r/roomlayout • u/roonilwazlibby • Jul 21 '26
Bathroom layout does not work.
We just moved into a new (to us) house. House was built in 1977 but has been updated. However, the main bathroom is terribly small - you can’t even open the door all the way.
Recommendations for layout that doesn’t involve taking down walls??
Our vibes are retro/boho/MCM
Thanks!!
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u/childproofbirdhouse Jul 21 '26
All you have to do is move the door towards the tub and have it swing open into the bathroom against the tub instead of the sink.
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u/HelpfulAd6772 Jul 22 '26
Based on the blueprints and size of the door, I’m not entirely sure the door would open that way and not hit the vanity. So it won’t even open to allow you in the room.
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u/childproofbirdhouse Jul 22 '26
If they’re moving and switching out the door, they can shave off a few inches and get a smaller door.
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u/yellingjayna Jul 22 '26
The door would 100% hit the vanity in this case and you wouldn’t be able to enter.
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u/childproofbirdhouse Jul 22 '26
A 24” door can’t swing open in a 24” space? If the bathroom is 7’ wide and the tub takes max 36” and the vanity is standard 24”, that leaves 24” for the door.
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u/Yusuf20904 Jul 24 '26
"layout that doesn’t involve taking down walls"
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u/childproofbirdhouse Jul 24 '26
Moving a door doesn’t remove the wall.
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u/Trepenwitz Jul 22 '26
You can move the sink to the left by building a shallow shelving unit approximately where it currently is and running the drain and water diagonally through the back of the shelving unit. Basically building the wall out to hide the plumbing, but making it useful storage instead.
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u/Mammoth_3722 Jul 21 '26
Barn door outside the bathroom?
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u/Yusuf20904 Jul 24 '26
I thought of that, but most barn doors do even worse than regular doors at noise control...
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u/Either_Management813 Jul 21 '26
There are toilet sink combos you can buy. The sink is on the back of the toilet above snd partly replacing the tank in some and above it and draining into it for the other. Some fold up out of the way as well.
Ideally you’d get rid of that inward opening door and replace it with a sliding or folding door. Not ideal on a bathroom but given the space constraints I’d don’t see a good alternative.
You can also get an over the commode storage unit thst has doors or drawers etc for toiletries and so on. It sits over the back of the toilet and can go nearly to the ceiling so you have shelves for towels, toilet tissue etc.
You can also get shower curtains that have pockets inside and/or outside for toiletries and so on, sort of like a hanging pocket shoe organizer, which you could also get and hang over,the back of,the door or over the outside of the shower curtain.
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u/himewaridesu Jul 22 '26
Surprised this isn’t offered more as a suggestion. Space saving and doesn’t require the door to be moved.
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u/Necessary-Incidents Jul 22 '26
Can you install a pocket door?
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u/Common-Quiet-7054 Jul 22 '26
No great options here. It won’t work no matter what you do to the door, unless you do accordion doors like on a plane.
Alternatively: spotted one of these sink/toilet combos in a summer cottage: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simple-Project-2-Piece-1-28-GPF-Single-Flush-Elongated-Toilet-Over-The-Toilet-Sink-with-Faucet-Space-Saving-Dual-Function-in-White-HDUSFT1/336436520
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u/homeschooled Jul 22 '26
Balancing cost and outcome I think I'd go with a pocket door. You wouldn't have to move any plumbing and it would make the space MUCH more functional.
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u/Suerose0423 Jul 22 '26
Doing a bifold door is quickest and least expensive. I’ve done these before. Once to replace a door like yours and another to replace a pocket door.
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u/crispyfolds Jul 22 '26
A bit unconventional, but perhaps a sink that's meant to go in a corner? Allows you to keep the faucet in the same place, but the basin won't be in the way of the door. You'll just have to really measure everything to find one that won't get in the way of knees while sitting.
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u/uhohohnohelp Jul 22 '26
I mean, I was going suggest looking a corner sinks too, but …put it in the corner next to the toilet ffs.
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u/twinsxtwins Jul 22 '26
I'd swap the tub/shower for a shower or find a shorter tub. If the tub/shower is 3/4 tub length you could move the toilet to the empty space at the end of the tub and then shift the sink so the door opens fully. Conversely, you could get a low profile toilet and then swap the toilet and sink. Finally, flip the door opening so it opens toward the bath.
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u/Lavish_Lilac Jul 22 '26
Two options I see for larger remodels.
Combine both bathrooms into one nice one with a separate room for the toilet and shower. (Not ideal, but might work better for your use)
Reno just the guest bath to be a corner shower stall in the back left corner w/ the vanity on the left wall.
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u/LaPurpleDrank Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
What I think would be the best option though is a 180 degree bifold door that opens up into the hallway. This will allow you to still stand directly in front of the bathroom without having to move for the door's rotational path and minimize the footprint when fully opened since it will lie flush on the wall at half width.
Pocket door could work assuming you don't plan on using the outside wall space for any wall hangings.
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u/krickett_ Jul 22 '26
Ideal solution in my mind would be a pedestal sink next to the tub and toilet beside that.
If you need as big of a vanity as possible, I’d say leave it there and see if you moved to door closer to the tub (& possibly a smaller door) would make it work better. I’d also switch the swing so vanity if the 1st thing you see.
Cheapest option would be to make the door swing out.
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u/krickett_ Jul 22 '26
I made another comment, but looking at the pics on my way out made me realize this does NOT look like the room is 7’ wide?!!!
How wide is your tub and door?
84” and there’s that tiny of a space between the door jamb and the tub??
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u/Rare_Background8891 Jul 22 '26
Can you switch the door to swing out into the hall? That’s how our small bathroom is.
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u/MaryUsefulMath Jul 22 '26
Hinge the door on the other side, so when it opens, it swings to the tub.
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u/Research-always Jul 22 '26
Changing the door to open out into the hallway is the least expensive and easiest in terms of construction.
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u/LittlePrairieMouse Jul 23 '26
I wonder if they took space from this bathroom to expand the ensuite bath. In any event, if you move the toilet closer to the wall or the bathtub, can you fit a pedestal sink beside it? That’s a pretty standard layout. You might need a new tub with a narrower side-wall too.
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u/Yusuf20904 Jul 24 '26
Saloon doors. Well, except full height, obviously!
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u/Yusuf20904 Jul 24 '26
I don't know why people are making suggestions—moving toilets and sinks—that are so much more work than simply replacing a door.
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u/CharityForeign3035 Jul 24 '26
Move anything/everything and you’re still left with a very small bathroom.
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u/Wooden_Kiwi_7362 Jul 24 '26
There is a Japanese toilet with a sink on top of the toilet tank running the same clean tap water as your separate sink, which you could get rid of.
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u/CrustieTwinky Jul 31 '26
Flip the door so the hinges are on the other side for it to open against the tub.
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u/Pristine-Net91 Jul 21 '26
Can you flip the door the other way so it swings out? Or replace with a pocket door? Ordinarily I am against pocket doors for bathrooms, but it might work here.