Small bathroom ideas: space-saving WCs, bidets and washbasins

In a small bathroom every centimetre counts, and the sanitaryware you choose makes more difference than any styling trick. This guide covers the rules you need to respect in Italy, then the fixtures that save the most space: compact wall-hung WCs and bidets, slim washbasins and a shower instead of a bath.

What the rules require

In Italy the baseline is the Ministerial Decree of 5 July 1975 (DM 5 luglio 1975). For a home:

• At least one bathroom must have a WC, bidet, bath or shower, and washbasin (art. 7).
• The bathroom must have an opening to the outside for air change. In a bathroom without one, appliances with an open flame are forbidden (art. 7), and fumes and vapours must be extracted where they are produced (art. 6).
• The ceiling height of bathrooms can be reduced to 2.40 m (art. 1).

Your municipality's building regulations (regolamento edilizio) may add further rules, for example on windowless bathrooms. Check with your surveyor or architect before you move fixtures.

1. Go wall-hung

Wall-hung WCs and bidets keep the floor clear, which makes a small room look bigger and much easier to clean. The cistern is hidden in a frame inside the wall. If you are undecided, read our comparison of wall-hung vs floor-standing toilets and our guide to concealed cisterns and flush plates. Browse all models in the Hung collection.

2. Choose a short projection

Projection, how far the WC sticks out from the wall, is what frees up walking space. Two compact options from our catalogue:

• UNICA 47 WC Hung: 47 cm deep, rimless (Aliflush), in white and a wide range of matt and glossy colours. The matching UNICA 47 Bidet Hung has the same 47 cm depth.
• SHORT Wall-hung WC: 50 x 37 cm, from a compact range designed for small bathrooms, rentals and contract projects. Seat and fixing brackets are sold separately.

Not sure whether you need a rimless bowl? See rimless toilets explained.

3. Pick a slim washbasin

A standard 60 cm basin can block the door or the shower. The SPY collection is designed for compact spaces and every size can be wall-hung or used on a countertop, with or without a tap hole:

• SPY Washbasin 40cm x 30cm for a guest WC or a tight corner.
• SPY Washbasin 45cm x 20cm, only 20 cm deep, for narrow, corridor-shaped bathrooms.
• For a countertop, the UNICA Washbasin 45cm x 31cm.

A wall-mounted tap with a no-tap-hole basin saves a few more centimetres of depth. See all basins without a tap hole.

4. Swap the bath for a shower

The law asks for a bath or a shower, so in a small bathroom a shower tray usually frees the most floor space. See our ceramic shower trays and ask us for the technical drawing to check the waste position.

5. Plan the clearances before you buy

Draw the room to scale and mark the space you need in front of and beside each fixture. Our bathroom measurements guide gives the WC–bidet spacing and front clearances to use. A sliding or outward-opening door also frees up the space a door swing would take.

6. Keep the palette light and consistent

Matching the WC, bidet and basin in one finish keeps a small room calm. White or soft matt tones reflect more light, and our guide to styling with Italian ceramics has more ideas. Colours on screen are indicative, so ask us for a sample.

Watch it done: search YouTube for small bathroom layout ideas.

Recommended products

UNICA 47 WC Hung

SHORT Wall-hung WC

SPY Washbasin 40cm x 30cm

SPY Washbasin 45cm x 20cm

Sources and further reading

• Decreto ministeriale Sanità 5 luglio 1975 (full text)
• Cose di Casa: lavabo bagno, vincoli di spazio e impianto