Remodeling a small bathroom to make it feel spacious might seem like an impossible task. You have limited space, and you can’t change that fact.
Despite the challenge of designing a functional room with different constraints than a larger one, there are ways to create a more spacious appearance in a bathroom that feels cramped and crowded beforebathroom remodeling.
You can open up your small bathroom by choosing the right colors, adding mirrors to reflect natural light, and doing some simple DIY projects that create more space.
With a few smart choices, you can give any bathroom a more open feel, even if it’s on the smaller side. Before starting an extensivebathroom remodel project, consider these ten small bathroom remodel ideas for more space.
10 Remodeling Ideas To Enhance Small Bathrooms
Choosing The Right Colors
Chocolate brown, golden yellow, and warm green are colors that recede. They make walls, furniture, and other elements in the room appear farther away than they are, making the space feel spacious.
These soft colors also tend towards warmth rather than coolness; cool colors like blue and green recede, making a room feel cramped.
Wash your walls with a light color to open up the room and make it feel less cramped. Consider painting them white or adding lighter-color tiles if you have wall space for some visual interest.
Using Mirrors For The Illusion
Mirrors are essential in any bathroom since you spend time getting ready. They’re also a great way to create the illusion of more space in your small bathroom.
- Choose mirrors that reflect natural light and open up the room. You’ll want to place them on the wall with windows to minimize shadows.
- Mirrors that are frameless or have a thin frame are best, as they won’t block your view of the rest of the room. Opt for mirrors in oval shapes, which tend to be less boxy than traditional squares and rectangles.
- Add mirrors across from the sink so that they’re facing each other, creating the illusion of a broader and longer room. If you have enough space to add a freestanding cabinet, choose a long and lean one so it doesn’t take up too much room.
Finding The Right Bathtub
Bathtubs can make bathrooms feel smaller by taking up a large amount of space. Avoid overly ornate tubs, which will only take up more room in the bathroom. Go for an understated look with simple lines; you can always add bathtub accessories later to make them feel less stark.
- Bathtubs with two ends pointing towards the center of the room take up less space than freestanding tubs. Consider them if you’re replacing your current tub.
- Sink into tubs with shallow depth or jetted tubs that only come up a few inches above the ground. That will allow you to stretch your legs out as you bathe, making the bathroom feel less cramped.
- Choose a tub that comes up to your waist instead of one that extends from floor to ceiling. That way, you’ll have more room for minimalistic decor since the tub itself won’t take up as much space.
Adding Storage Space
Small bathrooms often feel cramped because they don’t have enough storage space; the lack of storage makes everything feel cluttered and detracts from the appearance of spaciousness.
You can make your small bathroom more functional by maximizing every wall space with storage solutions.
Stackable or wall-mounted shelves are long and slim, which means you can mount them on the walls to take up less room in the bathroom. If you don’t have enough space for a large shelf, opt for several smaller ones that stack one on top of another.
- Add cabinets above the toilet to make the room feel substantial. You can also purchase a cabinet to place under the sink – not only does this provide additional storage, but it can also help keep the room looking cleaner as you won’t have items sitting out on the floor.
- Add built-in shelving to your walls if you’re planning to remove an old tub and replace it with a walk-in shower. They’re an excellent shelving solution for small bathrooms because they take up less space than a freestanding shelf while offering storage and style.
- Install medicine cabinets on the wall above the sink to make the room feel substantial. You can also choose mirrors that span from wall to wall, which will add some visual weight. Add sconces on either side of the mirror to make the bathroom feel complete.
- Install wall-mounted cabinets above your toilet to take advantage of otherwise wasted space. Keep it simple with an open shelf; if you prefer, add doors for privacy or built-in shelving inside. You can also choose freestanding cabinets that fit against the wall to take up less space.
- Add a small chandelier above your sink if you have the ceiling height for it. If not, opt for tiny pendant lights that are slim and slender, so they don’t distract from the look of open space. You can also use sconces on either side of your mirror to create visual interest.
Small bathrooms do not mean small-looking bathrooms. Though factors like size and layout can make a bathroom feel cramped, there are several ways to create the illusion of more space – without actually changing anything about your room.
Picking Space-Saving Showers
Install a frameless or semi-frameless shower instead of one with a shower curtain – these types of showers leave an uncluttered look and don’t require as much space around the perimeter.
Using Recessed Lighting
Add recessed lighting, which takes up less room than traditional light fixtures and frees up more floor space for your bathroom decor. You can also add a tiny chandelier above your sink.
Adding Slim Shelves In Between Your Cabinets Or Sink
Add slim shelves between cabinets or under the sink if you don’t have wall space for storage options. You can also opt for open shelves instead of closed ones – this allows them to blend into the background, creating an airy feel.
Consider adding a mirror on top if you have the ceiling height for it – this will make the room look larger with added visual interest. You can also ask a local bathroom remodeling contractor to help you install custom shelves.
Adding Sconces
Add sconces on either side of your mirror or next to the sink. That helps create some visual interest and draw attention away from any irregularities in size. Keep them slim and sleek so they don’t take much room.
Installing Built-In Shelves
Install built-in shelving on the walls if you’re removing your old tub to make way for a walk-in shower; these are small spaces, but when used correctly, they can make a big difference.
If you plan to hire bathroom remodeling companies, tell them about what type of built-in shelves you want to have.
Installing Freestanding Cabinets
Install freestanding cabinets that fit against the wall instead of ones that stand up to take up less space and give more flexibility as far as decor is concerned. These work exceptionally well in bathrooms with more than one sink where one side can be kept open for added visual interest.
Making The Most Out Of Small Bathroom Spaces
Though small bathrooms can feel cramped at times due to their dimensions, there are lots of ways you can decorate them to create the illusion of more space. You need to know what tricks are available and how best to use them.
Don’t be hesitant to call a bathroom renovation contractor. They have the expertise, the skills, and the equipment to improve any type of bathroom.
Some factors like light colors, open shelving, recessed lighting, and slim cabinets also allow you to decorate with problem-solving in mind, which is always helpful when you’re trying to make small bathrooms look more spacious.