5x8 Bathroom Layout: How to Make Most of It? [2022] - The Home Atlas (2024)

The 5×8 bathroom is the most common size in a regular household. A bathroom requires a minimum of 40 square feet to adjust all basic amenities one needs to have in their bathroom. A 5×8 bathroom layout has enough room for a sink, a toilet, a shower, a bathtub, or a shower-tub combo.

Not everyone has a luxury bathroom. There are high possibilities that you bump into the bathroom door or step into the shower when you undress, or sometimes it cannot even accommodate more than one person! The cause of all this is the lack of space.

But even though a 40 square feet bathroom may not look like it can fit a lot, many layout designs go very well with such layouts.

Most Efficient 5×8 Bathroom Layout

5×8 Bathroom Layout With Tub/Shower Combination

A tried-and-true configuration for 5’ x 8’ bathrooms is the classic tub/shower combo, and it remains a popular choice. Its practicality makes it a winner! If you’re contemplating a bathroom revamp without wanting to relocate plumbing, fear not. You can elevate the overall aesthetics by upgrading individual components within the existing layout.

Features:

• A tub/shower combo: This space comfortably fits a 60” long x 32” wide tub. You have the option of a tub with an integrated surround or a tiled tub surround, depending on your budget.
• Tub/shower combos offer versatility for present and future use.
• In terms of added property value, having a tub/shower combo upgrades your bathroom status to a full bathroom rather than a 3/4 bath, which can be a selling point down the line.
• This layout supports a standard shower curtain and rod, or you can go for a sleek look with glass shower doors for your tub.
• And if you’re feeling more adventurous, the layout even allows for a generously sized walk-in shower spanning the entire length of the wall!

5×8 Bathroom Layout With Double Faucets

Upgrade your standard bathroom to one that accommodates double faucets! This layout is perfect for a master ensuite bath or a kids’ bathroom, ensuring that each person has their own faucet for a more convenient and enjoyable experience.

To make space for the larger sink, a slightly narrower tub is chosen to meet building code requirements and maintain ample room for the toilet.

Features:

• A sink with double faucets: A 36” wide sink with two faucets is the solution. Wall-mounted sinks provide ideal options for accommodating two faucets, while a trough sink can also serve the purpose when installed in a 36” wide vanity.

5×8 Bathroom Layout With Corner Shower

For a 5’ x 8’ bathroom layout with a corner shower, when you crave a bit more storage space or don’t require an expansive tub or shower, a corner shower becomes an excellent choice! Opting for a corner shower not only conserves space but also leaves available wall space for additional built-in cabinetry, hooks, or even open shelves.

The market offers a variety of corner shower stall kits, making it easy to tailor your bathroom to your specific needs.

Features:

• A corner shower stall kit: This layout can comfortably accommodate up to a 32” corner shower stall.
• The corner shower allows for flexibility in design—you can opt for tiled elegance or choose a kit for a more budget-friendly approach.
• Consider the design: it could be either round or rectangular. Keep in mind that a round shower with a sliding door is preferable, as it minimizes the chance of hitting other items in the bathroom compared to a swinging door.
• While a larger corner shower is a possibility, any additional inches used should be deducted from the allowable width of the bathroom vanity to ensure ample space for the toilet.

5×8 Bathroom Layout With Shower/Tub Along the Long Wall

Consider this alternative layout for a 5’ x 8’ bathroom with the tub/shower along the long wall. It offers a slight deviation from the norm by introducing another wall between the tub and the vanity, providing a bit more space for the vanity itself.

Depending on the placement of your door and existing plumbing, this layout brings its own advantages to a 5’ x 8’ bathroom.

Features:

• A tub/shower combo or a walk in shower: A 60” x 30” tub/shower could be seamlessly installed here, with a wall framed between the tub and vanity locations.
• Opting for a walk-in shower is also an option, although it might require customization due to the necessary 30” depth to ensure enough space for the toilet along the wall.
• Consider the aesthetics: a glass enclosure can enhance either a tiled walk-in shower or be used with a half wall if framing a full-height wall isn’t appealing when installing a tub.

