Just because you have a small bathroom does not mean you need a small cramped bathroom. Small bathrooms have long been underrated as inevitably boring and merely functional rooms at least until I recently moved somewhere with a tiny bathroom where I could actually put my hands on three walls simultaneously when I was sitting on the toilet. And that is when I realized that there are certain inhibitions that can have very big and amazing outcomes.
Having renovated a few dozen shoebox-sized bathrooms (with many an expensive lesson in between), I am here to tell you there is no reason to think style and small space come to an end. You only have to be smart with how you spend your efforts and money. Itching to take your small bathroom and transform it into a design feature that hits well above its weight?
Statement Lighting: Drama in Small Packages
This is one thing that majority of people do it wrong; they assume that small bathrooms require small fixtures. Big mistake. A single bulky beautiful light fixture will turn your area into a new one and will serve as an element of the focus that makes the rest of the objects present purposeful.
I replaced my builder-basic vanity lighting with single dramatic pendant light over my mirror and the effect was startling. All of a sudden the term powder room in my bathroom replaced gas station bathroom. The trick is in taking something that has visual weight and attention grabbing.
Use of chandelier work fixtures are great in small places since the light source pulls the focus of the eye upwards giving an illusion of space. Industrial pendant light gives character and can better withstand the humidity in the bathroom than you might imagine. Just keep in mind that whatever it is you select has to be rated to be used in the bathroom–learned that lesson the hard way when my first “gorgeous” fixture started rusting after two months.
Lighting Options That Pack a Punch:
- Mini chandeliers with crystal or brass details
- Oversized globe pendants for modern appeal
- Vintage-inspired sconces flanking the mirror
- LED strip lighting behind mirrors for ambient glow
Bold Wallpaper: Go Big or Go Home
Common knowledge says dark colors shrink a small space. Forget what everyone else says. Bold wallpaper in an awkward bathroom adds drama and elegance you can’t get with a simple paint colour.
I papered one feature wall in my powder room with this sensational navy and gold geometrical wallpaper, and my guests invariably enquire as to whether I have employed an interior designer. The secret is ensuring you end up creating your small washroom as a jewelry box; expensive, pampered and not at all apologetic.
Your ultimate BFFs are removable wallpaper especially in case you are renting the dwelling or you are commitment-phobic. The richness of textured grasscloth provides a sophisticated layered effect and big, showy florals give this room a whimsical English garden feel that is surprisingly airy.
| Wallpaper Style | Best For | Impact Level |
|---|---|---|
| Geometric patterns | Modern bathrooms | High |
| Bold florals | Traditional spaces | Very High |
The secret? And make all the rest easy. Make wallpaper the emphasis and have your fixtures at the supporting cast in neutral colors.
Luxurious Materials: Small Space, Big Impact
So you want to know the quickest trick to make your little bathroom look expensive? Rev up your materials. I mean replacing that builder grade everything with finishes actually worth a second look.
Natural stone can be too much in a small room but take my word with it. The quality lighting, marble vanitytop or travertine tires on the floor instantly lifts the whole room. You are not covering a massive amount of area so the cost difference is not so drastic as much as it would seem, however the aesthetic impact is immense.
Chrome or brushed nickel fixtures are traded out in favor of brass fixtures that are more welcoming but a bit fancier. Matte black hardware adds a contemporary, spa-like feel which photographs magnificently (because, be honest, you are going to want to brag about it).
Material Upgrades Worth the Investment:
- Carrara marble for countertops and shower surrounds
- Brass or black metal fixtures and hardware
- Natural wood vanities for warmth
- High-end ceramic tiles with unique patterns
Creative Storage That Doubles as Decor
It does not mean that storage in small bathrooms needs to look like storage. There are decorative bowls containing cotton balls and hair ties but with the look of curation. Bath salts are packaged in vintage glass jars and resemble apothecary shelves.
I came across this beautiful vintage ladder that is propped against my wall and is an art piece to dry towels. Matching your faucet finish floating shelves using brackets will make styling a whole and functional storage.
