Small bathrooms can be difficult to renovate. Every fitting needs to be positioned carefully, storage must be practical, and the chosen finishes should help the room feel brighter and less crowded.
This bathroom renovation in Saddle Tree Loan, in the Inch area of Edinburgh, shows how a compact and dated bathroom can be transformed into a cleaner, more practical space.
The original bathroom contained an older suite, exposed pipework, small wall tiles and a bath with a shower. Although the room was usable, the layout and finishes made it feel narrow and dated.
AVO Renovations completed the work and created a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower, large neutral tiles, black fittings and a space-saving basin. A feature-tiled section around the toilet adds colour and gives the finished room its own character.
Homeowners considering similar work can learn more about our bathroom renovation services in Edinburgh.
The Bathroom Before Renovation
Before the work began, the bathroom had an older white suite with a traditional pedestal basin, close-coupled toilet and bath.
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Small white tiles covered most of the walls, with darker tiles around the bath and shower area. Decorative tile borders had been used around the room, while sections of plumbing remained visible beneath the basin and behind the toilet.
Ready to Renovate Your Bathroom?
From removing the old suite to plumbing, tiling and final installation, AVO Renovations can complete your bathroom renovation in Edinburgh.
The original arrangement presented several common problems found in compact Edinburgh bathrooms:
- Limited space around the toilet and basin
- Exposed pipework
- A large pedestal basin taking up valuable floor space
- Older wall and floor tiles
- Limited practical storage
- A bath occupying much of the available room
- Several different tile colours and patterns making the space feel busy
The existing bathroom needed more than a simple change of fixtures. The room required a complete renovation to improve its appearance, simplify the finishes and make better use of the limited space.
Replacing the Bath With a Walk-In Shower
One of the most important changes was replacing the bath with a walk-in shower.
For homeowners who mainly use a shower, removing the bath can make a small bathroom easier and more comfortable to use. It can also create a more open appearance because the shower screen takes up less visual space than a solid enclosure or shower curtain.
The new shower at Saddle Tree Loan includes:
- A low-profile rectangular shower tray
- A large fixed glass screen
- Black framing
- A black rainfall shower
- A separate handheld shower head
- Simple tiled walls
- An open walk-in entrance
The fixed glass panel helps contain water without closing off the whole shower area. Its black grid design provides contrast against the pale grey tiles and connects with the other black fittings used throughout the bathroom.
The rainfall shower creates a strong focal point, while the separate handheld shower adds everyday practicality.
If you are replacing an existing suite or fitting a bathroom in a newly prepared room, you can also read about our bathroom installation services in Edinburgh.
Large Neutral Tiles for a Brighter Bathroom
The old bathroom used several tile sizes, colours and decorative borders. As part of the renovation, these were replaced with large, light-grey tiles across the walls and floor.
Using a simple, consistent tile finish helps a small bathroom feel calmer and less crowded. Larger tiles also create fewer grout lines, producing a cleaner and more continuous appearance.
The neutral grey colour reflects natural light from the window and provides a suitable background for the black shower, screen and basin tap.
Correct preparation is essential before bathroom tiles are installed. The underlying surfaces need to be suitable, even and ready for a moisture-prone environment. Wet areas also require careful sealing around the shower tray, screen and adjoining surfaces.
AVO provides professional tiling services in Edinburgh for bathrooms, kitchens, walls and floors.
A Feature-Tiled Toilet Area
Although most of the bathroom uses simple grey tiles, the area around the toilet was finished with patterned hexagonal tiles.
These tiles introduce soft green, grey and floral details without overwhelming the room. Limiting the pattern to one section creates a focal point while allowing the rest of the bathroom to remain light and simple.
The feature tiles were used across the boxed toilet area and along the surface beside the basin. This connects the different elements and creates a useful ledge for small bathroom items.
The toilet cistern and associated pipework are concealed within the tiled boxing. This gives the room a neater finish than the original exposed arrangement.
A recessed opening was also incorporated into the boxing, providing a small area for storing toilet rolls or decorative items. In a compact bathroom, details like this can add storage without requiring another cabinet.
Installing a Compact Wall-Mounted Basin
The original pedestal basin occupied a significant amount of floor space and left the pipework visible underneath.
It was replaced with a compact wall-mounted basin positioned beside the window. Moving to a smaller basin helps free up the floor and makes the room feel easier to move around.
The finished basin area includes:
- A rectangular wall-mounted basin
- A black mixer tap
- Concealed or neatly positioned plumbing
- A tiled ledge beside the basin
- Storage beneath the wall-mounted cabinet
- Natural light from the existing window
The black basin tap coordinates with the shower fittings and enclosure, creating a consistent finish across the room.
Positioning the basin close to the window also allows natural light to reach this part of the bathroom. The arrangement makes practical use of the narrow end of the room without making it feel crowded.
Practical Bathroom Storage
Storage is often difficult to include in a small bathroom. Large freestanding cabinets can reduce the available floor area and make a narrow space feel even smaller.
