A common bathroom size in the United States is around 40 square feet. While it might not sound like much, design and construction pros know which colors, materials, features and strategies can maximize space and visually expand the footprint. Here, pros share some of those details they used in seven bathrooms between 37 and 57 square feet.
Fig St. Design
1. Polished and Practical
Designers: Naomi Dresser and Caitlin Carter of Fig St. Design
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This space was designed to be a guest bathroom with serene beach vibes and maximize storage opportunities,” designer Naomi Dresser says. “This beach house is super tiny with very little closet space, so the bathroom needed to be able to accommodate space for extra linens, towels and cleaning supplies.”
Special features. “The color palette draws from the coast — muted ocean spray shower tile and warm wood tones with a splash of brass,” Dresser says. “To give the space an ultrasoft and custom vibe, we created custom countertop edges, fluted cabinet details and a full tile backsplash behind the vanity.”
Small-space strategies. The tiled backsplash extends from the vanity to the ceiling and into the shower, visually extending the space. Stacked rectangular tile in the shower emphasizes the height of the shower. Large-format floor tile runs into a curbless shower, lending a light and airy look and feel. “Custom cabinetry offered the opportunity to maximize storage and give added details like the fluting,” Dresser says. “We added a custom built-in full-height cabinet to the left of the vanity to capitalize on storage square footage.”
Dresser uses Houzz Pro software to manage projects, including for retainers, proposals, invoices and purchase orders. “Keeps us organized,” she says.
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Fig St. Design
Designer tip. “Choosing a tile that offered finished edges allowed us to eliminate metal edge details and create a super-polished look,” Dresser says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The countertop detail was custom-designed and went through several iterations before the fabricator nailed it,” Dresser says. “The first version didn’t allow for the cabinet door adjacent to it to open. We had to make modifications to the detailing — shrink the rounded edge and flush out the drop below — in order to get it all to work harmoniously.”
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Tailored Designs
2. Traditional Roots Special features. “We introduced a compact vanity with a custom U-shaped drawer design around the plumbing,” Scott says. “This addition provided much-needed storage and surface space while maintaining the timeless appeal of the room. Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue on the vanity is a rich tone that adds depth and character. To complete the space, Harlequin’s Wood Frog wallpaper in Wild Water and Chalk adds a playful, pattern-rich backdrop with a nod to the home’s vintage charm.”
Designer: Sara Scott of Tailored Designs
Contractor: Hansen’s Renovations
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 53 square feet (4.9 square meters); 6 feet, 8 inches by 7 feet, 11 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted to update the space to better suit their two young boys,” designer Sara Scott says. “The existing pedestal sink offered no storage and barely any counter space, which made the bathroom feel more limiting than functional. They also hoped to preserve the original medicine cabinet, a charming detail that reflects the character of their 1930s home.”
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Tailored Designs
Small-space strategies. “Every inch of this space was thoughtfully utilized,” Scott says. “With just over 60 inches of length along the tub wall, we incorporated a custom shelf at the end of the shower to maximize storage without crowding the layout. This complements the larger recessed niche on the main tub wall, offering ample room for bath essentials. The vanity’s decorative feet keep the piece visually light, helping the room feel more open while still delivering functional storage.” Stacked blue tile in the shower helps draw the eye up to highlight the height.
Designer tip. “Color-matching the trim and original medicine cabinet to the vanity created a cohesive, custom look that truly grounded the space,” Scott says. “It added depth and visual interest, allowing the rich cabinet color to frame the room beautifully. In a space with bold wallpaper, white trim would have faded into the background. This approach gave the entire room a more intentional, elevated feel.”
Standard Dimensions and Measurements for a Primary Bath
Baron Construction and Remodeling
3. Pattern Play Homeowners’ request. “The home has three full bathrooms, all the same relatively small size,” designer Julie de Jesús Special features. Green and white ceramic tiles on the floor and vanity wall in a lively pattern. Shower controls on the back wall allow users to turn on the water without getting sprayed. A wood vanity brings warmth and texture.
Designer and architect: Julie de Jesús Architecture
Contractor: Baron Construction and Remodeling
Location: Menlo Park, California
Size: 37½ square feet (3.5 square meters); 5 feet by 7 feet, 6 inches
Baron Construction and Remodeling
Small-space strategies. A floating vanity creates a sense of openness. A fixed shower panel helps visually expand the room. Vertical white tiles cover the back shower wall and the wall opposite the vanity, creating depth.
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KraftMaster Renovations
4. Timeless Touches
Designer: Vicky Karcich of KraftMaster Renovations
Location: Chatham, New Jersey
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This hall bath was part of a second-floor addition for a growing family,” designer Vicky Karcich says. “It was designed for their children to use, so fitting in a bathtub was a must. We also needed to make sure the niche was a suitable size for all the products needed for kids and a baby. Since the tub is being used for small kids, the client opted for a shower curtain to make it easier to get in and out, and easier for bathing a small child. They can add a shower door down the road if they choose to.”
