Even if your bathroom feels like it’s the size of a walk-in closet, there are ways to maximize the space and make it feel larger. Review the following tips, and adopt the options that will work best in your bathroom.
1. Use Light Colors and Warm Tones
While dark colors can provide a sense of mystique in a smaller room, they can also make a person feel claustrophobic. Using lighter colors is often recommended if you’d like a room to feel bigger.
Just because it’s wiser to go with a lighter color doesn’t mean you have to choose white. White is a great option, but it’s not the only one. Light colors such as cream, pale yellow and beige provide warmth just as much as they can offer a sense of openness to a space.
If you choose white, lean toward a warmer tone of white. To get a better sense of how a color looks in your bathroom, pick a few swatches. Then, paint samples on different walls of the bathroom. If you have natural light in the bathroom, pay attention to how the paint samples look at different times of the day. This will help you get a better understanding of which option to choose.
2. Choose Large Tiles
While small tiles might seem appropriate for a smaller bathroom, it’s better to create a visual illusion by incorporating the largest tiles you can find. Larger tiles look less cluttered. In addition to using larger tiles, try to expand the spaces where you use them. As you install them on the bathroom floor, use the same pattern in the shower and a portion of the walls. When you’re able to create a visual aesthetic of uninterrupted lines, this makes a space look bigger than it actually is.
3. Hang More Mirrors
Mirror installation is one of the easiest design hacks to make a space feel bigger. You can use any open wall space for a mirror. If natural light comes in from a window, place a mirror on the opposite side of the room. The mirror will reflect the natural light and flood the room with even more light. Look for larger mirrors to hang on your bathroom walls. If you have a small mirror hanging over the vanity, replace it with a tall option to create more visual impact.
4. Incorporate High-Quality Light Sources
Light sources are excellent in helping any room look bigger. If you have a window in your bathroom, don’t cover it with a heavy curtain. Instead, consider using blinds or privacy window film that allows light to come in. It’s better to maximize as much light as you possibly can.
Get creative in how you approach lighting within your bathroom design. Don’t be afraid to mix lighting types. In addition to the light fixture that typically hangs above the sink, add wall sconces. You can also use a mix of LED light strips, pendant lights, and recessed lighting.
Adding more light in areas like the shower adds functionality because they help you see better when doing certain tasks such as shaving. In your shower, look for areas to install recessed lights. If remodeling the shower, create a niche or recessed shelving where you can install lighting.
5. Install a Shower Niche, Rack, or Hook
In addition to being a possible placement for lighting, a shower niche adds functional storage space to your shower area. You can also install shower racks and hooks. However, the key is to make sure you don’t fill the shower niche with too many items. A crowded, cluttered area makes the space seem smaller. Multiple storage areas, each with just a few items, are better than one large area crammed with bottles and jars.
6. Conceal Your Storage Areas
Visual clutter creates the illusion of a cramped space. Reconfigure your storage spaces to conceal beauty tools, products and linens. Instead of using open shelving in your bathroom, conceal your items in drawers and cabinets. If you have large cabinets, use additional storage items so that everything has a designated space. Racks, baskets and other things keep everything neat and tidy.
Develop a minimalist approach to your bathroom. Keep what is stored in the bathroom to the absolute minimum. If the space is very small, you may want to designate a place outside the bathroom to store essentials such as towels, large packs of toilet paper, cleaning products, and items you don’t use often.
7. Mount the Fixtures Up
A trend in modern design is to mount toilets, sink basins and other bathroom fixtures to the walls. Wall-mounted options create more floor space. The wall-mounted aesthetic looks updated and stylish as well. When you can customize a design that provides more floor space, it looks like you have more room for foot traffic. Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter in San Jose, CA stands ready to expertly install the various toilet fixtures to the wall and the plumbing.
8. Get Creative With Shower Doors or Curtains
Glass or other clear materials for shower doors create a divided wall without a visual barrier. These are perfect for keeping the water contained while still maintaining a sense of openness.
Using floor-to-ceiling shower doors or curtains is an additional method to make the space look bigger, as this method draws the eye upward. Instead of hanging your shower curtain rod at the top of the shower, position it at the top of the wall. Then, invest in longer floor-to-ceiling shower curtains to create a more grand appeal.
9. Replace the Tub With a Shower
Consider functionality over anything else when you’re rearranging your small bathroom to look bigger. Even though tubs can feel nice and luxurious, they take up a lot of space. The function of a tub is to cleanse your body. You don’t need to soak to do this. Replace the tub with a shower, and you’ll gain some square footage. This is significant when trying to maximize the little bit of space you have.
In the process of replacing your tub with a shower, customize the look of the shower in order to make it feel modern and clean. Include different features that enhance the look you’re going for. Install shower jets or a rain showerhead. Remodel the perfect shower in such a way that you won’t even miss the tub. Ultimately, it’ll feel like a win-win situation because you’ll have a stunning shower and more square footage to work with.
Contact the Professionals
If you have been dreaming of a more spacious bathroom, these are some ways to create the illusion of more space. If you want to go beyond creating just an illusion, we can assist with remodeling projects to expand your bathroom space, including mounting bathroom fixtures. We also offer a range of plumbing services, including hot water heater installation and drain cleaning. For more information, contact Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter today.
