20 Space-Saving Cloakroom Basin Ideas

In a tiny cloakroom or downstairs loo, the right basin can be the difference between an awkward shuffle and a space that actually feels calm and easy to use.

Clickable Contents

• Micro Wall Hung Handrinse Basins
• Classic 400mm Wall-Hung Cloakroom Basins
• Wide But Super-Shallow Basins
• Offset And Asymmetric Bowl Basins
• Corner Wall-Hung Cloakroom Basins
• Corner Basins With Pedestals
• Narrow Full-Pedestal Cloakroom Basins
• Semi-Pedestal Cloakroom Basins
• Stand-Mounted And Washstand Basins
• Tiny Countertop Bowls On Cloakroom Vanity Units
• Tiny Countertop Bowls On Floating Shelves
• Semi-Recessed Cloakroom Basins
• Under-Counter And Inset Basins In Slim Tops
• D-Shaped And Flat-Back Slimline Basins
• Cloakroom Basins With Integrated Towel Rails
• Basins With Integrated Towel Shelves Or Open Storage
• Basins With Extended Rims Or Built-In Shelves
• Twin Mini Basins On One Narrow Top
• Wheelchair-Friendly Cloakroom Basins
• Compact Furniture Basins For Ultra-Slim Vanity Units
• How To Think About Basins In Small Spaces

You know that awkward little loo where you have to shuffle past the door and hope you don’t bump the sink? That’s exactly where the right cloakroom basin earns its keep. A compact cloakroom basin can free up precious floor space, make a small cloakroom feel bigger and still give you a proper place to wash your hands.

In most homes a cloakroom suite has fewer pieces than a full bathroom, which is great for budget and planning. But because these rooms are so compact, the basin you pick does a lot of heavy lifting. 

In this guide we’ll run through smart, space saving cloakroom basin ideas that actually work in small downstairs toilets, cloakrooms and small bathrooms. Think corner basins, short projection wall hung designs, slim vanity units and clever little washstands that hide pipework without hogging the room.

Whether you’re planning a new cloakroom from scratch or trying to fix a cramped en-suite, you’ll find plenty of cloakroom basin options here to help the space feel calmer, bigger and a lot nicer to use. 

The Best Cloakroom Basin Ideas For Small Spaces

1. Micro Wall Hung Handrinse Basins

Micro basins are the tiniest option of all. They’re usually under about 360mm wide with a very shallow projection, so you get just enough bowl to wash your hands and nothing more.

They’re ideal in under-stairs loos, narrow downstairs toilets and tight en-suites where a normal basin would make it hard to even shut the door. A design like the Arezzo Matt Black Round Wall Hung Cloakroom Basin or the Arezzo Stone White Marble Wall Hung Basin tucks neatly on the wall and keeps the floor completely open.

Because everything is wall hung, the room feels less boxy. Just keep the tap in proportion: a small cloakroom mono tap is perfect, while a tall or long-spout mixer will only cause splash drama.

2. Classic 400mm Wall Hung Cloakroom Basins

A 400mm wall hung cloakroom basin is the “goldilocks” size for most small spaces. It’s compact enough not to dominate, but big enough to feel like a proper sink.

Basins like the Arezzo 400 x 220mm Curved Wall Hung Cloakroom Basin or the Valencia 400mm Wall Hung Basin are great examples. They sit neatly on the wall with a single tap hole and a small back ledge for soap, while the clear floor underneath makes the whole cloakroom look wider.

You can go sharp and square, soft and rounded, or even choose thin-edge designs if you want a more premium look without taking up extra room. It’s a very easy upgrade if you’re refreshing an older cloakroom suite.

3. Wide But Super-Shallow Basins

In some rooms, width is easy to find but depth is not. That’s where wide but super-shallow basins shine. They spread along the wall (often 450–600mm wide) but keep the projection tight, sometimes as little as 205–230mm.

The Nile Compact Wall Hung Cloakroom Basin is a good example: it’s wide enough to use comfortably, but so shallow that you can often place it on the same wall as the door. Concrete-style designs like the Arezzo Stone Wall Hung Natural Concrete Cloakroom Basin offer that same slim profile with a designer finish.

These basins are brilliant in long, narrow cloakrooms and side-return extensions. You keep a decent wash area, but your walking line stays clear.

4. Offset And Asymmetric Bowl Basins

Offset basins push the bowl to one side and turn the other into a built-in shelf. They’re problem-solvers for awkward layouts.

If a central basin would clash with the door, a radiator or boxing, an option like the Arezzo Curved Offset Wall Hung Cloakroom Basin lets you slide the deep part of the bowl out of the way. The shallow shelf side then sits in the tight spot.

That shelf is surprisingly useful. Soap, a diffuser or hand cream live there without the need for an extra wall shelf. Just remember handing matters: choose left- or right-handed to match your door swing and where you can actually stand.

5. Corner Wall-Hung Cloakroom Basins

Corner basins turn a dead corner into a working wash zone and free up your main walls for the toilet and maybe a small radiator.

