Small Bathroom? No Big Deal!

10 small Bathroom Ideas for Big Impact

 

1 -  Vintage-style mirrors

Long for a vintage-style powder-room look? Step back in time by installing classic paneling on the walls, painted in a soothing pastel shade that won’t look too overpowering.

Scour vintage or used furniture shops for characterful mirrors and add retro-style accessories for the perfect finishing touch.

2 - Contemporary neutral scheme

If you’re in a quandary over how to decorate your small bathroom, just keep it simple with soft, natural shades.

Choose furniture and accessories with clean lines and keep the space as clutter-free as possible to create a feeling of space.

3 - Clever tricks with tiles

When decorating a small bathroom, such as an en suite in a loft conversion, introduce a horizontal line around the width of the space, either with tiles or paint.

This trick will visually widen the space, creating the illusion of a bigger room.

4 - Practical hidden storage

A smart storage panel within a fitted bath will provide a storage area for hiding toiletries or bathroom cleaning products out of sight.

5 - Bright, beautiful wallpaper

Don’t shy away from using wallpaper in a small bathroom.

A paper in a bright shade will look stunning against white woodwork, and provided you choose a simple pattern, it won’t crowd the room either.

6 - Must-have shelving

Keeping a family bathroom tidy is a challenge, even more so if the space is tight.

If you don’t have room for a cupboard, put up shelves with an integrated rail for hanging up towels.

7 - Matching wall and floor tiles

A clever trick to making a small bathroom look bigger is to use the same tiles on both the walls and the floor.

Look for a range that is suitable for both uses (they’ll need to be durable enough to use as flooring) and go for larger-size versions to give an even cleaner finish.

8 - Fresh white scheme

Make a compact bathroom feel more spacious by sticking to a simple all-white scheme.

Team a white suite with glossy wall tiles and plenty of plush textured towels to ensure the space feels welcoming rather than cold.

9 - Luxe sunken bath

If you’re renovating your bathroom or en suite, consider installing a sunken bath.

Provided you have the space for it below your floorboards, a sunken bath will streamline your bathroom, giving it a luxurious, hotel-style feel.

10- Glossy tiles

Glossy tiles in a muted shade will reflect light, making the room brighter and giving the overall impression of a bigger space.

They also have the added advantage of making the space look clean and shiny (provided you wipe them down often!).

Small bathroom? Big Ideas!

So you have a small bathroom, so what!  there are lots of tips and tricks to really maximize the space to make it more useful but also just to give it a larger appearance.

1.  Paper!  No not toilet paper, wallpaper. High-impact wallpaper gives the impression of depth, and extending the print onto the ceiling encourages a continuous line of sight.






2.  Add drama.  Usually we recommend small spaces be painted out in one light colour but if you have a bathroom with some interesting architectural features, like a sloped ceiling, try Glossy black paint, it makes  look streamlined and spacious.




3.  Let the light in! No windows, no problem!  Never underestimate the power of lighting: in this tiny WC, recessed bulbs and glossy sconces cast a space-enlarging luster onto white wallpaper.





4.  Blend. So if you like a low key look in your space, opt for tone-on-tone.  A sink with modern lines and an unadorned mirror perfectly complement the pale wallpaper, adding a sense of airiness to the room.






5.  Small storage.  Like it or not we always end up with clutter in the bathroom, magazines for example so make use of a tray (not something you would usually find in a bathroom) to store them in an organized and accessible way.

Bathroom Vanities for Every Size

Even though the bathroom is the smallest rooms in the house, it is also one of the most used rooms in the house - so shouldn't it be fabulous?

Whether you are renovating just for yourself or looking to update in order to sell - don't ignore the bathroom!  It's a hot spot for buyers.


So if you are considering a bathroom renovation, take a look at this checklist of things to consider before you start -

1.  How many people will be sharing the bathroom? If there are 3 or more you will probably need two sinks.

2. Do you have a linen closet? Towels eat up valuable space.  If you don't have room for a closet (or it's not in the reno budget) look for a vanity will also serve as a linen closet, consider one with open lower shelves to stack towels and face cloths

3. Tight space? Of course you want to maximize the amount of vanity space in the bathroom but be sure to measure everything.  Measure to make sure you can freely open any doors and drawers before you buy.  What's the point in a vanity if you can't use the storage space?

4.  What's included? Some manufacturers and some sell everything separately offer all-in one (sink, counter top and faucet)  and in other cases you need to source out the faucet and sink on your own.  So make sure you know what's included when you go to buy.

5.  Tight budget? Want a new vanity but can afford it? How about dressing up what you have with paint and/or new hardware.  Also try updating the mirror - it doesn't have to be expensive but something with a thicker or shiny frame looks more custom made. It can make a world of difference.

Vanities for small spaces:

- Round.  Round vanities with legs keep a tight space from feeling crowded.  Look for one with a drawer and a shelf that will also provide some storage, too.















 - Wall mount.  Wall mounted vanities are great for smaller spaces as they offer storage but because they are open at the bottom they don't have all of the bulk.  Plus it is so easy to clean underneath wall mount vanities.












- Dresser style.  Could be new or a converted vintage piece.  It offers deeper drawers that you can easily add dividers too (or just use baskets inside, if you aren't handy) to help you stay organized.  And with a smaller sink you an have more counter space



 Vanities for medium spaces :

- Double Doors. A re-imagined dresser as a bathroom vanity allows for so much storage and counter space, too.



- Off side.  A floating vanity (aka wall mount) is a modern and airy approach.  By setting the sink off center you get much more counter space and still lots of storage with open and/or closed shelving- open shelves are perfect for things that you use everyday that are also attractive.



- Farmhouse style.  A large farmhouse style sink gives you a large sink and works well with a wider space.  Try wall mounted faucets to give it a streamlined look (it keeps the counters clear).  the wall mount faucet is also great for vessel sinks.



Vanities for large spaces:

- Long and lean.  If you can, go for length - you won't ever regret having all of the storage.  Be sure to have a mix of drawers and cabinets.  when doing a long wall of cabinets, try putting on some legs (short block ones are just fine) they will make the piece (and the whole space) feel and look less heavy. Personally, when there is a lot of cabinetry in a bathroom I like to opt for lighter tones like white, cream, soft grey or lighter wood tones it i more calming.



-  Open up.  If you have a large bathroom you might have other options for storage like a linen closet or linen tower. An open vanity can make any space feel very airy and light.  Opting for something sculptural will make the space feel beautiful.  The exposed piping can act as a handy towel rack, too.


 

-  Take a seat.  If the space allows consider a make up station within the counter.  Think about location of the make up station, personally I think it is best at the opposite side of the sink in order to keep everything dry. A make up station also looks great when centered between two vessel sinks.