1. START WITH A PLAN
Before we get on to all the fun decorative ideas, it's worth working out how to get the most from this tiny space. And yes, that means starting with small bathroom storage ideas. Because when rooms are little, every inch counts, and if you're going to need to stash toiletries anywhere, you'll need to plan for them, first.
2. MAKE A SMALL BUDGET HAVE A BIG IMPACT
While the cost of wallpaper can sometimes feel prohibitive, if you've got the urge to cover anywhere then the cloakroom is going to be the place. In fact, when it comes to budget small bathroom ideas, this could actually be the easiest way to create a big bang for your buck.
3. EMBRACE THE BOLDEST PATTERNS
As Linda Boronkay said at the top of the page, if you can't test the waters of your color and pattern confidence in your cloakroom ideas, then when can you? Vibrant shades, racing zebras, they might be too much for your living room but here, in your guest closet, as bathroom wallpaper ideas? The perfect surprise to a smile on visitors' faces.
4. FOCUS ON WALL LIGHTING
It's very common for a cloakroom to have no windows at all. And, to add to the awkwardness of the space, very often the ceiling can be sloping as the cloakroom is tucked into the cupboard under the stairs. Together, these facts make lighting imperative, but also tricky - you have to be able to see in this dark little cubbyhole, but hanging a pendant from on high will often hit anyone on the head as they enter.
5. DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO REALLY DARK
And by really dark, we mean black. It's unlikely to be a color you'd use all over in many other places, so go wild with it when it comes to your cloakroom ideas. The interior designer Martin Brudnizki agrees. "Black marble works so brilliantly in the bathroom because it's practical and goes with almost anything else in the room," Martin says. "Especially color. Peach and black is a traditional combination that you often find on the Ligurian coast in Italy."
6. OR TONE IT DOWN TO MOODY BLUE INSTEAD
If black is a step too far in the bold direction, blue could be a more palatable palette for you instead. It has the same luxe feel as black, the same power to envelope you, but it is a little easier to work with if you're not used to using bold shades.
7. LAY TILES IN INTERESTING FORMATIONS
The metro tile has long been a favorite when it comes to bathroom design, but for a cloakroom, why not look at things a little differently? Fixing rectangular tiles to the wall on an angle, so as to create a zigzag effect, is an unusual and surprisingly effective way to add a bit of pizazz and personality to a small space.
8. ADD TEXTURE TO THE WALLS
A limewash or clay paint, rather than a more expected matte finish, will overhaul a small space like a cloakroom. And while they can be more expensive than regular paints, for a little room like this you won't need much to play with. "I've always loved the tactile finishes provided by brands such as Bauwerk or Clay Works," says Livingetc's editor Pip Rich. "When you walk into a little cloakroom and are greeted by something with this much flair, it feels considered, interesting, and well designed. It's a small detail that can go a long way."