Large bathrooms are luxurious. They offer plenty of space, practically unlimited room for renovations and changes, and plenty of ventilation to eliminate problems associated with excess moisture.
But unfortunately, even if you have the budget for a major renovation, a small bathroom is going to be somewhat limiting. How do you get more value out of your small bathroom? And what steps can you take to make your overall bathroom experience better?
Small Bathroom Woes
The problems associated with small bathrooms can generally be divided into three main categories:
- Storage. A small bathroom has a limited amount of space, which means you’ll have trouble storing and using many of the items and accouterments you want for your bathroom experience. Better storage solutions for small bathrooms can remedy many of these problems, but they still require thoughtful planning and investment. No matter what, you’ll need to find a place for essentials like towels, washcloths, makeup, and toiletries. You may also want to find space for more décor.
- Aesthetics. Speaking of décor, small bathrooms offer significantly less flexibility when it comes to aesthetics. Making the wrong choices on things like vanities and sinks can artificially restrict the space available to you even further – and bad color decisions can make the room feel smaller and even more cramped.
- Ventilation. Just as importantly, you’ll need to consider the ventilation of the room. A smaller, more confined bathroom means moisture has fewer places to dissipate. If you also lack a bathroom exhaust fan or a window, this concern is going to be even more important to consider.
Tips and Tricks to Get More Value From a Small Bathroom
These are some of the best tips and tricks to get more value out of your small bathroom:
- Go vertical with storage. There aren’t many areas where you can shoehorn in more storage, but you can go vertical to make use of previously underutilized space. Floating shelves, medicine cabinets, hooks, and wall-mounted drawers are just the beginning. If you can make better use of the vertical space in your bathroom, it can instantly feel twice as big.
- Maximize the storage space you have. Also, it’s important to maximize whatever storage space you already have. Make sure you’re fully utilizing any drawers or cabinets that are currently available to you, and consider replacing any pieces of furniture (like your vanity) that take up space without giving you ample storage as a trade.
- Consider making plumbing adjustments. In some cases, plumbing adjustments can give you a bit more space to work with. For example, if you have a wall-mounted faucet, it can give you more sink and counter space to work with.
- Go wall to wall with the vanity. If you’re considering upgrading your vanity, consider going wall to wall with it. This eliminates small, unusable gaps and generally maximizes the space available to you for both storage and counter activities.
- Choose a neutral color. If you choose a color that’s too bold or dominant, it can make the space feel more restrictive and enclosed. Instead, consider painting the space a more neutral color, and apply a fresh coat if you haven’t painted it in years. Neutral colors are also good for increasing or maintaining the value of your home, so don’t shy away from them.
- Add highlight colors. You can make certain aspects of your small bathroom pop by highlighting them with a splash of a contrasting color. For example, you might use an accent color to paint the vanity or a small opposing wall.
- Add plants. While it may feel like introducing anything into this space is going to make it feel smaller, adding plants to the area might give it an illusion of more space and depth. At the very least, plant life is shown to boost your mood and relieve stress, so it should make your morning bathroom routine much more inviting.
- Install frameless glass shower doors. Frameless glass shower doors can be a bit more expensive than some of the other items on this list, but they’re a touch of luxury that almost anyone can enjoy. Consider installing them to give yourself more space to work with.
- Introduce more ventilation however you can. If your small bathroom has limited ventilation capacity, introduce more ventilation in any way you can. For example, if you don’t already have a bathroom exhaust fan, consider installing one. If you only have a small window, consider adding another or making it larger. If those aren’t options, use fans and open doors to circulate more air.
- Work with other bathroom users. A small bathroom will feel even more cramped if you’re forced to share it with other users who have an overabundance of possessions (or bad habits that encroach on your space). Have a clear, upfront conversation and be willing to make compromises to make sure you’re all sharing the space fairly and respectfully.
You may not be able to increase the overall physical size of your bathroom, but you can make positive changes to make it feel bigger and more valuable in the context of your home.
With access to more storage space, better aesthetic choices, and even more ventilation, you can mitigate the biggest challenges associated with small bathrooms and improve your quality of life.
