Enchanting small bathroom design

Good question - what kind of bathroom is considered small?

Tiny bathrooms Khrushchev area less than 2 square meters. meters can be safely attributed to the microscopic. Compared to them, the bathroom is about 5 square meters. meters seems huge, but in reality you can’t turn around in it with the installation of modern plumbing. Therefore, we will pay attention to all layouts that impose restrictions on the placement of equipment on the owners, and we will try to choose such a design for a small bathroom so that it is comfortable, fashionable and memorable.

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Ode to a small bathroom

At the stage of bathroom refurbishment, let's recharge with positive and glorify this nook, which causes so much headache during the development of the project, but in the process of implementing ideas pleases with a small amount of work.

It is completely unfair to accuse the designers of being too small. And that's why. Try for a moment to imagine that in a tiny studio or Khrushchev odnushka, the bathroom was expanded. And where do you live now? Everything must be balanced, in inexpensive housing you will have to put up with the small size of the bathroom and try to make it as functional as possible.

In economy class housing, in principle, nothing prevents this area from being expanded to a size that allows you to place a bidet, a double washbasin, a shower room and a jacuzzi. But are homebuyers willing to sacrifice one bedroom for this? And subsequently pay a full rent for these square meters? The vast majority are not. And so let's bless the builders for taking care of our well-being and try to squeeze everything possible out of what we have. A well-chosen design for a small bathroom will make it comfortable, clean and beautiful.

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More about size

So, let's take a look at all the layout options in turn, in which annoying restrictions arise: for example, it is impossible to squeeze in a washing machine, or the washbasin becomes a luxury, or the bath itself is not included and you have to look for some alternative options.

Fashion magazines, films and designer publications impose a certain standard of housing, which by default assumes a shower, bath / jacuzzi, toilet, bidet, one or two washbasins. In our practice, a washing machine is automatically added here.

Let's get back to reality and limit the set of equipment to what we are not ready to give up:

• bath/shower;
• wash basin;
• toilet;
• washing machine.

I would also like to leave the bidet on this list, but if it is not included, this will be an indicator that the room is too small to deny yourself comfort.

In the case of a separate bathroom, the toilet and bidet in the project loses relevance, but based on the practice of modern buildings, we will not neglect the combined option.

Any room in which, due to tightness, it was necessary to abandon a separate shower, the actual bathtub, washbasin, washing machine or bidet, is considered small. If you have to limit yourself to at least one of the above, you are a happy person. Happy, because nothing gives as much pleasure as a successful design project for a small bathroom in a limited space.

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Action plan

During the development of the project, the following tasks are solved:

1. Definition of fashion trends.
2. Selection of equipment and its placement.
3. Color design.
4. Choice of finishing materials.
5. Search for stylish fittings and accessories.
6. Lighting.
7. Heating.

Some design recommendations are valid for bathrooms of any size, others are tied to their area - especially when it comes to layout.

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Trends 2017-2018

A new look at the design of small bathrooms forces us to abandon postulates that recently seemed unshakable. In order not to be led by habits and decorate the room in accordance with trends that will be relevant for more than one year, you should heed the advice of interior designers.

Among the most revolutionary changes we note:

• Close attention to sanitary equipment - technical innovations, bold forms in the spirit of modern and retro.

• Refusal of tiles as the main finishing material.
• The leading position is grey.

• Refusal of multi-color drawings in favor of monochromatic coloring.
• Tree in the "wet zone".

• Furniture where you have never thought about it before.
• The use of decor inherent in the interior of living rooms.

In general, there are two directions. The first is high-tech with elements of closeness to nature, focusing on technical innovations, laconic functional design and the use of expensive natural materials.

The second trend is the warm interior of a small bathroom, blurring the line between the “wet zone” and living spaces. It can carry the features of Provence, English classics, eco-style or modern. The abundance of accessories and materials not previously used in such premises is striking. The reason for the changes lies in the development of production, the emergence of new finishing materials, which made it possible to turn a state-owned bathroom into one of the most comfortable residential areas.

In essence, both directions differ from each other exactly as much as the respective architectural styles differ.

First, we will talk about the secrets of choosing equipment, and then we will move on to other aspects of developing a fashionable design for a small bathroom in a city apartment.

