If you live in one of St. Louis's classic brick bungalows or a charming early-1900s home in Webster Groves or Kirkwood, there's a good chance your bathroom is on the small side. Compact baths were the norm when these houses were built, and squeezing a tub, toilet, and vanity into a 5-by-7 footprint can feel impossible. The good news: with the right layout and finishes, even the tiniest bathroom can feel open, bright, and surprisingly luxurious. Here are the small bathroom remodel ideas our in-house design team relies on most.
Rethink the Layout First
Before you pick a single tile, look at how the room is arranged. The biggest gains in a small bathroom almost always come from smarter use of the footprint you already have — not from knocking down walls (though that's an option too).
- Corner sinks and corner vanities. Tucking the sink into a corner frees up the center of the room and can open up an extra few feet of usable floor space — often the difference between a cramped bath and one you can actually move around in.
- Swap a swing door for a pocket door. A standard door eats roughly 9 square feet of swing clearance. A pocket door slides into the wall and reclaims all of it, which is a game-changer in a tight bath.
- Relocate fixtures thoughtfully. Moving a toilet or sink even a foot or two can dramatically improve flow. Because relocating plumbing adds cost, we map this out carefully during your free consultation so you only move what truly pays off.
St. Louis tip: Many older homes here have plaster walls and original cast-iron or galvanized plumbing. We always factor in what's behind the walls during planning — surprises are common in century-old houses, and a good plan keeps your project on track.
Trade the Tub for a Walk-In Shower
If you have a tub you rarely use, removing it may be the single most powerful move in a small bathroom. A standard alcove tub takes up the same footprint as a generous walk-in shower, but a sleek glass-enclosed shower reads as far more open and modern. The clear glass lets the eye travel across the whole room instead of stopping at a shower curtain, so the space instantly feels larger.
Curbless and low-threshold designs add even more openness and make the bathroom easier to use as you age in place. If your household still wants a tub somewhere in the house, we'll help you decide which bathroom keeps it. Learn more about our walk-in shower options and how a conversion typically works.
Float Your Vanity
A floating, wall-hung vanity is one of the easiest ways to make a small bathroom breathe. Because the floor extends underneath it, the room looks bigger and is easier to clean. Wall-hung designs also let you set the height to suit your family.
- Choose a shallow-depth vanity (think 18 inches instead of 21) to gain back walking room.
- Pair it with a wall-mounted faucet to keep the countertop clear and slim.
- Look for vanities with drawers rather than a single cabinet door — drawers turn dead space into organized storage.
Use Light, Tile, and Mirrors to Feel Bigger
Color and light do a lot of heavy lifting in a small bath. A few proven choices:
Go large-format with tile
Big tiles mean fewer grout lines, and fewer lines make the floor and walls read as one continuous surface. That visual calm makes the room feel more expansive than busy mosaic or small subway patterns. Running tile up a full shower wall — or all the way to the ceiling — also draws the eye upward.
Keep the palette light
Whites, soft greys, warm neutrals, and pale stone looks reflect light and recede, making walls feel farther away. You can still add personality with a bold vanity, a patterned floor, or brass fixtures — just keep the bulk of the surfaces light.
Lean into mirrors and lighting
A large mirror — or a mirror wall above the vanity — visually doubles the space and bounces light around the room. Pair it with layered lighting: a bright overhead fixture plus sconces or vertical LED strips beside the mirror to eliminate shadows. A well-lit small bathroom always feels bigger than a dim large one.
Don't Forget the Small Details
In a compact bathroom, the little choices carry extra weight because everything is within arm's reach and constantly in view. A glass shower door instead of a framed enclosure keeps sightlines clean. A wall-hung or compact toilet shaves precious inches off the footprint. Continuing the same flooring throughout — rather than switching materials at the doorway — visually stretches the room and connects it to the hallway beyond. Even swapping a bulky towel bar for a slim hook or a recessed towel niche helps the space feel calmer. These finishing touches cost little but add up to a bathroom that feels considered and roomier than its square footage suggests.
Build In Smart Storage
Clutter shrinks a small bathroom faster than anything. The trick is to store things inside the walls and go vertical wherever possible.
- Recessed niches. Carving a niche into the shower or a stud wall gives you shelf space for bottles and towels without anything protruding into the room.
- Recessed medicine cabinets. A mirror-front cabinet set into the wall delivers storage and a mirror in the same square footage.
- Vertical storage. Tall, narrow cabinets or open shelving above the toilet use the airspace most small baths waste.
- Vanity drawers and pull-outs. Soft-close drawers and under-sink organizers make every inch of the vanity earn its keep.
Wondering what a small bath remodel runs in the St. Louis area? Costs vary widely depending on layout changes, plumbing, and the materials you choose — there's no honest one-size-fits-all number. We'll walk your space and give you a clear estimate at your free consultation, and financing through Hearth is available if you'd like to spread the investment out.
Why Homeowners Choose Us
St. Louis Kitchen Remodel Co. is based right here in Webster Groves, and we specialize in exactly these kinds of older-home challenges. Our in-house design team handles the layout planning, we use quality materials built to last, and we hold a 5.0-star rating on Google. Whether you want a full bathroom remodel or a focused update to make a tight space work harder, we'd love to help you make the most of every square foot.
Ready to see what's possible in your bathroom? Reach out for a no-pressure consultation and we'll bring fresh, space-smart ideas tailored to your home.