Bathtub Small Bathroom Ideas: Space-Savvy Designs for Australian Homes

Yes, you can have a relaxing bath in a compact bathroom. With careful planning, smart storage and the right fixtures, a small bathroom with bathtub can be practical, elegant and easy to maintain. Below, our Perth-based designers share proven ideas, an efficient renovation process and WA-ready material choices to help you create a beautiful, long-lasting result.

12 space-savvy bathtub ideas for small bathrooms

These strategies consistently work in small bathrooms with tub configurations across WA apartments, townhouses and character homes.

• Choose a 1500 mm inset bath or a 1200–1400 mm Japanese-style soaking tub to shrink the footprint without losing depth.
• Opt for a back-to-wall or alcove bath to reclaim circulation space and simplify waterproofing.
• Go shower-over-bath with a frameless shower screen to keep sightlines open and water inside the wet zone.
• Use wall-hung vanities and in-wall toilets to free up floor area and help the room feel larger.
• Add a nib wall or tiled ledge to hold shampoo and bath toys without extra shelves.
• Run large-format wall tiles vertically and keep grout lines light for visual height and width.
• Select matte tiles with a slip-resistant finish underfoot (e.g., R10), and glossy wall tiles for light bounce.
• Specify a thermostatic mixer and WELS 4–5 star showerhead for comfort and efficiency.
• Use pocket or barn doors if swing clearance is tight; standard WA doors are often 820 mm wide—check your tub fits through.
• Integrate custom cabinetry WA with soft-close drawers and recessed handles to reduce visual clutter.
• Stick to one statement finish (e.g., matte black tapware) and keep other elements calm.
• Plan quality task lighting plus an exhaust fan sized to the room volume to prevent condensation.

Our renovation process for a small bathroom with bathtub

Joyce Kitchens designs and delivers bathroom renovations Perth homeowners trust for durability and style. Here’s how we streamline a small-bathroom-with-bathtub upgrade:

1. Design consultation: We measure, discuss layouts, storage and your style (Hamptons style, contemporary, mid-century), then advise on compact tub options.
2. 3D design & selections: You’ll see the room in 3D, choose tiles, tapware, vanity tops (stone benchtops or laminate), and lighting. We’ll confirm clearances and code requirements.
3. Detailed specification: We document waterproofing to AS/NZS 3740, plumbing to AS/NZS 3500, ventilation, and electrical separation zones.
4. Custom joinery: Our cabinetmakers craft wall-hung vanities, mirrored shaving cabinets and niche storage—precise to millimetre for WA site conditions.
5. Build & install: Licensed trades strip out, prepare substrates, waterproof, tile, fit the tub, install the frameless shower screen and commission fixtures.
6. Quality assurance: We check falls to waste, silicone joints, fixture alignment and ventilation performance, then hand over care instructions.

Materials & finishes that make small bathrooms look and feel bigger

Choosing the right bathtub material

Material impacts weight, heat retention, price and how easy the bath is to manoeuvre through older WA homes. Below is a quick comparison.

Tiles, grout and waterproofing

• Run the same floor tile into the shower-over-bath wet zone for a unified look; choose slip-resistant matte.
• Specify waterproofing membranes to AS/NZS 3740 and ensure upstands behind and around the bath lip.
• Use light, stain-resistant grout with quality sealer to keep maintenance low in a compact space.

Tapware, fixtures and ventilation

• Select a WELS 4–5 star shower and bath outlet for water efficiency suited to Australian conditions.
• Thermostatic mixers avoid temperature spikes—ideal for kids in a shower-over-bath.
• Correctly sized exhaust fans (ducted to outside) combat steam in tight rooms.

Storage and vanity choices

Prioritise wall-hung vanities, mirrored cabinets and recessed niches. Depending on budget and style, you can pair laminate cabinets with stone benchtops (or compliant engineered stone alternatives) for durability. Our custom cabinetry WA teams include soft-close drawers and organisers to fit every centimetre.