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Search for alternative equipment for two square meters of a small bathroom

The choice of equipment directly depends on the size of the room, so it will be considered for various layouts. Let's start the review with Khrushchev or a microscopic studio and try to convince ourselves that 2m2 is not a disaster.

At the heart of the project:

• non-standard compact plumbing equipment;

• giving up the bath in favor of the shower.

The experience of Japan and the overpopulated countries of Asia suggests proven design options for small bathrooms of 2 square meters.meters, and trade offers original compact plumbing equipment designed specifically for micro-bathrooms, which perfectly cope with the role of a shower / bath.

rain shower

It is enough to abandon the bath in favor of the shower, and immediately the room becomes more spacious. In fact, a shower with a tray takes up no less space than a compact bathtub, but if you refuse the tray and make a drain to the floor, it immediately becomes possible to install a toilet and a washbasin. And the design of such a small bathroom can be just cosmic.

There is nothing wrong with the fact that jets of water will hit the plumbing, this is easy to put up with. It is useful to provide a narrow cabinet or a niche behind glass to protect towels and clothes from splashes.

A washbasin in such a project is a mandatory thing. It can be tiny: there are models measuring 30x20 cm and even 25x15 cm. There are toilets in which the bowl is built into the tank lid, or rather, replaces it. Sometimes a corner tank or an irregularly shaped sink fits well into the corner.

If you can use a toilet with a suspended installation, you need to do it. Usually, the mounting system itself and the built-in tank take 20 centimeters from the width of the room, but sometimes there is enough space for installation behind the false wall covering the pipes - and it’s a sin not to use it. In the shower room, it will immediately become more spacious, cleaning the floor will be easier, and the feeling of constraint will disappear.

The rain shower system under the ceiling looks amazing. In a utilitarian sense, you can limit yourself to a hose with a watering can, but, you see, it’s nice to have an ultra-modern, luxurious shower room.

The opposite, and no less interesting approach is the retro design of a shower with a stationary watering can on a curved brass pipe. On the contrast of "aged" metal structures and shining tiles, you can create an expressive and fashionable design of a small bathroom in the spirit of a loft or Provence.

Bathtubs of unusual design

An ordinary bath in Khrushchev or a studio cannot be installed. What about those who do not like showers? Plumbing designers have worked out this issue and offer at least three compromise models - angular, irregularly shaped, with a seat. Taking spa treatments while sitting is very pleasant. The sides of such a bowl are high, and the area is small.

In this case, the presence of a washbasin is not necessary. The main thing is that a compact toilet fits into the design project of a small bathroom combined with a toilet.

The fate of the laundry in the mini-apartment

On two square meters, a washing machine can be installed only in one case - if you give up the bath and shower, and mount the washbasin bowl above a narrow washing machine. Typically, in such apartments, a mini-laundry room is taken out into the kitchen or hallway, placing the equipment under the countertop or at the bottom of the wardrobe.

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Technical innovations in the extraordinary design of a small bathroom 3 sq. M

In old panel and brick houses, a bathroom of 3 square meters is found both in the variant of a combined bathroom and a separate one - and these, as they say in the famous Black Sea city, are “two big differences”. But there is a point that unites them: these are the most common layouts inherited from the time when the design of small bathrooms was out of the question. The standard installation of equipment was provided initially and did not imply any amateur performance. The tiling was just as patterned.

The natural desire to move away from the clichés pushes us to look for unusual solutions, so in the review we will consider the ideas of a small bathroom design fashionable in 2017.

Three square meters of technological progress

Gone are the days when the design of a small bathroom meant, first of all, inventive tile layout, now the main characters are modern plumbing fixtures.

If we are talking about a design project for a bathroom combined with a toilet, then the allotted area is barely enough for plumbing. It will also become the main decoration.

What to pay attention to, which models are especially spectacular and give a new level of comfort? First of all, you should pay attention to compact or "weightless" equipment - hanging toilets and sinks.

It has become commonplace to ditch the washbasin, but in terms of small bathroom design, this is a big loss. A washbasin is not just a bowl with a tap and a water outlet, it is a cozy corner with a mirror, lighting, shelves for useful little things that sets the mood and makes the room cozy.

