The downstairs toilet often gets left until last. The kitchen and living room are finished, the budget is running low, and the cloakroom gets a quick coat of paint and a mirror. Yet a few changes can make a noticeable difference here. Wallpaper, a better basin arrangement or well placed lighting may be enough, without replacing everything.
The most useful downstairs toilet ideas start with the layout. You need to open the door comfortably, wash your hands without feeling squeezed and reach the towel without leaning across the toilet. Once those details work, you can choose the colours and finishes with more confidence.
Start with the cloakroom layout
Before choosing tiles or paint, measure the room and mark the door swing, existing pipework, basin and toilet on a plan. In an understairs cloakroom, include the sloping ceiling and check where you can stand comfortably. A fitting described as compact may still project too far into the room, so compare its full dimensions.
Think through the everyday details. Can you close the door once inside? Is there enough room to wash your hands without knocking your elbows? Will the vanity cupboard open fully? Marking proposed fittings on the floor with masking tape can help you judge the space before ordering. If the existing arrangement works, keeping the plumbing positions may leave more of the budget for finishes.
Choose wall finishes that suit the room
A downstairs toilet is a good place to try stronger colour or pattern because you spend relatively short periods in it. Wallpaper on all four walls, painted panelling with paper above, or a tiled basin wall can all work. Decide where each finish starts and stops, particularly around corners, windows and boxed pipework, so those junctions are part of the design.
Wallpaper for a small cloakroom
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Botanical prints, stripes and geometric patterns can all suit a cloakroom. Look at how much uninterrupted wall you have before choosing. A large motif may disappear behind the mirror or be cut awkwardly by a low ceiling, while a smaller repeat can be easier to position around fittings. Hold a sample against the wall beside the basin and mirror rather than judging it flat on a table.
Wallpaper can be practical in a toilet without a bath or shower, but check the manufacturer’s suitability and cleaning guidance. A tiled or stone splashback can protect the area behind the basin while leaving the remaining walls papered. Include pattern matching and wastage when calculating quantities. If you want to combine wallpaper with other strong finishes, the colour and pattern advice in our maximalist interior design article applies here too.
Paint and panelling
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Deep green, burgundy, navy and warm brown can give a small cloakroom a cosy feel. Painting the panelling and upper walls in the same colour reduces contrast between surfaces. A different colour or wallpaper above the panelling creates a clearer division. The right choice depends on the proportions of the room and how much pattern you want.
Test paint under the lighting you will use. In a windowless toilet, the lamps influence the colour throughout the day, so a sample viewed beside a sunny window may give the wrong impression. Choose a finish suited to the surface and cleaning requirements, especially around the basin and light switch. For softer alternatives to dark blue or green, an earthy colour palette can work with timber, stone and brass.
Tiles and splashbacks
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You do not need to tile every wall. Concentrating tile around the basin can provide protection where it is needed, with paint or wallpaper elsewhere. In the example above, the blue tiles and painted panelling share a colour, helping the different finishes sit together.
If you prefer full tiling, check the tile size against the wall dimensions to avoid narrow cuts at corners. Grout colour changes the effect too: a close match makes the surface look more continuous, while contrasting grout draws attention to the layout. Plan exposed edges and the junction with the basin before installation.
Choose the basin and tap together
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A compact basin should still be comfortable to use. Some shallow models save space but leave little room for your hands beneath the tap. Check the bowl depth, tap reach and where the water will land. A tap that projects too far or sits too high above a small bowl can cause splashing, even when both products look right individually.
A wall mounted basin leaves the floor visible and can suit a narrow cloakroom. A slim vanity provides storage, but check its depth and cupboard opening space. A corner basin may solve a particular layout problem, although it should not be the default simply because the room is small.
Wall mounted taps need early planning because the concealed parts and pipework may need fitting before the wall is finished. Ask your installer to check compatibility, water pressure requirements and maintenance access before ordering.
Will a wall hung toilet save space?
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A wall hung toilet keeps the floor beneath it clear, making cleaning easier and giving the room a less crowded appearance. However, it does not automatically save space. The supporting frame and concealed cistern need room too, sometimes within a new boxed section behind the toilet. Compare the total installed depth rather than looking only at the pan.