Wall-hung options like the Bermuda Corner Cloakroom Basin or Arezzo Corner Cloakroom Basin sit neatly into a 90° corner, either as a triangle or quarter-circle. Because they’re angled, they feel softer to the eye and make it easier to step in, pivot and close the door.

These work especially well in tiny rooms where you enter facing a blank corner. Put the basin there and keep the side walls for the pan and any storage.

6. Corner Basins With Pedestals

If you love the corner idea but prefer a classic basin-and-pedestal look, go for a matching corner pedestal set.

A combination like a Venice corner basin with pedestal or Ideal Standard's Corner Handrinse Basin + Pedestal keeps the same space-saving footprint but hides pipework inside the pedestal. That’s very handy in older homes with solid walls where chasing pipes into brick isn’t straightforward.

The pedestal also visually anchors the corner in small but tall rooms, so the cloakroom feels like a “proper” little room rather than a leftover cupboard.

7. Narrow Full-Pedestal Cloakroom Basins

Narrow pedestal basins look just like the standard basins you see in family bathrooms, only trimmed down for smaller spaces.

Traditional designs such as the Carlton Cloakroom Basin with Full Pedestal or Oxford Cloakroom Basin with Upstand and Full Pedestal keep all the pipework hidden and feel very familiar. The projection is reduced, so you can usually keep a comfortable gap in front of the toilet and still have a decent bowl.

These are a good choice if you want your cloakroom suite to match the main bathroom and look “normal” in estate agent photos, but with space-saving dimensions.

8. Semi-Pedestal Cloakroom Basins

8. Semi-Pedestal Cloakroom Basins

Semi-pedestal basins hang on the wall and use a short “half pedestal” to hide the trap and pipes. The pedestal stops above the floor so you still see the tiles underneath.

Modern sets like the Cubo Basin and Semi Pedestal or the Nuie Renoir Compact Basin with Semi Pedestal give you the best of both: a neat, compact look with no visible pipework and easy mopping underneath.

They’re especially good next to wall hung or close-coupled compact toilets. With both pieces lifted off the floor, even a narrow cloakroom feels lighter and less cluttered.

9. Stand-Mounted And Washstand Basins

Washstand basins sit on open metal frames rather than full furniture or pedestals. They bring a bit of “hotel console” style into a small cloakroom while still keeping the floor on show.

Options like the Trafalgar 560mm Basin with Wash Stand or the Burlington 50cm Basin with Chrome Wash Stand are great examples. The legs and rails add presence without closing off the room, and you often get a built-in rail or shelf for towels and baskets.

They do need slightly more width than a micro basin, so they suit small but not super-narrow rooms where you want the basin to feel like a little piece of furniture.

10. Tiny Countertop Bowls On Cloakroom Vanity Units 

If storage is non-negotiable, pair a tiny countertop bowl with a compact vanity unit. The bowl looks light and decorative, while the cupboard or drawer underneath hides the less glamorous stuff.

A petite round basin like the Sahara 405mm Round Counter Top Basin works well on a 400–600mm cloakroom unit. Because the bowl sits on top, the unit itself can stay relatively shallow front to back.

This is a smart move in busy family homes. You get a stylish focal point plus somewhere to stash loo rolls, cleaning bottles and spare soap, all without the room feeling over-furnished.

11. Tiny Countertop Bowls On Floating Shelves

You can take that idea even lighter by placing a small bowl on a floating shelf instead of a cupboard. The basin becomes a design feature and the floor stays completely open.

Ready-made combinations like the White Shelf with Sol Round Basin or the Arezzo Black Carrara Marble Shelf with Round Basin give you that “boutique cloakroom” feel in a tiny footprint. The shelf depth stays modest, because the bowl can overhang slightly at the front.

Add a wall-mounted tap and a large mirror above and even the smallest downstairs loo suddenly feels like an intentional design moment rather than an afterthought.

12. Semi-Recessed Cloakroom Basins

Semi-recessed basins sit partly into a slim worktop or furniture run, with the front of the bowl curving out beyond the cabinet.

Basins such as the Salou Semi Recessed Basin or the Arezzo 410mm Square Semi-Recessed Basin let you use shallower furniture behind while keeping a comfortable bowl size in front. That keeps the walkway wider while still giving you storage or room for a concealed cistern.

This works well where your cloakroom shares a wall with fitted WC units or slim vanity units. Everything lines up neatly, but the overhanging basin stops it looking too boxy.

13. Under-Counter And Inset Basins In Slim Tops

Under-counter and inset basins hide their rim either under or level with the worktop. You mainly see the work surface, with just the bowl opening visible.

Models like the Crosswater Ancona Undermount Basin, Duravit Starck 3 Under Counter Basin or Armitage Shanks Contour21 Undermount Basin are good examples. Pair them with a slim stone or compact laminate top and a neat deck- or wall-mounted tap.

Because the counter becomes the main visual plane, a small cloakroom looks calmer and easier to keep clean. You also gain a practical ledge for soap, a diffuser or a little plant without feeling like you’ve added another bulky feature.

