Tiny Bathroom

Housing is becoming increasingly expensive – with the result that space is often regarded as the true luxury. But is that really the case? Of course a spacious bathroom with upmarket furnishings and equipment is an expression of a luxurious lifestyle. All the same, the criteria are set to shift in the direction of location, style and features. Because it’s mainly urban areas and suburban neighbourhoods that are gaining value as they become more attractive – and becoming increasingly unaffordable as a consequence.

Not even the urban exodus observed during the pandemic can reverse the urbanisation megatrend. According to a January 2022 survey of construction and rental companies conducted by accounting firm PwC, the real estate sector in Germany anticipates that the pressure on the housing market in cities will continue to grow after the pause caused by the pandemic. So as to escape the cost pressure, the trend is towards increased residential density in the suburban ring – what’s known as the doughnut effect. Overall, it looks likely that per capita living space will continue to grow as well. As a rule, however, the reason for this is not larger homes but quite the opposite: more smaller households and a growing number of older households. And on top of everything else, people’s expectations of their homes are increasing. To put it another way, in markets like Germany there will be more single and smaller households with a higher standard of comfort in favoured residential neighbourhoods.

That suggests a growing number of smaller urban bathrooms and a huge demand for bathroom renovations in existing homes. This is evidently a case of two trends converging: the bathroom is becoming both more compact and more comfortably equipped. “Besides being sustainable, a modern bathroom can also combine lots of functions and a high degree of comfort in a small space,” says Jens J. Wischmann, managing director of the German Bathroom Sector Association (Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitärwirtschaft e.V.) in Bonn.

New lifeplans and living concepts that aim to provide an alternative to the outmoded maxim “bigger, better, faster” and its known impacts on infrastructure, social peace and the climate are extremely popular right now. Being free of unnecessary ballast clears the way for living a more mindful, relaxed life surrounded by a few good things. That’s particularly true when everything else you need in life is right on your doorstep in your own neighbourhood. A new kind of modesty is emerging – although it still comes with certain expectations in terms of quality and style – and is expressing itself in the form of tiny houses, glamping or the interior design trend towards simple, Scandi-look luxury. Because it meets the demand for space-saving luxury on a footprint measuring just a few square metres, the Tiny Bathroom therefore promises to become a model for success when planning bathrooms in metropolitan areas in future.

So what will the new urban bathrooms look like? In the Tiny Bathroom, the bathtub will often be absent to make room for a spacious level-access shower; storage space is indispensable for a neat and tidy look and ideally takes the form of a built-in solution. Large washbasins and taps with long spouts should generally be avoided. Fortunately, there are viable alternatives to products for guest bathrooms, which may well be too small: forward-looking bathroom brands offer medium-sized, compact vanity units in reduced depths but with the full range of features and functions. And because comfort is key, two compact vanities are preferable to a single large one when a Tiny Bathroom is intended for multiple users.

Generally speaking, a consistent design and quality materials play an important role in the Tiny Bathroom, both in terms of the furnishings, floor and wall coverings and with regard to the lighting systems and (smart) technical features. As for style, the Tiny Bathroom tends to range somewhere between urban or industrial design, a natural, simple Scandi look and glamour with a hint of luxury. A homogeneous aesthetic, achieved via the colour scheme and a consistent use of materials, creates a sense of calm and a spacious look – for instance with a tone-on-tone design, large tile formats or seamless surfaces. While big patterns are not a good choice because they make the room look smaller, original, small-scale patterns can have a very upmarket effect in a modestly sized space.

Transparency is another important design principle: zoning the room into different functional areas creates a spacious feel, provided there are no larger volumes that get in the way of the sightline. Fixed and moving panels for shower enclosures in clear glass – partially frosted if need be – also make the room feel bigger and can even be custom-sized in some cases. Mirrors, especially large ones, extend the space above the washbasin. Mirror cabinets, heater elements, bathroom furniture and shelves should preferably be multifunctional. Especially when it comes to the bathroom furniture, built-in solutions can work miracles. The highly developed bathroom furniture industry is increasingly offering custom-sizable models for storage space, vanity units and console solutions. Customising is a market with a bright future – provided digitalised production methods are in place.

Nevertheless, a Tiny Bathroom calls for a great deal of precision, as well as meticulous planning and workmanship. What’s more, the planning of a Tiny Bathroom can often only be completed at the construction site, when the distances, angles and wiring can be assessed more accurately and adjusted where necessary. As with the choice of materials, quality is the decisive factor when it comes to executing a Tiny Bathroom too. Creating maximum functionality, comfort and aesthetic appeal in a small space means nothing can be left to chance. Providing adequate manoeuvring space in a Tiny Bathroom is undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing the planner.

“We’ll be seeing a great many new launches for the Tiny Bathroom at ISH 2023. But in this particular case, the industry’s product solutions can only provide some initial ideas and suggestions,” says Jens J. Wischmann of the planning challenges involved. “Ultimately, a Tiny Bathroom depends on the creativity and ingenuity of the tradesperson implementing it. It’s vital to make the most of every little bit of space – when you’re planning a Tiny Bathroom, every single millimetre matters.”