Good bathroom design is about using every centimetre well: a layout that flows, storage where you need it, and light that works morning and night. These are the ideas we use most in Sydney bathrooms, whatever their size.
Bathroom layouts that work
- Walk-in shower across the back wall: the most space-efficient layout for small bathrooms and ensuites.
- Shower and bath separate: ideal for family bathrooms when the room is at least about 2.5 × 3 metres.
- Shower over bath: keeps a bath in a small room, with a fixed glass panel instead of a curtain.
- Toilet in its own room: popular in family homes, so the bathroom can be used while the toilet is occupied.
Ideas for small bathrooms
- Wall-hung vanity and toilet to show more floor and make cleaning easier
- Frameless glass screen or a single fixed panel instead of a framed enclosure
- Large-format tiles with fewer grout lines, carried floor to ceiling to make the room feel taller
- Recessed shower niche instead of shelves that stick out
- Mirrored shaving cabinet recessed into the wall
- Light colours and a single feature rather than lots of competing finishes
Shower or bath?
If space allows only one, most couples and downsizers choose a larger walk-in shower. Families with young children usually want to keep a bath, and buyers in family suburbs often expect one. A shower-over-bath or a compact freestanding bath can give you both in a smaller room.
Storage that keeps benches clear
- Vanity with drawers rather than doors, so you can see everything
- Tall linen cupboard or built-in recess for towels
- Shower niche sized for full-height bottles
- Hooks and heated towel rails positioned where you’ll actually use them
A custom vanity built to the room often adds more storage than a standard size.
Bathroom lighting
Use layers: general ceiling lighting, good face lighting at the mirror (lights either side or a backlit mirror avoids shadows), and soft night lighting such as an LED strip under the vanity. All lighting in wet areas must suit its zone and be installed by a licensed electrician.
Luxury touches worth considering
- Freestanding bath as a centrepiece
- Heated floors or heated towel rails
- Rainfall shower head with a separate hand shower
- Natural stone or porcelain benchtops on a custom timber vanity
- Brushed brass, gunmetal or matte black tapware
- Fluted glass or timber details for warmth
Eco-friendly bathroom choices
- Water-efficient tapware, showers and toilets (check the WELS star rating)
- LED lighting and a ducted exhaust fan on a timer
- Durable, low-maintenance finishes that won’t need replacing in a few years
- Moisture-resistant, low-emission joinery for vanities and cabinets
Design your bathroom with Blackwood
Blackwood Carpentry & Joinery designs and renovates bathrooms across Sydney, including custom vanities and storage built by our own joiners. NSW Lic. 502666C.
See our bathroom and laundry renovations, read our bathroom cost guide, or call Fred on 0478 900 078.
Frequently asked questions
How can I make a small bathroom look bigger?
Use a wall-hung vanity, frameless glass, large-format tiles floor to ceiling and a recessed niche and mirror cabinet.
Should I keep a bath when I renovate?
If it’s the only bathroom in a family home, usually yes. In ensuites and smaller homes, a larger shower is often more useful.
What is the most popular bathroom layout?
A walk-in shower across the back wall with a wall-hung vanity is the most common choice for small and medium bathrooms.
How do I make a bathroom more eco-friendly?
Choose high WELS-rated tapware and toilets, LED lighting, good ventilation and durable finishes.