Fashionable in 2017, the overhead washbasin bowl is laconic, embodying modern modernity, attracts attention and, by the way, distracts it from minor errors in the design of a small bathroom. It is installed on a console tabletop made of wood or stone, or on a cabinet that hides communications.

The bowl, installed on a transparent console tabletop, looks amazing. It seems to soar, and all this design gives the interior lightness. The shell itself can also be transparent. This is high-tech - very expensive and insanely spectacular.

Scandi-inspired rectangular washbasins and rounded, nostalgic but very modern washbasins, equipped with designer fittings, will also decorate a small bathroom. In conditions of space shortage, it makes sense to give preference to compact bowls of non-standard size, they look quite unusual and emphasize the originality of the interior.

When choosing a toilet, it makes sense to stop at a non-bulky model - and here's why. Any installation system for a hanging bowl will steal 20-30 centimeters from the width of an already cramped room, even more space will be required to install a toilet with a hygienic shower, since its dimensions are somewhat larger. But it is 4 sq. meters of area in such a bathroom is the main value, they can be interestingly decorated, supplemented with accessories, creating the design of a small bathroom.

The choice of shower or bath dictates the design style and personal habits of the occupants. High-tech and safari vote in favor of a stationary shower, classic and provincial interiors vote for a bath.

Regarding the washing machine, we can say the following - it will kill the design of a 4 sq. meters, combined with a toilet. For a separate bathroom, it would be good to choose a narrow model with a depth of 35-40 cm and hide it in the washbasin cabinet.

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Ideas for a 4 sq. meters

Four squares is the size that leaves some room for imagination and allows you to boldly choose equipment that provides a modern level of comfort. Here you can safely install a hygienic shower, use hinged systems.

Moreover, there is an opportunity to switch attention from advanced equipment to decorative elements and a spectacular color scheme. Therefore, in the design project of a small bathroom of 4 sq. m, plumbing can be relegated to the background and save a lot of money.

When installing a washing machine, small-sized models are preferred.

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Small bathroom 5 sq. meters - do not deny yourself anything!

Indeed, the 5th square is the area that allows you to place in the bathroom not only the necessary things, but also expressive accessories.It falls into the category of small ones for the reason that it is problematic to install a bidet or a more or less convenient laundry area, or a shower in addition to the bathroom.

With regard to the type of plumbing, decoration, selection of fashionable fittings and furniture, there are restrictions, but they are not fundamental, and mainly relate to the issue of compactness.

Don't miss your chance to make your small 5 sqm bathroom look unlike anything you've ever seen with the trendiest freestanding bathtub. It is not necessary to move it away from the walls, as in the classic version, but it is also impossible to seal the joints. When the bath is not covered by a screen, but stands on turned legs or is made in the form of a porcelain bowl, it does not obscure the floor space, and the room becomes spacious. Because 5 sq. m. is still not 10, you will have to give up everything that you can do without - a washing machine, cabinets - so as not to obscure the most expressive element of the interior.

As you explore fashion accessories below, don't miss out on the essential item of the chair. Yes, yes, the chair in the bathroom is a kind of hallmark of an advanced interior, evidence that you are aware of this season's fashion chips. And besides - it's so comfortable with him, you must agree!

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Finishing materials: tranquility of textures

The choice of finishing materials is closely related to the design concept for a small bathroom, and in 2017 it is as follows: a minimum of bathroom entourage, a maximum of the atmosphere of a modern living space.

First of all, this approach dealt a blow to the tiles. Laying tiles on all walls, and even from floor to ceiling, is not camille. Even on the floor it is not necessary to use ceramics. What do designers offer in return, and do you really have to give up tiles?

Moisture resistant paints

It's time to congratulate the newcomers who shudder at the thought of the upcoming bathroom redecoration - exhale! You can replace expensive tiles with paint, which is also not cheap, but still from a different price range.

Matte painted walls are perfectly washable, and over time they can be repainted, while completely changing the color palette and, therefore, the design of a small bathroom (remember - ceramic tiles are laid out almost forever). Trade offers a wide range of shades and ready-made collections of colors that perfectly complement each other.

