Ensuite bathroom ideas for small and large rooms

How do you plan an ensuite bathroom?

Before choosing tiles, check the four things that decide where an en-suite can go and what it can hold.

• Drainage. The toilet needs a route to the soil pipe. The closer the en-suite is to the soil stack, the simpler and cheaper it is. Where gravity won't work, a macerator can pump the waste, but only if the home also has a WC that drains by gravity (LABC).
• Ventilation. A room with a shower needs an extractor fan that moves at least 15 litres per second (BEAMA), ducted to the outside.
• Electrics. Lights and fans near the shower need the right IP rating, and new circuits in a bathroom are notifiable work for a registered electrician.
• Water pressure. A mixer shower needs good hot water flow. If it's weak, an electric shower or a pump may be the answer.

Small ensuite bathroom ideas

Choose a shower, not a bath

A walk-in shower with one glass panel, or a corner shower such as a quadrant shower enclosure, takes far less space than a bath. A sliding door saves the swing of a hinged one. In a larger en-suite bathroom, a freestanding bath can be the centrepiece.

Wall-hung toilet and basin

With the cistern hidden in the wall and the basin floating, you see more floor, which makes the room feel bigger and easier to clean.

A short-projection basin

Basins and vanity units with a shallow depth leave more room to walk past in a narrow en-suite.

A mirrored cabinet

A mirror cabinet doubles as storage. Recess it into a stud wall if you can, so it doesn't stick out.

Recessed niches

A shower niche or a recessed shelf behind the toilet holds bottles without shelves or caddies.

A pocket or sliding door

A pocket door slides into the wall, so you don't lose space in the en-suite or the bedroom to a door swing.

Large tiles, one colour

Of all the design ideas here, this is the simplest: large-format tiles in one light colour on the walls and floor mean fewer grout lines and a calmer, bigger-feeling room. See our bathroom tile ideas for more.

A heated towel rail

A slim heated towel rail warms the room and dries towels without taking floor space.

Colour and lighting that add depth

A dark feature wall behind the vanity, or a warm accent such as sage green or soft yellow, can add depth. Recessed spotlights over the shower and basin make a small ensuite bathroom feel larger.

How can you make a small ensuite look bigger?

• Use a clear glass shower panel rather than a framed enclosure.
• Run the same floor tile into the shower area, or use a level-access shower.
• Choose a large mirror, ideally wall to wall above the basin.
• Keep the colours light and the finishes simple.
• Light it well: a lit mirror plus ceiling downlights rated for bathrooms.

Storage ideas for an ensuite

Vanity units with drawers, a tall storage unit, a mirror cabinet, niches in the shower and a shelf over a boxed-in cistern maximise storage without crowding the room.

Ensuite ideas on a budget

• Keep the toilet and shower where the plumbing already is.
• Use waterproof wall panels in the shower instead of tiles.
• Choose a standard shower enclosure size.
• Refresh with a new vanity, mirror and lighting if the suite is sound.

Should an en-suite have a door or be open plan?

Most people choose a door. An open-plan en-suite can look striking in a large bedroom, but steam, noise and smells reach the bedroom, so it needs strong extraction. A pocket door or a glass screen is a good middle ground.

What lighting and ventilation does an ensuite need?

Use bathroom-rated (IP-rated) fittings near the shower, a lit mirror for shaving and make-up, and a separate low light for night use. For ventilation, the fan must move at least 15 litres per second (BEAMA). If the en-suite has no window, the fan should keep running for a while after the light goes off.

How much does it cost to put an ensuite in a bedroom?

Good bathroom design keeps costs down, but the plumbing route matters most. MyBuilder's UK guide puts en-suites at £4,000 to £20,000, and suggests allowing a 10% to 15% contingency for anything found during the work (MyBuilder). Refitting an existing en-suite sits at the lower end. Building a new one, with new drainage, a stud wall and electrics, sits higher. See our en-suite service and bathroom prices for Doncaster ranges.

Frequently asked questions