Transforming your small bathroom into a place that you love and make the most of requires thoughtful planning and implementation.
Without fluff, I want to jump into the practical tips that I consider most important. These tips are a collection of personal experience and deep searching. They contain common pitfalls that most people commit when designing a small bathroom (even some professional interior designers make some of these mistakes.
1- Avoid bathtubs at all costs (Use Shower Cabinet Instead).
Bathtubs can be disastrous in small bathrooms. Of course, they look astonishing in the large luxury bathrooms you see on Pinterest or in magazines. However, in a small bathroom, they significantly impact the functionality of your tight space and are not aesthetically pleasant (It will make the bathroom feel smaller).
Also, you must put them closer to the wall in a small bathroom. This will further waste space and make the cleaning mission around the tub impossible.
On the other hand, simple shower cabinets occupy less room and offer a modern aesthetic look to your small bathroom.
However, avoid the following common mistakes:
Selecting a bulky shower cabinet.
Designing a shower cabinet with a small entrance may not suit everyone.
Improper sealing and isolation can be annoying in a small bathroom.
Installing it near power outlets or electric devices in the bathroom.
Top Tips to Implement:
Measure your space carefully and align it properly.
Use Doorless or sliding-door shower cabinets.
Choose shower bases with minimal edges for ease of entry.
Use completely clear glass panels (frameless or with minimal frames) to give you a sense of a larger bathroom.
2- Install Large Mirror.
A large mirror does two main things in a small bathroom:
It gives an illusion of more space.
It reflects light, which creates even more of an illusion of a wider space.
However, using a small mirror will not give you the same benefits as a large mirror. So, you have to First choose a larger mirror and, second, strategically place it in a place where it actually creates an illusion of a larger space.
Here are my top tips:
Be mindful and measure thoroughly to find the maximum size of a mirror a small bathroom wall can accommodate.
If you have a long, narrow bathroom, you can use mirror shower cabin walls at the innermost part of the bathroom in front of the door (instead of clear glass).
Use frameless mirrors or those with minimum frames.
Pro Tip: you can choose a mirror with built-in storage.
Use proper hardware to safely install the mirror.
Keep it clean all the time. Nothing will ruin your small bathroom than a dirty mirror.
Never waste tight floors on storage where you can use shelving strategically to store all your needs in a small bathroom.
Recessed shelves (especially if they are pre-planned in the shower cabinet) are a smart way to use space in a tight bathroom or a small shower cabinet.
Secret Hacks
Choose proper-sized shelves (more flat shelves are optimal for a long, narrow bathroom).
Layer shelves to make the most of vertical space.
Use baskets or containers to keep them organized.
Use small decorating items (such as tiny, water-friendly plant decors).
Pro Tip: Using lighter-colored shelving (better to be in the same color as your bathroom wall) will make them blend with the walls, creating the feel of smaller shelves.
Overloading shelves leads to disorganized and cluttered spaces.
Choosing one large shelf instead of vertically aligned smaller groups of shelves (2 to 3).
Using darker-colored shelves.
Poor installation.
4- Use Tall & Narrow Bathroom Cabinets.
Selecting a large, protruding bathroom cabinet without consideration to tight spaces can compromise available space and the freedom of movement inside a small bathroom.
So, Be mindful of the size of your kitchen cabinet. There is a wonderful collection on Amazon (and other retailers) for practical, long, and narrow bathroom cabinets.
Narrow and tall cabinets draw the eye upward, creating an illusion of a taller and wider bathroom.
The Dos and the Don’ts:
Do Assess wall spaces and the suitable depth of the cabinet.
Do organize it properly and put seldom-used items higher up.
Do Choose Lighter colored taller cabinets.
Don’t Overcrowd walls with very wide cabinets in a small space.
Don’t put it near the shower door.
5- Use Small wall Decor Items That Create a Vibe.
If you have a small bathroom. You have to drive the attention away from thinking about its size.
Use Funny or thoughtful wall decor items in a visible wall area will create a vibe and a character for the bathroom.
Here are some practical Tips:
Create a wall gallery using small 3-6 bathroom wall art instead of larger one.
Opt for smaller, lighter-themed wall art.
Be mindful about the positioning (better in the wall visible from
Painting and lighting strategy is critical for a small bathroom. Lighting alone can dramatically change the appearance of your small bathroom. A common mistake in small bathrooms is using only overhead lights. Overhead vertical lights create shadows and make the bathroom feel even smaller.
install LED strip lights under floating vanities or around mirrors.
Use wall sconces beside mirrors to minimize the shadows on your face.
Install dimmable overhead lights to adjust them as needed.
Combine this with reflective surfaces like mirrors or metallic tiles.
7- Painting Tips:
painting can also make or break your bathroom. Here are my top tips:
Use Light-theme (light neutrals such as plain white, off-white, cream, light grey, etc).
Use Light vanity, cabinets, and shelving.
Paint the ceiling the same as the wall.
Use Light-colored floors and doors.
8- Final Thought: Keep It minimal.
A minimalist approach in a small bathroom reduces clutter and makes the bathroom feel more open and clean-looking.
Don’t over-accessorize or add too much storage for items that can be kept outside the small bathroom.
A floating small vanity enhances the minimalist look and gives the bathroom an aesthetic look.
Finally, Remember that a good plan for your small bathroom can make a real difference. By implementing the above changes, you will achieve 80% of what you can achieve with a medium- or large-sized bathroom and decrease the feeling of a narrow bathroom.
