Small Bathrooms: 10 Ideas to Make Yours Feel Bigger and Look Better

A small bathroom is one of the most common renovation challenges in Spanish apartments and houses — and one of the most rewarding to solve. The good news: size matters far less than you might think. With the right layout, materials and lighting decisions, a 4 or 5 m² bathroom can feel twice as spacious and work just as well as one double the size.

Here are the strategies we use most regularly in bathroom renovations across the Costa del Sol.

1. Use large-format tiles — even in small spaces

This feels counterintuitive, but large formats work better in small bathrooms than small tiles. A 60x120 cm or 60x60 cm tile has fewer visible grout lines, which creates a sense of uninterrupted surface that reads as more space.

Small mosaics or 20x20 cm tiles visually fragment the room and emphasise how limited the space is.

Practical tip: Use the same material on floors and walls to eliminate the dividing line between surfaces. This continuity is one of the most effective visual tricks for making a small bathroom feel larger.

2. Tile all the way to the ceiling

Don't stop at standard 2.10 m height. Tiling to the ceiling is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to make a small bathroom feel taller and more generous. It also simplifies cleaning and gives a much cleaner finish overall.

If you want to introduce contrast without complicating the space, use the same tile throughout and vary only one accent wall — behind the mirror or at the back of the shower, for example.

3. Replace the bath with a shower

In bathrooms under 6 m², replacing the bathtub with a shower enclosure is almost always the right decision. You'll recover between 0.8 and 1.2 m² of usable space — a significant gain in a tight room — and the result will feel substantially more open.

The most popular options in current renovations:

• Low-profile resin shower tray (2.5–3 cm high): easy access, clean look, straightforward installation
• Wet-room style flush floor shower with linear drain: the most premium finish, fully flush with the floor
• Fixed tempered glass screen instead of a hinged door or curtain: no swing radius required and doesn't interrupt the visual line

4. Wall-hung sanitaryware

Wall-hung toilets and basins are one of the best investments in a small bathroom. With the floor left clear underneath, the room reads as significantly more open — and cleaning becomes far easier.

A wall-hung toilet takes up much less visual mass than a floor-standing model, even if the physical dimensions are similar. The cistern goes inside the wall (concealed cistern frame), which also removes a visual obstruction.

For the basin, countertop or inset vanity basin options add more perceived depth than pedestal or wall-hung models on their own.

5. Vanity unit with drawers

Under the basin, a drawer unit makes far better use of the space than a traditional hinged-door cabinet. Drawers let you access everything without crouching, and with simple or push-to-open hardware the result is clean and contemporary.

The most popular finishes right now: walnut or oak effect, matt white lacquer, and combinations of wood with a cement or quartz countertop.

6. The biggest mirror you can fit

The mirror is the oldest and most effective trick for visually expanding a space. In a small bathroom, the bigger the mirror, the better. The options that work particularly well:

• Mirror that spans the full width of the vanity unit (or wider)
• Mirror that extends up to the ceiling
• Backlit mirror or LED perimeter lighting: adds light and perceived depth simultaneously

Avoid small centred mirrors: they fragment the space and reduce the light.

7. Light colours and light-reflecting finishes

Light tones amplify both natural and artificial light, making a space feel larger. The combinations that work best in small bathrooms:

• White + natural wood: classic, timeless and very bright
• Light grey + matt black: modern and refined without overwhelming
• Sand beige + cream: warm, Mediterranean and very popular on the Costa del Sol
• Sage green + white: a rising trend for bathrooms with more personality

Satin or semi-gloss finishes on wall tiles reflect more light than full matt, which helps significantly in bathrooms with limited natural light.

8. Use the vertical space

In a small bathroom, vertical space is often completely underused. Ideas for making the most of it:

• Wall shelving between the basin and the ceiling for towels and products
• Recessed medicine cabinet flush in the wall instead of a projecting unit: equally functional, zero wasted space
• Vertical heated towel rail instead of horizontal: takes up less wall space and provides warmth
• Hooks and rails at different heights rather than a single towel bar

9. Eliminate hinged doors

A standard hinged bathroom door needs a swing radius of around 70–80 cm. In a small bathroom, that's floor area you can't use for anything else. More efficient alternatives:

• Sliding door (wall-mounted or in a recessed track): zero floor space lost when open
• Folding door: half the swing radius of a standard hinged door
• In some layouts where the bathroom opens directly into a bedroom, a partial wall or screen can replace a door entirely

10. Layered lighting

A poorly lit bathroom feels smaller than it is. The key is combining two or three layers of light:

• General ceiling light (recessed downlights or a flush fitting)
• Mirror-specific lighting for the basin area (side wall lights or a backlit mirror): eliminates facial shadows and doubles the perceived light in the space
• Shower downlight (IP65 rated): picks out the shower volume and adds depth

Avoid relying on a single central ceiling light: it creates shadows that make the space feel more closed-in and is less functional for daily use.

What does a small bathroom renovation cost?

Renovation costs for a small bathroom on the Costa del Sol vary depending on the current condition and the materials chosen:

| Type of renovation | Approximate cost | |---|---| | Basic renovation (floors, walls, sanitaryware) | €4,500 – €6,500 | | Full renovation with walk-in shower and new vanity | €6,500 – €9,500 | | Premium renovation (large-format porcelain, designer taps) | €9,500 – €14,000 |

These prices include materials and labour. Typical execution time is 3 to 4 weeks.

See it in person at Dekorama

At our showroom in Benalmádena you can see complete bathroom displays at different quality and style levels before committing to anything. Our team advises on material selection, sanitaryware, taps and layout to make sure the result is exactly what you're looking for.

Complimentary home visit and no-obligation quote. Contact us here and we'll help you transform your bathroom — whatever size it is.