I won’t lie – there was a time before I had done plenty of bathroom remodels when I thought of a shared college dorm bathroom when I heard shower tub combos.
But I’ve come to learn that small bathroom remodel ideas with tub and shower combos can be at once luxurious, space-saving, and full of potential.
I’ve spent many years now transforming Orange County’s notoriously compact condos and beach cottages, and during that time I’ve learned that small bathrooms don’t require you to have small dreams.
They do, however, require smarter solutions.
Whether you’re considering a complete bathroom renovation or looking for creative ways to maximize space, these ideas will help you achieve your vision.
1. The Wet Room Revolution
You’ll need to do away with traditional boundaries to maximize space in a smaller bathroom.
Remove the shower door, waterproof everything, and let the tub and shower share space.
I first tested this approach during a bathroom remodeling project in a 1960s Newport Beach cottage.
The bathroom was barely 6×6, but by creating a wet room with a freestanding tub doubling as shower space, we made it feel twice as large.
California plumbing code requires specific slopes, but when done right, water flows seamlessly to a linear drain.
2. Corner Tubs That Don’t Compromise
Corner tubs aren’t your grandmother’s pink fiberglass anymore.
Modern versions offer deep soaking in minimal footprints.
Working with a family in Villa Park, we installed a Japanese-style corner soaking tub – deeper than standard but smaller in circumference.
Paired with a rainfall shower overhead, it became their favorite room in the house.
If you want more inspiration on bathroom designs, you may want to check out our shower renovation cost breakdown.
Ultimately, the trick is choosing models designed for small spaces.
Look for tubs under 54 inches that maximize depth, not length.
3. Glass Half-Walls Instead of Full Enclosures
Full shower doors make small bathrooms feel like phone booths.
Half-walls of glass block splash while maintaining openness.
During recent new construction consultations, I’ve been specifying 36-inch glass panels that prevent water spray but don’t enclose.
The visual flow remains uninterrupted.
Plus, they’re easier to clean – more accessible, with less glass and less streaking.
We did something like this with our Manning Penthouse bathroom remodel, pictured below:
4. Sliding Barn Doors Save Swing Space
Traditional doors eat 9 square feet of floor space.
Sliding barn doors need zero clearance.
I learned this trick working on ADU construction projects where every bit of space matters.
Once, we needed a door wide enough for potential wheelchair access.
The barn door solution gave us ADA compliance without sacrificing bathroom space.
It’s also always wise to choose moisture-resistant hardware.
Our coastal humidity isn’t kind to cheap metal.
5. Tub-Shower Combos with Built-In Storage Niches
Those walls between studs?
That’s free storage space waiting to happen.
Standard stud spacing gives you 14.5 inches of width – perfect for shampoo bottles, soaps, even decorative elements.
I typically design three niches: one at standing height for shower products, one at tub height for bath salts, one up high for rarely-used items.
I recall one project where we discovered old medicine cabinets buried in the walls.
Instead of patching, we converted them to waterproofed niches – taking the old and repurposing it to make it new.
Learn more about our complete interior design services here.
6. Floating Vanities Create Floor Illusion
When you can see more floor, spaces feel larger.
It really is that simple.
Floating vanities also make cleaning easier – no more crawling behind pedestals.
Plus, you can tuck a small stool underneath for kids or for sitting while applying makeup.
Working with my father-in-law on various general contracting projects, he always emphasizes proper wall blocking for floating vanities.
They need serious support, especially in older homes with questionable framing.
7. Large Format Tiles, Fewer Grout Lines
Nothing shrinks a bathroom faster than busy patterns and multiple grout lines.
According to tile industry standards, tiles over 15 inches qualify as large format.
In small bathrooms, I push for 24×48 when possible – fewer seams mean less visual interruption, making spaces feel continuous.
One catch: large tiles need perfectly flat surfaces.
ANSI standards require surfaces within 1/8″ in 10 feet variation for tiles over 15 inches.
That 1940s bathroom with settling issues?
Budget for a fair amount of floor leveling.
8. Mirrors That Multitask
Single mirrors above vanities make sense – but there are ways to play here too.
Full-wall mirrors double visual space instantly.
Medicine cabinets with mirrored interiors and exteriors provide storage without sacrificing reflection.
Mirrored sliding panels can hide storage while expanding views.
In a recent kitchen remodeling project that included a powder room, we used antiqued mirror tiles on one wall.
Those mirrors reflect light without showing every water spot, and in my mind, it’s a kind of practical magic.
9. Curbless Showers with Linear Drains
A 2-inch curb doesn’t sound like much until you’re trying to help an aging parent shower.
Curbless entries make bathrooms feel larger and more accessible.
Linear drains along one wall eliminate the central drain’s awkward slope requirements. T
he floor flows continuously from bathroom to shower.
ADA guidelines recommend curbless designs for accessibility, but they benefit everyone.
No tripping or visual barriers – just seamless flow.
The 2010 ADA Standards specify that thresholds should not exceed ½ inch in height.
