5 New Bathrooms With Space-Saving Strategies
These 40- to 68-square-foot bathrooms use smart storage and layout ideas to make the most of every inch
A small to medium-size bathroom doesn’t have to come up short on function or style. Smart storage solutions, efficient layouts and carefully chosen design details can help maximize every inch while making a compact space feel more open and comfortable. The five bathrooms featured here range from 40 to 68 square feet and show how design and remodeling pros created hardworking spaces that feel larger than their footprints suggest.
2. Desert-Inspired Warmth
Designers: Aggie Revane and Veronica Jurist of Studio VAE
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 41 square feet (3.8 square meters); 5 feet by 8 feet, 2 inches
Homeowner’s request. “Our client, a pediatric nurse, dreamed of transforming the only
bathroom in her three-bedroom home into an inviting, peaceful haven where she could relax and unwind after her full days,” says designer Aggie Revane.
Special features. “We designed and renovated this bathroom to create the ultimate tranquil sanctuary, drawing inspiration from the warm, soothing colors of a desert sunset,” Revane says. “Though we didn’t add square footage, we created a sense of spaciousness with our selections. A large-format gray terrazzo floor tile paired with vertically stacked terra-cotta ceramic tiles on the walls opens up the space. The vanity is a beautiful white oak base cabinet with concrete top and a round vessel sink.
“A brushed gold modern faucet, frameless medicine cabinet and a dainty green pendant light fixture enhance the space’s softness and femininity. For a relaxing spa-worthy experience, we chose a deep soaking tub and brushed gold fixtures. A convenient built-in nook in the shower wall provides a tidy space for bathing necessities. Acacia wood shelves with brass hardware serve as naturally beautiful yet practical storage.”
Space-saving strategies. “A recessed frameless medicine cabinet keeps essentials like her electric toothbrush and skincare products neatly tucked away, with an interior outlet so nothing has to live on the counter,” Revane says. “The vanity was designed with a generous drawer for larger products and open storage below to keep fresh towels within easy reach. A built-in shower niche corrals bathing necessities while keeping the space feeling clean and uncluttered. Floating acacia wood shelves above the toilet take advantage of vertical space, offering practical storage while leaving room for curated decor.”
Designer tip. “Don’t underestimate the power of tile direction,” Revane says. “In this bathroom, we stacked the wall tile vertically rather than in a traditional horizontal pattern, and that simple choice made a significant difference. It draws the eye upward, making the room feel taller and more open without adding a single square foot. If you’re working with a smaller bathroom, try this trick before assuming you need a full remodel — the right tile orientation can completely transform how a space feels.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “During demolition a small fire broke out when the crew’s grinder made contact with nails in the wall,” Revane says. “For a split second it was very much an ‘uh-oh’ moment. Fortunately no one was injured and the damage was contained. What made all the difference was our general contractor’s immediate, transparent communication — they quickly dispatched the fire department, who confirmed the hazard was fully under control. It was a good reminder that the right team isn’t just about skill and craftsmanship; it’s about how they show up when things go sideways.”
Wall tile: Sahara in Cotto, 3 by 12 inches, Bedrosians
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Designers: Aggie Revane and Veronica Jurist of Studio VAE
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 41 square feet (3.8 square meters); 5 feet by 8 feet, 2 inches
Homeowner’s request. “Our client, a pediatric nurse, dreamed of transforming the only
bathroom in her three-bedroom home into an inviting, peaceful haven where she could relax and unwind after her full days,” says designer Aggie Revane.
Special features. “We designed and renovated this bathroom to create the ultimate tranquil sanctuary, drawing inspiration from the warm, soothing colors of a desert sunset,” Revane says. “Though we didn’t add square footage, we created a sense of spaciousness with our selections. A large-format gray terrazzo floor tile paired with vertically stacked terra-cotta ceramic tiles on the walls opens up the space. The vanity is a beautiful white oak base cabinet with concrete top and a round vessel sink.
“A brushed gold modern faucet, frameless medicine cabinet and a dainty green pendant light fixture enhance the space’s softness and femininity. For a relaxing spa-worthy experience, we chose a deep soaking tub and brushed gold fixtures. A convenient built-in nook in the shower wall provides a tidy space for bathing necessities. Acacia wood shelves with brass hardware serve as naturally beautiful yet practical storage.”
