Create the illusion of space in a small bathroom

If you are renovating a small bathroom you want to try and give the illusion of more space. There are several design tricks that you can use...

 

 

 

Mirrors are a great way to add depth, width and length to a small room but don't over do it, one largish mirror is generally enough. Mirrors also distributes reflected light throughout the room.

 

 

Transparent shower screens as opposed to opaque gives the illusion of more space and light. A fully frameless shower screen doesn't create any visual barriers at all and can work brilliantly in a small bathroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make use of natural light. Installing a skylight will solve problems if the room is oriented away from the sun. If you are considering the installation of a skylight it is important to note the location of the room and whether or not it receives full sunlight, as this can dramatically heat up a bathroom if it receives a lot of full sun.

 

 

 

Illuminating the perimeter of the room will make it seem larger, and also get rid of dark corners. A good idea is to place shelves on the walls near the ceiling and fit lights underneath them.

 

Light coloured walls, floors and décor can make a room seem larger. Try using pastel tones, neutrals or whites in a smaller bathroom. Larger floor tiles create a sense of space.

The feeling of space can be generated by more visible tiled floor. This can be produced with floating cabinets and a pedestal or wall mounted sink. The vanity unit on the other hand, takes up a lot of floor space and is best avoided.

Additionally, leaving the walls untiled and painting vertical stripes draws the eye upwards and creates the illusion of a higher space. For narrow bathrooms, horizontal stripes add the illusion of width.

 

 

Pedestal basins are a great way of adding space, as they don´t sit atop a bulky structure. However, when choosing one of these basins, keep in mind your storage needs, and look for one with a bench.

Make sure you include adequate storage as clutter only exacerbates the problems of a small bathroom. Exposed shelving, recessed cabinets and floating cabinets are a good option, with the latter leaving more exposed floor space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Placing your windows near the ceiling will free up wall space for your storage needs.

Placing the toilet in an alcove will make efficient use of a small bathroom, and above the toilet is a great place to fit a shelf, too.

 

 

If you want to include a relaxing bath then head for a small but deep model that can possible double as a shower as well.

A sliding door gives more room than a normal hinged door, and can be hidden in an in-wall cavity for a clean look. If you are using a hinged door, don't clutter your walls with towel racks. Hang them on the back of the door instead.