takes away anywhere from 150mm from the floor depth that would otherwise be needed to support a standard close-coupled toilet and visually you can actually see the floor space extending out beyond the wall, giving the room a feeling of openness. A corner bathroom basin is another good option for small bathroom ideas australia, as it sits within a corner that typically does not get used and frees up the adjacent wall space for other additions like a rail or cabinet.

Maximising Storage Without Losing Precious Floor Space

Storage in a small bathroom with bath is one of the biggest puzzles we face when we're juggling towels, bath and personal cleaning products. The trick is to think vertically. Wall-mounted shelves above the toilet are good for using up some of that dead space that would typically be left unused, whereas a built-in shower cubicle shelf (that is typically 300mm wide and 400mm tall) helps hold your bottles without getting in the way.
A vanity with drawers is your go-to for small bathroom storage here. It's important to have a vanity with drawers, not just open shelving, as drawers will help keep the items in the vanity tidy and out of view and it will also help reduce some of the visual clutter as well. A custom vanity is typically going to range from $800 to $2,500 depending on the material and size, whereas some standard size off-the-shelf bathroom vanities can be sourced from Australian vanity suppliers for around $350. This is a pretty hefty price difference, so you'll want to weigh the additional costs versus the amount of storage you will actually be required to have.

Layout Configurations for Bathrooms Under 5 Square Metres

Now let's get into the real detail here. Here are 3 configurations that I find actually work. Configuration one features a bath along the longest wall (typically 2.4 metres), a vanity on the facing wall, and a toilet beside the door. This is the most popular configuration for rectangular rooms of around 2.4 metres by 1.8 metres.
Configuration two involves a corner bath in the farthest corner (1,200mm models work well here), vanity on the adjacent wall, and a toilet on the third wall. This layout is better suited to near-square rooms of approximately 2 metres by 2 metres.
Configuration three removes the bath completely, replacing it with a walk-in shower that is at least 800mm by 800mm. If the bathroom is less than 3.5 square metres in size, this is often the best option, as it frees up the entire length of the bath wall for other fittings. If you're looking at the best small baths for these compact setups, double-check their exact dimensions against your space before making a decision.

Smart Strategies for Combining Bath and Shower in Tight Spaces

You can fit both a bath and a shower in a small bathroom if your layout is right. The shower-over-bath option is your best bet for space-saving ensuite ideas, since the two wet zones are essentially overlapped.
Corner baths suit this setup because the broad end takes the shower screen, while the narrow end is wall-fitted. Screen options include pivot doors (they require 500mm to 600mm of swing-out clearance), sliding screens (zero swing clearance needed, perfect for tighter spots), and fixed panels (the most economical option, priced between $300 and $600).
Your overall price for a small bath with overhead shower and screen will range between $1,800 and $4,500, depending on the materials you choose and the screen type. Remember: when it comes to ventilation, a combined bath-shower area releases more steam than either fixture alone, so a 25 litres per second exhaust fan is a must.
If you're still weighing your options, browsing bathtubs for small bathrooms from reputable Australian suppliers will give you a good sense of what works for your measurements and your budget.