Special features. “The client was looking to add design interest in small accents, so we used a 4-by-12-inch porcelain floor tile in a petrified-wood look, in a blue color,” Karcich says. “We installed it in a herringbone pattern for visual interest. Since we had the blue on the floor, we kept the shower walls white for a clean look and to further accent the floor. We brought in a touch of blue in the shower by using a soft blue-tinted penny round tile. To add some warmth, we incorporated a warm wood tone for the vanity. The black fixtures are a nice contrast to the lightness at eye level.”
KraftMaster Renovations
Small-space strategies. “By using a light paint color and white tile in the shower area, the room feels more open,” Karcich says. “For storage, we incorporated a suitably sized niche to house products. We also added a small hook on either side of the niche to hang washcloths.”
Designer tip. “If a homeowner doesn’t want to commit to a specific design aesthetic, it’s always best to think timeless,” Karcich says. “For example, in this bathroom we used white subway tile in the shower but added some interest with the pop of color in the niche.”
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Jamee Parish Architects, LLC
5. Full of Character Wall tile: Paint Verde Green Glossy, TileBar; cistern:
Designers: Elysa Roberts Interiors and Jamee Parish ArchitectsLocation: Guysville, Ohio
Size: 57 square feet (5.3 square meters); 6 feet, 4 inches by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The design goal was to marry whimsy with a modern, masculine edge,” architect Jamee Parish says.
Special features. “We layered a sepia-toned newspaper-print wallpaper with mossy green imperfect tiles to add character,” Parish says. “For the focal point, we sourced a high-cistern commode in an unlacquered brass, which will develop a beautiful patina over time. For visual impact, we introduced a bold diamond-patterned floor in complementary hues that play well against the organic movement of the Cambria quartz countertop, shower curb and shower bench. The clipped ceilings add an additional touch of character as well.”
Small-space strategies. “This bathroom isn’t especially large, but the ceilings are impressively tall,” Parish says. “To highlight the vertical space, we chose a high-cistern commode that naturally draws the eye upward and also serves as a stunning statement piece. We also added a linen closet to the right of the sink.”
Designer tip. “Using a cohesive color palette paired with plenty of texture, we were able to create a bathroom that feels both inviting and visually dynamic,” Parish says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “During the design process, a small miscommunication in the tile installation ended up being a happy accident,” Parish says. “Initially, we had not planned for the shower wall tile to extend behind the vanity, but it turned out to be a stunning detail that I’m so glad happened.”
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Renovation Design Group
6. Light and Airy Small-space strategies. Floating vanity. Curbless shower with frameless glass divider. White finishes enhance light, giving the space airiness. “Clean lines and a tonal approach helped quiet the visual noise, allowing the space to breathe and feel larger than it is,” Morozoff says.
Designer: Helena Morozoff of Cityhome Collective
Architects: Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer of Renovation Design Group
Contractor: Living Home Construction
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Size: 48 square feet (4.5 square meters); 5 feet by 9 feet, 7 inches
Homeowners’ request. “When the homeowners approached us, they were looking to transform their home into a space that truly reflected their lifestyle, a place that felt warm and inviting for family gatherings but also elevated and design-forward enough to entertain with ease,” designer Helena Morozoff says. “Their existing layout felt disjointed and dated, with finishes that were hard to maintain and a style that didn’t reflect their aesthetic. The vision was clear: create a room that was casual yet sophisticated, timeless but not sterile and, above all, functional for a young family.”
Special features. “We focused on a palette of soft neutrals layered with rich textures, easy-to-clean fabrics, durable surfaces and furnishings that strike the perfect balance between comfort and refinement,” Morozoff says.
Designer tip. “One of the most impactful design principles we employed — and one we consistently recommend — is the use of a unified architectural language and a restrained material palette throughout the home,” Morozoff says. “Repeating finishes, forms and tones fosters a sense of quiet rhythm and cohesion, creating spaces that feel both expansive and composed, regardless of scale, while at the same time strategically adding elements of surprise in visually impactful areas.”
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Jane Kim Architect
7. Dark and Moody Small-space strategies. “Extensive storage was provided with three extra-deep medicine cabinets installed together to read as a long mirror, to give a more expansive feel of the space,” Kim says. Designer tip. “Six-inch-deep medicine cabinets provide a massive amount of storage,” Kim says. “When a toilet paper rolls fits in your medicine cabinet, it frees up the vanity for more important things.”
Designer: Jane Kim Architect
Location: New York City
Size: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The owners wanted a clean, modern space to integrate with the rest of the apartment,” architect Jane Kim says. “They were interested in finding natural materials that provided visual interest in the space.”
Special features. “Blue de Savoie marble on the walls is the main material in the bathroom,” Kim says. “The white oak vanity provides another natural texture. Midnight blue porcelain tile in the shower and on the floor complements the gray veined marble. Black plumbing fixtures contrast with the other materials and tie the space together.”
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