They Replaced the Tub With a Walk-In Shower and the 6×9 Bathroom Feels Bigger
This 6×9 bathroom once relied on a bulky tub, beige flooring, half-height tile walls, and a tight vanity layout that made the entire room feel compressed. After the remodel, frameless glass, vertical white tile with black grout, floating wood storage, and matte black hardware completely changed how the narrow space feels.
Originally shared by Reddit user rustyforkfight, the renovation removed the old tub and rebuilt the bathroom around cleaner sightlines, stronger vertical lines, and continuous surfaces that make the room feel deeper and far more custom-built than the original layout.
The Original Tub Layout Cut the Room Into Small Sections
The old bathroom packed the tub, toilet, vanity, and storage tightly into one narrow path.
Half-height wall tile created a horizontal break around the entire room. The shower curtain blocked the back wall, while the older vanity projected visually into the walkway.
Because the flooring, walls, and fixtures all changed material and color constantly, the eye stopped at every surface transition instead of moving through the room.
The builder-grade medicine cabinet and beige sink top also added visual clutter directly across from the entrance.
Removing the Tub Opened the Entire Back Wall
The largest shift came from removing the bulky tub surround and replacing it with a frameless glass shower.
Instead of a curtain cutting off the rear half of the room, clear glass now allows the eye to travel directly to the back wall and window. That single change immediately made the bathroom feel deeper.
The shower also sits flush with the rest of the room visually. Nothing projects outward or interrupts the floor path anymore.
Dark Non-Slip Glass Tile Changed the Entire Floor Plane
The new flooring also changed how the bathroom feels underfoot. Instead of continuing the older beige vinyl look, the remodel introduced dark non-slip glass tile across the floor and shower base. The textured surface adds grip, but it also gives the room stronger visual weight and cleaner contrast against the white vertical wall tile.
Because the same darker flooring continues into the shower area, the bathroom now feels more connected from wall to wall instead of broken into smaller sections.
Vertical White Tile Made the Ceiling Feel Taller
The remodel used narrow vertical white tile with black grout across nearly every wall surface.
Rather than running horizontally like standard subway tile, the vertical layout pushes the eye upward. That changed the proportions of the room immediately.
The black grout also sharpened every tile line instead of letting the walls blend together into one flat white surface.
Because the tile continues across the shower walls and vanity wall without interruption, the bathroom now reads as one continuous volume instead of separate zones.
Matte Black Hardware Added Structure Across the Room
Black fixtures became one of the strongest visual anchors in the remodel.
The shower system, towel bars, faucet, handles, sconces, and shower frame all repeat the same matte black finish. That consistency gives the small bathroom stronger structure without adding clutter.
Against the white tile, the black hardware also creates cleaner contrast and stronger definition around every functional area.
Even the recessed niche shelving across from the vanity continues the same dark detailing and keeps storage built into the wall instead of projecting outward into the narrow walkway.
Built-In Wall Niches Removed the Need for Bulky Storage
Instead of relying on a tall cabinet or open shelving unit, the remodel carved storage directly into the wall beside the vanity.
The recessed niche shelves hold towels, decor, and bathroom essentials without making the room feel tighter. Because the shelves sit flush inside the wall cavity, the bathroom keeps cleaner sightlines from the doorway through the shower.
The darker shelf backing also ties visually into the matte black hardware and grout lines across the room.
The Floating Wood Vanity Opened the Floor Area
The original vanity sat heavily on the floor and visually narrowed the walkway.
The new floating vanity exposes more flooring underneath, which makes the center aisle feel wider. The wood finish also adds warmth against the black-and-white palette without bringing back the heavy beige tones from before.
Because the countertop stays bright white and the sink basin turns black, the vanity now feels cleaner and more integrated into the wall composition.
Modern Globe Lighting Softened the Black-and-White Contrast
The vanity lighting introduced one of the softer details in the remodel.
Round globe sconces mounted beside the mirror break up the harder lines created by the vertical tile and black grout. The warm glow also softens the charcoal upper walls at night and keeps the bathroom from feeling cold.
Because the sconces sit directly against the tiled wall instead of decorative trim or paneling, the lighting feels more architectural and integrated into the remodel itself.
Dark Walls Changed the Bathroom From Builder-Grade to Architectural
One of the boldest changes came from the upper wall color.
Instead of painting the entire room white, the remodel introduced dark charcoal walls above the tile line. That contrast creates stronger depth and gives the bathroom a more custom-built appearance.
The darker upper walls also make the illuminated mirror and globe sconces stand out far more sharply at night.
Rather than feeling small and dim, the room now feels focused and layered.
Frameless Glass Kept the 6×9 Layout Open
In many small bathrooms, framed shower doors create visual barriers that break the room apart.
Here, the frameless glass enclosure keeps the shower nearly invisible from several angles. The tile pattern continues directly through the glass, which helps the room feel longer.
The swing door and low-profile hardware also prevent the shower area from feeling boxed in.
The Bathroom Still Has the Same Footprint, But the Atmosphere Feels Completely Different
The remodel did not expand the room. The walls stayed in the same place.
But vertical tile, black grout, frameless glass, floating storage, darker contrast walls, and built-in niches completely changed how the bathroom handles depth, height, and movement.
What once felt like a cramped builder-grade bathroom now feels closer to a boutique hotel wet room built around clean lines and continuous surfaces.
Would you remove the tub to gain a larger walk-in shower like this, or keep the bathtub in a small bathroom?
All images and credits go to Reddit user rustyforkfight and are available in the original Reddit thread.