Small wet rooms

Combining strong design with potentially added functionality, wet rooms are an increasingly popular choice of a bathroom for homeowners. Many people first became aware of the style watching luxury home programs like MTV’s ‘Cribs’. Wet rooms aren’t reserved for the rich and famous and can be fitted in any size bathroom, including small ones.

In this article, we’ve detailed some top tips for fitting a wet room in a small bathroom.

Is there a minimum size for a wet room?

Most bathroom specialists agree you need a room of at least 1.5m x 1m to fit a wet room. Fortunately, the average size of a UK bathroom is around 2.5m x 2m, so this usually is not a problem.

When sizing up your bathroom, remember to keep enough space for a washbasin and a toilet, if they’re not already installed. Also, keep in mind that water will splash from the shower, so if your bathroom is small, you may need to consider alternative storage for toilet paper and towels to prevent them from getting wet.

How can I make the most of space in a small wet room?

Wet rooms tend to be more space-efficient than standard bathrooms because they don’t feature baths. However, if you have a particularly small bathroom, you might still need to save some space.

Try to integrate storage solutions into the design of the bathroom, such as in-built shelves within the shower. If you want to make the wet room feel more spacious, look to place two mirrors on opposing walls, as this helps to make rooms feel much larger.

Colour in the gaps

You might not think it, but colour can have a huge impact on your perception of space. Therefore, if you’re looking to get the most from a smaller space, try and use it to your advantage.

Dark shades work well in small spaces, helping to give the room a classier feel. If possible, look to match floor, and wall tiles as this can create the feel of seamless design.

Finally, try and find tiles that feature different textures or patterns. Not only will these tiles give an additional touch of creative flair, but they can also help add visual interest to a room.

What is the difference between a wet room and a walk-in shower?

Some people with small bathrooms might install a walk-in shower instead of a wet room.

The most significant difference between the two is that walk-in showers include a tray, while wet rooms are fitted with a drain. In terms of size, there’s not a lot of difference between either option.

However, wet rooms don’t need a shower tray, so you can fit in other essential bathroom items, like toilets more easily. In fact, in some particularly small wet rooms, homeowners install toilets, directly next to the shower. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but the space-saving solution can be a real benefit in tight rooms.