14. D-Shaped And Flat-Back Slimline Basins

D-shaped basins have a straight back edge that sits tight to the wall and a soft curve at the front. They’re made for tight walkways where sharp corners would be easy to bump.

Traditional designs like the Burlington Curved Cloakroom Basin or more modern washstands such as the Arezzo D-Shaped Curved Washstand with Basin give you that friendly front profile without wasting depth.

They work nicely with both classic and contemporary schemes. A simple rectangular mirror above helps square the wall visually while the curved bowl softens the movement around it.

15. Cloakroom Basins With Integrated Towel Rails

Some cloakroom basins build the towel rail straight into the design so your hand towel lives exactly where you need it, with no extra hooks sticking out into the room.

Modern frames like the Arezzo 500mm Wall Hung Basin with Towel Rail Frame do this beautifully. Traditional options from Burlington offer ceramic basins with classic chrome or brass rails underneath.

This is a simple way to declutter the walls in a very compact cloakroom. Guests don’t have to hunt for the towel, and you avoid yet another protruding accessory.

16. Basins With Integrated Towel Shelves Or Open Storage

Other designs go a step further and add a full shelf or platform beneath the basin. You keep the floor mostly visible but gain a handy home for baskets, folded towels or spare loo rolls.

Floating combinations such as the Arezzo White Carrara Marble Shelf with Basin or the Venice 600mm Floating Basin Shelf with Basin give you open storage directly under the bowl. Framed options like the Arezzo Stone Cloakroom Basin with Matt Black Towel Shelf combine a compact bowl with a neat lower shelf.

This is a nice compromise between a bulky vanity and a “no storage at all” basin. The trick is to corral everything into baskets so the shelf doesn’t slowly turn into a dumping ground.

17. Basins With Extended Rims Or Built-In Shelves

Extended rim basins keep the bowl centred but stretch the rim at the back or on one side to form a mini built-in shelf. They’re a clever way to create storage in the footprint you already need for the basin.

Pieces such as the Valencia Wall Hung Basin with Extended Shelf or compact basins with a deeper rear ledge give you room for soap, a tumbler and even a small plant without extra shelves on the wall.

Look for designs where the ledge has a gentle fall back to the bowl so splashes drain away rather than sitting in puddles. In a tiny room, grubby ledges are very noticeable, so an easy-wipe shape helps keep things tidy.

18. Twin Mini Basins On One Narrow Top

If you’ve got a long but relatively narrow room and want “his and hers” sinks, twin mini basins on a slim top are worth a look.

Shelves like the Arezzo Stone Resin Floating Shelf with Two Basins put two small bowls side by side without the depth of a full double vanity. The top stays slim, so the room still feels spacious when you walk in.

This is more of a compact bathroom idea than a tiny WC move, but it’s brilliant in narrow en-suites where you want two people to be able to get ready at the same time.

19. Wheelchair-Friendly Cloakroom Basins

Accessible cloakroom basins are shaped so a wheelchair user can pull in close, with clear space under the bowl for knees and a comfortable front edge.

Basins like the Milton Wheelchair Accessible Wall Hung Basin or the Villeroy & Boch ViCare Accessible Washbasin are designed for this. They tend to have a shallow front-to-back profile and plenty of room under the basin for leg clearance.

Pair one of these with a short projection pan and well-placed grab rails and you can create a cloakroom that genuinely works for everyone, even when the overall footprint is modest.

20. Compact Furniture Basins For Ultra-Slim Vanity Units

Finally, there are compact furniture basins designed to sit on ultra-slim vanity units. The bowl and tap deck are moulded as one piece, trimmed front to back so the cabinet below can stay shallow.

Options such as the VitrA Evi Compact Furniture Basin or oval inset basins often used with slim units let you sneak real storage into spaces where a standard 450–500mm deep vanity would feel huge.

For busy households, this is often the sweet spot: you get closed storage for everything you don’t want on show, a neat top that’s easy to wipe down and a cloakroom that feels ordered rather than cramped.

How to Think About Basins in Small Spaces

In small rooms, depth often matters more than width. You can usually find a bit of wall. It’s the basin sticking out too far that bangs into doors, knees and hips.

So when you’re planning, focus on:

• Projection. How far the basin comes into the room.
• Door swing. Where the door moves as it opens and closes.
• Pan position. How much clear space you have in front of the toilet.
• Who’s using the room. Guests, kids, older relatives, or everyone.

Once you’ve got that in your head, these 20 small basin ideas start to make a lot more sense.

Ready To Plan Your Cloakroom Basin?

The right cloakroom basin can do a lot of heavy lifting in a small bathroom. Whether you go for a micro wall hung handrinse, a corner basin tucked neatly out of the way or a slim vanity with a compact furniture basin, each idea here is designed to help your cloakroom suite feel bigger, calmer and easier to live with.

When you’re ready to choose, explore our cloakroom basins, wall hung basins, corner basins and compact vanity units, and pair your favourite with a short-projection cloakroom toilet and suitably sized taps. Save a few options to your moodboard, measure twice, then build the little room everyone in the house ends up using the most.