10. Pocket Shelving Between Studs
Beyond niches, entire pocket shelving systems fit between studs.
I discovered this possibility during a whole house remodeling project where we opened walls for electrical updates.
Those 3.5-inch depths perfectly hold toiletries, towels, even small artwork.
Frame them nicely, add adjustable shelves, and you’ve created storage from nothing.
Just make sure to verify no plumbing or electrical runs through your chosen wall first.
11. Tub Decks That Double as Benches
Build the tub platform 18 inches wide, and voila! You’ve just created seating.
This works especially well with drop-in tubs.
The deck becomes a bench for toweling off, a surface for bath products, even a spot to sit while kids bathe.
And if you cover it with the same material as your countertops, you can create added visual continuity.
One client now uses her tub deck as a mini greenhouse for humidity-loving plants.
The California drought makes us mindful of water, but bathroom humidity supports plants naturally.
Peace lilies and Boston ferns thrive in bathroom humidity while helping absorb excess moisture.
12. Vertical Storage Solutions
When floor space is precious, build up.
Tall, narrow cabinets fit in spaces too small for standard furniture.
Over-toilet storage towers add three feet of vertical storage.
Ladder shelves lean against walls without permanent installation.
During interior design consultations, I often find clients have never considered the space above door frames.
Add a shelf there for extra towels or seasonal items.
Our luxury home remodeling guide includes more creative storage solutions.
13. Strategic Color to Expand Space
Dark colors don’t always shrink spaces – sometimes, they do the opposite and can even help to erase boundaries.
Painting a small bathroom entirely in one color, including ceiling, makes edges disappear.
Once, I painted an entire bathroom in Laguna Beach a deep midnight blue.
Instead of feeling small, it felt infinite and vast.
Consistent color reduces visual breaks, which can often make rooms feel larger.
Benjamin Moore’s Healing Aloe is a refreshing wash of green with gray notes that creates a spa-like atmosphere while visually expanding space.
There’s lots to play around with here, but in short – don’t be too afraid of solid color.
14. Shower Curtains on Ceiling Tracks
Tension rods at standard height are sometimes the most practical choice, but there’s also the option to mount curtain tracks at the ceiling.
This draws eyes upward, making ceilings feel higher.
Plus, longer curtains don’t billow inward as much – physics and aesthetics working together.
Research on curbless shower requirements shows how important proper curtain placement is for water containment.
Opt for light, water-repellent fabrics over heavy materials.
In our beach communities from Huntington to San Clemente, lighter materials dry faster, preventing mildew.
15. Combined Fixtures That Share Plumbing
One water supply and simplified plumbing can make a world of difference.
Tub-shower combinations that share plumbing walls with vanities reduce renovation costs significantly.
During home additions, we design bathrooms back-to-back or stacked vertically to maximize efficiency.
This saves money, for one thing, but it also minimizes wall penetrations in small spaces.
Fewer pipes mean more room for storage or structure.
And if you’re considering a laundry room remodel, similar plumbing consolidation strategies apply.
Making It All Work Together
Small bathroom remodels with tub and shower combos challenge us to think three-dimensionally.
Every surface works harder, and every choice matters more.
Small spaces have taught me plenty about the kind of precision they demand.
One inch miscalculated in a small bathroom can cause all kinds of hiccups.
But when everything aligns – proper planning, quality materials, skilled installation – these tiny rooms become jewel boxes.
This is among the reasons why I believe that hiring a kitchen and bath designer saves money in the long run.
Everything works best in a smaller space when it works together, like pieces on a chess board.
The Orange County Reality
Our market presents unique challenges.
Many condos have concrete between floors, limiting plumbing relocations.
Beach communities deal with salt air corroding fixtures.
Older homes in Villa Park or Orange have settled, creating level challenges.
But we also have advantages.
Our mild climate means we can use materials that wouldn’t survive Boston winters.
Those windows other regions frost over? We can keep them in showers for natural light and ventilation.
During floor plan consultations, I like to think of small bathrooms not as having limitations but as puzzles waiting to be solved.
The constraints force creativity.
For more ideas on space planning, visit our portfolio (or check out our Instagram).
Starting Your Small Bathroom Journey
Begin by measuring everything. Not just length and width – ceiling height, door swing, window placement, existing plumbing locations.
Walk through your daily routine.
Where do you place your coffee while brushing teeth?
Where do towels naturally land?
These habits can inform so much of your design.
It’s also wise to consider who uses the space.
A couple needs different solutions than a family with young children.
Aging in place requires different priorities than rental properties.
The U.S. Access Board provides comprehensive accessibility guidelines that benefit all users.
Small bathroom remodels with tub and shower combos don’t mean compromise.
They mean thoughtful choices.
That client in Costa Mesa has texted me photos of her bathroom filled with plants, candles, her daughter’s bath toys.
And it brings me so much joy to know it was a space-limited job well done.
If you’re keen to maximize your bathroom’s potential, contact us to discuss how we might make it into a functional sanctuary that defies its dimensions.