Small Bathroom Design
I have been flipping through images from Architectural Digest, looking at impossibly massive bathrooms with impossibly decadent designs. Sigh. For most of us, an ensuite with a full wood burning fire place, divan, freestanding bath tub, and unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains is a bit out of reach. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of what you do have.
Most advice I read about says you should try to unclutter a small bath. Remove anything that sticks out from the walls (i.e. towel bars, wall cabinets), use a pedestal sink and make sure the bathroom door is an out swing – or better yet a pocket door.
So, this is where design meets real life, the practical vs the ideal. It’s great to have a pocket door and no towel racks, but one still needs to wash hands after using the bathroom, requiring a towel. Where do we keep it now? And there are still things we need to keep in the bathroom – extra toilet tissue, towels, and *gasp* feminine products. Where do we put these items with no storage space?
Now, I hate clutter as much as the next designer, but I’m going to turn this “rule” on its head and say make your bathroom usable. With a few other tips in mind, you can make any small bath project look amazing!
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Think big! Use the biggest vanity your space will accommodate. Storage in a bathroom is always important, and it’s better to have one big piece of furniture than many little pieces.
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Go up! Hang your towel racks over the toilet or over the vanity so they’re not making the room narrower.
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Brighter is better! Lighter colours and mirrors are your friends in small spaces. Mirrors create the illusion of space, and light colours feel airier.
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Find your niche! Built in storage is space saving and oh so handy.
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Through the Looking Glass! Use clear glass bath / shower enclosures. It makes the shower part of the room, giving the feel of a larger space.
You may not have room for a sofa, fireplace and picture windows to paradise, but with these few tricks, your bathroom can still look magazine cover ready.
