by Janette Peel

Created on: May 04, 2008

The right fittings, control of clutter and careful choice of color and pattern can make a small bathroom work just as well as a larger one.

A bathroom that's too small to be either comfortable or efficient is a problem many home owners share. In most cases, extending the room is impossible because the pressures of family life mean space in the house is already being used to maximum effect.

If fittings are in bad condition, it makes sense to start again with equipment more suitable for the shape and size of the room. Replacing old fittings gives you the chance to choose individual items that best fit the actual shape of the room.

Alternatively, make the most of existing fittings by adding storage space and improving the layout of the room. Since it is often a lack of places to put things drawers for make-up, a cabinet for medicines and shelves for toiletries that makes a bathroom feel cramped and cluttered, simply adding carefully thought out storage may solve the problem.

Paler colors and simple designs can also help to maximize the feeling of space. Keeping the overall look of the bathroom as coordinated as possible will make it seem larger. Even a little thing like using matching towels will make a difference.

Although bathroom equipment is often thought of as a suite complete with bath, it is best, when working with a small area, to choose pieces individually, then you can find something to suite the space available. As bathroom colors are standard, you can select the wash basin and toilet (WC) from one manufacturer and a bath from another without worrying that the pieces won't match. The WC and wash basin come in three basic versions:

Floor standing is the familiar basin on a pedestal and a WC with a visible cistern. These sorts of fittings can make a small room seem even smaller because they occupy both floor and wall space, and pipes and cisterns are visible.

Back to the wall sanitary ware is much less intrusive, if you are starting from scratch in a small bathroom. In these ranges, the basin is wall hung and usually set into a vanity unit, so the U bend can't be seen. The WC is floor standing, but the cistern and pipes are hidden away behind panels or specially made fitted furniture. The effect is neat and uncluttered and if you choose a fitted furniture system, you'll gain storage space. Back to the wall fittings are slightly more expensive than ordinary sanitary ware.

Wall hung sanitary ware is the most expensive choice of all, with the basin and toilet all

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