Space-saving strategies. “A recessed frameless medicine cabinet keeps essentials like her electric toothbrush and skincare products neatly tucked away, with an interior outlet so nothing has to live on the counter,” Revane says. “The vanity was designed with a generous drawer for larger products and open storage below to keep fresh towels within easy reach. A built-in shower niche corrals bathing necessities while keeping the space feeling clean and uncluttered. Floating acacia wood shelves above the toilet take advantage of vertical space, offering practical storage while leaving room for curated decor.”
Designer tip. “Don’t underestimate the power of tile direction,” Revane says. “In this bathroom, we stacked the wall tile vertically rather than in a traditional horizontal pattern, and that simple choice made a significant difference. It draws the eye upward, making the room feel taller and more open without adding a single square foot. If you’re working with a smaller bathroom, try this trick before assuming you need a full remodel — the right tile orientation can completely transform how a space feels.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “During demolition a small fire broke out when the crew’s grinder made contact with nails in the wall,” Revane says. “For a split second it was very much an ‘uh-oh’ moment. Fortunately no one was injured and the damage was contained. What made all the difference was our general contractor’s immediate, transparent communication — they quickly dispatched the fire department, who confirmed the hazard was fully under control. It was a good reminder that the right team isn’t just about skill and craftsmanship; it’s about how they show up when things go sideways.”
Wall tile: Sahara in Cotto, 3 by 12 inches, Bedrosians
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3. Room to Breathe
Designers: Sarah Smith and Ian Butcher of Best Practice Architecture
Location: Seattle
Size: 68 square feet (6.3 square meters); 5 feet, 3 inches by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. A second-floor addition is devoted entirely to a new primary suite. The design team created a private retreat that reflects the character of the original house, maximizes views into the surrounding trees and helps address the lack of natural light in the existing home.
“By building up, designing vaulted ceilings and strategically placing new glazing, we were able to introduce more natural light into the new primary suite,” says designer Sarah Smith. “In particular, a paired window and skylight in the corner of the shower, placed at the peak point of the ceiling, washes the floor-to-ceiling tiled wall with gentle daylight and illuminates the entire space with diffuse light.”
Special features. “Taking a cue from the treehouse inspiration, we knew early on in the interior design process that the homeowners wanted to use the color green in their primary bathroom — the 3-by-3-inch square from Fireclay Tile in color Manzanita — but they also didn’t want to play it too safe or boring,” Smith says. “We showed them the Mint Retro Mix terrazzo countertop from Concrete Collaborative, and they really gravitated to how it both read as abstract and graphic as well as something handcrafted.
“The terrazzo bridged the divide between the neutral-leaning light green tile and white oak finishes with the boldness of the black plumbing fixtures and hardware. And even though this is the parents’ retreat, this is the home of a growing family. Crocodiles, dinosaurs and other indications of a kid-friendly life abound.”
Space-saving strategies. “The second-story addition was not a large footprint, so we needed to design a bathroom with an efficient floor plan that still felt relatively gracious and uncramped,” Smith says. “There’s a tub in the main-floor bathroom, so eschewing a second tub in the primary bathroom was a huge space saver, enabling us to design a large — for Seattle standards — 7-foot-wide custom rift white oak vanity with ample storage and a roomy shower. Additional storage was built into the custom mirror wall with an integrated recessed medicine cabinet and a floating shelf.
“The vaulted ceiling and the skylight lend height, while the window and skylight provide views to the tree canopy, assisting in a more expansive sense of space. To further unencumber the room, we kept the shower partition very simple with a curb and a single piece of glass — no solid wall, no shower door.”
Designer tip. “I think the best way to elevate a space without a lot of gratuitous cost is to showcase purposeful design decisions,” Smith says. “It’s often the hallmark of a thoughtfully designed space as opposed to just a built space. Tile is a great place to do this.”
4 Designer Secrets to a Luxurious Bathroom Look
Designers: Sarah Smith and Ian Butcher of Best Practice Architecture
Location: Seattle
Size: 68 square feet (6.3 square meters); 5 feet, 3 inches by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. A second-floor addition is devoted entirely to a new primary suite. The design team created a private retreat that reflects the character of the original house, maximizes views into the surrounding trees and helps address the lack of natural light in the existing home.
“By building up, designing vaulted ceilings and strategically placing new glazing, we were able to introduce more natural light into the new primary suite,” says designer Sarah Smith. “In particular, a paired window and skylight in the corner of the shower, placed at the peak point of the ceiling, washes the floor-to-ceiling tiled wall with gentle daylight and illuminates the entire space with diffuse light.”
