15 cloakroom ideas to maximise your space

A cloakroom might be the smallest room in your home, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be big on style. Whether it’s a handy downstairs loo or a tiny tucked-away space, the right design tricks can make it feel brighter, roomier, and more inviting. From clever storage solutions to bold décor ideas, these 15 tips will help you make the most of every inch.

Veleka gloss grey freestanding vanity unit basin set in a green and grey bathroom.

1. Choose a compact vanity unit

Storage is vital for keeping small spaces tidy, which is why compact vanity units are so handy. These units will occupy the same footprint as your basin, but will allow you to keep all your downstairs toilet essentials such as toilet rolls and cleaning products out of sight.

Our compact vanity units are available in both freestanding and wall mounted styles. Wall mounted units are great if you want a modern look that can help your bathroom appear larger, but you will have less storage space than a freestanding unit.

Small bathroom with white marble effect tiles halfway up the wall, the rest of the wall is painted light blue.

2. Use light colours

Cloakrooms will often be small rooms which have very little, if any, natural light. As a result, it’s a good idea to paint your cloakroom a lighter colour to help it feel less drab and claustrophobic. White is still a hugely popular colour for bathrooms, but you can also go for lighter tones of your favourite colour.

Grey bathroom with wall mounted rectangular mirror above sink.

3. Make use of mirrors

Mirrors can add depth to walls and will reflect light, two attributes which can make a small cloakroom feel larger. You'll probably install a mirror above your basin, but for the best results consider installing a second decorative mirror on another wall of your downstairs toilet.

Cloakroom with blue wall panels, bold floral wallpaper and two small magpie art prints hung on the wall.

4. Hang some fun artwork

Installing artwork in bathrooms has become increasingly popular in recent years as people look to create a space that is unique. Your cloakroom is the one room in your home all your guests will probably have to visit at some point, so why not use it as a space to hang artwork that expresses your own styles and tastes?

Whether it’s a beautiful beach scene, a funny slogan or an animal print, you have a huge range of different options available to you.

Goodhome poprock black white mosaic effect vinyl tiles in bathroom.

5. Lay down some vinyl flooring

Your cloakroom may be small and an awkward shape, so making sure you have flooring that's easy to lay is important. Vinyl flooring is a great idea if you need to cut around pipes or tricky shapes, and boring patterns are a thing of the past. Our range includes herringbone, monochrome or mosaic styles ready to jazz up your floor.

Close up of vertical shiplap panelling painted in blue.

6. Wonderful wall panelling

Wall panelling in a cloakroom can help with creating a feeling of space, especially if it is painted in a light or reflective colour. Whether you decide on a tongue and groove, limewashed wall or add slats to create a feature area in the cloakroom, wall panels are on-trend and stylish.

Read more in our article on how to fit wall panels.

Wooden sliding door in a grey cloakroom.

7. Install sliding or bi-fold doors

When you’re looking to squeeze a cloakroom into your home, every extra inch of space is valuable. Door opening widths can sometimes be an issue as you won’t want a door to open outwards into a corridor, and if your cloakroom is particularly compact, you might not have enough space inside the room for the door to open. That’s where sliding and bi-fold doors come in. These doors are fitted on a rail and move side to side rather than outwards, so door opening widths are no longer a worry.

Harbour studio kyron matt steel black 3 lamp bathroom ceiling light.

8. Industrial style lighting

In a small space with a small ceiling, your choice of lighting will be even more noticeable. Industrial style lighting has increased in popularity in recent years. With beautiful materials and striking design touches, we believe it’s the perfect lighting style for your cloakroom.

White wall hung vanity unit in small blue and white cloakroom.

9. Wall hung units & toilets

Wall hung vanity units and toilets will leave the floor space underneath them empty. This will increase the size of visible floor space, which will in turn help your bathroom appear larger and more spacious. If you want to help your bathroom feel less claustrophobic and increase the amount of storage space available, take a look at our collection of wall hung storage units.

Goodhome ezili clear corner shower enclosure in a teal bathroom.

10. Choose a compact shower enclosure

If you’re lucky enough to have a slightly larger cloakroom, consider installing a compact shower enclosure. A second shower is ideal for when guests come to stay, or for families who don’t want to fight over the bathroom in the morning. Corner or quadrant enclosures can fit into small spaces and sliding doors mean you won’t need to worry about door opening widths.

Small white wall hung basin in a pink bathroom with a pale pink tiled splashback and floral wallpaper.

11. Small wall hung basins

If you’re looking to squeeze a cloakroom into a small area of your home, every inch counts. This is why we recommend a compact wall hung basin. These basins can be very small as they’re mainly needed for washing hands, unlike bathroom basins which have other uses such as brushing teeth and shaving.

Small pink cloakroom with pink panelling, floral wallpaper, geometric vinyl flooring, and space saving bathroom accessories.

12. Reduce clutter with the right accessories

Too much clutter in a cloakroom will make it feel cramped and claustrophobic, so getting the right accessories to store everything is key. Use a wall hung soap dispenser to prevent soap bottles cluttering up your basin, install a towel ring and fit a wall mounted toilet brush holder. Buying accessories from the same range is also an easy way to tie together the look of your bathroom, providing you with a seamless aesthetic.

Goodhome nevado tall matt green double bathroom column cabinet in a white and green bathroom.

13. Colourful storage units

Gone are the days when all bathroom units were white. Bathroom furniture units are now available in a huge range of different colours. Although you might want to be more conservative in your main bathroom, as we’ve already stated, your cloakroom is a great opportunity to be bold with different styles. Whether it’s pink, green, or a deep blue, there’s a huge scope of different furniture, floor, wall and tile combinations to choose from.

Small downstairs toilet with light blue tiled walls and teal bathroom wallpaper with a bird and flower design.

14. Go bold with feature wallpaper

You don’t spend as much time in your cloakroom as you do your main bathroom, so why not take the opportunity to go bold with fun styles? Bathroom wallpaper will transform a plain cloakroom wall into one that’s vibrant and expresses your own style and individuality.

From brick effect, to floral and textured wallpaper, whether it’s every wall or just a feature, bathroom wallpaper can add an exciting new dimension to your décor.

Black heated towel rail in a modern light brown bathroom.

15. Heated towel rail

A compact heated towel rail may seem like a simple addition to your cloakroom. However, on colder nights we’re sure you and your guests will appreciate being able to dry your hands on a warm, fresh towel.

Heated towel rails are available in a great selection of designs to match your bathroom décor, as well as smaller styles which are ideal for holding hand towels.

That concludes our top cloakroom ideas. Take a look at our collection of bathroom furniture, toilets, basins and bathroom paint so you can start transforming your own downstairs toilet.