Layouts & styles that work

Compact layouts

• Alcove bath along one wall: Classic small bathroom with bathtub solution; add a frameless shower screen for daily showers.
• Corner shower-bath: Curved glass can free valuable circulation space at the entry.
• Back-to-wall freestanding bath: Freestanding feel without the cleaning issues behind the tub.
• Soaker tub + wall-hung vanity: Pairs deep soaking with storage and is ideal in narrow rooms.

Style pointers

• Hamptons style: A shaker-profile vanity, pale stone-look benchtop and brushed nickel tapware feel airy and timeless.
• Contemporary coastal: Matte black tapware, pale oak joinery and a light terrazzo-look splashback read clean and modern.
• Mid-century modern: Warm timber tones, white square tiles and a steel enamel bath give retro charm without clutter.

Quick WA case examples

Subiaco unit (1.9 m × 2.4 m): We replaced a bulky spa with a 1500 mm inset bath and frameless screen, added a 900 mm wall-hung vanity with soft-close drawers, and used light rectified tiles. Result: a bright, family-friendly small bathroom with tub and better storage.

Fremantle cottage: A back-to-wall solid-surface tub, shaker vanity to match the owners’ shaker kitchen, and matte brass tapware unified the home’s style. Ventilation and waterproofing were upgraded to current AS/NZS standards while preserving heritage character.

For product sourcing, see bathroom warehouse brendale for a design-first approach to picking fixtures.

Perth costs & timelines

• Bathtub: $400–$5,000 depending on material and size.
• Waterproofing & prep: $1,000–$2,500 (AS/NZS 3740-compliant).
• Tiling & screen: $3,000–$8,000 (tiles, labour, frameless shower screen).
• Plumbing & electrical: $2,000–$5,000 (licensed trades, new mixers, ventilation).
• Custom vanity & storage: $2,500–$7,500+ (materials from laminate to stone).
• Total guide: $18k–$25k for a cosmetic refresh; $28k–$45k for a full strip-out with layout tweaks and custom cabinetry.

Timeframes: 2–4 weeks for a straight swap; 4–6 weeks for full renovations, subject to tile and joinery lead times.

Small bathroom + bathtub planning checklist

• Measure doorways, hall turns and stairwells to confirm the tub will fit inside the home.
• Confirm clearances: 700 mm in front of the bath and 900 mm for vanity if possible.
• Choose the bath type and size: 1500 mm inset, back-to-wall or soaking tub.
• Select slip-resistant floor tiles; plan falls to floor waste in the bath/shower zone.
• Decide on shower-over-bath vs separate shower (if space allows).
• Specify waterproofing to AS/NZS 3740 and ensure licensed trades handle plumbing/electrical.
• Plan storage: wall-hung vanity, mirrored cabinet, niches, nib wall.
• Ventilation and lighting: ducted extraction and task lighting at the vanity.
• Pick cohesive finishes: keep to 2–3 main materials and one hero metal finish.
• Confirm WELS ratings and thermostatic mixers for efficiency and safety.

Beyond the bathroom: coordinate your whole home

Design coherence boosts value. If you’re planning kitchen renovations Perth or updating your laundry design, scullery or butler’s pantry, consider echoing details like shaker kitchen profiles, laminate cabinets with stone benchtops, coordinated splashback tiles, and hardware tones through to robe fitouts or a walk-in wardrobe. Our team can align finishes across rooms for a seamless feel.

Helpful AU resources: Check design standards and guidance from the Australian Building Codes Board (NCC), trade support via the Housing Industry Association (HIA), and water efficiency info at the WELS scheme.

Prefer a single point of contact? Our complete bathroom package streamlines design, trades and finishes.

Ready to start? Book a design consultation with Joyce Kitchens for expert bathroom renovations Perth homeowners trust—complete with 3D design, custom cabinetry and coordinated selections.

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