Small bathroom renovation: from an outdated wet room to a modern bathroom

In the middle of a city flat, an old-fashioned, barely usable wet room has undergone a radical transformation. An interior design team demonstrated how just a few square metres can become a comfortable, modern bathroom – without wasting space, yet with a clear design and a surprisingly atmospheric feel.

From stopgap to problem room: how bad it really looked

Before the work began, the tiny wet room was above all a temporary fix that had somehow become permanent. There was a basic substitute for a hand basin, bare walls, no storage and no overall plan. The shower and toilet were combined, with the shower head positioned directly above the WC pan. Anyone wanting a shower first had to close the toilet seat – then they were effectively standing in their own toilet.

The whole area felt like a forgotten corner of the flat. There was no tiled splashback, no considered lighting and no furniture to give the room visual order. Its shortcomings were not merely aesthetic:

• Water sprayed in every direction during showers.
• Hygiene and comfort both suffered.
• Freedom of movement was extremely limited.
• The room felt cold, cramped and unwelcoming.

The entire studio measured only around 15 square metres. The bathroom occupied just a small share of it, but as an everyday space it was a constant source of frustration. It was clear that the choice was either a radical refurbishment or continuing to live in camping mode.

Smart planning instead of wasting square metres

The appointed design team treated the room not as a problem, but as a puzzle. Their aim was to use every corner without overcrowding the bathroom. The key move was to reorganise the essential functions – washing, showering and using the toilet – within the smallest possible footprint.

“The crucial principle was to tailor every sanitary fitting precisely to the millimetre, rather than forcing standard solutions into the room.”

Rather than installing a bulky unit, the team placed a slim vanity unit in a corner. This previously unused corner became a functional zone. Moving it there created enough space at the front for a wall-hung WC, which leaves the floor visible and immediately makes the room feel more open.

Throughout, the designers chose products developed specifically for small bathrooms: shallow projections, narrower widths and pared-back forms. These included:

• a compact shower screen with as little framing as possible,
• a slim radiator that also works as a towel warmer,
• a minimalist vanity unit with integrated storage.

The result is that circulation areas remain clearly defined. Nobody has to bruise their hip on corners and edges, yet the room still contains every function expected of a fully equipped bathroom.

Design concept: soft curves meet black metal

The new appearance plays a central role, because a small bathroom needs a strong but unobtrusive design concept. The scheme follows two guiding ideas: gentle curves and striking dark accents.

The mirror, taps and accessories all repeat soft, rounded shapes. There are no sharp edges catching the eye; instead, everything appears light and welcoming. These flowing lines deliberately contrast with black metal elements.

Black frames around the mirror, dark fittings at the basin and shower, and the profiles of the shower screen create definition and structure. This black tone reappears at several points in the room, creating a visual thread while also linking to industrial details in the studio’s living area.

“Recurring black metal elements visually unite the bathroom and living space into a cohesive whole, while giving the mini wet room character.”

The outcome is a contemporary look that feels deliberately homely rather than sterile. Warm materials and a pleasant light tone avoid the typical “wet-room feeling” found in many old city flats.

More comfort in the smallest space: how the new bathroom feels

The radical redesign pays off in everyday use. On arriving home from work, the resident now finds a place that feels more like a small boutique hotel than a purely practical solution. The changes are especially apparent here:

Before	After
Shower above the WC, with hardly any room to move	Separate shower with a clearly defined zone, wall-hung WC
No surfaces for items and no structure	Vanity unit with storage, organised zones
Spartan appearance, bare walls	Considered design concept with warm lighting
A sense of cramped temporary accommodation	The impression of a modern, comfortable bathroom

At this scale, the difference is enormous. A room used only out of necessity becomes an area that is actively part of daily life – for waking up in the morning and unwinding in the evening.

What this renovation can teach you about your own flat

This transformation clearly shows that even the tiniest rooms hold enormous potential. Three principles can readily be applied to other city flats:

• Use every corner: Corners, recesses and “dead” areas are ideal locations for a vanity unit, cupboard or shelving.
• Choose compact products: Dedicated ranges for small bathrooms save vital centimetres without looking cheap.
• Carry through a clear style concept: Repeated colours and materials create visual calm – and therefore make the space feel larger.

Anyone planning their own renovation should start by measuring the layout accurately and testing different options. Simply moving one element – swapping the positions of the vanity unit and WC, for instance – can often create an entirely new route through the room. A basic sketch is enough to reveal where pinch points will occur.

Typical mistakes in mini bathrooms and how to avoid them

Many small bathrooms look chaotic despite being technically well equipped. Common pitfalls include:

• oversized standard sanitaryware that blocks circulation,
• busy tile patterns that visually divide the room,
• lighting that is too cool or too harsh,
• a lack of storage solutions, leaving everything out in the open.

Calm, preferably light-coloured wall surfaces, a few carefully chosen accent colours and closed storage furniture can solve these issues. A large mirror can work almost like an extra window. Warm-white lights on the ceiling and around the mirror give the face natural definition and make the room feel inviting.

Why the investment can also pay off financially

A renovated bathroom area not only improves living comfort but can also increase a flat’s value. In small city studios especially, prospective buyers or tenants pay close attention to whether it is possible to live well in a confined space. A well-maintained, modern bathroom signals that the property is in good condition and does not require immediate work.

There is another advantage: making intelligent use of the existing layout avoids costly structural changes, such as moving load-bearing walls. In many cases, precisely planned fitted elements and a switch to compact sanitaryware are enough to turn a problem room into a strength of the flat.

The refurbishment described here powerfully illustrates how wide the gap can be between “it somehow works” and “it is enjoyable every day” – even across only a few square metres. Anyone familiar with their own wet-room shock will find plenty of inspiration here for turning the smallest room in the flat into its secret highlight.