One of the shed ideas that gets people talking more than almost anything else is a bathroom shed.

And I understand why.

A small backyard shed doesn’t need a tremendous amount of space to hold a toilet, a shower, a little sink and some storage. Suddenly, an ordinary little building has an entirely different purpose.

An outdoor bathroom can be useful beside a swimming pool, near a workshop, at a cabin or campsite, on recreational property, or simply in a backyard where you don’t want wet feet and muddy kids running through the house every time somebody needs the bathroom.

I’ve been around sheds for many years, and I’ve learned that some of the most interesting ideas aren’t necessarily the biggest or most elaborate ones.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of looking at a little building and asking:

What else could this be?

How Small Can a Bathroom Shed Be?

Probably smaller than you think.

A simple bathroom doesn’t require a huge building. If all you need is a toilet and small sink, the footprint can be quite compact. Add a shower and you’ll need to plan the layout more carefully, but it can still fit into a relatively small shed.

A larger building gives you more possibilities—a full vanity, linen or towel storage, a changing area, a larger shower, or even separate toilet and shower areas.

Before choosing the shed size, think about what you actually want the bathroom to do.

Is this primarily a convenient toilet beside the pool?

Do you need a place for guests to shower?

Do you want a full little bathroom that feels almost like one inside a house?

Or are you trying to create a simple bathroom for a campsite, cabin or piece of recreational property?

The answer can completely change the design.

Real Toilet, Composting Toilet or Portable Toilet?

This may be the biggest question of all.

A traditional flushing toilet is certainly possible, but it requires a proper water supply and wastewater connection.

For some properties, however, a composting toilet or other self-contained toilet may be worth considering. These are particularly interesting for cabins, camping areas, remote properties and places where installing conventional plumbing would be difficult.

Portable and cassette-style toilets provide another option when the bathroom is intended for occasional or recreational use.

Each system has advantages and disadvantages, and there isn’t one toilet solution that’s right for every bathroom shed.

This is one of those decisions that should be made before you design the rest of the room.

What About the Shower?

Here’s where a little shed can become really useful.

A compact shower can turn a simple outdoor toilet into a genuine backyard bathroom.

Think about coming out of the swimming pool and showering before going inside the house. Or having a place to clean up after gardening, working in the yard, camping or spending the day outdoors.

A shower could be completely enclosed inside the shed, or the building could be designed with a more open outdoor-style shower area.

In a larger shed, you might even separate the shower from the toilet and vanity area.

And don’t forget about hooks, towel bars and shelves. In a small bathroom, good storage can make a surprisingly big difference.

Moisture Changes Everything

A storage shed normally doesn’t have to deal with somebody taking a hot shower inside it.

A bathroom does.

Once you’re introducing that much moisture into a small enclosed space, ventilation becomes very important.

Windows and wall vents can help with airflow, but an appropriately installed bathroom exhaust fan may also be worth considering—especially if the shower will be used regularly.

You’ll also want to think carefully about the materials used around the shower and sink.

Water-resistant flooring, properly waterproofed shower surfaces, suitable wall materials and good sealing around wet areas can help protect the building over time.

This is one place where doing it correctly at the beginning can save a lot of trouble later.

Don’t Forget Hot Water

Do you actually need hot water?

For a simple poolside rinse-off shower, perhaps not.

For a bathroom that will be used regularly, you probably will.

Small water heaters and other compact hot-water solutions can work well in small spaces, but they need to be properly sized and installed for the intended use.

Think about this during the planning stage rather than trying to find somewhere to squeeze a water heater after the bathroom is already finished.

Lighting and Electricity

A bathroom shed may need more electrical planning than an ordinary storage building.

You might want interior lighting, an exhaust fan, electrical outlets, exterior lighting or power for a water-heating system.

Bathrooms and other wet locations also have special electrical safety requirements. This is a good area to involve a qualified electrician and make sure the installation is appropriate for the location and intended use.

Pretty lighting is wonderful.

Safe lighting is better.

Before You Start Digging Trenches…

This isn’t the exciting part, but it matters.

Plumbing, wastewater and building requirements vary considerably depending on where you live and how the bathroom will be used.

A conventional flushing toilet needs an appropriate wastewater system. You also shouldn’t assume that water from a shower or sink can simply drain onto the ground. Rules for wastewater and gray water vary from one location to another.

Before connecting water or drainage, find out what applies to your particular property. When necessary, talk with a local plumber or the appropriate local authority before beginning the project.

It is much easier to answer those questions before the shed is finished than afterward.

Five Outdoor Bathroom Shed Ideas

This is where we get to have some fun.

1. The Pool Bathroom

A small toilet, sink and shower with plenty of hooks for wet towels and swimsuits. Add an exterior light and perhaps a little covered porch, and you’ve got a very useful poolside building.

2. The Backyard Powder Room

Maybe you don’t need a shower at all. A toilet, attractive little vanity, mirror and good lighting can create a charming backyard powder room for guests.

3. The Rustic Cabin Bathroom

Wood-look finishes, simple shelving, a compact sink and shower can make a little shed feel right at home beside a cabin or on recreational property.

4. The Camping Bathroom

A composting or self-contained toilet, simple washing station and practical storage can provide a level of comfort that’s very welcome when you’re spending time outdoors.

5. The Two-Room Bathroom and Shower Shed

This is one of my favorite ideas.

Imagine separate little toilet and shower areas with a shared section for towels, toiletries and supplies. For a pool, campground, family property or frequently used outdoor space, it could be incredibly practical.

A Shed Doesn’t Have to Be Just a Shed

That’s what I love about these little buildings.

One person sees a storage shed.

Someone else sees a pool bathroom.

Another sees an outdoor shower.

Someone with a cabin or camping property sees a way to make weekends considerably more comfortable.

And someone else may look at that exact same little building and come up with an idea none of us has thought of yet.

Sometimes the smallest buildings solve the biggest backyard problems.

And judging by how much interest I’ve been seeing in small bathroom sheds and outdoor showers, I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot more of them.

What would you put in yours—a shower, a traditional toilet, a composting toilet, a little vanity…or all of the above?