Ensuite Bathroom Ideas & Designs

Transform your ensuite into a unique space that shows off your personality or create fluidity between your bedroom and ensuite with a complementary design. To help you get started, explore the best ensuite layouts, furniture, colour schemes and lighting ideas in our guide.

When designing an ensuite, maximising space is essential. Since most ensuites are smaller than a standard bathroom, you’ll want to make the most of any available space.

Bulky furniture and cluttered surfaces make small rooms feel cramped, so keep your ensuite organised and tidy with space-saving storage. Short-projection or wall-hung furniture and fixtures also take up less space.

If you’re lucky enough to have a large ensuite, you may have more possibilities when planning your layout. Some large ensuites can accommodate extra furniture, storage or even a bath. However, there should still be enough room to move around comfortably, especially near the sink, toilet and shower enclosure.

If you’re short on space, look for compact bathroom furniture to make the room appear larger. Wall-hung cabinets give the illusion of space beneath the sink and offer plenty of storage. Alternatively, choose a mirrored design to hang above the sink and streamline your bathroom accessories. Floating shelves are ideal in small ensuites, since they don’t require floor space like ladder shelving or freestanding units.

Whether you’d prefer a bold ensuite to contrast the adjoining bedroom or want to keep the design harmonious, almost any colour scheme will work in this space.

Small bathrooms can look bigger when decorated in a neutral or soft pastel shade to brighten up the space, especially if they have no natural light. Alternatively, you can embrace the darkness with a black bathroom or inject some personality with brightly coloured accessories, patterned wallpapers or a painted feature wall.

Discover more of the best colour ideas for small bathrooms in our guide.

Brighten up your ensuite with the right lighting. LED spotlights or flat light fixtures take up less space than a pendant light while adding a modern touch to the room. In addition, make the most of any natural light you have by keeping windows and windowsills clear.

Depending on your preference, you can tile your ensuite bathroom floor, walls or both. Large format designs with fewer grout lines tend to make the room feel bigger. Discover tile ideas to suit your bathroom in our guide.

Bathroom accessories can add the finishing touches to your ensuite but shouldn’t make the room feel cluttered. For example, a well-placed mirror will help reflect light around the room, or choose a mirrored cabinet for additional storage. Plants, wall art, towels and bathmats can inject colour into the space and showcase your personality.

Check out more of our favourite small bathroom design ideas to get the most from your ensuite.