Design of a small-sized bathroom: design features

Hollywood owners of huge bathrooms with a balcony or panoramic windows overlooking the ocean can only envy. In real life, these apartments are rare. Most owners of individual apartments are not willing to sacrifice square meters in favor of expanding the water treatment area. Therefore, the design of a small-sized bathroom is a pressing issue that requires a weighted, mathematically adjusted and aesthetically attractive solution.

Consider the features of a limited room

A small bathroom is a big problem: to place the necessary items, furniture, plumbing equipment so that there is room for a person, really only after careful measurement and miscalculation of all possibilities. Typically, the designer offers the customer several examples of the optimal use of available space. The selected design project should not only completely solve all the tasks, but also reflect the character, the individual characteristics of the owners (age, hygienic habits, personal wishes). Someone doesn’t think of life without a full bath, while long-term lying in hot water is contraindicated for some people for health reasons, some individuals need only a shower, and someone would like to have a mini-sauna.

In order to give the small-sized bathroom only good feelings afterwards, it is necessary to:

1. Decide on the style direction of the interior;
2. Make a list of the required sanitary equipment (bath, shower, washbasin, toilet, bidet, hygienic shower), decide what must be inside the room;
3. Decide on large appliances, which are planned to be placed in the bathroom (boiler, washing machine, dryer);
4. Think over the lighting (general, zonal), the arrangement of the heated floor, the installation location of electrical outlets;
5. To pick up finishing materials.

Changing bathroom layout when repairing in Khrushchev

Quite often in Khrushchev there are separate bath and toilet. Combining them, arranging one door portal instead of two doors, will not only add space, but also unload the hallway from the opening second door. However, the combination of these premises requires special coordination. If the demolition of the intermediate wall does not affect the architectural design, its safety characteristics, then instead of two tiny corners there will be a quite decent compartment where you can fully relax in the water element.

Standard placement of plumbing fixtures in apartment buildings is tied to sewer risers. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be possible to drastically swap the toilet bowl and the sink without carrying out bulky construction work (supplying pipes, raising the floor level to provide the necessary slope for draining). However, it is possible to transfer or turn the bath, the offset of the sink.

Small tricks of modern design that can increase the capacity of the room can be:

• The use of a bath of reduced size;
• Vertical combining sink and washing machine;
• The use of suspended plumbing models;
• Bath replacement with shower options;
• Installation of hanging cabinets is much higher than the floor level.

Visual increase of the combined bathroom

A small combined bathroom is rather a norm for small-sized apartments than an exception. The task of the designer - decorator techniques to expand its volume, to ensure multi-functionality, not to the detriment of the feeling of free space.

As design options that can change a given geometry, use:

• Neutral tones for wall decoration;
• Smooth surfaces of the walls and ceiling;
• Concealment of pipes in floor, wall boxes or grooves;
• The use of suspended installations for plumbing;
• High-volume mirror elements;
• Glossy finishing materials;
• Light flooring.

So that the bathroom fully meets all the necessary requirements, it is equipped with plumbing equipment and equipment of a smaller format. It is important to accurately calculate how to reduce the size of sanitary appliances, so that their use is convenient.

Shower cabin - a worthy alternative to the usual bath

An interesting solution could be the design of a combined bathroom in a panel house in a loft style. A small room is not cluttered with objects, a light gray "a la velvety concrete" coating is chosen for vertical walls, metal pipes for water supply can be left in sight, the volumetric bathtub is replaced by a shower cabin. It is preferable not to use stationary cab options, but to select the required size for the shower with glass partitions, be sure to provide an inclination to the drain hole in the floor.

Today, not only annoying square or round sanitary drains are offered, but angular, linear, channel products. There are options, the top of which is a decorative lattice. Her pattern can repeat the main ornament of the decoration of the house.

Corner Bath - Pros and Cons

The small corner bath will perfectly fit even into a small room. Having taken the opposite door angle, it will leave room for a regular sink, a standard toilet bowl and free movement of a person, thanks to its rounded shape. A bath of this type, equipped with glass moving or fixed panels, can be considered as a synthesis of a traditional font and a shower cabin. It has the combined benefits of:

• Transparent partitions visually do not make the structure heavier, but they prevent water from splashing on the floor, which makes cleaning much easier;
• Volumetric bed bath allows you to take water procedures in a horizontal position.

Proper ceiling design: simplicity, color, light

The ideal color for the ceiling decoration of a small bathroom is white and its shades. To maintain height, it is not necessary to use multi-level suspended structures of complex shape. It is better to give preference to a flat surface, but to saturate it with sources of illumination. When calculating the number of spotlights, it is desirable to exceed the norm: the bright light that floods the room expands the volume. The assertion that the glossy stretch ceiling can perform the same function is not quite true: a reflective surface, doubling the height of the surface, can create a well effect, which violates the overall proportions of the room. In addition, the obscure reflection of the overall objects looks like a cluster of dark spots, and this reduces the feeling of cleanliness, which is so necessary for the room for hygienic procedures.

