17 Tips for Maximizing a Small Bathroom Space
Do you know what minor home allergies, people buying their first home, and empty nesters who want to move all have in common? There is a chance that each of these groups of homeowners looked at their small bathrooms and thought about how to make them work. Maximizing the space of a small bathroom can be pretty challenging for some people. However, it is doable if you work with a little bit of creativity and proper strategic planning.
1. Paint With the Right Colors
A dark bathroom can look cool and moody but feel like a closet instead of a helpful room. Painting a small bathroom a light color is one of the easiest, cheapest, and fastest ways to make it look bigger. Soft white pastels and light grey open the space and bring an airy feel.
If you can’t skip a bolder color, consider painting the ceiling or just one wall in that hue, leaving the rest in a complementary light neutral. As a bonus, bold ceilings draw the eye upward and can make the space feel taller.
2. Install a Corner Sink
Install a corner sink to trim your bathroom furniture where you can. Corner sinks can be smaller than a regular sink but still larger than the postage stamp-sized options some small bathroom renovators regret. They are also great, where a larger sink might hinder movement or impede other design choices.
3. Look For a More Compact Toilet
Consider a smaller toilet if you’re open to downsizing wherever you can. Round bowls take up less space than an oval, freeing up precious inches. Meanwhile, a wall-mounted toilet can also make the bathroom appear more prominent.
4. Make Wall Space Count
When square footage is at a premium, look up. Install cabinets or shelves that reach to the ceiling. This additional storage maintains a small footprint and keeps the bathroom organized and clutter-free.
5. Keep Things Tidy
Speaking of clutter, nothing makes a space feel more cramped than assorted items covering every horizontal surface. Don’t be that person who regrets having too much stuff. Keep bathroom accessories to a minimum, and eliminate any unnecessary objects on countertops by stowing them in cabinets or drawers.
6. Use a Frameless Sliding Shower Door
Sliding shower doors, especially frameless ones, cover less floor space and seamlessly transition into the walls. However, they can be a bit pricey, so if you’re trying to save on homeownership costs, opt for a curtain (as opposed to a swinging shower door) until you can upgrade.
7. Add Mirrors
Mirrors are a time-tested trick to create the illusion of a larger space. They reflect light and open up even the smallest room. Larger mirrors above the sink or mirrored cabinets are a simple way to create this feel of openness.
8. Make Storage Beautiful
It might seem odd to place a unique piece of furniture like a handcrafted shelf or basket in a room as humble as a bathroom. But sometimes, the presence of a functional statement piece is enough to distract from the square footage of the space or enhance its overall use.
9. Install Recessed Shelving
Even the best shelving can make a space feel cramped but not flush with the wall when installed. If you are renovating an entire space or working with new construction, ask your contractor to recess any bathroom shelving. Experienced DIYers can even take care of it themselves. Even if you plan to renovate the property to rent, adding storage is always a great way to boost your return on investment.
10. Choose a Floating Vanity
Floating vanities save floor space by mounting on the wall. They clear the space beneath the sink but don’t allow for much storage, meaning they aren’t suitable for all bathrooms. They’re best deployed in bathrooms or powder rooms with other, easily accessible places to store items.
11. Mind the Size of Your Bathtub
If you have your heart set on a bathtub, look for the smaller footprint of a compact tub. Though taller or larger-framed people may be squeezed, they’re a perfect way to have an occasional bath without taking up your entire bathroom.
12. Put Your Shower in the Corner
A corner shower is a tremendous space saver in a tiny bathroom. When a comfortable shower is a prioritized amenity, a corner shower makes it possible to add one even in the smallest space. Opt for a frameless version and watch those shower walls disappear into the walls.
13. Use Multi-Functional Furniture
Consider vanities with built-in storage, mirrors that have shelves, and similar functional pieces. These minimize clutter and don’t take up as much space as single-use pieces.
14. Add Hooks and Racks
Hooks on the back of the door (and in the shower or bathing space) and racks above the toilet are an excellent solution for a small bathroom. These keep necessary items close at hand and are an economical way to maximize space.
15. Install a Pocket or Barn Door
Nothing sweeps away available floor space like the area set aside for a door’s swing. Eliminate this waste by installing a pocket or barn door. Pocket doors nestle between wall framing, and a barn door hangs outside the space, opening and closing on a track. If you are building from scratch, a pocket door is an easy option; however, if you aren’t sure what’s behind the walls and want to keep things cost-effective, a barn door may be best.
16. Opt for Open Shelving
To be sure, keeping things hidden away minimizes visual clutter. But if you love the look of neatly stacked towels and beautiful bottles of toiletries, open shelving can make the space feel more open and less claustrophobic than bulky, solid cabinets.
17. Don't Neglect the Importance of Lighting
Lighting is the final way to maximize a small bathroom space. Bathroom lighting is essential in any room but vital in small ones. Consider incorporating multiple light sources, such as outdoor lights, sconces, under-cabinet fixtures, and ceiling fixtures, to enhance the overall lighting in your space. Don't allow appearances to hinder your judgment.
That beautiful Edison bulb in the delicate wire cage may not provide much more than a cool look. There's no need to be squished and unhappy in one of the most essential rooms in your house, as you can see. By carefully using these tips, you can make the most of a small bathroom and turn it into a lovely, helpful, and comfy place everyone can enjoy.