Special features. “Taking a cue from the treehouse inspiration, we knew early on in the interior design process that the homeowners wanted to use the color green in their primary bathroom — the 3-by-3-inch square from Fireclay Tile in color Manzanita — but they also didn’t want to play it too safe or boring,” Smith says. “We showed them the Mint Retro Mix terrazzo countertop from Concrete Collaborative, and they really gravitated to how it both read as abstract and graphic as well as something handcrafted.
“The terrazzo bridged the divide between the neutral-leaning light green tile and white oak finishes with the boldness of the black plumbing fixtures and hardware. And even though this is the parents’ retreat, this is the home of a growing family. Crocodiles, dinosaurs and other indications of a kid-friendly life abound.”
Space-saving strategies. “The second-story addition was not a large footprint, so we needed to design a bathroom with an efficient floor plan that still felt relatively gracious and uncramped,” Smith says. “There’s a tub in the main-floor bathroom, so eschewing a second tub in the primary bathroom was a huge space saver, enabling us to design a large — for Seattle standards — 7-foot-wide custom rift white oak vanity with ample storage and a roomy shower. Additional storage was built into the custom mirror wall with an integrated recessed medicine cabinet and a floating shelf.
“The vaulted ceiling and the skylight lend height, while the window and skylight provide views to the tree canopy, assisting in a more expansive sense of space. To further unencumber the room, we kept the shower partition very simple with a curb and a single piece of glass — no solid wall, no shower door.”
Designer tip. “I think the best way to elevate a space without a lot of gratuitous cost is to showcase purposeful design decisions,” Smith says. “It’s often the hallmark of a thoughtfully designed space as opposed to just a built space. Tile is a great place to do this.”
4 Designer Secrets to a Luxurious Bathroom Look
4. Mediterranean Influence
Designers: Mallary Darrah and Kyle Oehrle of Wichita Home Works
Contractor: Nathan Svoboda of Wichita Home Works
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Size: 40 square feet; (3.7 square meters) 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The vision for this space started with the imported barn doors from Italy,” says contractor Nathan Svoboda. “They had so much history and character that they became the design anchor, and the rest of the room was built around creating a warm, Mediterranean-inspired primary suite.”
Special features. “This room stands out because the design was built around a mix of imported old-world character and highly functional custom details,” Svoboda says. “The custom furniture-style vanity is made from rustic hickory, with distressed character including checking, knots and inconsistent finishing for a handcrafted look.
“Floating shelves above the toilet are built from the matching vanity material and distressing. Cambria Inverness Gold quartz is used for the vanity countertop, shower curb top, bench top and shower niche shelves, tying the bathroom together with a warm stone accent. A vertical picket tile feature wall behind the vanity is installed vertically to the ceiling. The flooring in the bathroom and bedroom is brick-like tile in an offset pattern, creating a warm foundation throughout the suite. Oil-rubbed bronze shower fixtures include a rain shower head, hand shower, slide bar, hose and matching trim.”
Space-saving strategies. “The imported Italian barn doors helped save floor space by eliminating the need for a traditional swinging door between the bedroom and bathroom, while also creating a more dramatic opening between the two rooms,” Svoboda says. “The vanity has built-in drawers, a hair dryer organizer and a docking drawer. Floating shelves above the toilet added storage without making the room feel heavy.
“To make the bathroom feel more open, we carried the shower tile to the ceiling, added a built-in niche with quartz shelves and used a frameless glass shower door so the room felt brighter and less closed off. Updated lighting throughout the suite also helped the space feel larger, warmer and more functional.”
Designer tip. “Choose one meaningful anchor piece and let the rest of the room build from there,” Svoboda says. “For this project, the imported Italian barn doors set the tone, and we used them as the starting point for the Mediterranean-inspired design.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “One of the most challenging parts of the project was the brick-style floor tile,” Svoboda says. “It looks effortless when finished, but the installation was very tedious because every line and offset had to stay consistent across the bathroom and bedroom. We relied heavily on lasers and chalk lines to keep everything straight.”
Wall tile: Ironworks Aqua picket glossy, Soci
How to Remodel a Bathroom
Designers: Mallary Darrah and Kyle Oehrle of Wichita Home Works
Contractor: Nathan Svoboda of Wichita Home Works
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Size: 40 square feet; (3.7 square meters) 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The vision for this space started with the imported barn doors from Italy,” says contractor Nathan Svoboda. “They had so much history and character that they became the design anchor, and the rest of the room was built around creating a warm, Mediterranean-inspired primary suite.”
Special features. “This room stands out because the design was built around a mix of imported old-world character and highly functional custom details,” Svoboda says. “The custom furniture-style vanity is made from rustic hickory, with distressed character including checking, knots and inconsistent finishing for a handcrafted look.
