43 Small Bathroom Ideas to Make Your Bathroom Feel Bigger (2024)

Looking for small bathroom ideas that will make the space seem larger than life? So is most of New York City. The lack of square footage, limited natural light, and number of fixtures to squeeze in make a small bathroom one of the more challenging spaces to decorate. But when done right, the whole room can seem brighter and more spacious. And no, you won’t have to spend a zillion dollars to carve a window into the wall (or call on something retro like glass bricks).

These small bathroom ideas go beyond making the most of the available space and prove that bold design elements can be right at home in even the tiniest rooms. Here are the best ways to turn powder rooms, half-baths, and just little tiny (sometimes windowless) bathrooms into less cramped, more enjoyable situations. Your small bath may just be your next favorite room.

1. Keep Your Colors Light and Bright

© Emily Gilbert Photography

A wood floor and vanity give this city bathroom a warm and serene feeling. A soft mint green hue reflects natural light from the window. The space surrounding the freestanding tub makes the room feel more open, as does the lightweight curtain fabric, which allows maximum light to enter.

2. Or Double Down With a Dark Color Scheme

In Gilles Mendel’s Manhattan apartment, the bath’s vanity is granite and the black towels are by Calvin Klein Home.

Photo: Joshua McHugh

43 Small Bathroom Ideas to Make Your Bathroom Feel Bigger (2024)

FAQs

What makes a small bathroom appear larger? ›

The more light you can reflect, the bigger your bathroom will look. Instead of just hanging a small bathroom mirror above the sink, consider mirroring a whole wall, or at least a large portion of it. This acts like a window in bringing a lot more light into the room and creating the illusion of a much bigger room.

What color makes a small bathroom look bigger? ›

White paint is always a great choice when it comes to creating the illusion of a bigger bathroom. "Lighter colors reflect light easily, which gives the room a bigger appearance," says Piercy.

How do you expand a small bathroom? ›

Bumping Out A Wall

A bump-out consists of removing the exterior wall, extending the floor an additional two feet and replacing the wall along with a small roof to cover the new space. While two feet might not seem like a lot of space, it's enough to increase the floor space in a typical small bathroom by 25%.

What flooring makes a small bathroom look bigger? ›

Use Light Coloured Tiles Throughout

Utilising light shades of bathroom wall tiles and bathroom floor tiles will reflect light and will visually open up space. The opposite can be said of darker tones, which will absorb the light and make your bathroom feel considerably smaller.

Should I use big tiles or small tiles in a small bathroom? ›

Large-format tiles also need less grout, less time to install, and require less maintenance. Using smaller tiles, such as mosaics, will give you lots of grout lines, which can give the bathroom walls a grid-like appearance that can promote the feeling of being boxed in – making your bathroom feel smaller still.

What kind of flooring is best for small bathrooms? ›

Ceramic And Porcelain Tiles

Bathroom floor tiles are a classic choice for small bathroom flooring ideas. They are water-resistant, durable, and come in a wide range of styles, colours, and patterns. Opt for a small ceramic tile or mosaic ceramic tiles to create an illusion of space in your small bathroom.

What color walls look best in a small bathroom? ›

Stay away from using dark colors for paint and instead use cool, light grays and blues or warm neutrals, like Elusive Blue or Stargazer. These colors are best because they are light and make the room look bigger. They also reflect light, making the room look brighter.

What is a timeless color for a bathroom? ›

Dark bathroom colors can create a bold and timeless statement, offering a dramatic and sophisticated aesthetic. Deep hues such as navy blue, charcoal gray, and rich black add depth and elegance to the space.

How to make a small bathroom glamorous? ›

Your small bath may just be your next favorite room.
  1. Keep Your Colors Light and Bright. © Emily Gilbert Photography. ...
  2. Or Double Down With a Dark Color Scheme. ...
  3. Mirror a Wall. ...
  4. Opt for a Glass Shower Door. ...
  5. Or Remove Your Shower Door Completely. ...
  6. Backlight the Mirror. ...
  7. Take On Tile. ...
  8. Give the Curtain a Lift.
Jan 10, 2023

How do you make a small bathroom modern? ›

32 small bathroom ideas to add style and function to compact...
  1. Decorate with joyful colors.
  2. Add interest with patterned floor tiles.
  3. Add clever storage to a small bathroom.
  4. Make a feature of architectural details.
  5. Paint wall paneling for added coziness.
  6. Introduce playful pattern.
  7. Invest in sufficient lighting.
Jun 3, 2024

Does a big mirror make a small bathroom look bigger? ›

3. Add a Mirror. A well-placed mirror can help to reflect light and visually enlarge a space. “A great way to make smaller bathrooms feel bigger is to swap out large, frameless mirrors for smaller, decorative mirrors with a minimal thin frame.

How can I make my small bathroom look bigger without windows? ›

Mirrors are the ideal choice for bathrooms without windows. They reflect your artificial light, which mimics the effect of a natural light source. They're also ideal for smaller spaces, as they can also create the illusion of a more spacious room.

Do floating vanities make a bathroom look bigger? ›

It makes your bathroom look bigger.

Floating the vanity means the flooring can extend all the way to the wall, which instantly makes a bathroom appear more spacious. And a wall-hung vanity creates more usable space for stashing pieces like a wastebasket or a scale. A little foot room under the sink goes a long way.

What shower curtain makes a bathroom look bigger? ›

After clear, white and light colored shower curtains are the best way to expand the size of a bathroom. Opt for a white shower curtain liner, plus a white fabric or outer curtain mounted near the ceiling and hanging all the way to the floor. This will block out the space and make the room feel larger.

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