Small bathroom renovations that maximise space

It's official: our small bathroom renovations are getting bigger. From Brisbane to Broome, home renovators are knocking down walls and slapping up tiles, all in the name of enhanced bath-time bliss.

And why wouldn't they? According to bathroom builder John Spiteri from Brindabella Bathrooms, a big, luxurious bathroom is the new heart of the home.

"Bathrooms are becoming fashion statements," he says. "They're one of the first rooms a home buyer will look at, so every dollar you spend on making them more attractive and functional you will recoup in kind."

And if that means extending, then down with those walls!

Small bathroom extensions: why so popular?

"I think extending is becoming popular because of the ageing population and changes to the family unit," says John. "Kids are moving out and the husband and wife are deciding they might want a bigger ensuite, so they're willing to sacrifice an adjacent room to do that."

John cites a recent job as a typical example. A couple of empty nesters decided to treat themselves to some later-life luxury by removing the wall between their bathroom and toilet and putting in a spa bath.

"If it's just Mum and Dad left, the toilet room is a good spot to extend into because you no longer have to worry too much about the privacy aspect of not having a separate toilet," says John.

Toilets and bathrooms - together at last, and popular?

Lynette Tebbenhoff from LJT Bathrooms says this is part of a larger trend of doing away with the dedicated toilet space altogether.

"With the many elegant wall-hung pans now available, I think people see the toilet as adding to the appeal of the bathroom as a whole," she says. "That's why they're knocking down that wall in between and making the toilet space part of the larger bathroom."

But Lynette still recommends having a separate toilet somewhere in the house to avoid those embarrassing butt-ins. John agrees: "Sometimes, if you've got the toilet in the same room, that could limit your market in terms of resale."

Understanding the impact of small bathroom renovations

When extending your bathroom, you'll face the same structural issues you would extending any other room. If it's a load-bearing wall you're removing, you'll need to check with a licensed builder or engineer if you need to relocate the ceiling beams. And be mindful that the condemned wall may contain important plumbing and electrical wiring that will also need to be moved.

"On average, you're looking at around $30,000 for this kind of renovation because it will usually require new ceilings and maybe repairs to some structural walls," says John. "Obviously you're making the bathroom bigger too, so it's going to be more costly in terms of tiles, lighting and heating."

Contact a bathroom renovator in your area to find out more about small bathroom renovations: