Styling and designing small bathrooms have always been challenging. You have to focus on maximising space and creating the illusion of depth.
Thankfully, there are dozens of ways to do this without sacrificing aesthetic appeal and creativity. We are about to share 20 creative examples. So, keep reading to find out how to make a small bathroom look bigger.
Compact bathroom fixtures
This idea is obvious, right? Compact fixtures take up less room. Therefore, they maximise space and make a bathroom look bigger. Use this to your advantage.
You can start with a pedestal sink. They are elegant and don’t take up much floor space. You can also choose a Japanese soaking tub instead of a regular bathtub.
Go classy and simple with white
In any conversation about how to make a small bathroom look bigger, the subject of colour must come up. That’s why we have three colour-related ideas on this list.
For this tip, we are recommending using as much white as possible. Fortunately, it’s easy to find bathroom fixtures and tiles in white.
White makes a small bathroom look bigger because it reflects lots of light. It reflects even more light if you use semi-gloss paint. Plus, white bathrooms have a timeless and classy aesthetic.
Try a monochromatic colour scheme
A monochromatic colour scheme promotes uniformity. It also creates seamless transitions between different sections and elements of a space.
For example, the sections and elements of your small bathroom include its door, ceiling, wall, cabinet, bathtub, shower, can and other fixtures. When you use a monochromatic colour scheme, all of these elements and sections disappear into each other. They become one large space instead of sections.
This makes the small bathroom look bigger. If that sounds boring, here is something that will change your mind. Spice things up by using different shades of the chosen colour. You can also add a complementary colour to the mix. Do the latter sparingly.
Try floating storage systems
A set of wall-mounted hooks cost just a few pounds. They use suction. So you don’t have to drill or nail anything to the wall. The hooks can serve as storage for all sorts of bathroom accessories.
Other examples of floating storage include cabinets and open shelves. Using them allows you to free up floor space, making the small bathroom look bigger.
However, this idea doesn’t just apply to storage units. You can also get a floating sink or WC to optimise floor space.
Narrow shelves
Narrow shelves only take up a little bit of floor space, especially if you place them flush against walls. As a result, they will make your small bathroom look bigger.
So, consider getting some narrow shelves. However, don’t just rely on their narrow size. Use placement, too, to achieve your goal.
Build a recessed bathroom cabinet
Built-in bathroom cabinets are a great way to save floor room, thus making a small bathroom look bigger. They also reduce clutter.
Clutter makes a space feel chaotic and disorderly. Reducing it restores order and makes the bathroom look clean. This also makes a small bathroom look bigger.
If you like this idea, we have a lovely blog post on building a built-in bathroom cabinet yourself.
Embrace open shelving
You can also use open shelves to make a room look bigger. Regular cabinet doors need swing space. This can make the already small bathroom seem even smaller.
On the other hand, open shelving creates a feeling of depth and airiness. Therefore, it will make a small bathroom look bigger.
Open shelves can also create an aesthetic that’s impossible otherwise. For example, you can use chic rattan baskets and elegant ceramic bowls as storage units.
Use Natural light to your advantage
Natural light makes spaces feel bigger and airier. It also reduces the risks of mould and mildew, a common problem in stuffy small bathrooms.
So, style that small bathroom to let in as much natural light as possible. You could forgo window shades outright or use translucent or partial window shades. Another option is to build a sun tunnel or skylight. However, both of these are big projects that could cost way more than £1,000 each.
Large tiles
Dividing lines have a way of making a space feel small. That’s why you should avoid using small tiles in your small bathroom.
Use large tiles instead. They create fewer dividing lines, making the small bathroom look bigger. This idea applies to both floor and wall times.
Anything that zones or divides a space will likely make it feel smaller. Remember this when trying to figure out how to make a small bathroom look bigger.
Mirror a wall
Mirrors create the illusion of depth and reflect light. Therefore, they can make a small bathroom look bigger and brighter. Let’s focus on the depth aspect alone.
When you mirror a wall on the shallow side of the small bathroom, the space will feel deeper. However, don’t waste this idea by putting the mirror before a bare wall. Instead, use large mirrors and try to reflect a nice view or bounce sunlight into the room. You might even be able to create all of these effects with one stroke.
Multiple mirrors
Don’t stop with one mirror. Add a couple more to create a bathroom that is full of intrigue and depth. You can vary the size and style of the mirrors for an even more startling effect.
You should also prioritise mirrors that have decorative frames. Combine all these to make your small bathroom look bigger and more intriguing.
Declutter the bathroom
Clutter causes chaos and takes up precious floor space. Get them out. Remove things that are not essential or haven’t been used in a while.
You can get a bathroom cabinet for storage. Even if you do, you should still remove everything that is not essential bathroom material. Move non-essentials, including laundry, to another room.
Combine the shower and bathtub into a single unit
This will free up a few square feet of floor space that can be used for other purposes. So, when space is at a premium or if you want to make a small bathroom look bigger, consider putting the bath under the shower. Don’t build them as separate units.
Install doors that don’t need much swing space
Bifold and sliding doors suit this role perfectly. They don’t need much swing space. So, they have a way of making a small bathroom seem bigger. They are also more convenient for cramped spaces.
Glass doors
Using glass doors for the shower or even the main entrance can make a small bathroom look bigger. This is because glass makes a space feel open. Solid doors don’t. We register them as solid barriers.
Use frosted glass to ensure privacy. Also, consider decorative glass for better aesthetics.
Draw attention to the ceiling
You can highlight the ceiling to draw attention away from the size of the small bathroom. One way to do this is through leading lines that run all the way from the floor to the ceiling. These leading lines can be created with tiles, wallpapers, paintwork or curtains.
Another option is to use bold designs on the ceiling and the point where the ceiling meets the walls. Tricks like this draw attention from narrow walls. Therefore, they can make a small bathroom look bigger.
Build a textured bathroom
Textures create the illusion of depth. They also make a space more captivating and dimensional. Consider giving your small bathroom this kind of treatment. Do this by using textured wallpapers, tiles, flooring, timber and linen all over the bathroom.
Create an open-space bathroom
Compartmentalisation and barriers will make any space feel small. Imagine what they will do with an already small bathroom.
So, don’t separate the bath, shower and vanity into different zones. Embrace an open space design. Don’t put permanent barriers between the different areas of the bathroom.
If you have to cordon off the shower, use clear glass. Another option is to keep the shower curtains open when no one is inside.
Get a corner unit
Installing bathroom fixtures in a corner is a classy way to optimise space. After the installation, you will probably have a L-shaped bathroom design. The space will also look bigger.
Embrace bright colours
Bright colours make a bathroom feel warm and welcoming. They also reflect light. This second attribute will make a small bathroom look bigger. So, integrate light, bright colours into your small bathroom via paintwork, fabric, tiles, flooring, furniture and bathroom fixtures.
Here is an expert tip. The colour or shade of the ceiling should be lighter than the walls. This is because ceilings don’t get as much light as the rest of the room.
Summary
Once again, the key to making a small bathroom look bigger is to maximise space and create the illusion of depth. This requires creative and outside-the-box thinking. So, you don’t have to adopt our ideas as they are.
Find a way to make them yours. Tweak them a bit, and you won’t just make your small bathroom look bigger. You will also make it uniquely yours.
