1. HOW TO MAKE A SMALL BATHROOM LOOK BIGGER - TIE THE SCHEME TOGETHER
Whether your small bathroom layout is the main family bathroom, the downstairs shower room, or the guest bathroom tucked in the loft eaves, keeping the scheme uniform will help make it feel bigger than it actually is.
2. REPLACE YOUR BATH WITH A SHOWER
A bath takes up a huge chunk of space – for smaller bathrooms this could be around a third of the available floor space. Removing the bath and going for walk-in shower ideas instead can offer a practical solution that immediately generates more bathroom space.
3. MAKE THE BATH A FEATURE
We all aspire to have the best free standing bath in the middle of a large room with a massive chandelier hanging over the top. However, most bathrooms, even in large houses are pretty modest. So, with limited floor space, plan carefully and you can still create a stunning result.
4. WALL-HUNG OR WALL-MOUNTED?
The way we hang a basin or toilet can make a massive difference to how we perceive the space. 'Wall-mounted basins ensure that all the pipes and fixtures are within the wall – removing the bulky ledge at the back of the sink from the bathroom space, while wall-hung basins don’t create space, but the free floor area beneath it creates the illusion of a larger room,' says interior designer Katie Thomas, founder of KTM Design.
5. AVOID A SHOWER CURTAIN
When it comes to small bathroom shower ideas, a big tip is to ditch the shower curtain. They might be more affordable, but they could be making your bathroom look smaller than you might want it to.
6. USE LARGE FORMAT TILES
When considering tiles in your new bathroom, there are plenty of small bathroom tile ideas out there to help create the illusion of space. 'Pale colored tiles can make a small bathroom look bigger as they reflect more light than darker colors, giving an airy and spacious feel,' says Jo Oliver, Director, Stone & Ceramic Warehouse.
7. BE BOLD WITH COLOR
White tends to be the main go-to color for the bathroom, but there are so many fantastic small bathroom color ideas out there to choose from.
'Often the smallest room in the home, the bathroom has for too long become the victim of the ‘all white makes it look bigger’ design philosophy. Thankfully upcoming trends embrace a more creative and bold approach to what can be the most exciting spaces in the home,' says Justyna Korczynska, Color Consultant at Crown.
8. GET ORGANIZED AND CLEAR THE CLUTTER
Storage is key when it comes to keeping a bathroom space feeling calm, clutter-free and feel bigger than it actually is. Small bathroom storage ideas will help you rethink the way you organize your bathroom bits – interior designer Katie Thomas suggests using corner storage hung on the walls will save space, use mirrored doors to create the illusion of a bigger room. A large wall hung mirror over the sink will make the room feel bigger and finally, install towel rails on the back of doors to free up wall space and once again, make the space feel larger.'
9. PICK A CLEAR SCREEN AND CONTINUOUS FLOOR
A compact space doesn’t have to look cluttered or cramped if a few clever design tricks are employed. 'A low-level shower tray is just one example of the type of product that enhances a smaller bathroom, especially when combined with a frameless glass screen to create a walk-in, wet room style shower area,' says Ben Bryden, Sales and Marketing Director at RAK Ceramics UK
10. ALWAYS INCLUDE A MIRROR
Mirror mirror on the wall... will make a huge difference to how big or small your bathroom feels. 'When decorating a small bathroom, fixed mirrors on a long wall will double the illusion of space. A floor standing mirror can be moved around to create different moods within the room which is great when light isn’t so key and you want to create ambience with candles,' says Juliette Thomas, Founder & Director, Juliettes Interiors.