[Ad] Our small green bathroom, with VitrA Bathrooms – the REVEAL!

[Ad – This post is created in collaboration with VitrA Bathrooms]

I’ve never had a beautiful bathroom to share with you so I’m particularly excited about today’s blog post – finally it’s time for my small green bathroom reveal! This is the first room in our new house extension that is complete, finished, styled and ready to show in all its glory. I can’t tell you how good it feels to have moved back into our (still slightly dusty and chaotic) home and have one room that can act as a tranquil sanctuary to escape the world. I’m still getting to know the space, but there’s so many things I already love about this bathroom – from looking up at the clouds passing over the skylight as I’m taking a bath, to being able to turn the shower on and adjust the temperature before I step in, or having enough storage so that there’s a place for everything.

This may not be my dream bathroom of my wildest desires (read here about how we had to scale back our plans), but it is fast becoming a dream space to live in. This bathroom is indeed small but perfectly formed – 160 x 170cm to be exact. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in style, seamless finishes and streamlined storage. Together with VitrA Bathrooms, we really pushed the design and possibilities for this small footprint, I think proving in the process that size really doesn’t matter.

The Concept
Let’s go back to the beginning. The intention was always to create a calm, spa-like sanctuary with soothing neutral tones, simple graphic lines and natural textures. The starting point for me was actually a wavy green soap dish, which in turn inspired me to play with tactility by using lined tiles and a soft sage green accent colour to tie everything together.

I wanted to add little elements of surprise and interest to our small green bathroom by contrasting tones and textures, whether that’s the glossy tiles next to the flat matt ones, or the little pop of green from the smooth rounded basin on the white vanity unit. In some way I was inspired by the graphic simplicity of 1950s and 1960s modernist bathrooms and the way in which they might have used one strong element to sell the story and add style to function. And once I went down the green route, there was also the idea of reinventing the retro avocado suite and bringing it up to date with a fresh new look.

As this is a tight, compact space, I felt I could go a little wilder than I would perhaps elsewhere, so as well as that green sink, we have a facing wall of green tiles that greets you as you come in, an oversized mirror and little contemporary details that elevate it from the ordinary. I think it all works together to create a seamless look that emphasises space and enhances light.

The green accent also hints at nature and the idea of creating a space that can really uplift and support your wellbeing. Colour is always subjective but I find that this small green bathroom just makes me feel relaxed, rested and restored – an hour in here and it’s like I’m coming back to myself and the natural world somehow. The green brings a breath of fresh air, uplifting the off white tones to create a feeling of rejuvenation.

Below you can see the renders that Shahnee at VitrA Bathrooms created for me when we were designing the space. The team at VitrA London were invaluable with their help and bathroom expertise, and I would urge anyone planning a bathroom renovation to head to their London showroom, if not least for the VR experience where you can step into your design before it becomes a reality. Just the simple act of seeing and touching physical samples is a great way to begin a project.

From my point of view, it made it so much easier designing a space where almost everything came from one place. VitrA Bathrooms are not only known for their designer bathroom ranges, but their bathroom furniture, taps, showers, mirrors, accessories and tiles too. It meant that I knew that everything would go together perfectly (including finishes matching and tiles lining up expertly) and I didn’t have to shop around at a hundred different places to find the things I wanted. It was also incredibly helpful to visualise the space before we committed to a design – as this room was a completely new space for the house, I had no previous image of it in my head so it took a bit of imagination to picture the potential. Shahnee and her team were able to take my initial ideas, flesh them out and make them even better than I dreamed.

The Result
And here we have the finished bathroom – just like the renders but even better. We’ve managed to squeeze in a 160cm long bath along the back wall of the bathroom, with a long 100cm vanity unit with a countertop basin next to it and a floor mounted WC opposite. And it just works!

I think the secret to this small green bathroom is in the use of balance and harmony, whether that’s with the balance of forms that complement each other or the harmony and distribution of the colours cohesively around the space.

I’m still impressed we managed to get a big chunk of storage in – a non negotiable and a must for hiding away bath toys, nappies and beauty products. The Voyage washbasin unit by Arik Levy fits in so neatly and because it’s elevated off the floor, it doesn’t feel too heavy or intrusive in the space. Being able to see the flooring run underneath also helps give the illusion of space and depth.

The off-white unit has been paired with the countertop Plural basin by Terri Pecora in matt moss green – a bit of a gamble but one that has certainly paid off. I was initially going to go for white but at almost the last minute I changed my mind and swapped it for green, eek! Not only does the sink feel wonderfully tactile and organic, the matt colour also helps add a focal point that balances with the sage green tiles on the opposite wall. The curves help soften the clean, architectural lines of the space and I love that the waste also matches the green surface of the sink so it feels really seamless. There’s still plenty of space on the washbasin unit to display soap, a little basket for makeup and a small vase of fresh eucalyptus.

