5 Clever Conveniences for a Small Bathroom

5 Clever Conveniences for a Small Bathroom

In an older home, you are usually looking at a bathroom update that needs to serve many goals in a very small footprint.

Here are 5 design details that can make clever and convenient use of every square inch of your limited bathroom space.

Bathroom vanity with oval mirror, wall sconces, white sink, and marble countertop

1. Pivot Your Faucet. Want a generous sink in a small space? This recent Arciform client needed a deep sink and a tall faucet to accommodate her love of flower arranging. By side mounting the faucet, designer Anne De Wolf was able to fit in the larger sink without expanding the vanity’s footprint.

Small bathroom with a sink, mirror cabinet, towel rack, and glass shower enclosure.

2. Capitalize on a Corner. A corner sink makes a very efficient use of space in this bathroom designed by Arciform’s Chelly Wentworth. Twin built-in medicine cabinets add generous storage without intruding into the room.

Speaking of clever corner fixtures, check out this corner toilet:

Small bathroom with toilet, sink, window, and brown trim; dog standing on the floor by the toilet.

This tidy fixture tucked in the corner of this turn-of-the-century house allowed enough extra floor space for a very cool deer sculpture/toilet paper holder.

Its all about priorities, right?

Small tiled shower stall with a curved bench and handheld showerhead beside a frosted window.

3. Take a Seat. How to integrate a bench into a curved wall shower?
In this master bath remodel, Anne De Wolf extended the adjacent tub ledge to create an integrated seat- an efficient use of material and a great way to create continuity between the two spaces. By curving the shower wall she was able to increase the shower’s footprint without inhibiting circulation in the adjacent office.

Cat entering a white litter box cabinet in a tiled room

4. Consider Your Furry Family Members. It’s not just the people in your family who have business to conduct in the bathroom.

A built in bench can double as an out-of-sight location for kitty litter and other cleaning supplies.

Bathroom with glass shower, white tile, built-in cabinet, and window with shutters.

Or tuck a few drawers beneath the bench like Chelly Wentworth did in this bathroom update.
Then add matching built-in linen storage above.

Modern bathroom with double vanity, large mirror, and glass-enclosed shower.

5. Make Every Inch Work Overtime. Sometimes you have plenty of room but your bathroom needs to work twice as hard.

Arciform Designer Kristyn Bester’s recently worked with clients whose Pearl District loft bathroom needed to function as bath, laundry room and storage space.

Tucking a washer and dryer under the counters and integrating cool retro storage lockers into the space allowed Kristyn to maintain the loft’s industrial vibe while making every square inch as convenient and useful as possible.

Ready for more inspiration for your own bathroom update?

See More Stories

Temporary kitchen set up in basement during a kitchen remodel.
By Anne De Wolf • September 29, 2026
Planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel? Learn how temporary setups, thoughtful storage, and a little preparation can help everyday life run smoothly during construction.
By Anne De Wolf • September 15, 2026
After decades of building Portland exteriors, here’s what you usually find once the old siding comes off, and how you decide what to save, restore, or rebuild.
By Anne De Wolf • August 27, 2026
A dark basement can be an asset. See how three Portland-area historic homes use rich color, warm wood, and original details to create inviting spaces.
By Anne De Wolf • August 4, 2026
Need more space but don't want to leave the neighborhood you love? Learn how to plan an addition that complements your Portland home and supports the way you live.
By Anne De Wolf • July 29, 2026
Arciform participates in Portland's FIR Program, giving your remodel a single City inspector and a smoother path through permitting.
By Anne De Wolf • July 16, 2026
That unfinished basement could become your favorite spaces in the house. Learn what to consider before remodeling a basement in one of Portland's older homes.
SEE MORE STORIES