Narrow Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

A long, narrow bathroom can feel tight, but thoughtful design choices can open it up and make it work better every day. Start by simplifying the layout, maximizing natural light, and choosing materials that visually widen the room. Focus on elements that create clear sightlines, reduce visual clutter, and add smart storage without adding bulk. The result is a space that feels calm, efficient, and more inviting.

Remodeling ideas for narrow bathrooms

Visually widen the space with walk-in showers

A walk-in shower with a low-profile pan and clear glass can make a narrow bathroom feel larger by extending sightlines from door to back wall. Place the shower at the far end of the room to draw the eye forward and keep the main walkway clear. In many city apartments, homeowners swap a bulky tub for a shower with a linear drain to reduce thresholds and free up inches for a wider vanity. If you have morning routines overlapping, the open look also reduces the “bottleneck” feeling because light travels freely and the room reads as one continuous space.

Check out how the smart layout of this narrow New York bathroom

Keep the space open with glass shower doors

Frameless glass doors or fixed panels are ideal for a long narrow bathroom remodel because they prevent visual breaks while still containing water. In homes where steam builds quickly, a simple panel instead of a swinging door helps with ventilation and eliminates door clearance conflicts in tight layouts. A family with kids might choose a sliding glass door to avoid a door swing into the walkway. Clear glass also lets statement tiles or a niche shine through, adding depth without adding busyness.

View this small but stylish bathroom 

Change up the windows

If privacy allows, expand or raise a window to bring in more daylight into your remodeled narrow bathroom. Frosted or textured glass keeps privacy while maintaining a bright, open feel that benefits a compact footprint. In railroad-style apartments, a high transom window between the bath and an adjacent room can borrow light if an exterior window isn’t possible. Even a slim clerestory can change how the space feels during the day, reducing the need for heavy fixtures and multiple mirrors to bounce light.

See how this Brooklyn bathroom features a window 

Use decorative wall paper or tiles strategically 

A single feature wall or a restrained band of patterned tile can redirect attention away from the tight dimension. For example, a soft, vertical motif behind the vanity can elongate height, while a horizontal wainscot tile can widen the room visually. In a shared bath, homeowners often place a small wallpaper panel above the toilet to add character without crowding the main field. Choose one focal element and let the rest of the surfaces stay quiet so the room feels balanced.

Draw ideas from this elegant New York bathroom 

Design your floors to make the room appear wider

One smart idea for making your narrow bathroom appear wider? Look to your floors. Run rectangular or plank tiles across the short wall—or opt for diagonal, chevron, or herringbone layouts—to pull the eye outward and break the tunnel effect. Choose larger tiles with tight, low-contrast grout and light, softly reflective finishes, ideally with gentle horizontal veining, to create a calm, continuous plane. Keep transitions seamless, skip busy mosaics on the main field, and pair the layout with a floating vanity aligned to the tile joints for a clean, expansive feel. For bonus tips, read Small Bathroom Flooring Ideas That Make a Big Impact. 

Explore this newly remodeled bathroom 

Keep vanities and furniture off the ground

A floating vanity helps a long narrow bathroom remodel read wider by exposing more floor tile and creating visual breathing room. In homes where two people get ready at the same time, that open toe space lets one person stand aside without feeling cramped. Wall-mounted linen towers or shallow floating shelves reduce bulk while still offering storage for daily items. If you add an LED strip under the vanity, the glow adds depth and makes nighttime trips safer without turning on overhead lighting.

See how these homeowners decorated their bathroom 

Choose smaller appliances

Choose compact fixtures where they matter most. A slim toilet and a shallow-depth sink free up valuable inches where circulation is tight, especially near the door swing. For powder rooms, a corner sink can open the walkway; if baths are rare and showers are routine, a shorter tub can reclaim floor space without feeling cramped. In the narrow bathroom shown below, a compact sink fits neatly beside the toilet, creating a clearer path and room for storage. Small, thoughtful choices like these add up to a more comfortable daily routine without giving up function.

