Small Bathroom Ideas: How a Narrow Vanity Can Transform Your Space

Your views could also have a specific type of frustration related to a small bathroom. That one where you can only just squeeze out of the door so as not to knock over a bog before turning sideways into the shower. In older terrace houses and even newer apartments right across Sydney, small bathrooms are the rule rather than the exception. The good news? A great vanity can transform the entire bathroom.

Vanity is always pretty much the biggest fixture in some tiny bathroom, and that has a big effect on how the space flows — or may not. A room that seems like it should be large enough to stretch out in is starting to feel small, too, if it’s wrong. Nail it, and poof—breathing space.

Start with the floor

One fast and simple option to help a small bathroom feel more spacious is getting the cabinetry off the floor. Wall-hung vanities create the illusion of a larger room, as they leave space on the floor plane. Well, it’s a kind of an optical illusion — but a good one. What is that strip of exposed flooring between the plinth of a vanity and the ground doing — mechanically, for instance?

It matters most in bathrooms smaller than approximately four square metres, where the visual cue amplifies or eases that sensation of constriction. And so if your bathroom is already starting to look like a hall, the last thing you want to do in it is place a floor-standing cabinet of large dimensions there.

Consider your real needs

Much vanity storage is over-specified. They believe they need drawers for everything, the latest spare soap, unused face mask and the three different types of moisturiser that have amassed over centuries. Realistically, most of us use a few key products each day, and the other half could chill with your linen cupboard on down blocks.

For small bathrooms, adjusting your storage requirements can be quite freeing. Which is why a skinny profile underneath the basin, one or two shelves and a mirror cabinet above will usually do. The less the vanity rules, the more human—so much like us that you almost forget whoever it was who vanished into a column of smoke and ash.

The case for going slim

For those bathrooms where the layout is set in stone and the footprint isn’t changing, a narrow vanity often becomes the most practical solution there is. In an ensuite layout where the room might be a mere 900mm to 1200mm wide or in that second bathroom, which was always more about getting it done than making a statement, this rings especially true.

A narrow vanity — which is generally anything that goes under 450mm deep — allows the flow of the floor plan to remain workable without having to compromise on losing an entire sink. What you do get is a proper basin, storage underneath and a place to put your stuff on top. But the proportions, they just don’t eat up the room.

The limited aesthetic is also beautiful in its own way. The smaller the space, one of two things happens: either you think that it can take so much and want to fill every possibility with glossy finishes, such as patterned tiles, a big mirror or tapware. A streamlined vanity serves as a visual anchor and prevents everything else from vying for your attention.

Freestanding versus fixed

However, if your bathroom is in need of a full renovation, then it may pay to consider carefully whether or not you would be better served with the addition of a freestanding vanity unit. A freestanding piece, likely as the result of them feeling more like furniture than cabinetry designed for use within an “industrial” atmospheric style rescue project. It is also easier to blend into any home where addition or alteration has resulted in a softer and more residential design language.

The practical aspect is that a freestanding vanity needs a little space to prevent it from looking like it’s been pushed in. In extra-small bathrooms, the solution is usually fixed with a wall-hung option. However, with a little larger ensuite — or where the lavatory introduces some light and space — a freestanding vanity can add cosiness and individuality at the best level that built-in cabinetry simply cannot.

Putting it together

For small bathrooms, especially, it’s often a touch-and-go search for something slender that doesn’t compromise on quality (and isn’t anything you might consider a half measure). A basin you can actually use, no binding drawer runners, and a finish that withstands the daily humidity of normal living.

Whether you’re attracted to a freestanding vanity with exposed legs or efficient narrow vanities that feature full-height doors, the mantra stays the same: select sparingly, not overfill every millimeter of wall.

In a small bathroom, every decision is that much more considered than in any other room: The vanity is probably where you should start.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.