Room One: The Bathroom
In a studio flat, every corner counts - Making a Small Space Feel Like a Haven
In a studio flat, every corner counts—and nowhere is that more true than the bathroom. This is the first room I’m sharing in my Room by Room series, exploring how living small can still feel thoughtful, calm, and restorative. For me, the bathroom became a space to slow down, enjoy simple rituals, and make conscious design choices that reflect both my values and my lifestyle.
Room by Room: Living Small
This Substack is a slow exploration of what it means to live well in a small space.
Rather than rushing through a full renovation, I’m sharing my studio flat one room at a time - looking at what I kept, what I changed, and why.
Each room was an exercise in intention: questioning what we truly need, how we can reuse what already exists, and how our homes can support both our wellbeing and the planet.
This is about living small, thoughtfully.
The original bathroom had fitted carpet!
The original bathroom
The new bathroom with ceiling pulley for drying cloths
New bathroom haven
Room One: The Bathroom
Making a Small Space Feel Like a Haven
In a studio flat, every square centimetre matters.
There’s nowhere to hide clutter, no spare cupboards - so the bathroom has to work hard while still feeling calm and restorative.
For me, this space was never about luxury.
It was about creating a room I genuinely enjoy using every day—peaceful, functional, and considered.
Living With What’s Already There
When I first moved in, the bathroom came with carpet.
Including in the bathroom. Yes, really.
After flooding my neighbours twice in the first week due to ageing pipework, the temptation to rip everything out was strong. But replacing everything would have meant unnecessary waste—and over £2,000 in materials and labour alone.
Instead, I paused.
The bath itself is metal and in good condition. Replacing it would have meant swapping like-for-like, so I chose to keep it, repair a small chip, and update the details instead. This one decision significantly reduced both cost and environmental impact.
Living with the space before redesigning it allowed me to make conscious decisions, not impulsive ones - a theme that runs through this entire home.
A Bathroom Inspired by the Sea
I wanted the bathroom to feel like a place to slow down.
Soft blues and whites felt instinctive—colours that remind me of the coast, wide skies, and calm water. I’ve always felt grounded by the sea, and even in London, I wanted this room to carry that feeling.
With a candle lit and a bubble bath running, it genuinely feels like a small escape.
Artwork plays a big role here. One piece is a photograph I took on Troon Beach when I was living there—a personal memory that immediately brings a sense of calm. I’ve also started collecting work by artists I love, in here includes work by Angela Smyth, Meg Fartherly, and Tyrii Pottery.
For me, artwork is what makes a home. It brings memory, emotion, and colour into everyday spaces - and can often become the starting point for the entire colour palette.
Being Clever With Storage
In a small bathroom, clutter shows instantly - so storage had to be smart and intentional.
A sink drawer unit keeps everyday items out of sight, allowing surfaces to stay clear
Pipework under the sink was boxed in and tiled, turning it into a practical ledge for toilet rolls and cleaning products
A towel rail and hook that sit’s neatly on the back of the door. The hook & door are both original.
A heated & light mirror prevents steaming up - small, but life-enhancing. Plus is a lovely soft light to have on when having a bath.
One of my favourite additions is a ceiling pulley for drying washing. It keeps clothes out of the way, frees up floor space, and dries laundry quickly - far better than draping washing around a studio flat.
Tiles, Flooring & Conscious Choices
I had leftover blue tiles from a previous project, which I paired with the white to create a simple striped design - proof that reuse can still feel intentional and modern. I sourced matching white tiles made in the UK by Johnson Tiles (Prismaticsrange), allowing me to remove dated details and refresh the space without having to buy everything new.
The original carpet flooring was over 20 years old and had to be removed! I’ve chosen Forbo Marmoleum, a natural, durable, and environmentally responsible flooring that works beautifully in bathrooms and kitchens. It aligns perfectly with how I want this home to function—healthy, practical, and sustainable.
A small tip: if you’re renovating a compact space, always check Facebook Marketplace and resale sites for leftover tiles, flooring and bathroom items. People often have unopened boxes, and in small rooms this can be a brilliant way to get the look you want for less.
I had enough left over blue tiles, so swapped the design around - two blue / one white tile.
Healthy Homes & Curious Living
This bathroom has also deepened my interest in low-VOC and healthier interiors.
Through research, conversations during Design Guild Mark judging, and learning more about recycled and natural materials, I’ve become far more aware of the chemicals we live with daily. It’s left me feeling that sometimes progress means looking back - towards simpler, more natural solutions.
We need to ask more questions of the companies we buy from:
Where are products made?
What are they made of?
How are they packaged?
Even small choices matter. I’ve recently started using a seaweed-based shampoo made in Cornwall - free from unnecessary additives - and as a bonus, the blue and white packaging looks beautiful in the space. Function, aesthetics, and values can coexist. The Cornish Seaweed Bath Company.
Living Small, Living Intentionally
Designing this bathroom reinforced everything I love about studio living.
When space is limited, intention expands. You become clearer about what you need, what you value, and what genuinely supports your wellbeing. For me, that clarity has never been about having more - it’s been about choosing better.
Living small isn’t restrictive.
It’s freeing.
Next, I’ll be sharing another room from the studio—slowly, thoughtfully, and with curiosity.