Designing for small spaces can be difficult, and nowhere is it
as difficult as the bathroom. No matter what, in a small bathroom you’re
stuck with a sink, toilet, storage space, and a shower at minimum.
And unless you’re looking to put some serious dollars into the pocket of your local plumber, the interior plumbing of your home dictates that you’re stuck with the existing layout as well. With these restraints in mind, here are 6 ideas for small bathroom design to make your powder room feel larger.
Although
getting the most out of a small bathroom layout can be difficult, you
can create the illusion of a larger room by applying basic principles of
interior design and adding a touch of your own creativity.
While your first instinct may be to tuck your storage space into the vanity or in a medicine cabinet and eliminate shelves altogether, narrow wall shelves let you maximize interior space while still looking stylish. They’re also extremely easy to install.
A secondary benefit is that you’ll have your key toiletries easily accessible, without needing large counter space. Use narrow wall shelves to store your soaps, shampoos, cotton balls, towels, and lotion, while leaving your more private toiletries for the vanity.
Another
remodeling idea for your small bathroom is to install a pedestal sink.
There’s certainly a trade-off here – on the one hand, a vanity offers
hidden storage space and more counter surface. On the other hand, it
takes up unnecessary space and makes the bathroom feel smaller.
While a pedestal sink may be a larger small bathroom renovation than you are willing to undertake, it’s certainly something to consider.
If
a pedestal sink isn’t the right look for you, consider maximizing space
in your small bathroom by installing a small floating vanity.
This will give your bathroom a more modern and spacious feel, while also giving you some easily accessible storage space beneath the vanity – a place to tuck your trash can for example.
You
can’t magically expand your cramped bathroom – or can you? If you have
an opaque shower curtain or shower door, you’re just closing off your
existing bathroom space. If you want your cozy little bathroom to feel a
bit bigger, just add a clear shower curtain or door. Your bathroom will
instantly feel a whole lot bigger.
Replacing
your traditional lights with pot lights has a tremendous effect on the
illusion of space. For one, pot lights don’t encroach into the space of
the room, making it feel more open and airy.
Secondly, the even distribution of light creates a more diffused shadow, further enhancing the illusion of space.
Depending on whether you have a drop ceiling, this might be difficult to do as a DIY project, but it’s a small change that can make huge difference in enhancing the illusion of roominess.
When
thinking how to decorate a small bathroom, choosing softer, pale color
schemes will lighten up the whole room and make it feel larger.
This certainly doesn’t mean your bathroom has to be painted a flowery pink or all white, but it does mean you’ll want to avoid using bold, strong colors. For background surfaces like the floor and walls, choose from a palette of white, neutral colors, and pastels. Add some brightly colored accessories and towels for accents in order to add some “pop”.
Are you looking for your dream home? Visit ComFree.com today to find listings in your area.
Note: Photos sourced from Canadian Freshome and HGTV.
And unless you’re looking to put some serious dollars into the pocket of your local plumber, the interior plumbing of your home dictates that you’re stuck with the existing layout as well. With these restraints in mind, here are 6 ideas for small bathroom design to make your powder room feel larger.
1. Install narrow wall shelves.
Although
getting the most out of a small bathroom layout can be difficult, you
can create the illusion of a larger room by applying basic principles of
interior design and adding a touch of your own creativity.While your first instinct may be to tuck your storage space into the vanity or in a medicine cabinet and eliminate shelves altogether, narrow wall shelves let you maximize interior space while still looking stylish. They’re also extremely easy to install.
A secondary benefit is that you’ll have your key toiletries easily accessible, without needing large counter space. Use narrow wall shelves to store your soaps, shampoos, cotton balls, towels, and lotion, while leaving your more private toiletries for the vanity.
2. Choose a pedestal sink.
Another
remodeling idea for your small bathroom is to install a pedestal sink.
There’s certainly a trade-off here – on the one hand, a vanity offers
hidden storage space and more counter surface. On the other hand, it
takes up unnecessary space and makes the bathroom feel smaller.While a pedestal sink may be a larger small bathroom renovation than you are willing to undertake, it’s certainly something to consider.
3. Switch to a floating vanity.
If
a pedestal sink isn’t the right look for you, consider maximizing space
in your small bathroom by installing a small floating vanity.This will give your bathroom a more modern and spacious feel, while also giving you some easily accessible storage space beneath the vanity – a place to tuck your trash can for example.
4. Use a clear shower curtain or door.
You
can’t magically expand your cramped bathroom – or can you? If you have
an opaque shower curtain or shower door, you’re just closing off your
existing bathroom space. If you want your cozy little bathroom to feel a
bit bigger, just add a clear shower curtain or door. Your bathroom will
instantly feel a whole lot bigger.5. Install pot lights.
Replacing
your traditional lights with pot lights has a tremendous effect on the
illusion of space. For one, pot lights don’t encroach into the space of
the room, making it feel more open and airy.Secondly, the even distribution of light creates a more diffused shadow, further enhancing the illusion of space.
Depending on whether you have a drop ceiling, this might be difficult to do as a DIY project, but it’s a small change that can make huge difference in enhancing the illusion of roominess.
6. Choose a soft, pale color scheme.
When
thinking how to decorate a small bathroom, choosing softer, pale color
schemes will lighten up the whole room and make it feel larger.This certainly doesn’t mean your bathroom has to be painted a flowery pink or all white, but it does mean you’ll want to avoid using bold, strong colors. For background surfaces like the floor and walls, choose from a palette of white, neutral colors, and pastels. Add some brightly colored accessories and towels for accents in order to add some “pop”.
Are you looking for your dream home? Visit ComFree.com today to find listings in your area.
Author bio:
Simon is a professional blogger/designer/SEO guy a sort of “digital renaissance man” of many talents. He writes the blog of Seattle plumber company Fischer plumbing and his own blog. In his free time he works on DIY projects around the house.Note: Photos sourced from Canadian Freshome and HGTV.
