Unless you're expanding your bathroom, you will already know the size of the space which you have to work with. In this blog post, we'll show you how to work out how much furniture you need.

Planning your bathroom space is a hard yet ultimately rewarding task. You'll no doubt have had your head turned by all the gorgeous bathroom furniture sets on offer.

In days gone by, a bathroom would simply have contained a suite, consisting of a toilet, basin and bath, with, perhaps, a single medicine cabinet for smaller items. These days you can choose from a range of features that include wall hung storage cupboards, floor standing vanity units with basins, laundry baskets and back to wall toilet units.

All this choice is great for those who want to get the most out of their bathroom but it does pose a few difficulties—the main one of which is ensuring you don’t go overboard and buy too much furniture that simply won’t fit in your bathroom.

It’s understandable that you want the best but filling your bathroom with storage units will just make it impractical and inaccessible; two words you really don't want to be associated with your bathroom! So, to help you create the perfect relaxing space in which to bathe here’s how to work out just how much furniture your bathroom needs.

Eden white bathroom furniture

If you have space, why not add a range of matching units, like these from our Eden white furniture range?

Measure up

Look at the size of your bathroom and see how much room there is to play with. Take a variety of measurements such as the total floor space as well as the height of the walls and the amount of floor space needed to allow access to different areas. The amount of room you have to work with will not only determine the dimensions of the furniture items you choose but also the amount of furniture you can have too.

It is also worth remembering that there are strict bathroom electrical rules over the distance certain appliances must be placed from electricity points will come into play with your design. Locating these points and working out how much room this takes off your total floor space is essential.

Tip: You'll find all the recommended bathroom clearance guidelines in our bathroom layout guide.

If you already have some new furniture in mind, take the dimensions and lay newspaper down to gauge the footprint. Stick some blu-tack or a sticker to the wall to mark the height. Don't forget to take into account things like space for door openings, protruding handles and the like. See what fits and what is practical.

Tip: If you're feeling extra creative, why not use 3D design tool Sketchup to plan your bathroom?

Orchard Derwent white slimline back to wall unit and contemporary toilet with seat

A back to wall toilet and unit, like this one featuring the Eden back to wall toilet and Derwent white unit, can provide extra shelf space where it's needed most

Supply and demand

The next thing you need to consider is what you actually need in your bathroom. Aside from choosing between separate shower and bath units or integrated options, you also need to consider whether there is a place for a toilet and wash basin. Separate toilets and bathrooms are not unheard of.

After this, you then need to look specifically at furniture. This includes vanity units and storage solutions, all of which come in a range of styles.

Ask yourself how much storage you need and what sort of style you’re looking to create. Few people want a cluttered bathroom with toiletries littered on every surface so why not think of ways to hide these items from view? Spare towels and soft furnishings can go in linen baskets or airing cupboards to keep everything clear with the towels currently in use displayed attractively on standard towel rails or heated towel rails which can be wall mounted.

Orchard Natural bamboo rectangular laundry basket

Use a laundry basket for spare towels and soft furnishings

When it comes to furniture

Bathroom accessories like soap dishes or dispensers and toothbrush holders can also be added around the basin but everything else should be hidden from view. A traditional wall mounted mirror cabinet is the perfect practical solution for those seeking convenient storage and a bathroom mirror in one while counter top basins can be fitted atop storage cabinets to give you a convenient place to tuck those toiletries.

The ultimate thing to remember is that the amount of furniture in your bathroom shouldn’t interfere with the use of it. If in doubt, remember that less is more—you can always add some slimline bathroom storage in the form of a small unit or two later.

Clarity Compact white cloakroom unit

If space really is at a premium, a small basin and vanity unit, like this one from the Clarity collection, could be the perfect storage solution

Bathroom furniture advice

If you're considering buying some new storage units for your bathroom, it's well worth reading our bathroom furniture buying guide first, for all the information you'll need to make a considered purchase.