Ask the expert 'I have a very small internal bathroom. What can I do to maximise storage, ensure good ventilation, and still maintain a high level of design?'

A bathroom can be one of the greatest assets to your home, and although it’s true that size does matter, there are plenty of ways to maximise the appeal of a smaller room. As well as the size issue, internal bathrooms can pose practical problems in terms of ventilation and lighting. But, as always, there are stylish and cost-effective ways to meet the challenge.

Iain Reynolds of Just Bathrooms, a bathroom design studio in Edinburgh, says that there is a wide variety of options on the market for people in such a predicament. "You should start by trying to clear as much space in the room as possible," says Iain. "If there is enough room behind the wall, concealing the toilet cistern, leaving only the bowl exposed, will immediately streamline the look. Likewise, a showerhead can be fitted directly into the ceiling to minimise clutter within the standing area."

If your home came with a small bathroom, and you have plans to refurbish it completely, one of the most obvious ways of creating more space is to rip out the bath. But Iain suggests that if you are at all fond of a long soak, there are ways to hang on to the luxury, and it may benefit you in the long run. "It is always worthwhile to bear in mind the resale appeal of your property," says Iain. "Many people feel they could not live without a bath, so despite your personal tastes, it might be worth keeping one in place. To save space, don’t pick a standard length bath - try a D-shaped bath which widens out at one end, allowing plenty of standing room in the shower. It takes up less floor space than a standard bath, but still allows plenty of room to stretch out. Or, if your budget allows, you could try a tub-like bath, in which you practically sit up. They are deep enough to allow plenty of submersion water and are much smaller at the base."

Dolphin Bathrooms (0800 626 717) supplies a Space Saver fitted suite which features a D-shaped shower bath, corner basin and compact WC. The suite comes with mosaic tiles in an aqua colour scheme and prices, including fitting, start at 5,000. For a more economic option, visit www.inspired-bathrooms.co.uk and take a look at the Carron Sit Bath, which is priced at just 232, including delivery.

Now that you have the most appropriate fittings in place, you can start to consider the aesthetics. Lighting is very important, and you should keep the walls as light and plain as possible. Paintings and wall-mounted decorations will give the effect of a cluttered room, so stick with mirrors and reflective materials to give the illusion of space.

There are tricks in selecting the best lighting. "Halogen lights give a much whiter light than tungsten bulbs, so I would advise people to fit some halogen spotlights," says Iain. "They will illuminate the areas you really want to focus on and keep the walls bright. We also suggest floor lighting like you’d find in cinemas. Uplighters around the edge of the room will highlight the space that you do have, rather than leaving the corners in the shadow."

In a bathroom without any windows, ventilation should be a prime concern, but it has it’s limitations. "Ventilation options are determined by the space available above the ceiling," says Iain. "If there is no floor above, you can put a vent in the ceiling, through the attic, and then through the roof. But if your bathroom is not on the top floor, the only option is to vent across the ceiling, which means boxing in the air until you get to an escape point. Ordinary extractor fans work by pushing the air out from the room itself, but in a smaller room, an inline fan is probably best. They duct the air in the same way, but the fan is better positioned to be used if there is a large distance between the bathroom and the outside atmosphere. Also, the inline systems only need a grill on one of the walls, rather than a big white box which can ruin the look of the room."

And where to keep all your goodies, medicines and toilet rolls? Concealed cabinets will allow you store personal items away from most guests, but can also allow for extra mirrored surfaces, giving you more of that all-important sense of space.

The Beech bathroom cabinet from the Holding Company, at 89.95, is sleek and streamlined and the light wood keeps everything looking as spacious as possible. With your bathroom looking as good as this, the only thing left to do is to get your rubber gloves on and keep it clean. n

Just Bathrooms (0131 556 0333), Dolphin Bathrooms (0800 626 717), www.inspired-bathrooms.co.uk, www.theholdingcompany.co.uk

Anna Smyth