“Floating shelves above the toilet are built from the matching vanity material and distressing. Cambria Inverness Gold quartz is used for the vanity countertop, shower curb top, bench top and shower niche shelves, tying the bathroom together with a warm stone accent. A vertical picket tile feature wall behind the vanity is installed vertically to the ceiling. The flooring in the bathroom and bedroom is brick-like tile in an offset pattern, creating a warm foundation throughout the suite. Oil-rubbed bronze shower fixtures include a rain shower head, hand shower, slide bar, hose and matching trim.”
Space-saving strategies. “The imported Italian barn doors helped save floor space by eliminating the need for a traditional swinging door between the bedroom and bathroom, while also creating a more dramatic opening between the two rooms,” Svoboda says. “The vanity has built-in drawers, a hair dryer organizer and a docking drawer. Floating shelves above the toilet added storage without making the room feel heavy.
“To make the bathroom feel more open, we carried the shower tile to the ceiling, added a built-in niche with quartz shelves and used a frameless glass shower door so the room felt brighter and less closed off. Updated lighting throughout the suite also helped the space feel larger, warmer and more functional.”
Designer tip. “Choose one meaningful anchor piece and let the rest of the room build from there,” Svoboda says. “For this project, the imported Italian barn doors set the tone, and we used them as the starting point for the Mediterranean-inspired design.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “One of the most challenging parts of the project was the brick-style floor tile,” Svoboda says. “It looks effortless when finished, but the installation was very tedious because every line and offset had to stay consistent across the bathroom and bedroom. We relied heavily on lasers and chalk lines to keep everything straight.”
Wall tile: Ironworks Aqua picket glossy, Soci
How to Remodel a Bathroom
5. Coastal Character
Designer: Brittany Cocozza of Trinity Custom Homes
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Size: 49 square feet (4.6 square meters); 5 feet 5 inches by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is a new-construction custom home,” says designer Brittany Cocozza. “The client wanted a fun coastal bathroom.”
Special features. Light blue and white shower tile. Porcelain-look marble floor tile. Custom vanity painted green-gray (Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams). Polished chrome fixtures.
Space-saving strategies. “We used a 48-inch vanity with two banks of drawers,” Cocozza says.
Designer tip. “We designed the bathroom with simple tiles used in a fun striped pattern to give more interest,” Cocozza says.
Cocozza uses Houzz Pro software, especially for invoicing, budgeting and 3D Floor Plans.
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Designer: Brittany Cocozza of Trinity Custom Homes
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Size: 49 square feet (4.6 square meters); 5 feet 5 inches by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is a new-construction custom home,” says designer Brittany Cocozza. “The client wanted a fun coastal bathroom.”
Special features. Light blue and white shower tile. Porcelain-look marble floor tile. Custom vanity painted green-gray (Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams). Polished chrome fixtures.
Space-saving strategies. “We used a 48-inch vanity with two banks of drawers,” Cocozza says.
Designer tip. “We designed the bathroom with simple tiles used in a fun striped pattern to give more interest,” Cocozza says.
Cocozza uses Houzz Pro software, especially for invoicing, budgeting and 3D Floor Plans.
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
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Designer: Jacob Levy of Concept Renovations
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners came to us because their existing bathroom felt dark, closed off and lacked both natural light and functional storage,” says designer Jacob Levy. “Their vision was to create a brighter, more calming space with earthy tones and a natural organic feel. Together we focused on improving the layout, maximizing light throughout the room and incorporating better storage solutions to make the space feel both elevated and highly functional.”
Special features. “The space was designed with a focus on natural materials and warm organic textures to create a calming and timeless atmosphere,” Levy says. “We sourced natural stone throughout the bathroom and paired it with light wood cabinetry to bring warmth and softness into the space.”
Space-saving strategies. “To maximize both storage and functionality, we incorporated custom cabinetry beneath the sink with built-in organizational features to efficiently utilize the available space,” Levy says.
Designer tip. “One design approach we would recommend to other homeowners is incorporating natural materials and lighter tones to make a space feel brighter and more open,” Levy says. “In this bathroom, using light wood cabinetry, natural stone and layered textures helped create warmth while still keeping the room feeling airy and spacious. We also recommend investing in smart built-in storage solutions, as they help maintain a clean, uncluttered look without sacrificing functionality.”
Levy uses Houzz Pro software to help manage his business. “We use it to find new clients as well as other Houzz Pro users to collaborate with,” he says.
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