Best Compact Toilet for Small Bathroom Purchasing Guide of 2023
All the toilets that I focused on in my reviews were normal flushing toilets. These work great, but there are more options than that.
For instance, a toilet that hangs from the wall would work perfectly fine as a compact toilet. However, it’s not really practical because you will need to adjust your wall. And adjusting your wall takes up a lot of space, time, and money.
Another option for the brave of heart is a composting toilet. I know, it sounds gross. But there are indoor models available that are 100% sealed so they don’t smell terrible.
You could even do a tankless toilet if you have a problem finding a compact toilet. Just think of the toilets that you normally find in public restrooms.
ADA Compliance
Only a few of the toilets that I reviewed were ADA compliant. That’s because ADA compliance only matters if you have a toilet that is accessible to the public.
Your private toilet doesn’t need to be ADA compliant. This is just something to consider before making a purchase.
EPA Water Sense
I mentioned the EPA Water Sense certificate on a few reviews, but I didn’t cover it in depth. Basically, a toilet has to use less than 1.28 GPF while still removing a suitable amount of mass from the toilet.
If the toilet meets these requirements, then you might be eligible for a rebate. It just depends on your specific water company. Some jurisdictions actually require a Water Sense toilet, which is annoying, but it will save you money in the long run.
Ways To Save Space In A Tight Bathroom
Did you move into a new house with a tiny bathroom? Don’t worry. I have some tips that will help you maximize all the space available for you to use in your shoebox of a bathroom.
Storage
The first thought that comes to mind when people want to increase their bathroom size is to add a bunch of cabinets.
Unfortunately, adding a cabinet to a small room just makes it feel even smaller. And it really doesn’t increase the available space all that much. With that in mind, avoid using a cabinet in a tight space.
You will be much better off with some form of open shelving. The size of the shelf should be about big enough to hold all the towels that you own and other bathroom odds and ends. You know the size, it’s about 3 or 4 inches wide.
The added benefit of open shelving is that it actually looks really good since you can see everything. Cabinets are nice and all, but they usually look pretty ugly compared to open shelving.
Just think, you can place all your beautiful towels, soaps, and shampoos on the open shelf in a really beautiful way. It’s just something that you can’t do with a cabinet.
You can take things to the next level, if you have the desire to do so. I’m talking something like an old wood crate or large wood ladder. If you use repurposed wood, make sure to use treated wood. Untreated wood will look disgusting with all the humidity that you have in a bathroom.
As for a replacement for your restroom supplies, a skirt that goes under your sink would work great for storing cleaners, a plunger, and other nasty toilet stuff.
Functionality
You want maximum functionality in your bathroom. The size doesn’t matter – you still need it to be functional.
Unfortunately, small rooms have a tendency to look cluttered because they have junk all over the place. The best way to solve this problem is to constantly clean it. Yes, that means you can’t leave things there if you want it to look uncluttered.
You can take this a step further by using a faucet that pulls out. Some pullout faucets actually have a showerhead, which is great for washing your hair. The shower-faucet works especially well if you have a wet bathroom. All you need to do is install some curtains.
I know, this might sound weird if you’re American, but these type of showers are actually very common in Asia and parts of Europe.
If you’re a bathtub person, then you should probably find a bigger bathroom. Seriously. Ok, you still want a bathtub in your tiny toilette. You can remove towel racks and maybe squeeze a few extra inches, but you should probably give up on your hopes and dreams of having a bathtub in your bathroom.
That said, removing the rack that holds towels is actually a pretty good idea as it allows you to have some extra shelves. This is especially nice if you have a lot of clutter in your toilette. Just try to remove some clutter rather than dumping it all on your shelves.
Round Corners
A great tip that I’ve learned to save space is purchasing fixtures that have smooth corners. It’s great in a small restroom for two reasons:
First, you don’t have to worry about ramming your body into a sharp corner. You’ll thank me after the first time that happens to you. Trust me.
More importantly, smooth corners give your bathroom a much smaller appearance. It’s something to do with the way our eyes process shapes.
Sliding Doors
Finally, you should always use a sliding door in a compact toilette. A standard door actually takes up a surprising amount of space, and it’s not actually necessary to use in a bathroom. You do probably want a door, though.
Of course, a sliding door will eat up space outside your bathroom. If your bathroom doesn’t have a large adjacent wall, then you can’t really use a sliding door there. It’s just not physically possible.
Despite that, I still recommend trying to make a sliding door fit in your toilette because they really are that useful.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading my reviews. I know they were brief, but they provided all the pertinent information to make a decision about your toilet. Believe it or not, the toilet you purchase is actually one of the most important decisions you make in your life.
Think about how much time you spend on it. Yeah, a lot of time.
Anyway, don’t forget to read the buying guide. There is a lot of good information included in the buying guide that will help you make a decision that is perfect for you.
The vast majority of toilets come in a fairly standard size with the only noticeable difference being the shape of the bowl. Rounded and elongated are the two most common types of compact toilets.
