MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL BATHROOM
In one-on-one conversations with our clients, we often hear them complaining about the size of their bathrooms. Well, who wouldn’t want a custom-built luxurious bath with lots of natural light, space and storage? But let’s face it, that is rarely the case. Tearing down the walls to gain more room is often off limits, and all that’s left is to work with what you have. But just because your bathroom lacks in square footage, it doesn’t mean you have to compromise on its function and style. In this article, we will show you how to transform your tiny bath into a compact, stylish retreat.
Paint It Light
White reflects light, and like in any other room, it makes the bathroom feel larger. But white is not the only colour you can use to open up the space. By using tone-on-tone neutrals, you can achieve the same effect while still having a colour to play with. If your tiles are painted in some bolder shade and changing them is not an option, you can always choose to paint over them or simply leave them be and use light colours in the rest of the room. But keep in mind that, even if you go monochrome, the dark tones will still make the space appear smaller.
Go Big With Tiles
If you are planning to renovate your small bathroom in the near future, don’t let the subway tiles trend carry you in the wrong direction. They certainly look smashing, but small tiles mean more grout lines which visually break up the space, and the last thing you need in a small bathroom is the busy walls. Instead, choose large tiles and use them all across the room. This way you will evoke a feel of airiness and never-ending space. However, if you decide not to use the same shade throughout the room, keep in mind that the floor, not just walls, should be done in a light colour or at least be covered with a light-coloured rug.
Play With Light
People often shy away from having windows in their bathroom, but if you think deeper about it, it truly makes no sense. The privacy is number one priority, but windows don’t have to compromise it at all. If coupled together, frosted glass and sheer curtains will keep you safe from any wandering eyes, and you will still be able to enjoy all advantages of having natural light in your bathroom. And we all know that nothing can beat windows when it comes to opening up the space.
If you don’t have (or can’t get) access to natural light, turn to artificial lighting to add interest to the room. Recessed lighting doesn’t occupy any space and wall sconces will provide you with an extra warmth.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
A large mirror above the sink reflects all the light from the bathroom, providing extra depth to the narrow room. If your bathroom can’t handle one large mirror, create a vignette of smaller ones and use it as a focal point.
Take Advantage of Vanity Design
The biggest disadvantage of a small bathroom is the lack of storage. Vanity takes up so much precious space, but you don’t have to give up on it just yet. A small piece mounted on the wall will help you hide the clutter while leaving a free space on the floor. You can use this area to store toiletries in pretty looking baskets, or just leave it unused to visually max the room.
Small spaces and sharp corners don’t get along well for the obvious reasons. If the corners of a vanity get in your way, consider switching to round ones. They will look gorgeous in any bathroom, and you will finally be free from bruised hips!
Smart Shelving
Open shelves are such workhorses! Not only are they trendy and look beautiful when decorated with style, but they can be extremely handy too. They lead the eye from wall to wall and force you to cut back on all unnecessary clutter. For maximum effect, opt for glass shelves as they will make the walls seem less busy.
The most important thing you should take away from this read is - use serene colours, go as light as you can in both terms of colour and clutter, maximize on the light and by all means don’t try to squeeze in everything you can in a small bathroom. In a limited space, less is more, and it always will be.