Who said that a small bathroom can’t be stylish and practical? Some people believe that having a petite space means that they must compromise on necessities like storage. This couldn't be further from the truth and with the right know-how, small-scale bathrooms can not only look much bigger but also be impressively efficient on space.
I thought I'd share some simple bathroom hacks to help keep everything looking nice, neat, and organised without emptying your bank account or compromising on your perfect bathroom and storage.
Invest in Open Shelving
Installing open shelving will allow you to maximise storage without making the room feel boxed in. The area above the toilet is great to host your open shelves, which are also pretty easy to install. You can achieve the same visual effect and practicality with floating fittings too. The fact that the floor is unoccupied gives a sensation of openness in the room and also makes it far easier to clean.
Use Mirrors or Glass Tiles
Mirrors can transform the feel and look of a room in a heartbeat, this goes for any area of the home. Mirrors create the illusion of space by reflecting light. It doesn’t matter how you choose to brighten your bathroom but if you simply hang a mirror or opt for mirrored tiles, the result will be just as spectacular.
Using a peel-and-stick back splash/wall tile is a superb way to upgrade your space without being too invasive or going into expensive face lifts. Peel-and-stick wall tiles are also resistant to water damage and most stains, which means that you won’t need to worry about moisture and damp related issues. You could consider picking mirrored tiles to get the most of the light entering the room. For enthusiastic DIYers, this is a one-hour project, super easy and super effective.
Another handy way to make the most of a small bathroom with mirrors is to fit in a full-length mirror that also provides shelving (like a cabinet – when it opens you have your extra storage). Usually, pieces with dual or multiple uses are your best shot for rooms with limited square footage.
Distract the Eye with Wallpaper
Create interest and increase the wow factor of your small with an eye-catching wallpaper or feature wall. This will help disguise the small bathroom and improve its visual appeal. If your bathroom is not a cloakroom and has a shower or bathtub in it, just make sure to buy wallpaper that can withstand the warm and damp conditions of the room.
Sneak in a Small Bathtub
For those that want to indulge in a nice hot bath after a hard day, having a shower (even a small one to fit in your bathroom) just won’t cut it. On the other hand, you don’t want to give up too much space, making the bathroom feel overly tight and tiny. Small bathtubs (below 1700mm in length and around 700mm wide) do the trick just fine. Matched with beautiful back splash tiles (mirrored or not), you will get that spa-like sensation you desire.
Play with the Boundaries
The game of maximising a small bathroom space is all about tricking the eye (and making smart, practical choices to prevent clutter). What you need to do is play with what the eye perceives as available space, which is irrelevant of the amount of actual space you have. For example, if you choose to tile the side of the tub and the adjacent wall(s) with the same design (i.e. marble), it will make your space feel larger as it will be difficult to figure out where each (boundary) begins.
Work with colour
A compact room will instantly feel more spacious if you only decide to go with an all-white colour scheme. To make the space more welcoming (white can be a bit ‘cold’), consider pairing your white walls with plenty of plush textured towels and accessories. If you don’t fancy the idea of having everything white, you can always inject some colour and still get that open-space sensation. How to choose to add a hint of colour in your bathroom is up to you. Will it be in the form of wallpaper, peel-and-stick colourful glass tiles, or accessories? Just don’t overdo it and make sure you choose patterns and colours to open the space.
Extra Tips to Maximise a Small Bathroom Space
Replace the towel bar with hooks – Besides being a cute décor, wall-mounted hooks will also allow you to create more space for your towels. Plus, the casual and rustic vibe works really well in a modern bathroom.
Combine many different textures and colours to help create a stylish look for your bathroom.
Utilise the space over the door – A basket storage rack that can be fitted over the door is a great way to store your essentials if there is no room for a shelving unit in the bathroom.
Choose furniture wisely – Avoid bulky pieces of furniture if the bathroom is tiny. Instead, stick to a storage rack and a basic vanity unit that you can paint in your favourite colour, team them with the perfect floor or wall tiles, and you will be blown away by the result!
A compact room should never be an obstacle to your creativity. Just try not to squeeze too much in a small space, and work out the design so that your bathroom fits all of your essentials without feeling (or being) cramped.
*Collaborative post
