Small Bathroom Design Ideas

When redecorating our homes, many of us dream about extending our small bathrooms so that we can create that ‘luxury-hotel’ feel, complete with a bath, shower, multiple sinks and perhaps even a stylish chaise to lounge on after a relaxing bath. Though the reality is dependent on your budget, you can still make your small bathroom appear larger with the following small bathroom design ideas.

Make it white

It’s likely your bathroom already features white fixtures such as the toilet, sink and bath, so using white for other surfaces such as the walls and floor helps to create a continuous look. White is also a great light reflector, bouncing light around the room, therefore making it appear airy, brighter and bigger.

Painting or tiling your bathroom white can make it appear larger because white reflects the most amount of light, creating a bright and open space that seems visually expanded. Darker colours, like greens and blues, absorb light and can make a room feel smaller and more compact. Visually, the more that is going on, the more ‘closed-in’ it will feel. White is a neutral colour, which acts more of a blank canvas to add detail to, or leave un-cluttered to further establish space and room.

Take back your space

If there’s no space for a bulky cabinet for all of your essentials such as medicines, makeup, razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste, then a stylish wooden, metal or glass shelf above the sink keeps these items in a handy place while utilising wall space effectively.

For shampoos, shower gels, soaps and sponges, wall alcoves by the bath are a great alternative to shower caddies and add real value to the small bathroom. If you’re really stuck for space, install your towel rack to the back of your bathroom door to keep your walls and radiator free.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

If you’re not a fan of a completely white bathroom, then a wall to wall mirror is another way to go. Along with enhancing your small bathroom’s beauty due to the multiple designs available, and hiding imperfections such as small cracks and holes, they are also considerably easier to clean and maintain than a painted or tiled wall. This statement piece creates the illusion of space by reflecting the room within.

It’s also a pretty essential feature of the bathroom to begin with! You need a mirror for everyday grooming, daily beauty routines, and to get rid of the bedhead before leaving for work every morning! Instead of opting for a small standing mirror, or one of those old-school medicine cupboards with a mirrored door, choose a large wall mirror so that you can see yourself in all of your glory and make the room seem a lot bigger too.

Make use of natural daylight

This may not be possible for everyone, as not all bathrooms come with a large window, or one that lets in a great deal of light. Let’s face it, in the UK how many hours of decent sunlight do we actually get!? If you do have a bathroom window though, do not obstruct it. Avoid curtains or overloading the windowsill with items to ensure the most amount of daylight is allowed to enter the room. 

Make a statement

What about wallpaper we hear you ask. Wallpaper with bold patterns and conversational designs are always a great idea, as they catch the eye, increasing our space perception. If you opt for wallpaper, ensure it’s made specifically for bathrooms, ensuring it’ll survive both damp and warm conditions.

Stencil painted designs are also becoming increasingly popular. This approach uses a neutral colour for the walls, with artistic touches or stencilled words splashed across them to introduce colour and vibrancy. This way, you avoid using too much colour, overwhelming the room and making it seem compacted.

Lighting tricks

This is a clever little trick when thinking of small bathroom design ideas. As mentioned above, lighting plays a crucial role in making a small bathroom feel bigger and more inviting. The right light fixtures placed in the right areas will enhance the sense of space, and can also influence the mood. For example, instead of relying just on bright overhead lights, you can combine multiple wall lights, LED strip lights, and under cabinet lighting for balance and visual effect.

Bright ceiling lights can make a bathroom seem bigger and airy during the day when you need it to, but dimmed down LED strip lights can bring that cosy, more comfortable and closed feeling when it’s time for your relaxing bath.

Glass shower and an open layout

Shower curtains, frosted glass, or anything else that hides or corners of your bathroom the rest of the room will create a divide – which doesn’t help when trying to create space. Consider using transparent alternatives like a full glass walk-in shower.

You can even choose frameless glass showers with a seamless image, which eliminates the visual barrier that traditional showers provide. Sliding or bi-fold doors can be a little expensive, but unlike standard hinged doors, they take up less space as you do not need to allow room for the doors to open and close.

Keep it minimalist

A clutter free space always feels bigger, no matter the room. Using some of the storage tips we have above should help to keep your aesthetic clean, which will in turn provide a more spacious bathroom. Keeping your design ideas minimal in terms of the finishes and fixtures you choose will also help in this respect.

Instead of overloading your bathroom with decorations, opt for a couple of stylish but functional items, like a statement soap dispenser or an elegant house plant. Introduce too many of these things and they will begin to fight for space and your visual attention. Keep only the essentials on display and store away items that aren’t used daily.

Plants and natural elements

We’ve mentioned house plants a few times before but they are indeed a great addition to any bathroom no matter the size – as plants come in a variety of sizes to suit. We’ve mentioned the use of light, mirrors, and windows to make sure your bathroom is as light and airy as possible. However, sometimes this can create a ‘clinical’ feel that lacks the homely and relaxing comfort we wish for in our bathroom. Introducing greenery and natural textures can soften this clinical feel of a small bathroom while also improving air quality.

Choose humidity loving plants like ferns, aloe vera, spider plants, or peace lilies. These all thrive in warm, moist conditions, so they will undoubtedly love being in your bathroom. If surface space is limited, consider trailing plants in hanging pots or mounted wall planters for a stylish touch.

Match your fixtures to your features

Having a cohesive and balanced design will definitely improve the overall aesthetic of your bathroom. This is perhaps on of the most useful small bathroom design ideas. If you have white walls, brass taps, a bright pink bathmat, several green house plants, a stencilled motif on your wall, and some wooden storage containers – all within one small bathroom – it could end up becoming too much variety at once.

This causes visual conflict and a ‘busy’ environment – quite the opposite of relaxing and calming! Having a balanced and coherent aesthetic means your eyes aren’t darting from feature to feature and ensures you have a composed and visually appealing bathroom space.

Contact Boro Bathrooms for more small bathroom design ideas! 

Don’t hesitate to get in touch to ask us for some more small bathroom design ideas! They may sound simple, but they really do the trick. We recommend you check out our stunning range of white ceramic, porcelain and patterned tiles, as well as HiB’s bathroom mirrors, especially their chic illuminated options.

For further inspiration, visit us at one of our showrooms in Bury or Rochdale or give us a call on 01706 525 926. We can also give you more information on our design & install service. Whatever you need, we are more than happy to help!