Luxury and small do not tend to mix–until you solve the secret. I was once under the illusion that expensive bathrooms must be huge, use marble everywhere and that their budget might make my accountant cry. Then I resided in this boutique hotel whose bathroom was smaller than my walk-in closet that was more lavish than most rooms I had ever seen.
This is when everything clicked into place: luxury is not a matter of big, it is a matter of considered decision. Turning my handful of dungeons of a bathroom into something that feels truly upscale (and, through some painfully costly faux Pas that taught me what not to do), I now know that it is entirely possible to make a bathroom small in size but rich in luxury. All you have to do is take the mindset of a jewelry maker- everything has to be either valuable, meaningful, and well done.
High-End Materials in Strategic Doses
The thing is, of course, you don t have nearly as much space in a small bathroom you can actually afford a good luxury material. That Carrara marble that you are lusting at? A few square feet will make a gorgeous vanity top that will instantly transform your whole room.
This is where I went over the top and went with the real thing: Calacatta marble on my powder room vanity–all of 18 inches by 24. It was not a cost of a full kitchen but the effect was massive. There is that inherent richness to natural stone that shouts luxury in a hum that laminate can never approach no matter how believable the pattern.
Travertine or limestone floors are marvelous in small rooms, since the variation provides interest in the natural look without overwhelming. Natural stone and brass or bronze fixtures are another combination that produces that old-money luxe that proves to be priced elegantly.
Luxury Material Priorities:
- Vanity countertop: Invest in real stone here first
- Shower surround: Subway tiles with marble accent strips
- Flooring: Natural stone or high-quality porcelain
- Hardware: Solid brass or stainless steel, not plated
Statement Lighting That Commands Attention
There is nothing more luxurious than dramatic pointing. I removed the regular vanity lights and put up one large pendant light on a chain like jewelry over my mirror. The trick here is to pick out something that is substantial-crystal chandeliers, brass globe pendants, vintage-y looking sconces that remind you of a five-star hotel.
Layered lights bring about the upscale atmosphere that luxury spaces can never do without. General lighting is given by recessed ceiling lights and decorative SMART LED strips are fitted under each cabinet counter giving the light a soothing effect typically found in hotels.
Have you ever wondered why so expensive hotel bathrooms are always so moody and romantic? They do not bet on one overhead light. Various lightings of various levels provide depth and take harsh shadows away that would create a driclicket atmosphere to the places.
Monochromatic Color Schemes with Rich Textures
Uncluttered color schemes tend to be more refined than colorful arrangements instantly. I painted my small bathroom in all shades of warm gray palette-pale dove on the walls to charcoal on the vanity and the effect is very luxurious and calm.
A sense of texture is important when you have a few colors. Painted walls in matte paint, glossy tiles, brushed metal fittings and graines of wood reflect the light in various different ways providing a decor without a mixup of colors.
When they are done right, saturated, dark colors can be wonderful in a very small space. The navy coloring with gold looks nautical and courtly. The green Forest and brass look like an English manor atmosphere that looks great in photographs.
| Color Strategy | Luxury Factor | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| All-white with textures | Very High | Modern minimalist |
| Monochromatic grays | High | Contemporary elegance |
Custom Built-Ins That Look Professionally Designed
Built-in storage never seems cheap compared to mobile furniture even where it is. To make my own vanity look exactly right I had a carpenter make something custom and people think it cost a fortune, when it really was quite cheap.
Custom millwork cabinets around the recessed medicine cabinet make the cabinets look purposeful and high end. Wall spaces between studs have built in shelving that gives you as much storage as a shelf without consuming space in your room and custom niches in the shower eliminate plastic hanging caddies that say, as Elaine Benes put it: I have a do-it-yourself bathroom.
It always comes down to details, use the same details used on one feature (ex. shaker-style doors on your vanity) on other built-ins, use matching hardware on all custom elements, create a unified design that seems professionally planned.
Built-In Elements That Add Luxury:
- Custom vanities sized perfectly for your space
- Recessed shelving that looks architectural
- Built-in hampers that disappear into cabinetry
- Integrated towel storage that doesn’t look like an afterthought
Plumbing Fixtures That Feel Substantial
Inexpensive showerheads and faucets send out budget-ly clear messages. The plumbing fixtures have excellent quality, are heavy and operate smoothly making all the interactions luxurious.