This project uses wall-mounted storage beside the shower. Raising the cabinet above the floor maintains a sense of space and makes the flooring easier to access for cleaning.
Additional storage and display space is provided by:
- The tiled ledge above the concealed cistern
- The recessed opening beneath the ledge
- The wall-mounted cabinet
- The window ledge
- The surface beside the basin
These areas provide room for toiletries and everyday items without filling the bathroom with additional furniture.
Black Bathroom Fittings
Black fittings give the new bathroom a modern appearance and create contrast against the light tiles.
The black details include:
- Rainfall shower
- Handheld shower
- Shower controls
- Walk-in shower screen
- Basin mixer tap
- Toilet-roll holder
- Door handle
Repeating the same finish throughout the room makes the choices feel deliberate. The black elements also connect visually with the patterned feature tiles, which contain several darker tones.
Because the room has plenty of light-coloured tiling, the dark fittings provide definition without making the bathroom feel smaller.
Improving a Compact Bathroom Layout
A successful small bathroom renovation is not only about selecting attractive tiles and fittings. The room must remain practical and comfortable to use.
In this bathroom, the main sanitary fittings remain organised along the sides and far end of the room, maintaining a clear route from the doorway to the shower.
The finished layout provides:
- Clear access from the bathroom door
- An open shower entrance
- Sufficient space around the toilet
- A compact basin that does not obstruct movement
- Wall-mounted storage
- Easy-to-maintain wall and floor finishes
Removing the pedestal basin and installing more compact fittings helped make the available floor area feel less restricted.
Coordinating the Bathroom Renovation
A complete bathroom renovation involves several connected stages. The visible fixtures are installed towards the end, after the underlying work and preparation have been completed.
Depending on the condition and layout of the existing bathroom, a project can involve:
- Removing the old bathroom suite and tiles
- Assessing the walls, floor and existing pipework
- Completing the required plumbing alterations
- Preparing the walls and shower area
- Installing wall and floor tiles
- Fitting the shower tray and glass screen
- Installing the toilet, basin and storage
- Sealing wet areas
- Completing lighting, decorating and final finishes
- Checking the completed bathroom
Completing these stages in the correct sequence helps protect the finished surfaces and reduces the risk of recently installed work needing to be disturbed.
For a wider example involving kitchens, bathrooms and other rooms, see our completed Viewcraig Gardens flat renovation in Edinburgh.
Bathroom Renovations Across Edinburgh
AVO Renovations completes bathroom renovations and installations throughout Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.
Our work can include:
- Removal of existing bathroom suites
- Installation of baths and showers
- Walk-in shower installation
- Toilet and basin fitting
- Plumbing alterations
- Wall and floor preparation
- Bathroom tiling
- Flooring
- Storage installation
- Decorating and finishing
We install bathrooms based on the products and plans selected by the customer. AVO Renovations does not provide an in-house bathroom design service, but we can work from your chosen layout and product specification.
Our service area includes the Inch and surrounding parts of Edinburgh, as well as Morningside, Bruntsfield, Marchmont, Newington, Tollcross, Stockbridge, New Town and other locations across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The Completed Saddle Tree Loan Bathroom
The completed bathroom is brighter, more practical and easier to maintain.
Large grey tiles provide a simple foundation, while black fittings give the room a contemporary appearance. The patterned hexagonal tiles add interest around the toilet and basin without making the whole space feel busy.
Replacing the bath with an open shower has also improved the way the narrow room is used. Compact fixtures, concealed pipework and wall-mounted storage help make the most of the available space.
This project shows that even a small Edinburgh bathroom can accommodate a walk-in shower, storage and distinctive finishes when each element is selected and installed with the room’s dimensions in mind.
Planning a Bathroom Renovation in Edinburgh?
AVO Renovations provides complete bathroom renovation and installation services across Edinburgh.
Whether you want to replace an outdated bathroom, change a bath to a walk-in shower or completely renovate a compact space, we can complete the fitting and related renovation work required.
Contact AVO Renovations with photographs of your existing bathroom, your Edinburgh location and a brief description of what you would like to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. AVO Renovations renovates bathrooms of different sizes across Edinburgh. Compact bathrooms require careful planning to make effective use of the available space.
Yes. Where the room and existing plumbing allow it, a bath can be replaced with a shower tray, shower system and glass screen. The bathroom must be assessed before the work is confirmed.
Yes. Bathroom renovation projects can include the necessary plumbing, wall preparation, tiling, flooring and fixture installation, depending on the agreed scope of work.
No. AVO Renovations specialises in bathroom renovation and installation rather than providing an in-house design service. We can install the bathroom using your selected layout, suite, tiles and fittings.
Yes. Customers can select and purchase their preferred bathroom suite, shower, tiles and fittings. Product details should be checked before installation begins.
AVO Renovations works throughout Edinburgh and surrounding areas, subject to the location, project requirements and availability.