Cloakroom vanity units

A downstairs WC. About 1.5m². The toilet against the back wall. The door opens inward, takes up another half-square-metre when it’s halfway through its swing. The remaining floor space is just enough for one person to stand at a basin.

The wall the basin needs to sit on is 600mm wide, and the basin can’t project more than 300mm into the room or the door won’t close. This is the cloakroom. Roughly seven million UK homes have one, and the bathroom-furniture decisions for it are completely different from the decisions for a family bathroom. This page is about the specialist range that makes the cloakroom actually work.

What is a cloakroom vanity unit?

A cloakroom vanity unit is a compact basin-and-storage unit specifically scaled for downstairs WCs and the smallest ensuites. Where a standard family-bathroom vanity is 600–800mm wide and 450–500mm deep, a cloakroom vanity runs from 400mm down to 250mm wide, and from 300mm down to 200mm deep. The smaller dimensions matter because cloakrooms are sized in centimetres rather than metres, and a piece of furniture that’s 100mm too large doesn’t fit at all.

Cloakroom vanities come in two configurations. Compact rectangular units sit against a straight wall. Corner units fit into the angle between two walls, projecting diagonally into the room with a triangular footprint that uses otherwise-dead corner space. Both configurations include a small basin (usually 350–500mm wide) and minimal storage underneath.

Compact and corner sizes

The standard cloakroom vanity widths, mapped to the room dimensions they fit:

• 250–350mm wide. The narrowest cloakroom vanities, fitting walls under 400mm wide. These exist for the tightest downstairs WCs in Victorian terraces and converted under-stairs spaces. The basin is genuinely small (300–350mm), enough for handwashing only.
• 400mm wide. The standard compact size for most UK cloakrooms. Fits walls 450–550mm wide, includes a 350–400mm basin that handles handwashing comfortably, and provides a small cabinet underneath for hand soap and a few items.
• 450–550mm wide. The larger end of the cloakroom range. Suits roomier downstairs WCs (1.8–2.5m²) and small ensuites. Basin can be a more usable 400–500mm, and storage underneath is more practical for spare toilet rolls and cleaning supplies.
• Corner units (400–600mm along each wall). The triangular footprint that uses corner space a rectangular vanity can’t. Particularly useful in awkward L-shaped cloakrooms or under-stairs WCs where the only spare space is the corner angle.

Projection (the front-to-back depth) matters as much as width in a cloakroom. Most cloakroom vanities project 200–300mm into the room, against 450mm+ for standard family vanities. The reduced projection is what makes the door swing work.

Make the most of a tiny space

Back to the 1.5m² scenario. Three principles for fitting a usable basin and storage into that space:

• Go wall-hung. Clearing the floor underneath the vanity is the single biggest visual difference between a cramped cloakroom and a comfortable one. The few extra inches of visible floor make the room feel meaningfully bigger, and the cleaning is one mop-pass instead of awkward stooping.
• Check the door swing first, then the vanity. Open the door fully and mark on the floor with masking tape where the door reaches. The vanity has to clear that arc, including its taps, its basin projection, and any cupboard doors when they open. A vanity that fits the wall but fouls the door swing is a return.
• Consider a corner unit if the cloakroom is L-shaped. A corner vanity fits angles a straight wall can’t. It’s the often-overlooked option for cloakrooms in converted spaces (under-stairs WCs, garage conversions, awkward extensions) where rectangular pieces feel forced.

For more on fitting furniture to small spaces, browse bathroom furniture by room size, or wall-hung vanity units for the floor-clearing option in slightly larger rooms.

Cloakroom vanity FAQs

What size vanity fits a cloakroom?

Most UK cloakrooms (1.5–2m²) suit compact vanities from 400mm wide. The narrowest cloakrooms (under-stairs WCs, Victorian terraces) take 250–350mm units. Larger downstairs WCs (1.8–2.5m²) can take 450–550mm. Projection (front-to-back depth) matters as much as width: most cloakroom vanities project 200–300mm, against 450mm+ for family vanities.

How do I fit a basin in a very small cloakroom?

Three steps. First, choose a slim-depth vanity (200–300mm projection) so it doesn’t crowd the door swing. Second, go wall-hung to keep the floor clear and make the room feel bigger. Third, check the door swing arc before ordering: open the door fully and mark where it reaches; the vanity has to clear that arc including its taps and any open cupboard doors.

Are corner vanity units worth considering?

Yes, for L-shaped cloakrooms or any downstairs WC with an awkward corner. The triangular footprint uses the angle between two walls that a rectangular vanity can’t. Particularly useful in under-stairs WCs, garage conversions, and any cloakroom in a converted space where the geometry isn’t standard.

Can I have a cupboard under a cloakroom vanity?

Yes, but the storage capacity is genuinely small. A 400mm cloakroom vanity has room for hand soap, a few spare items, maybe a small cleaning supply. Don’t expect significant storage; cloakrooms aren’t the place for it. If you need real storage in a downstairs WC, consider a separate slim wall cabinet elsewhere in the room.

Do cloakroom vanities need a different basin from family bathrooms?

Usually yes. Cloakroom vanities use smaller basins (350–500mm wide vs 550–800mm for family vanities) with reduced projection. Most cloakroom vanity units include the matching basin in the price; if you’re buying the cabinet only, check the basin spec carefully because not all small basins fit all small vanities.

Filter the grid above by width, corner option and mounting. For the broader compact-bathroom approach, browse bathroom furniture by room size, or vanity units for the wider family-bathroom range.

Plumbworld has supplied cloakroom vanities since 1999, with a 4.8/5 rating from over 60,000 Trustpilot reviews, free UK delivery, a price match promise, and 365-day returns. Making the cloakroom work properly is a low-risk fix to commit to.

Big brands, small prices.