47 Small Bathroom Ideas to Make Your Space Feel Bigger (2024)

Room Design

Bathroom Design

Small Bathrooms

• 01 of 47

  Make Space for a Larger Vanity

  

  According to Pamela Durkin, Interior Designer and Design Coach at Durkin Designs, LLC, a larger vanity might actually be the way to go—even if it seems counterintuitive. “Get the largest vanity you can get,” she says. “It will give you a lot more counter space and make everything look a bit bigger.”

  Continue to 2 of 47 below

• 02 of 47

  Focus on One Pattern

  

  While it can be tempting to go all-out with patterns in a smaller bathroom as a way to create a statement on a small scale, Durkin suggests taking a step back and really being strategic. “Put a pattern on the floor, for example," she says, "but keep the walls neutral by adding texture either in a molding detail or wallpaper."

  Continue to 3 of 47 below

• 03 of 47

  Consider a Fixed Shower Panel

  

  Instead of a sliding or swinging glass door on the shower, consider a fixed panel. Durkin suggests moving the shower handle to the open end so you can turn on your shower without getting wet. “There are now 2-in-1 shower heads so you don't have to have both a shower head and handheld,” she says.

  Continue to 4 of 47 below

• 04 of 47

  Keep It Clean

  

  According to Anaïs Chaumien, the New York City-based interior designer behind Design by Anaïs, anyone working with a small bathroom should keep the space as tidy as possible. “Storage boxes and baskets are your best friends if you can't add furniture," she says. "Otherwise, feel free to add floating shelves, they will help you store everything and are super easy to decorate. Choose neutral colors for the boxes and baskets so as not to overwhelm the space.”

  Continue to 5 of 47 below

• 05 of 47

  Let There Be Light

  

  Natural light will immediately make space appear bigger. “If you don't have a window, you'll have to add as much artificial light as you can,” Chaumien says. “Maybe change the light fixtures for a brighter/bigger one if you can, or add another light source.”

  Continue to 6 of 47 below

• 06 of 47

  Be Strategic With Mirrors

  

  Mirrors are also super helpful when it comes to emphasizing the light of the room—Chaumien suggests placing a large mirror in front of a window or positioning it to reflect a light fixture to double the amount of light. A series of smaller mirrors will multiply the effect, she says.

  Continue to 7 of 47 below

• 07 of 47

  Don’t Overlook Accessories

  

  Even if you need to declutter, you don't want your bathroom to look too bare. “To add decoration without cluttering the area, play with functional decoration (i.e., elements you would have to use in your bathroom anyway),” says Chaumien. She suggests starting with mirrors for light; little rattan baskets for storage; a beautiful shower curtain; or even an aesthetically pleasing bath mat.

  Continue to 8 of 47 below

• 08 of 47

  Go for Light and Airy Colors

  

  According to Chaumien, unless you'd like to make a statement in the room (and she wouldn't advise it if you want the space to feel bigger), go for light and neutral colors. “Neutral doesn't necessarily mean white,” she says. “Play with shades of gray, nudes, whites, light blue, pale gray, blush… Any neutral tone will immediately make space appear bigger than if you used darker colors.”

  Continue to 9 of 47 below

• 09 of 47

  Focus on Details

  

  If you want to make a decorative statement, choose smaller details. “You can be playful with the bathroom vanity or the towel holder if the rest of the space is neutral,” Chaumien says. “Don't be afraid to use wallpaper—but again, nothing too bold. Adding a lovely light blue pattern on one wall (one wall only, please) will add depth to the space.”

  30 Beautiful Bathroom Wallpaper Ideas

  Continue to 10 of 47 below

• 10 of 47

  Use Natural Accents

  

  According to Chaumien, the more natural you go, the better. Natural materials such as stone, wood, linen, and wicker will add visual interest without overwhelming the room. “Too shiny, complicated, or cheap materials will draw too much attention, especially in such a small space where your eye will be drawn directly to them,” she says. And whenever possible or feasible, add plants to make the space feel vibrant and alive.

  Continue to 11 of 47 below

• 11 of 47

  See Also

  6 Small Bathroom Layout Ideas [Floor Plans from an Expert Architect]The 7 key design rules for small bathroomsSmall bathroom layouts – 14 smart layout ideas to help you maximise space7 Tiny Bathrooms Brimming With Functional and Beautiful Ideas

  Declutter Beauty Products

  

  “Declutter first and always,” says Darla DeMorrow, a certified professional organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing. “Pick your favorite products, just enough, and stick with them. If a beauty product isn’t cutting it, gift it to a friend or toss it ASAP.” According to DeMorrow, the less stuff you have, the more space you can enjoy. This is true in the shower stall, bathtub, and medicine cabinet.

