The Smallest Room

By Audrey Patterson

Cloud Countertop Basin £365, Waters Baths of Ashbourne,

In this week’s Home Comforts pages, we focus on the smallest room in the house. Lee Frost, Director of Waters Baths of Ashbourne, has some more top tips on fixtures:

Comfort First

“Seen as the ‘smallest room’ in the house, it’s important to remember that a cloakroom ought to be just as comfortable and inviting as a full-size bathroom. With style, design and quality of products brought more sharply into a focus in a smaller space, it’s key to opt for the highest quality you can afford and ensure that heaven really is in the detail.

Breeze basin, Waters Baths of Ashbourne

Traditional Features

Uniting traditional features with urban design, our timeless countertop basins in our Elements Collection work beautifully with both counter and wall-mounted taps. Crafted, they their and , along with a lifetime guarantee.

Evolve Counter Top Basin 2, £365, Waters Baths of Ashbourne

Boutique Appeal

“Installing a small selection of beautifully crafted wall-hung units, like those of our stone Curve range, will open up the floor area, add valuable shelving space, and create a stylish feature wall to give a boutique feel to any space.”

Haze basin, Elements Collection Waters Baths of Ashbourne

Light It Up

Lighting is also an issue in this small area. Daniel Collins Managing Director The Lighting Store www.thelightingstore.co.uk, says

“Layering lighting in the downstairs loo can really add ambience and interest, some people like to add a little drama to the smallest room of the house and use bold coloured paint and some showpiece lighting. Start with spots or ceiling mounted recessed lighting above the sink light for task lighting, then use accent lighting to highlight any art or photos. Wall lights either side of the mirror above the sink will add a focal point and a pendant will give the room a stylish finish. More people are choosing smart home tech and are using automatic lighting sensors in the downstairs toilet, so that lights automatically come on when you enter the room and go off when you leave.”

Mirror, Mirror

Get creative with lighting, suggest lighting specialists BLT Direct

Miniature LED downlights are perfect feature lighting for smaller rooms such as cloakrooms – they sit flush to the ceiling or wall, which helps to maximise the feeling of space and come in a range of finishes and colour temperatures. With an average 50,000 hour lifespan, they’re also very cost effective.

LED Mirror by BLT Direct

Illuminated LED mirrors are also a smart option when space is at a premium. Look for integrated shaver sockets to ramp up practicality and double up on function. With depths of around 60mm they won’t protrude into the room, helping to keep things sleek and spacious.