A small bathroom can feel much bigger without moving a single wall. The biggest gains usually come from the shower, from storage built into the walls and from a layout that keeps the floor clear. Here are the ideas that work best in the 5x7-foot baths common in Greater Boston homes, and what that size of remodel costs.
Key points
- In a small bathroom, keeping the plumbing where it is leaves more of the budget for finishes.
- Replacing a tub with a walk-in shower is one of the most common ways to open up a small bath.
- Recessed storage, like a medicine cabinet or a niche in the shower wall, saves floor space.
- A midrange remodel of a 5x7-foot bathroom averaged $27,681 in Boston in 2025 (Cost vs. Value).
Swap the tub for a walk-in shower
A tub-to-shower conversion takes out the high tub wall and replaces it with a shower you step into. With clear glass instead of a curtain, the room reads as one space and looks larger.
The universal design remodel priced in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report does exactly this in a 5x7-foot bath: the tub becomes a level-entry shower with a fold-out seat. It averaged $43,256 in Boston, with an accessible vanity and radiant floor heat included. If anyone in the house may need easier access later, a curbless shower is worth considering now.
Build storage into the walls
- A recessed medicine cabinet keeps toiletries off the counter.
- A tiled niche in the shower wall replaces a corner caddy.
- A wall-hung or narrower vanity leaves more floor visible.
- Shelves above the toilet use space that is usually empty.
Keep the design simple and light
Fewer materials, lighter colors and good lighting make a small room feel calmer and larger. Large-format tile means fewer grout lines, and running the same floor tile into the shower makes the floor read as one surface.
Keeping the toilet, sink and shower where they are now avoids moving plumbing, which leaves more of the budget for the shower, the tile and the vanity.
What a small bathroom remodel costs
The midrange project in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report is a 5x7-foot bathroom with a new tub, ceramic tile surround, toilet, solid-surface vanity top, recessed medicine cabinet and tile floor. It averaged $27,681 in Boston, $27,559 across New England and $26,138 nationally.
Questions about this topic
How much does a small bathroom remodel cost in Boston?
A midrange remodel of a 5x7-foot bathroom averaged $27,681 in Boston in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report. Finishes, the shower and any layout changes move that number up or down.
Is it a good idea to replace a tub with a shower?
In a small bathroom it often is, because a walk-in shower opens up the room and is easier to step into. If the house has no other tub, think about whether you or a future buyer will want one.
Can RFS Builders help with the design?
Yes. We customize each bathroom to your style, modern or classic, and give personalized guidance on every design detail.
Bathroom Remodeling from RFS Builders
Whether you want a modern look or a classic feel, we design each bathroom around your style and the way you use it, with top-quality materials and guidance on every detail.
Sources
- Cost vs. Value 2025, Boston, MA (with New England and national figures), Journal of Light Construction
- Cost vs. Value 2025: Bath Remodel, Midrange, project description, Journal of Light Construction, June 20, 2025
- Cost vs. Value 2025: Bath Remodel, Universal Design, project description, Journal of Light Construction, June 21, 2025