The thing that made this a revelation to me was applying this to open storage: I found that, because I can be selective about what I put out, open storage can appear even more beautiful than closed storage. The high priced skin care products you purchased? Show them as the luxury items that they are rather than keep them in a medication cupboard.
Color Psychology: Making Small Feel Spacious
You could be told so many times to paint small bathrooms white, but there are ways in which the use of color will allow you to add value to your space and might even make it look bigger and more appealing. My final small bathroom was painted a light sage green and it was as though I was in some nice spa.
Warm colors tend to pop out and give the illusion of depth when used in cool color. The warm colors may make the room feel a close environment instead of congested when used properly. Harmony is achieved through the use of monochromatic colors which tend to give continuity of sight which plays tricks on the eye making it appear that there is more space than there is.
Dark hues are fantastic to use as accent walls- they make room into drama and make other walls seem longer. Just counterbalance them with lots of light and mirrors.
Color Strategies That Actually Work:
- Soft blues and greens for a spa-like feel
- Warm grays for sophisticated neutrality
- Bold accent walls in deep jewel tones
- Monochromatic schemes for visual continuity
Mirrors as Art: Functional Beauty
No more boring medicine cabinets mirrors. Ornamental mirrors are purposeful and also beautiful adornments at the same time. I changed out my usual rectangular mirror to a round brass sunburst mirror and it altered the personality of the room altogether.
Large mirrors give the perception of more space, in addition, to giving a style statement. Patinaed antique mirrors and the other elements help your bathroom not appear too sterile. Backlit mirrors are ideal to get groomed and look totally indispensably chic.
Have you ever felt better at hotel bathrooms? They consider mirrors to be design features and not a side-thought. Frame a plain mirror or pick a funny shaped one which serves as wall art.
Smart Fixture Choices: Style Meets Function
Your toilet, sink and shower does not have to be boring since this is an essential purpose only. Sinks mounted on walls are interesting to look at so that they become sculptures. Vessel sinks have made your vanity beautiful and made it elevated.
Shower trials during rainfall showerheads may appear to be extravagant in a small bathroom, yet the effect is spa-like rendering the space a little bit more luxurious than its size. With thermostatic shower valves, you can dial in hot-to-the-tension- or even cold just how you like it–in one little can.
IMO, the greatest error that individuals engage in is selecting the fixtures in terms of their size and not in terms of how they will behave and perform alongside other structure. This allows you to match your finishes in every single fitting to give an elegant intentional look and feel like it was professionally done.
Fixture Combinations That Work:
- Matte black fixtures with white ceramics
- Brass accents with marble surfaces
- Chrome details with gray color schemes
- Mixed metals for eclectic sophistication
Textile Choices That Transform the Space
The small bathroom habitually overlooks the textiles, which in turn, are secret ammunition to create personality and comfort. Matching color towels give the feel of a spa, as in it is a luxury. Interesting textures of your bath mats enhance the visual weight on your floor.
There should be the use of window treatment (assuming you are lucky to have a window) between privacy and light. The linen Roman shades are sophisticated with cafe curtains providing charm and without obstructing excessive natural light.
The shower curtains do not have to be dull white vinyl. The fabric curtains with nice patterns or the use of clear plastics with some embellishments can move to a design statement instead of a design neccesity of evil.
This is a lesson I had to learn by switching out my cheap white towels to fluffy gray ones that matched more with the color of my walls. All a sudden it seemed like everything was aimed and coordinated rather than like I had taken everything at random and in different stores. 🙂
The reality behind fashionable small bathrooms is that each decision is even more important since you do not have room to conceal errors. It also means that each intelligent decision has a magnified effect though. No giant budget or big decorating is required, just some strategic thinking and inclination to take chances in making your decisions.
FYI, have anything of these implemented, not all at once. Perhaps start with that statement light fixture or bold wallpaper accent wall then go with the budget and confidence as you increase.
There is no reason you cannot have a cute bathroom that you love to see the next time you enter, even though your bathroom is small. All that is required is the right strategy and daring to do more than think small space, small impact. Believe me, your guests will want to get contact information of your designer before you realize.