A cloakroom bathroom can be a very valuable addition to your home. A cloakroom is a small bathroom comprising of a toilet and basin only, with no bath or shower, which is usually located downstairs. An extra downstairs toilet in your home can have many benefits; it’s handy for guests, allows easy access for the elderly, can help to minimise wear and tear on your main bathroom upstairs, and can also boost the value of your home too!

There are many reasons to add a cloakroom bathroom to your home, but it can be challenging to transform a very small space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing bathroom.

So, here are our tips for designing the perfect cloakroom bathroom.

Compact Furniture

Cloakrooms tend to be very small rooms that don’t leave you with a lot of space to work with. Luckily, when it comes to choosing fixtures and furnishings there are options available that are perfect for this issue. Compact furniture ranges are made specifically with cloakrooms and small bathrooms in mind. Units from these ranges come in smaller widths than standard units and often combine a sink and storage space in one, which allows them to fit neatly into small spaces. Wall hung units are also a great option here, as they take up less floor space and their floating aspect creates the illusion of a spacious room.

Short Projection Toilets

Toilets can take up a surprising amount of space in your bathroom. When dealing with a small room, choosing the right toilet can be tricky. Some toilets are available with short projections, meaning that they protrude away from the wall less than a standard toilet and take up less space in the room. Back to wall toilets and wall hung toilets tend to have smaller projections too, as they are designed to be used with concealed cisterns, so these are a particularly good option here.

Multi-purpose Products

Multi-purpose, combination items are incredibly useful when dealing with small spaces like cloakrooms. A toilet and basin combination unit consists of a toilet unit with a small basin sitting just above the cistern. This is a very convenient option if you have a particularly small space to work with as it combines both elements in one, removing the need for two separate units. 

If you have slightly more space, a vanity unit toilet suite is also a great option for cloakrooms. Some are available in slimmer widths and smaller projections than standard units to accommodate slightly narrower spaces.

Use The Corners

Most cloakrooms tend to be designed from an unused space in the home, such as under the stairs. As such, the space left to work with can sometimes be awkward in shape and size. A corner toilet can be very useful here to help you make the most of your space. Opt for a toilet or basin that fits neatly into the corner of the room to utilise every inch of space in your cloakroom bathroom. You could also add in some useful storage too in the form of a corner mirrored cabinet .

Space-saving Radiators

Just because a cloakroom is small doesn’t mean it can’t benefit from heating; there’s nothing worse than stepping into a freezing cold bathroom! Radiators can often take up a lot of wall space, but there are space-saving cloakroom radiators available that are ideal for small spaces. Choose a sleek, slimline radiator that will give a modern appearance as well as save valuable wall space. Make sure to choose a vertical radiator instead of horizontal to make the best use of the space you have and create the illusion of a larger room.

Use The Correct Door

One thing that can make a difference to the spaciousness of your cloakroom is your choice of door. It’s important to make sure that your door doesn’t impede on the space, as this can make the room feel smaller. Go for a door that opens outwards, rather than into the bathroom so that it doesn’t obstruct anything in the room. Another good option here is to opt for a sliding door if you can, which will allow you to make the most of the space.

Create The Illusion of Space

As well as choosing clever fixtures to save on physical space, there are other things that can be done to optimise the space in your cloakroom. Sometimes, the appearance of the room can make all the difference. Use clever visual illusions to make the room appear bigger than it is. A light, bright colour scheme is perfect for making a room look more spacious. White is ideal here, but other neutral colours such as light grey will also work well.

Another tip here is to install large wall mirrors to create the illusion of space. A mirror the same width as the wall, placed above the basin, can work a treat here as it will reflect the rest of the room.

Add Your Own Style to the Space

As the area you’ve got to work with is small, this can give you the perfect opportunity to go wild with your creative side and try colours and styles you might usually shy away from in a larger capacity. Choose an interesting tile or floor design to make your space pop. Adding greenery can give the space a relaxing ambience and stifle the thought and feeling of the space being small and enclosed.

If you’re looking for more tips and advice on how to make a small bathroom look more spacious, check out our blog on how to maximise space in a small bathroom here. You can also sign up to our email newsletter below for updates on new products, trends and inspiration straight to your inbox. 

So, that was our tips for designing the perfect cloakroom bathroom. Cloakrooms are often a tricky thing to get right, but they can be a truly worthwhile investment in your home with many benefits.