If your bathroom is small, the design details can make or break its practicality. A little pre-planning by a Metropolitan Bath & Tile expert can get you more actual and visual space for your bathroom remodel.
Tap into unused wall space with recessed shelving and cabinets, especially above the toilet. Installing into rather than on top of the studs gives you a sleek out-of-the-way storage solution for your favorite knickknacks and toiletries.
Wall-Mounted Toilets
In many homes, standard toilets stand on the floor, but if you’re short on space, wall-hung models can make the room feel more spacious. They’re also easier to clean, since there are fewer parts for debris to gather underneath. However, they’re usually more expensive to purchase than floor mounted versions and require more complicated installation.
If you’re looking to maximize space in your bathroom remodel, consider a toilet with a concealed tank. With these models, the tank sits in a recessed space in the wall and the bowl only protrudes slightly. This design allows you to save up to 2 square feet of space in your room. It’s a popular choice for minimalist bathrooms and fans of streamlined style.
One disadvantage of this design is that the tank can be difficult to access for maintenance. Additionally, it’s not recommended in bathrooms with poor insulation or where temperatures might drop below freezing.
Another way to increase the size of your small bath is by removing the bathtub and replacing it with a shower that doesn’t take up floor space. This is especially smart for a corner shower in an alcove-style layout. A new shower will make the area feel bigger, and it’s easy to add a window for natural light.
A cluttered floor can instantly make your small bathroom feel smaller. Remove bulky cabinets and replace them with freestanding storage units that can double as display space or a place to hide clutter. These open shelves and slender cabinets will create an illusion of more floor space, while keeping the space organized and streamlined.
The best bathroom remodel ideas for small spaces are ones that play up the existing design, not detract from it. For example, if your bathroom has a slanted ceiling, consider letting the angled walls do some of the visual heavy lifting by adding rich materials like the stone and bronze vanity in this remodel project from Thesweetestdigs.
Don’t block natural light with curtains, which can be visually overpowering in a cramped space. Instead, let light and shadows play across your textured floors and walls to make the room feel bigger.
Corner Vanity
If a vanity is essential to your bathroom design but your space doesn’t allow for a full-size one, consider a petite corner vanity that fits neatly into a wall corner. Designed to maximize storage while offering a stylish surface for daily grooming and preparation, these units come in many different styles, materials, and colors to complement any bath design.
Corner vanities are a great choice for powder rooms because they don’t require a sink, but can still offer ample counter space for towels and toiletries. But they can also be an excellent fit for larger bathrooms where a dual-sink design isn’t feasible or practical due to limited floor area. In this large master bathroom from Emily Henderson Designs, a corner vanity with two vessel sinks is a beautiful centerpiece that takes advantage of the room’s slanted ceiling and offers plenty of surface space for makeup, hair products, and other personal care items.
Instead of a traditional cabinet, you can gain extra countertop and storage space in your bathroom by mounting shelves above your mirror. These sleek floating shelves, like those in this small powder room from Milk and Honey Life, are a chic way to tuck away supplies without overcrowding your space. They also hide unsightly piping and wires from view.
Floating shelves are easy to install and look clean and modern, but you can get more organized by adding baskets to your corner vanity. As seen in this small bathroom from Desiree Burns Interiors, these simple accessories help conceal clutter for a streamlined look. For an even more polished look, you can add built-in shower shelving. This elegant solution, like the one in this luxe shower from Charlie Coull, is great for luxurious master suites but can work well in small bathrooms as well.
If you prefer a cleaner, minimalist style, opt for a corner vanity with rounded edges. Not only do these curved cabinets save space, but they also provide an attractive frame around the mirror, which helps brighten your space and highlight your stunning wall art.
Curved Shower
A curved shower can be an elegant focal point for any bathroom, making it easier to enjoy luxurious baths and spa-like atmospheres even in the smallest spaces. It also helps your bathroom to look bigger, especially when paired with a curtain that falls close to the floor. A bowed shower rod, like the one pictured here, is another way to add a little extra elbow room and make your bath feel more spacious.
Whether it’s due to budget constraints, local codes, or lot restrictions, adding extra square footage isn’t always a possibility. However, if you’re willing to get creative, there are plenty of ways to make your petite space feel bigger and more luxurious.
Start with your bathroom’s most used features and figure out how to maximize those. For example, if you don’t have room for a full tub, swap it out with a glass enclosed shower and free up floor space for a stylish storage cart (like this Nissafors black trolley, PS25, Ikea). Use the cart to hold towels, soap bars and other bathroom essentials, and wheel it from sink to bath to shower so you can grab everything you need without having to move your feet.
If you do have the room for a full tub, opt for one that fits into a corner instead of jutting out into the room. This petite bathroom from Becca Interiors does just that, and the result is a charming, timeless space that’s perfect for relaxing.
Consider rerouting your plumbing so you can add a shower in place of a tub, like this DIY remodel from Designing Vibes did. The shower’s unique nook and gorgeous frosted glass doors help the room feel larger, and the curved curtain adds extra visual interest to the bathroom.
Getting your bathroom to look as stylish as possible may seem impossible, but these space-saving designs prove it’s not. Opt for neutral colors that reflect light, and keep accessories to a minimum, so the room doesn’t feel cluttered and cramped. You can still bring in a bit of personality by choosing an accent color or two that’s different from the rest of your space. The Bathroom and Tiling Specialists is the leading Brisbane bathroom renovators and they can make your dream bathroom come to life.
Faux Living Wall
Embrace nature to make the most of your space with this quick trick that adds a little greenery to your small bathroom. Using artificial living wall panels like those from NatraHedge, you can create a striking green feature that requires minimal maintenance. Just line up the easy-to-hang hex netting in your desired arrangement and hang from a wall-mounted hook or nail – no gardening skills required!
Rather than relying on bulky furniture to store toiletries and linens, try a few creative hacks that utilize the unused space on the walls. Floating shelves offer plenty of storage without the encroachment on floor space and can double as a gallery for stylish decorative pieces. The narrow ledge over the toilet is also an excellent place to stash extra towels and a few knick-knacks.
When the space to house a full cabinet is limited, install an open shelf or set up a freestanding rack on the wall behind your toilet. This simple, industrial-style unit from Neptune offers enough room to stash textiles and toiletries in considered displays. The eau de nil color is calming and visually frames the space to feel larger.
In a tight bathroom, even more storage can be created by building out a half-height false wall to hide pipework and create a shelf to hold prettier accessories. This clever solution from a recent small bath renovation by Raili CA Design is also a great way to add natural light that can be hard to come by in this cramped layout.
Avoid overwhelming a tiny space with too many different decorating themes. Instead, create a cohesive feel by embracing one or two common elements throughout. Here, hexagonal tiles and Metro-style grout lend a subtle visual link to the kitchen and entryway while coordinating with the woodblock wallpaper.
Adding more storage to a compact bathroom can feel challenging, but by thinking outside the box you can often find creative solutions that improve both functionality and style. With these smart tips, you can transform your small bathroom into a luxurious retreat. Just remember to edit your amenities often and keep things light to avoid a cluttered look that can make the room feel smaller than it really is.