  Continue to 12 of 47 below

• 12 of 47

  Edit Cleaning Supplies

  

  Keep essential cleaning supplies right inside your bathroom for a quick and easy refresh. “A good all-purpose cleaner, your favorite essential oil, and a broom and dustpan—hidden in the closet or behind the door—are all you need to keep things fresh,” DeMorrow says.

  Continue to 13 of 47 below

• 13 of 47

  Get Rid of Excess Towels

  

  Demorrow suggests keeping only two sets of towels per person unless there are particular circ*mstances when you might need more. “There’s no reason for more if you own a working washing machine. No matter how you stack, stash, fold, or hang them, caring for more linens than you need just takes up room and energy,” she says.

  Continue to 14 of 47 below

• 14 of 47

  Simplify Your Linen Color Scheme

  

  Demorrow suggests curating your towels to suit your color scheme when possible—or even better, buy all-white towels, which can be bleached and rotated out as needed.

  Continue to 15 of 47 below

• 15 of 47

  Update Your Lighting

  

  According to Demorrow, refreshing your lighting can be one of the easiest ways to add visual interest without taking up any space at all. “A single fixture in the bathroom can provide energy-efficient lighting, a fan feature, and a little glam,” she says.

  Continue to 16 of 47 below

• 16 of 47

  Avoid Pedestal Sinks

  

  According to James Kalim, Founder and CEO at Only Silent, a company about quiet design, you should avoid pedestal sinks—even if you love the way they look. “Although pedestal sinks are beautiful, having them in your small bathroom is not essential,” Kalim says. “This creates wasted space that you can use for storage instead.”

  Continue to 17 of 47 below

• 17 of 47

  Hide Your Toiletries

  

  Interior designer Tom Lawrence-Levy, of Natural Asthetik, says he prefers installing custom medicine cabinets that are built into the walls when designing a bathroom from scratch in order to maximize space. “This way the mirror is completely flush with the remainder of the wall," he says, "giving the room a much sleeker feel, and hiding any clutter.” Otherwise, organizing them in drawers with spacers will keep them organized and accessible.

  Continue to 18 of 47 below

• 18 of 47

  Consider Oversized Mirrors

  

  “Mirroring a wall can also create the idea that your small bathroom is larger than it actually is,” says decorator Ryan Jones at Land of Rugs. “While most people will add a mirror into their space above the vanity unit, adding mirrors to an entire wall will reflect light and pattern in a superb way, making your bathroom look bright and large.” According to Jones, this works really well when incorporated with lighter colors like whites and grays.

  Continue to 19 of 47 below

• 19 of 47

  Consider Tile Size

  

  According to Stefania Filizola, design expert at Fixr, ensuring you have the right sized tile for your space is key to making it feel bigger than it is. “Grout lines will create a grid, using small or medium tiles will require a lot of grouting, making the bathroom feel smaller,” she explains. “Choosing big tiles that will fit in your space without the need for so many grout lines will help to expand the space.”

  Continue to 20 of 47 below

• 20 of 47

  Use the Same Tile on Walls and Floor

  

  “I suggest using the same tile color and pattern for the walls and the floor,” Filizola says. “This way your eyes won’t see the separation, making the walls appear to be further away and the space bigger.”

  Continue to 21 of 47 below

• 21 of 47

  Create Storage Niches

  

  Filizola also suggests cutting storage niches into your walls—it’s not only an aesthetic choice, but it will also improve functionality. “Instead of having cabinets or shelves protruding out of the wall and reducing the usable space, you create storage inwards so there’s nothing in your way,” she says.

  Continue to 22 of 47 below

• 22 of 47

  Go for Polished Finishes

  

  A room lacking in natural light can look and feel closed in, but Filizola suggests adding additional sources of artificial light to compensate, especially in atypical ways. “You can use reflective surfaces like glossy tiles and polished or brass faucets to expand the light reach around the room,” she says.