Project Team: Interior Designer: JOIA, Bespoke Millworker: Isla Porter, Architect: David Chagnon Architectural Design, PLLC, Photographer: Julie Goldstone, Stylist: Julie Russell

View this stylish Brooklyn bathroom

Find storage solutions that take advantage of under-utilized spaces

Look for slim zones beside the tub, above the toilet, or between studs to add storage without encroaching on the floor. A family with kids might use lidded baskets for bath toys in a narrow gap and keep bath salts and towels on floating shelves above. Recessed medicine cabinets and in-wall niches turn dead space into organized space. In rentals, over-the-toilet units and adhesive hooks offer removable options that still keep counters clear.

Consider how these homeowners laid out their 60-foot bathroom 

Install a mirrored medicine cabinet for space-saving storage

A mirrored cabinet provides face-level storage for daily essentials while bouncing light around a narrow bathroom. Recess it when possible so the profile stays slim and aligns with the vanity edges. In homes with different height needs, choose a taller cabinet and set shelves to fit both skincare bottles and electric toothbrushes. Pair the mirror with side sconces to reduce shadows and make the room feel brighter during early mornings.

View this sophisticated New York bathroom

Design with lighter colors

Use a soft, light palette across walls, tile, and ceiling to reduce visual breaks and make your narrow bathroom feel open. A creamy wall tone with a slightly warmer floor tile keeps the space inviting, while matte finishes help hide water spots. In a windowless bath, paint the ceiling the same hue as the walls so the edges disappear and the room looks taller. Add contrast with hardware, a framed mirror, or a single piece of art so the space still has character.

Check out how this bathroom features light colors 

Incorporate shower and wall niches 

Built-in niches keep bottles off the floor and leave the walk zone clear in a long narrow bathroom. Align the niche to a comfortable reach height and match its edges to tile grout lines so it looks integrated. Families often choose one larger niche divided by a shelf so taller bottles sit below and soap rests above. If you’re adding a niche near a vanity, tuck it beside the mirror to store daily items without cluttering the counter.

Click here to view the full bathroom 

Consider whether an open concept bathroom is right for you

One way to make your bathroom less narrow? Knock down a wall! Open concept bathrooms don’t work for everyone, but they can suit lifestyles where privacy is less critical—like a primary suite used by one person, a couple with staggered routines, or a household with multiple full baths. If that’s you, consider integrating the bath with a dressing area or bedroom using a partial-height wall or glass partition to keep light flowing while defining zones. Always consult a contractor to confirm what’s structurally feasible and how the change will affect ventilation, waterproofing, and permits.

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Design choices to avoid in your small bathroom

• Busy patterns on multiple surfaces that compete for attention
• High-contrast grout lines that create a strong grid and narrow the look
• Bulky vanities or floor cabinets that shrink the walkway
• Heavy curtains or opaque partitions that block light and sightlines
• Too many finishes; stick to a tight, coordinated palette
• Glossy, dark floors that highlight water spots and make the room feel smaller

For more insights that can help guide your bathroom design and renovation from start to finish, check out articles like Your Bathroom Renovation Checklist: Step-by-Step Guide, Guest Bathroom Remodel Ideas & Layout Tips, and A Complete Guide to Bathroom Renovation Costs in 2025.

Remodel your bathroom with guidance from Block Renovation

A narrow bathroom remodel benefits from careful planning, realistic pricing, and a contractor who understands tight layouts. With Block, you can visualize your design, see costs update as you choose materials, and compare proposals side by side. Expert scope reviews help catch gaps early, and progress-based payments add clarity from start to finish. When questions arise, you can ask for guidance so decisions feel confident and the project keeps moving.

Block Studio

Use our free AI planner, Renovation Studio, to plan your layout, try materials, and see cost estimates as you redesign your narrow bathroom. Swap a tub for a walk-in shower, test floating versus freestanding vanities, rotate tile directions to make the room feel wider, compare compact toilets and shallow sinks, adjust storage with recessed niches or medicine cabinets, and play with lighter wall colors and mirror sizes to brighten the space. Once done, share your bathroom visualization with family members and future contractors to ensure everyone is aligned on your remodeling goals.

Block Renovation

Tell us about your project and get matched with highly qualified local contractors who fit your scope and style. Review competitive bids with transparent scopes and timelines, as well as expert input from our Renovation Consultants. Combine this with access to our secure payment system and progress-based payment milestones, and you can feel confident and in control.