Downstairs toilet and cloakroom ideas: small room, big impact
Quick answer
Small downstairs toilets are the best place in the house to be bold: try a big-pattern wallpaper, a painted ceiling, panelling to dado height, a compact corner or wall-hung basin, an oval or arched mirror and a pair of small wall lights [3][4]. Every WC needs extract ventilation under Part F [1], and lighting near the basin must suit bathroom rules [2].
The downstairs loo is the room guests use most and we decorate least. Because it is small and used briefly, it can take colour and pattern that would overwhelm a bigger room, and a dramatic cloakroom is one of the most talked-about rooms in any house.
Be brave with pattern
Wallpaper has been used to decorate small, private rooms in Britain since the sixteenth century [3]. In a cloakroom, a large-scale pattern or mural makes the walls disappear and the room feel bigger, not smaller. Paper the ceiling too, or paint it a deep contrast.
Panelling and colour
- Panel or tongue-and-groove the lower wall, a traditional treatment for service rooms [5], and paint it a dark colour to hide splashes.
- Use a wipeable eggshell below dado height.
- Paint the door, frame and skirting the same colour for a jewel-box effect.
Fittings for small spaces
| Fitting | Why |
|---|---|
| Corner or wall-hung basin | Saves knee space. |
| Short-projection WC | Helps in under-stair rooms. |
| Wall-mounted tap | Leaves the basin top clear. |
| Recessed shelf | Somewhere for soap without a projecting shelf. |
Lighting
A single overhead light makes a small WC feel like a cupboard. A pair of small wall lights either side of the mirror, or a single statement light above it, makes it feel like a room. Near the basin, check the fittings and their IP rating with your electrician [2].
Ventilation
Part F requires extract ventilation in sanitary accommodation; a fan on the light switch with an overrun timer is usual [1].
Finishing touches
- A framed mirror with character; see the 'details' tricks designers use [4].
- Fresh flowers or a trailing plant.
- Good soap and a linen hand towel.
- Art: small rooms are great for a gallery of small prints.
- A plaster switch surround outside the door; see switch surround ideas.
A step-by-step under-stairs toilet makeover with panelling [6].
Video: Dainty Diaries, “Luxury DIY Under-Stairs Toilet Makeover | Budget-Friendly Small Bathroom with Wall Panelling”, via YouTube.
Good to know
Common questions
How do I make a small downstairs toilet look nice?
Use bold wallpaper, a painted ceiling, panelling, a compact basin, a characterful mirror and wall lights.
Does a downstairs toilet need an extractor fan?
Part F requires extract ventilation in sanitary accommodation.
Is dark paint good in a small cloakroom?
Yes. Dark colours make small rooms feel cosy and blur the corners.
What basin is best for a tiny WC?
A corner or wall-hung basin with a wall-mounted tap.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Homebuilding & Renovating (n.d.) Building Regulations Part F: how the new ventilation changes could affect you. Available at: www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/building-regulations-part-f (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (2022) BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Requirements for electrical installations (IET Wiring Regulations). 18th edn. London: IET.
- Victoria and Albert Museum (n.d.) A brief history of wallpaper. Available at: www.vam.ac.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-wallpaper (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Homes & Gardens (n.d.) What makes a home look expensive? 15 tricks designers use, indoors and out. Available at: www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/what-makes-a-home... (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Calloway, S. and Cromley, E. (eds) (1996) The elements of style: a practical encyclopedia of interior architectural details from 1485 to the present. Rev. edn. London: Mitchell Beazley.
- Dainty Diaries (n.d.) Luxury DIY under-stairs toilet makeover: budget-friendly small bathroom with wall panelling [Video]. YouTube. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ataDhjkLXoM (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
How to cite this article
van Locke, J. (2026) ‘Downstairs toilet and cloakroom ideas: small room, big impact’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/downstairs-toilet-and-cloakroom-ideas (Accessed: 15 November 2026).
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