There's no single minimum square footage in the code, but the fixture clearance requirements — 15 inches from toilet center to a side wall, 21 inches in front of it — set a practical floor on how small a room can be and still fit a toilet, sink, and shower legally.

Often yes — small bathrooms are exactly where smart fixture choices (wall-hung toilet, corner sink, sliding door) make the biggest visible difference, because there's no wasted space to hide behind.

Wall-hung toilets reclaim visible floor area and are easier to clean around, but they cost more upfront and require an in-wall carrier system installed during rough-in — worth deciding early since it affects the wall framing.

Usually, with the right choices — a corner or neo-angle shower instead of a rectangular one, paired with recessed rather than surface-mounted storage, can fit both without either feeling cramped.

Only after confirming there's no plumbing or electrical running through that specific stud bay — we check this during the wall-opening phase before committing to a recessed cabinet's exact size and placement.

Fixed costs — permit, plumber site visits, waterproofing membrane, ventilation — don't scale down much with room size, so small bathrooms often run a higher cost per square foot even though the total project cost is lower.

In a genuinely tight layout, it's often the better option rather than a compromise — it can free up enough wall space to make a swinging door or a wider shower entry work where a standard vanity wouldn't allow it.

Larger-format tile with fewer grout lines, a single continuous floor material running into the shower, and a frameless glass panel instead of a curtain or framed door all reduce visual clutter and make the room read bigger than it is.