Above the basin, a huge 80cm Prime round mirror helps bounce light around and make the space feel bigger and brighter than it actually is. I’ll be sharing another blog post with all my tips for designing a small bathroom and some of the tricks we used to maximise space, but this adds impact as you come into the room. I love how Shahnee at VitrA Bathrooms suggested overlapping the mirror with the tiles – it just really grounds it and connects it with the rest of the bathroom design. The mirror has a touch sensor at the bottom and provides a soft illumination around the edges when lit up.

Then we have the bath and shower area and the wall of Liquid Line Decor tiles by Tom Dixon in Sage Glossy. These also help reflect light and draw your eye into the small space. I was so happy that we could line up two PRO Color Ultra White Matt tiles to one Liquid tile – it really creates a simple, ordered, architectural finish.

I matched my grout and silicone to the grey-green Liquid tiles, allowing the off-white tiles to stand out amongst a grid pattern. I’m also so glad we could create a generous niche at the end of the bath for shampoo bottles – it creates an extra surface and pocket of detail. Kudos to my builders for lining up the tiles so beautifully and centring the shower mixer neatly in the middle.

Speaking of which – this is something of a game changer. No more standing under a cold shower waiting for the perfect temperature. With the shower mixer and diverter in the middle of the wall, you can turn on the shower and adjust the temperature before you actually step into the bath. It makes it so much easier for pouring baths as well, without having to reach around at an awkward angle. Still, our Drench Showers bath screen does open quite far to allow you to get in and out easily (one of the only things VitrA Bathrooms don’t do is a shower or bath screen).

I decided to choose brushed nickel brass ware from VitrA Bathrooms’ minimalist Origin range. I fell in love with the slender edges and simple details, while the brushed nickel finish gives a tactile, timeless quality that I think will stand up with time. The rain showerhead is a dream – I was worried that because it was a small space it would get everything wet, but the water falls neatly down and means we can get the luxury feel of a rainwater shower even in a tiny space. We also have a separate hose, which I always think is essential for cleaning a bath, as well as for washing children’s hair, or indeed your own.

Then we have the simple Sento back to wall WC in matt white and a minimalist grey-green towel rail, again colour matched to the Liquid tiles. I love how the matte finishes of the bath screen, toilet and towel rail help give a super clean, contemporary look.

The best bit for me is actually above the bath. We embraced the pitch of the roof and added a frameless skylight that floods this small green bathroom with bright natural light. The volume of the pitch and the skylight really do wonders to make this feel like a much bigger space than the tight footprint suggests. When you walk into the room you can’t help but look up and feel impressed by the small but powerful space.

So there we have it, our small green bathroom. When we were forced to adapt our design and scale back our plans to include a much smaller bathroom than we first envisioned, I felt a bit disheartened. I thought it would feel like too tight a squeeze. And although I can reach both arms across and touch either side of the room, it doesn’t feel too small at all. It suits our small family and what we need from our bathroom.

I think it just goes to show that you needn’t be put off by size. If you plan a bathroom space well and carefully consider your finishes, you can create a seamless space that functions and looks the part too. A small bathroom may be compromised on size, but you can use other design strategies to make it sing and sparkle – like adding personality with colour or sneaking in clever storage solutions. My message to you would be not to feel limited by the size of your bathroom – there’s still a world of possibilities and ways you can make it uniquely yours.

Small green bathroom source list [*indicates press product]:

Tiles: Liquid Line Decor tiles by Tom Dixon in Sage Glossy and PRO Color Ultra White Matt tiles, Cementmix light grey floor tiles
Brassware: Origin collection in brushed nickel
Basin: Plural basin by Terri Pecora in matt moss green
Vanity unit: Voyage washbasin unit by Arik Levy
Mirror: Prime round mirror
WC: Sento back to wall WC in matt white
Bath: Neon rectangular bathtub, 160cm
all above: VitrA Bathrooms*
Bath screen: Drench Showers *press discount
Shampoo and conditioner holder, Etsy* [affiliate link]
Towel rail: Terma Simple in RAL Moss Grey, Radiators Online
Towels: Vallasån, IKEA
Bath mat: Lina recycled polyester bath mat, OYOY*
Radiator valves: Talus Bold Silver Nickel, UK Radiators*
Wall light: Flos Mini Glo Ball
Tile trim: Antique White Matrix tile trim, Topps Tiles
Grout and silicone: Mapei River Grey 115 [affiliate link]
Pocket door: Eclisse flush pocket door system and a Howdens plain door
Skylight: Roof Maker