  Continue to 23 of 47 below

• 23 of 47

  Minimize Furniture

  

  Filizola suggests reducing the number of cabinets and furniture in your bathroom and keeping essential storage pieces off the floor by using floating cabinets or wall-hung linen towers. “With a more exposed floor, more light will reflect from it, making the whole space appear bigger,” she says.

  Continue to 24 of 47 below

• 24 of 47

  Maximize Vertical Space

  

  As far as storage goes, thinking vertical will help you save a lot of space—and avoid visual clutter. “The space above the sink and toilet are prime areas,” interior designer Joe Cangelosi, of Joe Cangelosi Design LLC, says. “Always get a good medicine cabinet that is as tall as possible—it will fool the eye into thinking that the ceiling is higher, and can offer more storage than a smaller cabinet.” Cangelosi also suggests placing a shelving unit or cabinet over the toilet for extra storage.

  The 11 Best Floating Shelves for Every Wall of Your Home

  Continue to 25 of 47 below

  See Also

  Small Bathrooms Are Perfect Spots for Remodeling—Here Are 30 Ideas to Get You Started

• 25 of 47

  Paint the Ceiling

  

  “I like to paint bathroom ceilings using a semi-gloss paint to reflect the light," Cangelosi says. "I love using a dramatic silver color to add some visual interest, bring the eye up, and reflect light to make the room seem much bigger."

  Continue to 26 of 47 below

• 26 of 47

  Opt for Large Pieces of Art

  

  Although it might seem counterintuitive, Tina Ramchandani, principal interior designer at Tina Ramchandani Creative, suggests hanging large pieces of art instead of smaller pieces, to help fill the space. “Smaller frames will draw attention to the fact that you're in a small space,” she says. “When looking at art—or mirrors—think about the frame. A slim frame will take up less visual space, whereas a thick frame may make the space feel smaller.”

  Continue to 27 of 47 below

• 27 of 47

  Create More Space

  

  "While it is not always an option, raising the ceilings in asmallbathroomcan give the illusion that the space is larger than it is," Savannah Phillips, interior designer for The Knobs Company, says. "If raising the ceiling isn't an option, another thing you can do to make asmallbathroomappear larger is to recess all of the mirrors and any closets that you can."

  Continue to 28 of 47 below

• 28 of 47

  Add Color and Shine

  

  This petite powder room from Cathie Hong Interiors has a textured pink wall treatment that adds color and interest. A black sink adds contrast, and gold-toned metals add shine.

  Continue to 29 of 47 below

• 29 of 47

  Go Vintage

  

  Brexton Cole Interiors added big personality to a small powder room by using a vintage decor scheme complete with a pedestal sink with a brass-toned base and built-in towel racks, brass light switch and electrical plug covers, an antique-style Louis-Philippe mirror, and swirly black-and-white marble-effect wallpaper.

  Continue to 30 of 47 below

• 30 of 47

  Create Movement

  

  In this small bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors, illustrated black-and-white wallpaper with an abstract pattern that looks like a cloudy sky or a wavy sea adds movement that helps to create the illusion of a larger space.

  Continue to 31 of 47 below

• 31 of 47

  Add a Playful Light Fixture

  

  While wall-mounted sconce lighting is always a great idea in a small bathroom, if you have the space for it, consider hanging a playful pendant light from the ceiling instead. Louis Duncan-He Designs hung a sculptural light in this small bathroom, leaving space on the wall above the sink for a decorative mirror, and adding a leafy botanical wallpaper accent on the adjacent wall.

  Continue to 32 of 47 below

• 32 of 47

  Split It Up

  

  Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona maximized the wall space of this small powder room by splitting it into two, adding decorative molding and framed art on the lower half, and installing patterned wallpaper on top to create a layered and decorative feel that makes the modest space feel special. A modern pendant light suspended in the center of the ceiling draws the eye up and makes the space feel larger.

  Continue to 33 of 47 below

• 33 of 47

  Add Mood Lighting

  

  In a small powder room, why not make guests feel better about themselves by installing a decorative light fixture that will provide flattering ambient light, no filter required, like this softly lit dusky pink space from Louis Duncan-He Designs? A vase of pretty flowers will make guests feel pampered.

  Continue to 34 of 47 below

• 34 of 47

  Pair Gray and Gold

  

  This small cottage-style bathroom from Desiree Burns Interiors is decorated like a space three times its size, in shades of gray and white with gold-toned accents, from the Art Deco-style fan wallpaper to the painted gray ceiling to the brassy plumbing fixtures, door knobs, and matching tissue box.

