You probably have many reasons that you fell in love with your home. But if a small primary or guest bathroom isn’t one of them, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can make a small bathroom look bigger, lighter, and more luxurious without ripping down any walls.
So without further ado, let’s explore the many ways you can achieve a Pinterest-worthy bathroom for less.
The Top 7 Best Small Bathroom Ideas
Our team has worked with many interior designers over the years, and we’ve seen firsthand just how transformative each of these small updates can be:
- Be strategic with paint and tile
- Go minimalist with walls
- Find more light
- Invest in a large custom mirror
- Get smart storage
- Declutter and add plants
- Consider glass showers
Let's explore each of these in more detail.
1. Be Strategic With Paint and Tile
Light-colored paint and tile go a long way in making a small room feel bigger. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with white, white, and more white. You can still add personality and soften the look of the space with delicate blues and greens and subtle beiges and grey. Many of BEHR’s Color Trends for 2022 would work beautifully in a smaller bathroom.
And here’s a pro tip: Glossy finishes can help you bounce even more light around a darker space. If you’re retiling or repainting, it’s smart to go with a high or semi-gloss paint or tile for small bathrooms.
2. Go Minimalist With Walls
If your walls are visually broken up into sections with wood paneling, chair rail, and a wallpaper border, your bathroom will look smaller. Consider removing any wallpaper borders or crown molding, taking tile up to the ceiling, and painting trim or paneling to match your walls if you have an especially small space.
3. Find More Light
Natural light adds so much to a bathroom. If you are lucky enough to have a window, remove any blinds or shades, and consider pattern or frosted glass instead to add privacy. And if you only have room for one ceiling light in your bathroom, it should have multiple bulbs. These days, there are plenty of options for slim LED light fixtures that offer a surprising amount of light and take up very little space.
4. Invest in a Large Custom Mirror
Large mirrors can make your bathroom look much bigger, but they can also add an important style element without taking up any additional space. Depending on your space, a custom mirror along a wall can make your bathroom more functional, especially if multiple people often need to use the bathroom mirror simultaneously.
5. Get Smart Storage
Bathroom storage is incredibly important, but large cabinets can make a small room look even smaller. Consider shelves and baskets when possible. And don’t hate the messenger, but if you have a vanity, you might want to think about replacing it with a pedestal or wall-mounted sink instead. Small vanities frequently don’t have much room to house more than the pipes inside anyway!
6. Declutter and Add Plants
This one can always be a challenge, but remove as many unnecessary items from the bathroom as you can, including knick-knacks and décor items. If multiple people use the same bathroom to get ready in the morning, perhaps each person could have a toiletry caddy that’s stored in their closet — not the bathroom.
If your bathroom now looks a bit sterile, you might add a plant or two to bring in that lux spa feel. Many succulents don’t need much maintenance and are able to thrive in small containers. And if your track record with plants isn’t great, today, you can find gorgeous artificial ones.
7. Consider Glass Showers
Your bathroom will look much bigger if you can actually see all of it. A bathroom curtain completely cuts off a large portion of your bathroom and also blocks the light. It’s truly amazing what upgrading to a glass shower enclosure can do. In fact, if you only have the time and resources for one update, this one will probably have the most impact.
The style of glass shower you can get may depend on your existing shower and the layout of your bathroom; our experts can help steer you in the right direction and help you incorporate frosted glass elements for additional privacy. And if you don’t need a full enclosure, we can also create a custom glass partition to contain water.
Need an Especially Small Shower Glass Door?
We’ve worked with lots of older homes, and our experts know exactly how to transform even the smallest bathroom into something you’ll be proud to have guests use. Browse our online gallery for ideas.
Get Started With Bathroom Glass
If you’re handy, you might be able to cross off many of these items yourself. But for a large custom mirror, frosted glass windows, or a glass shower door, we’d recommend getting help from a pro. There’s nothing worse than investing in something beautiful and either breaking it or not being able to install it correctly. And glass showers can be tricky if installing them is not something you do day in and day out.
Our family-owned and operated company has been in business for over 70 years, but we’re always reinvesting in our products and equipment to make sure our central Minnesota customers get the impeccable craftsmanship they deserve. If you’re considering updating your bathroom with a glass shower, a custom mirror, or adding privacy with frosted or pattern glass, we can help you get started at East Side Glass!