The quality of lighting depends on the volume

Even in a small bathroom it is necessary to provide 2 groups of lighting devices:

1. Overhead lighting (optimal use of built-in ceiling lights);
2. Bright light near the mirror (a good option - sconces on hinges, flexible mounts, changing if necessary the direction of the light flux).

In the homes of pre-revolutionary buildings often found bathrooms with excessive height. It is possible to harmonize space, without artificially lowering the ceiling level, with the help of a chandelier on a hanger. The volumetric light source will fill the upper part of the bathroom, making it more proportional.

An interesting design technique that adds lightness to the bathrooms of modern styles can be a bottom light built into channels with a transparent top (glass, plastic) flush with the main floor covering.

We select the finishing tile: we refuse mini-forms

Choosing ceramic tiles for walls and floors is better to give preference to large format options. Small fragments, and especially mosaic reduce small space, unnecessarily load the room with horizontal and vertical lines. For visual increase in the area fit facing materials with a glossy surface. Additional bonuses of their use in comparison with the matt varieties - ease of care, less dust settling.

If the repair budget does not allow to increase costs, it is better to deviate from the generally accepted rule of buying ceramic tiles "+ 10% just in case." Optimally calculate the number of square meters. and even pieces of tiles will help measure, drawing up a layout, a careful calculation of future balances. You will spend time, but save money.

Features of the choice of furniture for the bathroom

When furnishing a small bathroom, it is better to stay on the suspended structures that do not reach the floor, choose light shades of materials, glossy facades. Also appropriate furniture on the legs, painted in neutral colors (white, light gray, soft pink, mint, whitened lavender), especially if the design of the bathroom to the modern European style or romanticism.

Special requirements are imposed on the water absorption of materials used for the manufacture of bathroom furniture. Preferably moisture-resistant modern plate materials, or artificial stone, glass. However, if you provide a moisture-resistant topcoat and good forced ventilation, the cabinets made of natural wood with a ceramic or stone washbasin bed will do an excellent job in difficult conditions.

Laundry basket in the bathroom: a bright stylistic accent

The laundry basket can be both a utilitarian object (in this case, it is better to hide it from prying eyes), or it can become an element of decor that emphasizes style. Modern manufacturers of such products offer many options:

• Solid plastic;
• Plastic wicker;
• Rattan;
• Fabric bag of any design (sea, country, romantic) on folding legs;
• Willow wicker basket with fabric cover (it is decorated with lace, bows, lace, ribbons);
• Wooden trellised box on casters, sliding under the hinged sink or base;
• Container hidden in a closed niche on retractable brackets.

If the laundry basket is visible, then a cover element should be provided so that the type of used linen does not spoil the general atmosphere of the cozy corner for rest. This can be a separate cover, or, in the soft bag version, a drawstring cord. The main requirement is the presence of air vents so that things put off until the next wash do not acquire a musty, unpleasant smell and are ventilated.

Kingdom of direct mirrors

The use of reflective surfaces for the visual expansion of rooms is a classic design technique. In the case of a small-sized bathroom, special attention should be paid to large-format mirrors. Flat mirror elements can significantly push the boundaries, add the required depth, make the space airy. Shining metal accessories (dispenser, trash can, holder for toothbrushes) can accompany the mirror.

It is traditional to place the volume mirror above the sink. To enhance the effect, depending on the layout of the bathroom, you can choose a narrow model to the size of the sink to the ceiling or stretched to the entire width of the wall canvas.

The arrangement of two reflecting elements on opposite walls can visually enlarge the room almost indefinitely. This technique has a positive effect on the psychological state of a person, since the feeling of stiffness disappears, being in a close cage. Here the main thing is that in the mirrors countless times the disorder and deficiencies of repair are not displayed.

Do not use mirror tiles - this method of finishing is obsolete. The decor with inserts of mirror pieces also violates the integrity of the reflection, splits up the space without increasing it.

We take a responsible decision: we select the style

The bathroom, as a separate enclosed space, can fit into a single stylistic concept of the interior of the house, or radically different in style, if its size is so small that the overall design cannot be fully maintained. But, even if this space is designed as a purely utilitarian, it can be decorated with separate elements to emphasize the belonging to the chosen design direction.

• The mirror above the washbasin in the intricate carved frame or the graceful legs of the washbasin console will overlap with the baroque of the whole apartment;
• Drawing on the decorative elements of wall ceramic tiles can support a light French spirit, and the figured frieze, color scheme of the cladding, under the washbasin under-wall base will pay tribute to the antique style;
• Plumbing brass fittings with ceramic elements (handles of taps) or "sheep", golden towel hooks and holders will look like a connecting bridge with the retro spirit reigning in the house.

When decorating a bathroom in a style different from the general design idea, use color parallels to combine spaces, duplicate the dominant color of the house in the accessories (rug, shower curtain, towels).

The simplest solution is to follow the general style.

When you make a small bathroom is not necessary to adhere to the strict framework of minimalism, especially if you do not like it. If you prefer neutral tones of decoration, accent accessories can be chosen in any style. Lamps near the mirror, door handles, hooks of an interesting design, towel holders, colored dispensers and soap dishes will stylistically combine a small room with the common space of the house.