Small bathrooms are usually perceived as an issue: It seems that they are not adapted to most of our needs. However, thoughtful planning and proven design tips can make such a space as comfortable as you need. In this article, we will consider 5 proven ways to make your bathroom more comfortable and spacious.
Compact Plumbing
However small your bathroom is, you can make it more spacious by improving your planning. Choosing space-efficient plumbing is the first step toward the smart remodeling of the room. For example, two-piece toilets are the most common and have a number of advantages like simple maintenance, but they are not the best option for tiny bathrooms. Replacing one with a less ordinary model can save you a few inches to move around.
- Back-to-wall toilets stick close to the back wall, and some of them also allow mounting a water tank into the wall.
- Hung-up toilets are the most compact, hiding not only a water tank but also a pedestal. Such construction takes the least room and is the easiest to keep clean.
- For unusual planning solutions, think about corner toilets. They might seem even bigger than ordinary ones due to their unusual tank shape. However, corner toilets are suitable for tiny bathrooms since they make following ergonomic rules easier. In particular, the toilets corner shape allows for leaving enough space in front of the toilet and from both sides.
A sink is another piece of plumbing you can replace to get more room. They vary by size and shape, and to choose a suitable one, pay attention to its dimensions and room from both sides if you install it. The smallest standard sink is 16 inches wide but take into account the free space around it: You also need at least 8 inches to move your elbows. Like corner toilets, corner sinks are designed for more creative planning solutions.
Depending on your habits, replacing a bath and installing a shower cabin might be a great idea to expand the floor square and get more planning options. It also reduces the amount of time you spend on cleaning. Finally, showering saves water and money, so this solution is friendly both to the environment and your wallet.
Smart Storage
Bathroom cabinets take no less space than plumbing. To keep any room clean, you need to arrange everything in its place and follow this order, but it is so convenient to have the necessary items you use every day within arm’s reach. Here are some tips on keeping bathroom stuff at hand and don’t clutter the room up.
- Create a shower niche to keep essentials close. It is a minimalistic solution that creates a new storage place without stealing any room at all.
- Consider corner shower storage in case carving a wall is not possible. Putting up shelves demands much less effort and time. While shower niches tend to be narrow to minimize wall damage, corner shelves vary in size and can reach the ceiling if necessary.
- People rarely use space above a toilet, yet a few shelves or a cabinet can easily solve the storage problem.
- The door is not an obvious surface to keep anything, yet you can hang a pair of light baskets on it.
- The room above the door is also suitable for putting up a shelf. You might use it for things you don’t require every day but still don’t want to hide away.
Light Colors and Large Patterns
Apart from physically rearranging your bathroom, you can make it more spacious visually. On the other hand, using black color in private interiors has gained popularity. Deep dark shades absorb light and make any room look smaller than it is.
- Stick to light colors, and if possible, try white tiles for walls. Those who prefer bright colors can introduce them on one of the walls. This technique is called “accent wall,” and you can use tiles of contrasting colors or wallpaper with extraordinary prints to make the bathroom fit your taste.
- Earthy shades have also become popular in recent years; they create an atmosphere for relaxation and refer to a purely natural environment. They don’t visually shrink the space and provide a wide variety to choose from.
Another decorative tip that should improve the design of your bathroom is the use of patterns. The rule is simple: Small patterns make space visually smaller. Avoid using mosaics and check large format tiles so that the walls have minimum seams. Moreover, if you decide to add wallpapers, the print should not contain too many small details.
Daylight Imitation
The colors of an interior are tightly bent to the lightning. Lighting affects how we perceive colors and textures, creating the whole impression from the space. Daylight is the most comfortable, but windows in the bathrooms are rarely considered essential. If you aim to imitate daylight, pay attention to the color temperature of the lightbulbs you want to install: It should be between 4000 and 5000 Kelvins.
The overhead lighting is essential to make the best of a small bathroom. Choose big ceilings that diffuse light and spread it smoothly over the room. It is also useful to introduce local light and backlight to create a cozy atmosphere when you are in the mood for relaxation.
Optical Illusions
Those who are not determined for serious rearrangement can use furniture and decoration. Here are some small details you can change around the room to bring more air inside:
- Closed dressers are easier to clean, yet they look heavy and clumsy, so try introducing a few open cabinets.
- Hung-up furniture looks lightweight and expands floor space. It also saves a lot of time on mopping.
- A mirror is a classical tool for making any room look twice bigger. Think of installing a full-growth option and introducing a few additional ones as decorative elements.
Make the Best of a Small Bathroom
Smart planning is crucial for bathrooms, especially small ones. Installing compact plumbing and thoughtful organizing of the storage are reliable ways of saving a lot of space for moving around. Colors and textures influence how we perceive space, so if you want to introduce some changes in your bathroom design, choose light colors and avoid seams. Select open cabinets over closed ones, hung-up furniture, and think of a full-growth mirror to expand space visually.
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