Do you have a small bathroom in your home or office that you wish was bigger? You can design the bathroom in such a way that it looks bigger by making the most out of the space. One of the design goals for many interior designers is to make spaces look more open, airy, and large. We have some great tips for you on how to make a small bathroom look bigger.
Use Mirrors
One of the most effective ways to make any small room seem bigger is to use mirrors. Large mirrors will reflect the space and light, making it seem much larger than it really is. The larger the mirror, the more spacious the room will feel because visually it is doubling the space. The great thing about adding mirrors to the bathroom is that it is super easy. It doesn’t take many tools to install a mirror, and most mirrors come with DIY instruction guides. This is one easy and affordable upgrade that you can make to your bathroom to make it look a lot bigger instantly.
Things to Consider
- Use super-sized mirrors such as floor to ceiling
- Frameless mirrors look bigger than framed mirrors
- Bathroom mirrors need to be resistant to moisture
- Heavy mirrors will need to be screwed into the wall studs for more support
Use Natural Light
Another way to make a small bathroom appear more spacious is to simply open the curtains. Artificial lighting can make interiors seem dim and closed in. By opening up the space to natural light, the area will feel more airy and open. Having a skylight in the bathroom is an amazing way to add more light to the space.
If adding more windows to the bathroom is not on your to-do list (or in your budget) then consider working with what you have by keeping the windows super clean. Having the windows wide open in the bathroom can obviously create some privacy concerns if people can see you from the outside. To solve this, you can add blinds for privacy (while still letting light in) or use frosted glass for additional privacy.
Things to Consider
- Keep the window glass clean so more light is let in
- Repair any broken blinds fixtures so that you can have privacy when needed
- Frosted glass for privacy can allow you to include more natural light without anyone seeing in the bathroom from the outside
Update the Vanity
If you are considering upgrading the fixtures of the bathroom to make more space then the first thing that you should consider replacing is the vanity. You can get some advice from Unique Vanities for considering size, shape, and overall aesthetics of picking the right one. Large vanities can have a bulky base that crowds the room for space. There are better options than the traditional bathroom vanity setup, such as a floating vanity or a pedestal sink.
By updating the vanity to a more space-efficient model you can effectively open up a ton of space in the bathroom. The downside to updating the vanity with a pedestal sink is that you will not have the counter space that a traditional vanity has, but for some people, the trade-off is worth it, especially if the bathroom is a guest bathroom and not the main one that you use.
Things to Consider
- You can install many sinks and vanities yourself, but if you need to hire an installer it may cost you extra
- Be prepared to lose counter space if you go with a pedestal sink
- Floating vanities can help save space without losing too much counter space
- You may have to update the flooring under the space where the vanity was previously
- Visit Caesarstone for more countertop ideas
Minimal Decorations
When your goal is to make a small space look bigger, the decorations need to be minimal. Having a lot of wall art, large potted plants, and other home decor can take up space and also make the space visually look crowded. Keep your decor minimal and the bathroom space will seem larger.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a nice bath mat, wall art, or other decor that you love in the bathroom, we just mean that you should try to be minimalistic with it and not overdo it. Think about the functionality of each piece of decor and ask yourself what it adds to the space. Does it create a focal point, unity in the design, or add something functionally? If not, consider removing it from the bathroom.
Things to Consider
- Look for minimalist design ideas online
- Be conservative with the number of decorations you put in the bathroom
- Consider whether each object adds anything to the room
- Rehome decor to other areas of the house if you do not want to get rid of it
Use Materials Wisely
One design approach which can make your bathroom seem smaller and more crowded is having too many different types of materials. Having mix-matched materials makes for a busy and cramped-looking bathroom. Try to limit yourself to using materials that match, or better yet sticking with one type of material for most of the fixtures. Replacing the walls, tiles, or countertops of the bathroom is one of the more pricey and time-consuming tricks on this list, but it is also one of the best tips for making the most of the space in a small bathroom.
Quartz countertops are a great choice for upgrading the materials used in the bathroom. Quartz countertops are made out of engineered stone. The mix of powdered/crushed crystals and stones mixed with resin creates the look of natural granite without the expensive upkeep. You have total control over the colors and textures of engineered stone countertops, so it is easy to create stunning interior designs with them. One of the benefits of upgrading the countertops in the bathroom is that they can actually improve the value of the home.
Things to Consider
- These kinds of renovations can be expensive and require a professional installer
- Quartz countertops are a durable and stylish option for upgrading the materials in the bathroom
- Mosaics and mismatched materials can make the bathroom seem crowded
- Replace mismatched materials with matching ones