Ceramics as decoration

It is not necessary to completely abandon ceramic tiles, but their role in the interior has changed. Now it either wraps around a border with a sealed joint around the bath bowl, or acts as a decorative accent.

Fashionable options for using tiles:

1. low panels flush with the edge of the bath or slightly above it;
   accentuation of one wall;
2. shower cabin decoration;
3. decorative panel above the washbasin;
4. a colored path running along the floor and continuing on the wall, etc.

Designers are promoting hexagonal tiles, three-dimensional brick and natural stone tiles, plain embossed elements, mosaics, panels, Moroccan ornaments. It is possible to recommend the author's tile design for a small bathroom. This is an expensive decor, but it will take a little, and the interior will acquire a touch of exclusivity.

Glossy ceramics finds application in high-tech interiors. This is just the case when all surfaces can be tiled, but even here it is recommended to “break” the gloss with voluminous inserts of natural stone and dark wood.

For the floor, you should choose a tile with a non-slip surface, but it has a serious competitor - wood.

Wooden floor in a wet area

Unheard of - laying a wooden floor in a damp room! Wooden slats are covered with yacht varnish or epoxy-based composition - and the material acquires moisture resistance without losing its special warmth and expressive texture. Wood motifs are duplicated in accessories - cabinets, mirror frame, chair, etc. Eco-design in a small bathroom makes an amazing impression.

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New gray and other openings of the fashion season

The time of piercingly bright patterns and an abundance of pure colors in the design of the bathroom is gone. They were replaced by velvet gray - the color is neutral, soft, making a harmonious contrast with complex shades - turquoise, olive, purple, terracotta, amber. He has not supplanted white, but is rightfully present next to him.

In the design of a small bathroom, gray walls become a spectacular backdrop for white fixtures and accessories. Sometimes an additional color is present only in bath accessories and textiles, complementing gray with an energetic note of freshness. It should be borne in mind that in a small room the color is perceived as darker, so choose a paint a few tones lighter than desired.

Of all the patterns, the design of 2017 recognizes only simple geometric motifs - classic patterned lattices, delicate ornamentation, as well as Moroccan mosaics that are more relevant than ever. Subtle graphic patterns on a white background, especially the "grid" type, have the ability to create perspective even in tight spaces. If the bathroom seems too small, feel free to include tiles with a “lattice” pattern in the design of the walls, but do not lay them on the entire perimeter, but on one or two walls.

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Let's say a word about furniture

It is considered good form to complement the bathroom design with a bench, a chair with a high back or even a wicker chair - but there is usually not enough space for a chair in a small room.

The cabinets under the sink, as well as the cabinet in which the washing machine is hidden, have become familiar, sometimes they can be combined into one building. For a small bathroom, a cabinet for a washing machine is especially attractive, on the countertop of which a wash basin is installed.

Furniture design trends can be traced in the rejection of white plastic surfaces in favor of natural wood. A humid atmosphere does not harm wood, especially if the bathroom has the right heating.

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Even in a small bathroom they do not save on accessories

Accessories are the most interesting part of any design project, and a small bathroom is no exception. But the question is - which ones to stop, so as not to overload the cramped room?

Oddly enough, in conditions of muted finishes in gray and white, there can be a lot of decor - this will not contradict the tendency to give the SPA area a lived-in look.

The walls are enlivened by mirrors, graphic studies, white carved or classic frames around mirrors and graphics - this creates perspective and fills the space with light. Of course, we are not talking about all four walls, but about the area above the washbasin, washing machine or toilet (and why not, this object needs the decor of the surrounding space no less than others).

Lights on either side of the mirror above the sink add a boudoir vibe or simply provide good lighting. Under the ceiling, at a height of more than 2.5 meters, it is allowed to hang an ordinary, non-waterproof chandelier.

Much attention is paid to fittings and small accessories that must match the chosen style.There are no trifles here: faucets, a shower head, cabinet handles, hangers, hooks, soap dishes should create a feeling of well-groomed, comfortable and impeccable design of a small bathroom.

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Are you starting a renovation? Congratulations!

We are sure that a small bathroom should not be seen as a disaster, but as a platform for the implementation of brilliant ideas in design. We hope this review awakened your imagination.

Starting a renovation? Share your achievements!

Photo gallery - small bathroom design

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