Small Bathroom, Big Impact: Maximizing Space in Your Shower Remodel

A small bathroom doesn't have to feel small. With the right design decisions — tile selection, fixture scale, glass configuration, color palette, and lighting — a compact bathroom can deliver the same visual impact as a spacious master suite. At Showerly, some of our most dramatic transformations happen in bathrooms under 50 square feet.

Understanding Small Bathroom Dimensions

Before diving into design strategies, let's establish what "small" means in practical terms:

• •Standard small bathroom: 5×8 feet (40 sq ft) — the most common size in Raleigh-area homes built before 2000
• •Compact full bathroom: 5×7 feet (35 sq ft) — found in older ranch homes and condos
• •Half bath / powder room: 3×5 feet (15 sq ft) — toilet and sink only
• •Three-quarter bath: 6×6 feet (36 sq ft) — shower, toilet, and sink with no tub

Most of our small bathroom remodels fall in the 35-50 square foot range, and we've developed specific strategies for maximizing every inch.

Tile Strategies That Expand Visual Space

Tile selection is the single most impactful design decision in a small bathroom. The right tile makes the room feel larger; the wrong tile makes it feel like a closet.

Large-Format Tiles Create Fewer Visual Breaks

12×24 tiles have fewer grout lines than 4×4 or 6×6 tiles, which means fewer visual interruptions on the wall surface. Fewer lines = the eye travels further = the space feels bigger. This is why our Signature package defaults to 12×24 porcelain on shower walls.

For even greater impact in a small space, consider running the same 12×24 tile vertically from floor to ceiling. Vertical orientation draws the eye upward and makes ceilings feel taller.

Light Colors Reflect More Light

This isn't just a design cliché — it's physics. Light-colored tiles (white, warm white, light gray, soft greige) reflect ambient light around the room, bouncing natural and artificial light off every surface. In a small bathroom with limited light sources, this reflective effect is significant.

Dark tiles can work in small bathrooms if you have strong lighting and use them strategically — for example, a dark accent wall in the shower with light tiles on the remaining walls and floor.

Continuity Across Surfaces

Using the same tile (or coordinating tiles from the same family) on the shower walls, bathroom walls, and floor creates a seamless visual flow that eliminates visual boundaries. When the eye doesn't hit a hard transition between surfaces, the room reads as one continuous space rather than a box with a smaller box inside it.

Our Masterpiece package makes this continuous-tile approach easy, with premium tile budgets that cover multiple surfaces.

Patterns That Work in Tight Spaces

• •Straight stack: Clean vertical or horizontal lines with no offset. Modern, calming, and doesn't fragment the visual space.
• •Large-format herringbone: If you love pattern, herringbone in a 4×12 or 6×18 format adds visual interest without the busy feel of small-tile herringbone.
• •Minimal accent: A single accent band or niche detail keeps the design interesting without overwhelming a small space.

Patterns to Avoid

• •Small mosaic on walls: Busy patterns with many grout lines make walls feel closer.
• •High-contrast patterns: Bold geometric patterns in contrasting colors fragment the visual space.
• •Too many tile types: Using different tiles on every surface creates visual chaos in a small room. Stick to two or three coordinating tiles maximum.

Fixture Scale and Selection

Oversized fixtures in a small bathroom create physical and visual clutter. Right-sizing every element preserves floor space and circulation room.

Shower Fixtures

• •Single-function showerheads: A standard 6-inch showerhead serves most small showers well without overwhelming the space
• •Low-profile mixing valves: Slim trim plates and lever handles sit closer to the wall than bulky knob-style controls
• •Recessed niches instead of caddies: Built-in niches (included in every Showerly package) eliminate hanging caddies and corner shelves that protrude into the shower space

Vanity Sizing

In a 5×8 bathroom, vanity width directly impacts how open the room feels:

• •24-inch vanity: Maximum floor space preservation. Works well for single-use bathrooms
• •30-inch vanity: Good balance of counter space and room circulation
• •36-inch vanity: The largest we recommend for a 5×8 bathroom. Only if the door swing and toilet clearance allow it

Wall-mounted (floating) vanities are particularly effective in small bathrooms because the visible floor beneath them makes the room feel larger. For more on vanity options, see our vanity installation guide.

Toilet Considerations

While Showerly specializes in shower and tile work, we coordinate with your plumber on fixture placement:

• •Compact elongated bowls: Provide the comfort of an elongated shape in a shorter footprint (about 2 inches shorter than standard elongated)
• •Wall-mounted toilets: Free up floor space and make cleaning easier, though they require in-wall carrier installation

Glass Enclosures That Open Up the Space

The right glass configuration can transform a small bathroom's perceived size.

Frameless Glass: The Space Maximizer

Frameless glass is particularly powerful in small bathrooms because it creates minimal visual obstruction. The eye passes through clear glass to the tile beyond, making the shower feel like part of the room rather than a separate box.

Our $2,000 frameless door or $3,200 frameless full enclosure add-ons pair exceptionally well with small bathroom remodels.

Fixed Panel Instead of Full Enclosure

In some small bathrooms, a single fixed glass panel (with no door) provides splash protection while maintaining maximum openness. This works best with curbless shower designs where the entire wet area is one continuous floor.

Clear Glass, Always

Frosted, textured, or patterned glass may seem appealing for privacy, but in a small bathroom, these finishes block visual depth. Clear glass allows the eye to travel the full length of the room. If privacy is a concern (glass visible from a hallway or bedroom), consider a frosted band at eye level rather than fully obscured glass.

Color and Lighting Strategies

Color Palette

For small bathrooms, we recommend:

• •Dominant color (80%): Light neutral — white, warm white, light greige, or soft gray for walls and primary tile
• •Secondary color (15%): A slightly deeper tone for accents — medium gray, warm taupe, or soft blue for niche tile or accent bands
• •Accent color (5%): Hardware finish — matte black, brushed nickel, or brushed gold for fixtures, towel bars, and glass hardware

This 80/15/5 ratio keeps the room light and open while adding enough contrast to feel designed, not bland.

Lighting

• •Overhead: A single recessed can light in the shower and one over the vanity. LED, 3000K-3500K color temperature for a warm, natural feel.
• •Vanity lighting: Side-mounted sconces or a horizontal bar light above the mirror. Front-lit mirrors are another great space-saving option.
• •Natural light: If you have a window, maximize it. Frosted glass or a top-down/bottom-up shade provides privacy while letting light in.
• •Shower lighting: A waterproof recessed LED in the shower ceiling makes a dramatic difference in small enclosed showers. This is a simple electrical addition your electrician can handle during the remodel.

Real Small Bathroom Transformations

The most common small bathroom remodel in Raleigh is a tub-to-shower conversion in a standard 5×8 bathroom. By replacing a 5-foot tub with a walk-in shower, you gain:

• •A usable shower instead of a tub nobody uses
• •Built-in storage (niches) instead of tub-edge clutter
• •Glass that opens the visual space instead of a shower curtain that closes it
• •Modern tile and fixtures that add value to your home

Our Essential package at $6,000 handles this transformation with quality tile and Schluter KERDI waterproofing. Add a semi-frameless glass door ($1,200) for the complete look.

Want to see how other homeowners maximized their small bathrooms? Browse our gallery for before-and-after examples. Ready to discuss your space? Book a free design consult or call (984) 895-0101. We'll help you turn your compact bathroom into something that feels anything but small.