Top 5 Bathroom Layout Ideas That Maximise Space for Small Newcastle Homes

Kimberly Lehmann • December 15, 2025

If you live in a smaller home or older dwelling in Newcastle or Lake Macquarie and want to renovate your bathroom, clever layout design can unlock more functionality without increasing footprint. Here are five layout ideas that work well for compact spaces.


1. Walk-in showers instead of baths


Swapping a bath for a walk-in shower saves floor space and opens visual flow. Glass shower screens help the room feel larger and more open.


2. Wall-mounted vanities and floating cabinets


Floating vanities create visual floor space, making rooms look bigger. They also make cleaning easier beneath the vanity.


3. Vertical shelving and recesses


Use wall niches, recessed shelves or tall slimline cabinets rather than bulky floor units. This keeps storage while saving floor space.


4. Light colours and large tiles


Light-coloured tiles and larger tile formats reduce visual clutter and make rooms appear more spacious. Good feature lighting enhances this effect.


5. Optimised plumbing layout


Placing shower, toilet and vanity along one wall reduces plumbing work and maximises efficient use of space. For compact renovations, this approach often saves cost and reduces disruption.


Smaller bathrooms can still feel modern, functional and luxurious with good layout planning. At Suncoast Bathrooms, we help clients design compact bathrooms that balance practicality and aesthetics.


If you want help redesigning a small bathroom, contact Suncoast — we can provide layout options tailored to your home and lifestyle.

How to Prepare Your Home Before a Bathroom Renovation in Newcastle

By Kimberly Lehmann • December 8, 2025
Starting a bathroom renovation is exciting, but a bit of preparation goes a long way. Taking time to prepare your home before work begins helps ensure a smooth renovation process and limits disruption — especially if you live in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or Maitland. Key steps to prepare Clear the bathroom and adjacent rooms of personal items, toiletries, towels and decor. This helps trades work without obstruction. Pack away essentials you will need while the bathroom is out of action — spare towels, toiletries, temporary shower options. Many renovations mean your bathroom will be unusable for some time. Suncoast Bathrooms +1 Make arrangements for water and power disruptions. Plumbing and electrical work often require turning off services, so plan accordingly. Suncoast Bathrooms Budget for storage or alternative accommodation if the renovation is extensive. For larger jobs like full bathroom-plus-laundry remodels or house extensions, having a contingency for time without a working bathroom helps. Review and finalise design decisions — tiles, cabinetry, fixtures, colour schemes — before work begins. Early decisions reduce delays or changes mid-build. Suncoast offers help with colour selection and access to trade discounts for fixtures. Suncoast Bathrooms +1 Why preparation reduces stress Renovations involve many trades and stages: demolition, plumbing, tiling, waterproofing, fixture installation, finishing. Pre-planning helps trades coordinate and ensures no step is rushed or skipped. Good preparation also helps protect your existing home while work is underway. Internal linking ideas Link to: Bathroom Renovations page, Contact / Get a Quote page, About page (for explanation of process and insurance). If you follow these steps before renovation begins, you’ll help the project stay on schedule and reduce stress for everyone involved.