  Continue to 35 of 47 below

• 35 of 47

  Add Whimsy

  

  Black-and-white wallpaper depicting a pond of endless ducks adds a note of lighthearted whimsy to this little Canadian cottage bathroom from Michelle Berwick Design.

  Continue to 36 of 47 below

• 36 of 47

  Create a Focal Point

  

  This small bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors is visible at the end of a hallway, including a side glimpse of the toilet. But cheerful, colorful botanical wallpaper in shades of green, blue, and orange distract the eye and turns the small room into a feature instead.
  

  Continue to 37 of 47 below

• 37 of 47

  Layer It Up

  

  On the inside of this small bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors, a frameless mirror hangs over the sink, reflecting the wallpaper on the opposite wall and reflecting light. A wall-mounted sink with shiny gold-toned hardware and a fun globe light and brass sconce add some shine.

  Continue to 38 of 47 below

• 38 of 47

  Skip the Shower Door

  

  To create a primary en suite bathroom in a Canadian vacation cottage, Michelle Berwick Design reconverted a hall closet and two bedroom closets, leaving the shower doors off to create flow in the tight space.

  Continue to 39 of 47 below

• 39 of 47

  Use a Dynamic Pattern

  

  This guest bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors has a randomized mustard tile accent pattern that causes the eye to move around and creates a dynamic feel that makes the modest space feel more expansive.

  Continue to 40 of 47 below

• 40 of 47

  Paint It Dark

  

  While it's true that a light and bright paint color can make a small space feel larger, the opposite can also be true. Painting a smaller space in a darker color creates the illusion that the space is larger by tricking the eye into not knowing where walls begin or end. This small bathroom from Becca Interiors is painted in a deep warm gray that instantly adds dimension to the space. Thoughtful details like the vintage pedestal sink and painted wood half-shutters make it feel polished, and a large built-in mirror over the sink painted out in the same rich gray doubles views and reflects light.

  Continue to 41 of 47 below

• 41 of 47

  Hang Dark Wallpaper

  

  If you're a fan of wallpaper, don't be afraid to choose a pattern with a dark background, like this cottage bathroom from Kate Marker Interiors which features a whimsical illustrated woodland pattern in contrasting shades of white and green. A large window allows natural light to flood in, ensuring that the space doesn't feel too dark.

  Continue to 42 of 47 below

• 42 of 47

  Skip the Double Sinks

  

  Double sinks are a modern luxury that are sometimes confused as a must-have, but there's no reason why you should sacrifice counter space for an extra sink in a smaller space. In this San Francisco condo bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors, a large vanity fills the space and provides additional storage while leaving open space that makes the small room feel less cramped and leaves room for spreading out when you're shaving, blow-drying your hair, or giving yourself an at-home spa manicure.

  Continue to 43 of 47 below

• 43 of 47

  Be Bold

  

  While you might feel inclined to brighten up a small windowless bathroom that you use on a daily basis, if you're looking to decorate a powder room for guests, why not take the opposite approach and embrace the darkness? Gray Space Interiors added personality and created a moment of drama in this small bathroom by painting the ceiling black, then adding bold technicolor wallpaper with a dark background that will turn your at-home rest stop into a miniature escape for your guests before returning to your neutral-toned living room.
  

  Continue to 44 of 47 below

• 44 of 47

  Coordinate Your Accents

  

  In this small bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors, black accents are used on the plumbing fixtures, wall-mounted towel hooks, sink mirror, and floating shelving to create a graphic look that is cohesive, limiting visual clutter and looking effortlessly pulled together.
  

  Continue to 45 of 47 below

• 45 of 47

  Accent With Patterned Floor Tile

  

  This small bathroom from Desiree Burns Interiors has a calming palette of off-whites and taupe, gold-toned accents, and a patterned tile floor that creates a focal point.

  Continue to 46 of 47 below

• 46 of 47

  Use Soothing Colors

  

  This small bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors has soothing sage green wall paint that gives it a zen feel. A large mirror hung over the sink reflects the opposite staircase just outside the room, making the modest space feel bigger and more dimensional.

  Continue to 47 of 47 below

• 47 of 47

  Play With Scale

  

  In this small bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors, an oversized sconce hanging above the large oblong mirror is a playful play on proportions, making the counterintuitive case that using larger pieces in smaller spaces can make them feel a bit more confident and grand.