How to furnish a long, narrow bathroom: all you need to know

Today we will discover how to furnish a long and narrow bathroom in a practical and effective way. The need to complete the furnishing of a space with these characteristics is a recurring theme, especially after renovation work.

A long, narrow bathroom can be corrected by visual tricks involving the use of the right materials, colours and shades to make the bathroom space appear more proportionate.

In the following paragraphs we will provide you with some important tips and suggestions to complete the furnishing of a long and narrow bathroom.

How to divide and furnish a long, narrow bathroom

The first piece of advice we would like to give you in order to complete the furnishing of a long and narrow bathroom is to place the shower at the end of the room: for this purpose, you can decide to create a coloured niche with decorative references which stand out from the rest.

To divide the space and in a certain sense shorten the bathroom and deceive the eye, a solution could be to "break the length" of the room, using different covering materials on the floor: for example you could use a different covering in front of the shower, compared to the one that characterises the rest of the floor, recalling in the covering adjacent to the shower, the material of the covering of the latter.

Minimum dimensions of a long, narrow bathroom

According to the current regulations on minimum distances in a bathroom (UNI 2182/2014), the elements and sanitary ware installed in the space must necessarily respect minimum distances. Below are the minimum distances defined by the legislation in question:

• 20 centimetres between toilet and bidet
• 15 centimetres between toilet flank and wall
• 10 centimetres between toilet and shower or between toilet and bathtub
• 10 centimetres between toilet and washbasin
• 20 centimetres between bidet and shower or between bidet and bath tub
• 20 centimetres between bidet side and wall
• 10 centimetres between bidet and washbasin
• 10 centimetres between the two washbasins
• 5 centimetres between washbasin and shower or between washbasin and bath.

The regulations also require a minimum distance of 55 centimetres between all elements in the bathroom from the front wall or another sanitary fixture in front of it.

If these distances are not respected, there are no sanctions as there are no authorities to carry out checks. The distances specified in the regulations are in fact a reference to guarantee a good level of comfort and to facilitate movement and ease of movement within the bathroom.

Sanitary ware layout in a long, narrow bathroom

When arranging the sanitary ware in a long, narrow bathroom, our advice is to install all the elements on the same wall (toilet, washbasin, bidet, washing machine or dryer and heated towel rail).

In this way, you will be able to use 100 per cent of one wall, leaving plenty of space for the other, making it easier to move around the bathroom.

In a bathroom characterised by particularly limited dimensions (for example in a bathroom that is 1 metre narrow and 3 metres long), the choice of sanitary ware should favour the most congenial model that can fit into the environment.

In this regard, our advice is to choose sanitary ware that is as compact as possible: space-saving sanitary ware is characterised by a depth of less than 50 centimetres, unlike the 52 or 55 centimetres of classic and regular sanitary ware.

By choosing space-saving sanitaryware, you can gain precious centimetres in depth, making it easier to move around and pass. The disadvantage of space-saving sanitaryware is that, for example, a bidet with these characteristics will be decidedly uncomfortable for tall people: in fact, it could happen that the knees of the tall person touch the wall. For this reason, before buying a space-saving sanitaryware, you can comfortably try it out in the seller's showroom to see if it will be comfortable to use.

Where to put the shower or bath in a long, narrow bathroom?

Where to put the shower in a long, narrow bathroom? Based on our experience, we can offer you two main solutions: to set up the shower at the end of the bathroom or to place a walk-in shower.

When it comes to installing a bathtub in a long, narrow space, the question becomes more complex: a bathtub of discreet dimensions should be placed on the long side of the room, taking care to respect the minimum distances.

Special compact bathtubs are also available on the market, with reduced dimensions of between 120 and 140 centimetres: it will be possible to place a small bathtub on the wall opposite the bathroom entrance. Obviously, space-saving bathtubs are less comfortable than conventional bathtubs, but they are a good alternative in long, narrow spaces.

More ideas for completing the decor of a long, narrow bathroom

In addition to the advice given in the previous paragraphs, here are some additional tips and ideas which may be useful when furnishing a long and narrow bathroom.

In the previous paragraphs we have recommended the choice and installation of space-saving sanitary ware: in addition to this, you can also consider the insertion of a compact washbasin, characterised by a reduced depth: in this regard, we would like to point out that the depth of a regular washbasin is 50, 55 centimetres, while in compact washbasins the depth is much less (40, 45 centimetres).

And again, the installation of a sliding door could be a furnishing solution particularly suitable for a long and narrow bathroom: a sliding door will in fact eliminate the encumbrance of a normal hinged door, without affecting the already limited square metres available.

Finally, to optimise the space of a long and narrow bathroom, you can decide to install a horizontal towel warmer in your room. Unlike vertical elements, a horizontal towel warmer will be perfect for a room with these characteristics of space and will be more proportionate with the shape of your bathroom.