How Do You Lay Out a Narrow Tenement Bathroom?
In a long, thin room, put everything on one or two walls and leave a clear walking line down the middle. The usual order from the door is toilet, basin, then the shower or bath at the far end.
Keep the toilet where the waste pipe already runs if you can. Moving it is possible but needs a workable route for the pipework, which we check at the visit. A layout that respects the existing plumbing usually leaves more of the budget for the parts you will notice.
Our tenement bathroom fitting page explains how we plan these refits.
Is a Shower Better Than a Bath in a Tenement Bathroom?
In a narrow room, a shower across the end often gives you more usable space than a bath along the wall. A low tray with a glass screen keeps the room open and lets daylight reach the back.
If you rely on a bath for children or for a long soak, a shower over a bath is a sensible middle route. Our walk-in shower or bath comparison helps you decide.
What Storage Works in a Narrow Bathroom?
Go up, not out. A tenement ceiling gives you height that a modern box room does not, so use it.
- A slim vanity with drawers instead of doors, so nothing is lost at the back.
- A tall, shallow cabinet or open shelves above the toilet.
- A recessed niche in the shower wall for bottles.
- Hooks and a heated towel rail on the longest wall, kept clear of the door swing.
- A chimney breast alcove, if your room has one, fitted with shelves.
Our small bathroom ideas guide has more storage thinking for tight rooms.
Planning a tenement bathroom?
Can a Wall-Hung Toilet or Slim Basin Help?
They can. A wall-hung toilet leaves the floor visible, which makes a small room look longer and is easier to clean around. It needs a frame and a short boxed-in wall, which also hides pipes and gives you a shelf.
A slim basin set into a shallow vanity saves space in a narrow room. Pick one that leaves you room to stand beside it, and check that taps and drawers do not catch the door.
How Do You Make a Dark Narrow Room Feel Bigger?
Light colours help, but so does repeating one or two finishes. Using the same tile on the floor and walls makes the room read as a single space.
Large-format tiles have fewer joints, which makes a small room look calmer. If you prefer panels, wet wall panels give a clean, quick-to-clean finish in the shower area.
Good lighting does more than paint. Add a bright ceiling light, then a mirror light or a lit mirror beside the basin, so the far end is never in shadow.
What Should I Do With the Sash Window?
Many tenement bathrooms keep a tall sash window, and it is worth keeping. Frosted glass or a bottom-up blind gives privacy without losing the light.
A window is not enough on its own for a room that will be used for daily showers. An extractor fan helps clear steam, and keeping surfaces sealed protects the walls. Our damp bathroom guide covers what to watch for.
Should I Keep the Original Features?
Often, yes. A cornice, a picture rail or a chimney breast alcove adds character that a new flat-pack bathroom cannot match. Paint them in the same colour as the walls for a calm look, or in a darker shade for contrast.
Keep any original features in mind when we plan pipe and waste routes, because they can limit where fittings go. We talk this through at the home visit.
What About Old Floors and Walls?
Older flats can have moving floorboards, uneven walls and old plaster. These need to be sound before new flooring or tiles go on. Luxury vinyl does not repair a weak floor, and panels do not cure damp behind them.
We look at the floor and walls at the home visit and tell you what needs preparing before we quote.
How Do I Plan Around the Stair and the Neighbours?
Work in a flat affects other people. Tell your neighbours before it starts, ask about entry systems and any stair rules, and plan where deliveries and waste will go. Our neighbour guide has the details.
Do You Work Across Edinburgh’s Tenement Areas?
Yes. We cover all of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. Flats in Leith, Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Gorgie and Dalry and the city centre often share the same long, narrow bathroom shape.
We do not have a showroom. We come to your flat, measure up, check the room and show you examples before sending a written quote. Our packages start at £4,699 for design, supply and fitting, and you can see them on the prices and finance page.
Ready to talk about your bathroom?
Struggling with steam and mould? See what helps with condensation in a tenement bathroom.