Your bathroom may be the smallest room in the house, but it’s also the hardest to work with. After all, limited space also means limited design options, right?
That may be true—but only when you don’t know these clever design hacks that can actually make your small bathroom look and feel bigger.
These tricks work not only in your bathroom but also in other parts of the house. So feel free to explore these tips and see how the smallest changes can make a big difference in your finite space.
Choose a Softer Color Palette
One of the easiest ways to make your small bathroom look spacious is to brighten it up with a selection of harmonious colors. White is a typical choice that flawlessly lends a place a clean and classy look. If you think white is too plain, opt for a tone-on-tone palette that mixes warm beige, grays, and subtle hues to create a playfully relaxed vibe that renders a spa-like serenity to the tiny space.
Match up the tones from the ceiling, walls, to the floors for a seamless transition.
More Isn’t Always Better
Prioritize function over aesthetics. Be mindful of the furnishings you’re going to integrate into your setup. Having too much going on can easily eat up all available space and make the room feel stuffed.
Space is the currency with small bathrooms, and the goal is to have as much as possible, so pay attention to the scale of your fixtures, and let go of unnecessary elements that you don’t have room for.
For instance, you may consider getting rid of the gigantic bathtub and replacing it with stand-up showers. And if you’re having a full makeover, opt for the most efficient fixture options like a macerating upflush toilet (energy and cost-efficient), a pedestal sink (space-efficient), multifunctional storage (function-efficient), etc.
Mirror Up
An easy way to add a bit of drama and effectively make your small bathroom space feel and look larger is to harness the power of mirrors.
If you can afford it, go with a full-length, wall-to-wall mirror. It will reflect the light inside the room and create an illusory dimension of space that adds to the perceived size of an otherwise-tiny bathroom.
You can also go for framed mirrors, hanging mirrors with side sconces, or a gallery of vanities strategically arranged for an extra artistic glow.
Use a Glass Panel
Consider eliminating visual obstructions like a full shower curtain or a frosted glass shower door and trade it for a transparent and clear division. Glass barriers create smooth transitions without getting rid of the necessary divisions. These walls visually break the space and can make the room seem choppy and cramped.
The goal is to make one coherent unit.
Maximize Your Lighting
It’s hard to do grooming tasks without proper lighting. Too much glare can be annoying while shadows also make it harder to see adequately. Proper lighting is also vital for the comfort and ambiance of a room, so having proper, balanced lighting is indeed an important aspect of bathroom design.
In the daytime when you do most of your makeup and personal routines to prepare yourself for the day, natural light is more adequate, so you may want to consider having a skylight or huge windows to accommodate as much outdoor light as possible.
For decent illumination at night, have your light come from multiple directions to avoid too much glare and perhaps create a playful mood.
Recess Your Storage
Cut back on anything that sticks out as they cut your vision and hamper the flawless transition you’ve been aiming for in the first place. Remove your hanging racks and decorative shelves. Instead, recess your cabinetry and shampoo shelving into the walls.
You may need professional help to carve out the necessary spa and install the new cabinets, but the payoff is great. Your new recessed storage will have plenty of space for your towels, linens, and toiletries, and the doors can double up as a mirror.
Organize
Clean up clutter. Sometimes, your small space problem can be resolved with a simple cleanup drive. Eliminate everything you’re no longer using. Have a place for everything: clean towels, dirty trash, soaps, your toothbrush, etc.
Pare down your bathroom supplies to the bare necessities. Cut out the small accessories, and adopt a minimalist approach in selecting decor pieces.
The Takeaway
As you can see, a lot of these designs prioritize comfort over aesthetics. You spend a lot of your time in the bathroom that you need to find a design that will appeal to your senses. So when choosing decors, always pick function before beauty, and assess whether it works well with the rest of your setup. Harmony is key.