You know what? I didn’t think an app could help me make sense of my tiny 5' x 8' hall bath. But my kids share it, and stuff didn’t fit right. Towels fell. Doors bumped. I needed a plan, not a headache.
So I used RoomSketcher for a full week (its Trustpilot reviews are solid, so I figured it was worth a shot). I ran it on my iPad at night and my laptop during lunch. I also did quick checks in Homestyler for finishes, just to compare looks. It wasn’t perfect. But it saved me from a few bad buys. And one truly dumb door swing.
For the full, day-by-day journal of that experiment, you can peek right here.
My Setup (Small Bath, Big Drama)
- Size: 5' x 8' hall bath
- Old layout: 60" tub, tiny 24" vanity, toilet wedged in a corner
- Wish list: bigger vanity, more light, a shower niche, and no more door fighting my knees
- Gear: a tape measure, painter’s tape on the floor, and the RoomSketcher app
I typed the walls in at 60" by 96". Then I added the door, the window, and the tub. The app snapped things to the right size, which was nice. I could see exact inches. Not “meh, about there.” Real numbers.
What I Actually Did in the App
Here’s where it got real. I tried three layouts.
- Layout A: Keep the 60" tub (Kohler Archer size in mind), swap to a 48" vanity, keep the toilet.
- Layout B: Ditch the tub, add a 60" walk-in shower with a 36" glass panel.
- Layout C: 60" vanity with a 30" shower/tub combo—tight but possible on paper.
RoomSketcher let me drag a 48" vanity into place, then spin the door swing. Boom. Problem found: the door clipped the top drawer by about an inch. I never would’ve noticed that in my head. I shaved the vanity to 42". No clip. No bruised knuckles.
Then I changed finishes. I set the floor to 12" x 24" matte porcelain, soft gray. Walls went warm white with a satin sheen. Faucets? I tested matte black (Delta Trinsic style) and brushed nickel. The black looked cool but made the tiny space feel chopped up. Brushed nickel felt softer. I know—odd, but true in 3D.
The shower niche was my favorite bit. I placed a 12" x 24" niche at shoulder height, centered on the shower valve. The app let me line it up to the inch. Little win.
The Moment I Avoided a Costly Mistake
I almost bought a 60" double vanity. Because of course I did. Two sinks feel fancy. But the app showed only 28" of clear walkway to the toilet. That’s tight. The code “rules” I peeked at say you want about 30" clear in front. I went with a 48" single sink and a tall linen cabinet instead. Storage went up. Elbows went down.
Also, I flipped the door to swing out, then tried a pocket door. With a pocket door, the room felt bigger right away. I could “walk” it in 3D and see my path (if exploring spaces in VR excites you, I also tested a handful of headset-friendly phone apps and shared what actually feels good in this rundown). No more door knees.
Where It Shined
- Measurements were honest. Seeing 30" clear space vs 28" matters more than you think.
- Finish swaps felt real. Tile direction, grout tone, even a fake skylight vibe with brighter paint—super helpful.
- The 3D snapshots sold my partner. A picture beats “trust me.”
I even tested a warm wood, fluted vanity look, which is trendy this year. With brushed nickel, it looked calm, not busy. I never would’ve guessed that from a shop photo.
Where It Bugged Me
- The free catalog felt thin at times. I wanted Grohe, Duravit, or Porcelanosa tile names. I got “generic shower” a lot.
- The fancy 3D photos took a bit to render, and some features needed a paid plan.
- Curbless showers are hard to mock up cleanly. Drain choices felt stiff.
Honestly, it still did the job. But I hopped to Homestyler once or twice to check a tile look with a brand vibe. Then I came right back to RoomSketcher for exact sizes.
(If you’re curious how leaning on AI tools can shake up a multi-week workflow, my eight-week deep dive into an “AI apps empire” is over here.)
Still, even the most patient DIYer sometimes needs a five-minute mental palate cleanser while those high-res renders chug away. When that happened, I wandered over to the cheeky local-dating directory Fish4Hoes, which lets you cast a quick line for nearby chats and a laugh—perfect for killing the render wait without doom-scrolling the same social feeds. If your renovation stress has you craving a more upscale night on the town, Northeastern Pennsylvanians can slip into the curated nightlife scene at Tryst Scranton for a quick look at upcoming events, drink specials, and discreet meet-ups that offer a well-deserved breather from tile samples and door swings.
Real-Life Results
I ended up with this final plan:
- 48" single-sink vanity, centerline at 24" off the left wall
- 60" alcove tub, shower head at 78" high
- Niche at 50" high, 12" x 24", centered on the valve
- Toilet with 15" from centerline to each side (so it doesn’t feel squeezed)
- Pocket door to gain space
- 12" x 24" floor tile, laid the long way to stretch the room
The app didn’t hang my mirror. I did. But it made me feel bold about the choices. And I didn’t overbuy.
Who This App Is For
- Small-bath folks who need every inch to count
- DIY planners who want clear sizes, not fuzzy Pinterest dreams
- Couples who can’t “see it” without a picture
- Anyone trying to test door swings, vanities, and shower sizes before buying
If you’re a contractor, you might want SketchUp or magicplan scans for field work. But for a homeowner plan? This hits a sweet spot. For a broader look at how it stacks up against other tools, check out this list of the best interior design software.
Quick Tips I Learned the Hard Way
- Tape your floor first. Then match those lines in the app.
- Test the door three ways: left swing, right swing, pocket door.
- Keep at least 30" clear in front of the vanity and toilet if you can.
- Try grout two shades lighter and two darker. The vibe changes.
- Take screenshots and label them: A, B, C. Saves arguments later.
- Stuck on a feature? The bite-size video guides on Woopid walk you through the basics faster than the app’s own help menus.
The Verdict
It felt easy. Well, mostly. The catalog could be richer, and some pro features sit behind a paywall. But RoomSketcher helped me spot real issues, like that drawer crash and the narrow walkway. It saved me money and a few fights with a stubborn door.
Would I use it again for a bathroom? Yes. I already am. The guest bath is next, and I’m blocking out a 36" glass panel before I even peek at faucets. Who knew a tiny room could need this much thinking? The app did. And now I do too.