Wanting a big bathroom is understandable. Often, the more space you have, the more comfortable the room feels. However, having a small bathroom is not a bad thing.
If you know what to do, you can be very creative with the room and make the most of every inch of space.
But where do you start?
Well, in the guide below, we’ve put together a list of eight of our top tips for transforming your small bathroom.
1. Choose the right lighting
The lighting you choose can make or break a small bathroom, so you need to get it right. If the light is too bright or it floods the room, this can be overwhelming, and if the light is very white, it can start to feel too clinical.
However, if the lighting is too dim, the room can feel small, like walking into a cave. This isn’t very relaxing.
So, to get the balance right, we recommend choosing warm recessed lighting to save on space or, for something more eye-catching, a beautiful hanging pendant light.
Alternatively, you could have some spotlights fitted either on the ceiling or incorporated into your shelving. It’s also a good idea to have multiple sources of light so you can adjust the lighting accordingly, for example, by adding an illuminated mirror as well.
2. Keep your colour palette simple
In order to make the space feel bigger, it’s best to choose a light, sleek colour palette for your wall, tiles and bathroom suite. We suggest neutral tones like whites, creams, light blues and greys. This is because darker shades can absorb the light and make the room feel smaller.
Lighter colours, on the other hand, will reflect the light and make the space feel open and airy. This is particularly true if you’ve got plenty of natural light in the room.
3. Maximise with a mirror
As with light tones, mirrors can also reflect light around a room, which makes it feel much bigger. So it’s important to choose the right mirror for your small bathroom.
Frameless mirrors can feel luxurious and help to maximise the space. Alternatively, large statement mirrors draw the eye whilst helping the room feel more open. Full-length mirrors are also advised for smaller rooms, and these are particularly helpful when you’re getting ready to go out in your bathroom.
You might even wish to have multiple mirrors, providing these won’t be overwhelming or take up too much precious space.
4. Utilise shelving and hooks
The best way to keep your space neat and clutter-free is to add shelves and hooks for all your towels and toiletries.
As the room is smaller, opt for sleek shelves that don’t protrude too far out into the space. A couple of floating shelves can look great, and by putting these above areas you’re already using, such as the sink or toilet, you can free up space elsewhere in the room.
Alternatively, you could opt for a freestanding shelving unit in the corner, but again, make sure this isn’t too big or overwhelming.
Once you’ve got your shelves up, you can make use of baskets, perhaps wicker or wooden baskets, to keep your belongings organised. As well as looking good, these can make the room feel much tidier.
Finally, hooks are another great way to increase storage space and declutter the room. You can add these to the wall or the back of the door for hanging towels, bathrobes or toiletry bags.
5. Use all available space
If your bathroom has any alcoves, quirky corners or sloped roofs, this odd shape can make it feel like you’re losing valuable space. But the good news is, there are some creative ways you can embrace this to use every inch of the room.
In these cases, you could add shelving to your alcoves or have a unit custom-made to tuck into the odd-shaped corner. This ensures that no space goes to waste in an already small bathroom.
6. Only keep necessities in your bathroom
It can be tempting to put all your towels, toiletries, robes, etc., in your bathroom because, in theory, that’s where they belong. But if you’ve got limited space, it pays to only keep the essentials in your bathroom on a daily basis.
If you’ve got a cupboard elsewhere you can store towels or toilet paper, then do it. And let’s say, for example, you know you don’t need your large makeup bag or your bathrobe in the room 24/7, then keep these in your bedroom instead and only take them into the bathroom when you need them.
By only keeping the necessities in the room, you can declutter and free up precious space.
7. Select a sliding door
If your bathroom door swings inwards, this takes up usable space and can feel quite awkward in a small room.
So consider replacing this with a sliding door on a track instead. This will save you space and can be particularly good for an en suite as it means that the door does not impact either the bathroom or the bedroom.
8. Choose appropriate fixtures
Finally, it’s important in a small bathroom that all fixtures, fittings and bathrooms suites are size-appropriate. It’s no good having a huge bath that spills out into the room or losing space because you’ve got a towel rail sticking out of the wall.
Similarly, large light shades hanging from the roof can be out of place, and oversized hardware can stop the space from being functional. So, when designing your bathroom, be sure to keep everything as sleek as possible.
This includes your bathroom suite and vanity station. You can save space by opting for a floating sink or toilet, choosing a bath that is slightly smaller than average or doing away with the bath entirely and simply having a beautifully contained shower unit.
When it comes to vanity spaces, select something that is raised off the ground on legs or that doesn’t have bulky cabinets underneath. You could even kill two birds with one stone and install a mirrored medicine cabinet. The mirror will open up the space, and the cabinet will give you more storage space without taking up too much room.
Just be sure to always check your measurements carefully before buying anything, so you know it will fit perfectly into your small bathroom.