Here in the UK, we have some of the smallest bathrooms in Europe. This means it’s not uncommon to come up against challenging spaces and unique floor layouts that seemingly prohibit your true design potential. Designing a bathroom should centre around practicality, function and style - three factors that come to life with the support of true professionals. When British Architect, Laura Jane Clark, became our Brand Ambassador, we knew we needed to utilise her extensive experience and style to our customer’s benefit. And so the ‘Inspire Your Bathroom’ series was born.

In these posts, Laura takes typically challenging bathroom spaces and transforms them into havens of beauty and style. Today’s post - and the first in the series - takes on a typical Victorian terrace bathroom.

Laura Jane Clark X The Shower Lab - Victorian Terrace Bathroom

The Shower Lab Brand Ambassador, Laura Jane Clark

“Working with The Shower Lab as their Brand Ambassador, I wanted to bring you some fabulous bathroom design ideas for challenging spaces.

This one is for those outrigger rooms in a typical Victorian terrace. Originally in this client’s home, there was no bathroom on the first floor (see my book, The Handbook Of Home Design for why).

The smaller bedroom was ideal for a huge, glorious bathroom BUT the client would end up losing that bedroom. So here, by turning and splitting the stair, they were able to steal a bit of stair space to squeeze a loo in the recess whilst only extending into the bedroom by the shortest bath length - a comfy minimum of 1500mm. So, the client got a decent bathroom size as well as a smaller single bedroom/office too.

Also, by raking the ceiling and putting in an extra large skylight or roof glazing, this small bathroom gained lots of drama and light as well as a great way to naturally ventilate too.

I used the View 16 Fixed Bathscreen here, with beautiful matt black fixtures. Top tip - always try to put your shower controls and bath taps straight across. This way you won’t have to lean into the shower to turn on the water and risk getting a freezing blast of cold air on your newly blow dried hair - I’ve done that before… anyone else? “

Q&A with Laura Jane Clark

Do you see baths continuing to be a key feature in UK bathrooms - especially with the spaces being so small? (this question follows on from one asked on LJC's post)

Baths are a bit of a marmite decision.  Love them or hate them, in my opinion, I am firmly in team bath.  Even in smaller bathrooms, you can squeeze a smaller 1400mm or 1500mm long bath that is deeper to compensate.  In addition, the more compact the bath, the quicker it is to fill and the less water required. 

When looking to make a bathroom feel bigger, what is more important - optimising on available light or colour palette?

Light, 100%. Whether it is artificial or natural, light is a great way to increase the feeling of space in a bathroom.  Where space is an issue, minimising the size any window frames to really bring in the light is key.

When choosing whether to fit a separate bath and shower cubicle, what are the main considerations you would advise homeowners to focus on?

Think about the views in and out of both the shower and the bath as well as what you look at when you walk into your bathroom or ensuite.  Rather than looking at the toilet, a focus on an incredible shower screen or bath will make all the difference.

  What is your favourite part of this room set?

My favourite element is the window in the shower.  It really makes a feature of space and links through to the bedroom to give incredible views out!

Keep an eye out on our Journal and social media pages for the next episode of Inspire Your Bathroom with Laura Jane Clark.