Having a small bathroom doesn’t mean you have to squeeze your way into a shower or a tub every day. With the right layout, finishes, and design choices, even a tiny bathroom can be as comfortable and stylish as a large one.
In this blog, we’ll share 12 useful small bathroom renovation tips. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your powder room, half-bath, or tiny full bathroom into a place you’ll love.
1. Rethink your bathroom layout
If you’re giving your bathroom a complete makeover, consider changing the layout to make it look and feel less cramped.
A draftsman can help you come up with the best layout for your small bathroom. They also produce detailed technical drawings that your builders can follow during the renovation.
One suggestion is to move the wash basin or shower to a tight corner. That way, these fixtures will take up less space and make your bathroom feel more open.
2. Install a skylight or clerestory windows
The key to making a small bathroom look large and spacious is by maximizing natural light. If your bathroom doesn’t have space for a window, consider installing a skylight. Not only will this brighten up the space, but it will also improve ventilation.
You can also try installing clerestory windows. They’re cheaper than adding a skylight but can fulfill the same purpose.
3. Choose light colors
Picking light colors for your wall and floor tiles can make a small bathroom look bright and airy. Still, that doesn’t mean your bathroom has to be plain and boring. You can choose white, off-white or beige for your bathroom’s dominant color, then pick a muted pastel for your secondary color. That way, you can inject some unique personality into your bathroom while making it look bright and spacious.
4. Buy large-format tiles
When designing a small bathroom, go for large-format tiles. This refers to tiles that exceed the average 12×12 size. Large-format tiles create fewer and narrower grout lines, making the bathroom look less busy.
Another simple trick to make your bathroom look larger is by picking the same type of tile for the entire space. This makes the design more cohesive and consistent, allowing the small space to appear larger.
5. Pick high-gloss paint, tile, and finishes
Installing a large mirror is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to making a small space look larger. The same logic applies to high-gloss paint, tile, fixtures, and cabinetry. These high-gloss finishes reflect light, making a small bathroom appear bright and airy.
6. Opt for a walk-in shower
Instead of installing a shower with curtains, opt for a walk-in shower. This is a type of shower with at least one side that’s fully open. That way, you don’t have to worry about curtains blocking light and making the entire bathroom feel more claustrophobic. It’s also better compared to an enclosed shower because it’s easier to clean and maintain.
When installing a walk-in shower, be sure to ask your builder to make the floor slope about 1.5 to 2 degrees. That way, you can be sure that the water will drain efficiently and prevent water pooling.
7. Have a small tub customized for your bathroom
Just because you have a small bathroom doesn’t mean you need to let go of your dream of having a bathtub. Getting a customized bathtub that fits one corner can be the solution. As long as the tub measures at least 48 inches long, with a width of 30 to 32 inches, most people can fit inside comfortably.
8. Choose open shelving
Every bathroom needs storage for toiletries and towels, but not every bathroom needs to have bulky cabinets. Opt for open shelving to make the space look and feel more spacious.
Aside from the vanity unit, you can add open shelves to the walls of your bathroom to add more storage space.
9. Pick wall-mounted fixtures
Choose a wall-mounted toilet, tap, and vanity unit so that these fixtures won’t take up too much space in your bathroom. That way, most of the floor stays free, creating the illusion of more space. Wall-mounted fixtures also make the bathroom floor easier to clean.
10. Add a feature wall
A feature wall doesn’t only create visual interest; t also makes your bathroom appear more spacious. Paint the far corner in a darker shade than the rest of the walls to create an illusion of depth.
11. Add a backlight to your mirror
Adding a backlight to your bathroom mirror serves two purposes: it allows you to see your reflection clearly, and it also brightens up the entire space. It also gives your bathroom a clean, minimalist feel compared to installing sconces.