A short projection toilet may be a simpler option where depth is limited. If the existing toilet is comfortable and in good condition, replacing it may not be the best use of your renovation budget. Better lighting, new wall finishes or a different basin could make more difference. Your plumber should check the soil pipe position before the layout is finalised.
Light the mirror as well as the room
One ceiling fitting can provide general light, but a downlight directly above your head can cast shadows across your face at the mirror. Diffused lights beside the mirror, or an illuminated mirror that directs light towards the face, can make the basin area more comfortable to use.
A backlit mirror often creates a glow on the wall behind it, which is not always enough to light your face. Check how the product distributes light. Warm white lighting can suit deep paint colours and brass finishes, but the room still needs enough brightness for washing hands and cleaning.
Choose the mirror and lights together so there is space for both. Check what the mirror reflects from the doorway as well as from the basin. If you are changing fixed fittings, a lighting design plan can help coordinate their positions before the walls are finished.
Cloakroom design example: botanical wallpaper, marble and brass
Design board and room layout by House Designer
This House Designer cloakroom design combines botanical wallpaper with dark wall panelling, a wall mounted marble basin and brass fittings. The wallpaper brings most of the pattern to the upper walls, while the painted panels provide a quieter surface below. The marble basin adds a different kind of detail through its veining and shaped splashback.
Brass appears in the tap, lighting, mirror frame and accessories, connecting the fittings without making every element identical. The oval mirror softens the straight lines of the panelling, and the proposed lights beside it bring illumination to the basin area.
The accompanying plan shows the basin and toilet at opposite ends of the room, with a built out wall behind the wall hung toilet to conceal the cistern. That is an important part of the layout to allow for before choosing fittings. The board shows how the finishes relate; the plan checks how they fit into the space.
For another example of colour in a compact room, see our small cloakroom transformation with green panelling and brass fittings.
Small cloakroom ideas for different styles
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A dark downstairs toilet
Try a deep wall colour with lighter sanitaryware and well placed lighting. Brass, bronze and chrome can all work, depending on the other finishes. Keep enough contrast around the fittings so they remain easy to see and use. In a windowless room, test the combination under artificial light before committing.
A patterned cloakroom
Wallpaper can provide most of the colour and detail, allowing the basin, mirror and accessories to be simpler. Pick out one colour from the print for painted woodwork or a vanity. If you combine patterned wallpaper with veined stone, look at samples together so you can judge their scale and colour.
A cloakroom with marble and brass
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We are absolutely proud of this cloakroom design with marble and brass finishes, which has been shared widely on Pinterest. The sculptural marble basin stands out against the dark wall panelling, with brushed brass fittings adding warmth. It shows how much character you can bring to a small room without filling it with accessories.
If you choose natural stone for a similar look, check its sealing and cleaning requirements. Bring home a sample where possible, and remember that the finished piece may vary in veining and colour.
Make room for storage and everyday essentials
A cloakroom needs somewhere for soap, a hand towel, spare toilet rolls and cleaning products. Decide where these will go before adding decorative accessories. A shallow cupboard or vanity keeps supplies out of sight, while a shelf may be enough for spare rolls. Recessed storage is another option where the wall construction and services allow it.
Place the towel within reach of the basin, with enough space to hang without touching the toilet. Include a small bin and toilet brush in the layout too. They are easy to overlook on a design board but take up real space in the finished room.
Check flooring, ventilation and maintenance access
Choose flooring that can cope with occasional splashes and regular cleaning. Check the manufacturer’s guidance for the specific product, especially if you want to continue timber flooring from the hallway. Spills should not be left sitting around the basin or toilet.
Discuss ventilation with your installer early, particularly in an internal cloakroom. If an extractor is needed, plan its duct route, controls and maintenance access alongside the lighting. Allow access to concealed cisterns, valves and pipework too, so routine repairs do not require removing decorative finishes.
How we approach cloakroom design
At House Designer, we start with the dimensions, existing plumbing and what the client wants to change. We then work through the layout, fittings, colour and finishes together. Knowing which items can stay is just as useful as deciding what to replace.
Our interior design packages can help you plan a cloakroom on its own or as part of a larger project. The drawings and specification needed depend on the work involved, with your installer checking site conditions and installation requirements. If you are updating other bathrooms, our bathroom design ideas covers larger layouts and finishes too.