Tips & Tricks For Designing a 5×8 Bathroom Layout

Redesigning your bathroom does not have to be onerous and strip you off of your money. Avoid going for a complete overhaul where you are breaking down walls to expand your bathroom size.

Instead, you can re-examine your existing 5×8 bathroom layout which will help you solve your space issues. A few compromises can make a well-planned bathroom go a long way. So here are some tips to make style statements through budgeted bathroom layouts.

Full Bathroom

Big or small, you can make a full bathroom out of any layout measurement. A full bathroom requires at least 36 to 40 square feet. A guest or a master bathroom of a small house has a 5×8 layout, a very standard size.

There are two full bathroom designs you can do with such a sized bathroom layout. A full bathroom includes one sink, one toilet, a shower, or a shower-tub combo. The structure may differ in both full bathrooms.

Depending on what type of bath you like, you can either go for a compact tub with a shower on top or go for a fancy shower cubicle with multiple heads in it.

A 40 square feet bathroom can comfortably fit both of these layout options without cluttering it up too much, and you hit the shower or the bathroom door while you change.

A tip is to hide your toilet from the bathroom entrance, and therefore position your door in such a manner as to keep your toilet in mind.

A Third-Quarter Bathroom

Even though you have a 5×8 bathroom layout, if you can, you must find ways to save as much space in it as possible. If that requires you to consider your 5×8 bathroom as a third-quarter bathroom and plan your layout accordingly, which will give you enough space to breathe and move around, a third-quarter bathroom is the way to go for you!

A 5×8 bathroom can meet all the minimum requirements of a bathroom. But it is advisable to use it as a third-quarter one, which will nevertheless even give you a luxurious and stylish look.

A third-quarter bathroom will require you to install nothing more than a sink, a toilet, and a luxury shower that will not take up too much space in the small bathroom and make it look cramped, which will ultimately help you declutter.

Positioning your shower or vanity in the corner can create a smooth flow of traffic, which you require in your tiny bathroom.

Other Factors to Consider

Homeowners have a difficult time deciding which bathroom fixture goes where their bathroom does not look too suffocating. Essential bathroom fixtures such as the toilet or the sink are always jotting out, interrupting the traffic flow in the bathroom.

So irrespective of your bathroom dimensions, here are a few tips the homeowners can follow to make their bathrooms look more spacious.

Swing it Outward

Irrespective of where you place your bathroom door, it must always swing outward. This way, one can make the most of one’s narrow bathroom since the door area will not take up too much room and help you get in and out quickly.

Keep the Sink and Toilet Together

You should put your sink and toilet side by side on the same long wall. This way, it will not take up too much from each side, and help create an easy flow of foot traffic, and also free up space for storage.

Get Wall Niches

If your toilet and sink are sticking out too much, you may want to consider creating wall niches so that they help your sink and toilet not to stick out too much.

Short Walls for Showers

You may want to take up one of the shorter walls to place your shower cubicle there, not take up too much unnecessary space, and open up the narrow bathroom space. You can then easily arrange other bathroom fixtures to make the area look spacious.

There are some things you must keep in mind when you are rearranging your 5×8 bathroom layout to create more space.

Start with the Tub

You must start the job on your new bathroom layout project with the largest component in the bathroom, the tub. The first thing you need to do is to figure out the placement of your tub or shower since this component takes up the most considerable amount of space in the bathroom. You may want to consider a one-piece shower pan or a shower-tub combo instead of going for both separately.

Lighting Choices

A 5×8 bathroom layout usually lacks good, sufficient lighting. The best option for such a bathroom layout is to go for recessed lighting, sleek wall sconces, and strip-style fixtures located on each side of the mirror. These not only light up the bathroom well but also save up a fair amount of space.