Single-handle faucets appear more costly than widespread yet they may be cheaper. Spa like shower heads are invented through rainfall showerheads to make your small shower look luxurious. Valves These have thermostatic control and are permanently kept at the ideal temperature–pure luxury in miniature.
I replaced this with a brass faucet with cross handles that has this nice weight to it as you turn it off. Touching the good quality fixtures, you feel that your everyday routine is something special unlike mechanistic.
All fixtures using matching metal finishes will give the impression of cohesive luxury. Unfinished brass, left to age, acquires exquisite patina, whereas, chrome-tipped stays clean with a little touch-up. Matte black fittings will introduce a stylish contemporary flair which photographs very well.
Textiles That Feel Hotel-Worthy
Luxury towels may appear to be a self explanatory idea but the effects of such are downplayed by most individuals. Add some coordinating colored Turkish cotton or Egyptian cotton towels to your room and you are upgrading! The trick is to have good rather than quantity, a couple of super plush towels are always better than six rather skimpy ones.
Bath mats of interesting texture give a visual weight to your floor. The vintage-looking rugs that would not belong in a bathroom yet so definitely play the role of delivering a sudden luxury. It was a beautiful soft-blue runner with Persian-looking pattern that I located in a tiny bathroom in my house making me feel like I was in a boutique hotel powder room.
Window treatments (assuming you are lucky to have a window) must have weight. The privacy can be granted by Roman shades made of linen or cellular shades with blackout lining and still incorporating that high-end look.
Mirror Treatments That Double as Art
Throw out conventional medicine cabinet mirrors. Large decorative mirrors can also be functional art and still make your room look larger. Patina on antique mirrors makes it more appealing, and you do not want your bathroom to be too sterile.
The backlit mirrors offer ideal light to perform grooming and extremely stylish. Interesting round mirrors with brass sunburst frame or carved-wood decoration are such objects that make a point and overshadow a problem of size.
I changed my drab square mirror to a 36 inch circle mirror framed in aged brass, and it totally changed the room character. If replacing your mirror isn t in the budget, then frame it–custom millwork around a standard mirror will add architectural interest.
Mirror Styles That Add Luxury:
- Oversized rounds that make statements
- Vintage finds with original patina
- Backlit options with integrated lighting
- Custom-framed mirrors that look built-in
Unexpected Details That Signal Quality
Baseboards and crown molding with a very pronounced profile will make small bathrooms appear completed and more costly. Active molding such as chair rail is a decor that provides architectural features without the cluttering of a small space.
Warm floors may be a luxury that would not be needed in the small bathroom but the luxury value is tremendous. Using lighting, that is, motion-sensors, which automatically lights your way, is like living in the future.
Super paint finishes count as a huge difference. Flat paint is plain and highlights all the flaws and flits of paint while eggshell or satin finishes are attractive and easy to clean.
IMO nothing is as deficient in terms of luxury details as proper ventilation. Silent exhaust fans which do the actual job prevent moisture damage and make your area remain fresh. There is nothing more that spoils a luxury atmosphere than mold stains or musty smells. :/
Even the join between grout and professional-looking tile mark testaments of high-quality work. Grout colors that contrast with each other can also bring dimension, at least, when done properly–sloppy grout work instantly compromises pricey tile.
Designing true luxury in small bathrooms is one that is more strategic as opposed to unlimited finances. Each decision has to qualify itself by virtue of beauty and utility and quality prevails over quantity in a small place.
The trick is that ruthless editing takes place: select less but the select must be great. A great lighting fixture is better than three average lighting fixtures. Excellent installations of tiles are better than costly tilings carried out poorly.
FYI, luxury is not about impressing people (that is a bonus though). It is about making a place where you feel like you are pampered and special whenever you are using the area. The small bathroom can definitely be the upscale spa you would expect it to be, you simply need to plan it thoroughly and be willing to spend hard earned money on the things that really matter.
Make one change, or two high-impact changes, and add things to your luxury bathroom as you can afford. The greatest spaces become over time anyhow, and there is something incredibly fulfilling about creating a beautiful collection of objects, which perfectly complement each other in your perfectly small world.