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7 Tips for Making Small Bathrooms Look Bigger

Not all of us can afford a bathroom that's the size of two bedrooms put side-by-side. We're stuck with small bathrooms. But when you think like the pros, you can transform that bathroom to appear bigger than it actually is.

By Alison BrownPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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Not all of us can afford a bathroom that's the size of two bedrooms put side-by-side. Sometimes, no matter how much you wish for it, that small bathroom will be in that new house you bought. And if you don't have the budget to carry out renovations as of yet, do you have to be stuck with a bathroom that has limited square footage?

No. Not really... You shouldn't have to, to be honest. Because interior design is here to comfort us on the fact that there are several changes you can make, so your small bathroom would look and feel bigger.

You'd be glad to know that theories about space enlargement apply to a bathroom -- just like they do on any other room in the house.

How to Make Small Bathrooms Feel Bigger

No matter the interior style you use to decorate a bathroom, it will stay as a small bathroom. (Without doing renovations or knocking down walls, of course). But when you think like the pros and use a bit of visual tricks, wall colors, and lighting, you transform that small bath into a cozy retreat of sorts.

#1 Brighten up a space

The oldest trick in the book to make any room look bigger is to brighten up the room. Without taking up any other counter space, just add extra lighting to open the look of your bathroom and add more interest. You can get creative with it too.

You can add recess lighting on the ceiling. Wall sconces atop of a countertop can add warmth. If you want to find more expensive alternatives for bringing light into the bathroom, consider larger windows, skylights, tubular skylights or solar tubes.

#2 Change up your vanity cabinets

Vanity cabinets can give some nice storage under a sink, but we all know that it also takes up a lot of floor space. Try replacing the vanity with a pedestal or wall-mounted sink. It can also be fairly inexpensive.

By doing so, your bathroom could feel more open. You can always more alternative storage space using small shelves or organize a nearby linen closet. Of course, know that when you remove the vanity cabinet, you'll likely face repairs or add new flooring on that particular area.

#3 Reflecting space with mirrors

If your space can accommodate and hold it, get a large mirror to place above the bathroom sink. Or in front of, depending on the space you have available.

However, if you have a large blank wall space that could benefit from anything other than another large mirror, try out an oversized or multi-paneled wall art. Because apart from adding more personality, you also draw people's attention to a gorgeous focal point.

The more shiny surfaces you can add, the lighter a space can appear. So if your bathroom has windows, try adding mirrors opposite the windows to reflect light -- both artificial and natural -- all around the room.

It can make the smallest bathroom large, and the darkest space brighter.

#4 Choose the best colors for serenity

Opt for pale and soft color schemes. They tend to give the illusion of more space. Of course, this doesn't mean that your bathroom should instantly be baby pink. But we will tell you to avoid strong, bold colors if you can.

Use bright highlights for accessories, and towels. But make sure to use neutrals, pastel tones, and variations of white for backgrounds.

#5 Dial back on anything that sticks out

Even the smallest piece of accessory or furniture that sticks out like a sore thumb can stop the eye from looking past it. And as you've guessed it, the room will feel small. Remove wall shelves and hanging racks.

Opt for something decorative and big if you want wall decor. True, they may add function and comfort, but if the room will feel bigger without them, it might be worth it.

#6 Remove the visual obstructions

Trade the frosted-glass baths or shower doors with clear glass ones. Or you know what, why not just eliminate the door altogether, and go for a shower curtain instead. You can push it back to one side when you're not using it.

That way, you can see all the way to the back wall. The eyes don't have to stop at the doors and perceive the room as smaller than it actually is. You're technically, "pushing the walls back."

#7 Trash all the clutter

A clean and neat bathroom will always look bigger and far more spacious than a dirty and cluttered one.

So what do you do?

Essential must-have items visible only. Everything else can go in a storage space. So don't forget to spend some time organizing your storage areas, so you can make the most of what you have.

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