An inward-swinging door can waste up to 9 square feet of floor space in a small bathroom — space you're already short on. Leo Chase walks through five door-swing fixes that require zero structural changes: pocket doors, barn doors, outward swing, shower curtains, and the one solution he uses more than any other. Real dimensions, real trade-offs, no walls moved.
A wet room isn't just a glass box — it's the most spatially efficient way to place three fixtures in under 40 square feet. Leo Chase breaks down the real dimension requirements, the curbless floor logic, and when committing to a fully waterproofed room actually saves you square footage, money, and years of visual noise. No guesswork, no trend-chasing — just a layout that earns its floor space.
Most bathroom layouts fail before the tile even goes in — because people place the vanity first. Leo Chase explains why setting the toilet centerline first changes everything: proper clearance, smoother traffic flow, and fewer door-swing conflicts. One simple ordering rule, no walls moved, just a smarter sequence that makes any small bathroom feel instantly more functional.
Most people see a 5×7 bathroom and think compromise. I see the most efficient footprint in residential design. In this manifesto post, I break down the math that makes 35 square feet work so well: three distinct zones, zero wasted circulation, and enough flexibility to handle a tub, a shower, or a full wet room. If you think you need more space, you probably just need a better plan. Here’s how to read those 35 square feet the way a designer does.