10 Small Bathroom Design Tips To Make Your Space Feel Bigger

Does your bathroom feel a little cramped? You’re not alone! It’s actually a common challenge for many homeowners.

This article will provide expert advice and creative solutions to turn your tight quarters into a spacious haven.

Read on to learn about the best small bathroom design tips to make your tight space look bigger than it actually is!

small bathroom design tips to make it look bigger

Key Takeaways

1. Use Light Colors and Reflective Surfaces

Light colors and reflective surfaces are essential in bathroom design to visually expand a small space. Consider painting your walls with paler tones like off-white, pastels, or light gray. These shades help bounce the light around the room, creating a brighter atmosphere and the illusion of spaciousness.

Simultaneously optimize the benefits of natural light by installing glossy tiles or metallic fixtures that reflect this brightness throughout your bathroom. This ingenious layout strategy not only adds an extra aesthetic touch but also reduces visual weight making your small bathroom seem larger than it is.

Strategically positioning a large mirror, another effective designer trick, can further amplify these effects while providing practical functionality for everyday use.

reflective drawers in a small white bathroom

2. Maximize Storage and Clutter-Free Design

Optimizing your storage and maintaining a clutter-free design is key in creating the illusion of a bigger bathroom. Here are some ways to achieve this:

3. Optimize Layout and Space-Enhancing Features

Optimizing your bathroom’s layout and incorporating space-enhancing features can drastically transform the look of a small bathroom. Here’s how to achieve it:

Sink Placement

Consider installing a corner sink or a floating vanity to ensure the pathway isn't obstructed.

Shower Area

Swap out your shower curtain for glass shower doors. Their transparency creates an illusion of extra space, making your small bathroom feel visually larger.

Storage Solutions

Choose a vanity that comes with built-in storage options for a clutter-free setting.

Floor-to-Ceiling Tiles

These draw the eye upward, creating an impression of height and space according to expert tips shared under bathroom design ideas.

Pocket Doors

Replace traditional swing doors with pocket doors to save valuable floor space.

Large-Scale Wall Coverings

A tried-and-tested designer trick to expand space visually without moving any walls.

Ingenious Layouts for Small Bathrooms

Explore unique configurations like T-shaped or L-shaped layouts that minimize wasted space.

4. Get a Glass Walk-in Shower Instead Of A Tub

In your quest to create a more spacious bathroom, consider replacing your traditional tub with a glass walk-in shower. This simple switch can have a significant impact on the overall visual appeal of your space, making it feel larger and more open.

Glass shower doors allow for unobstructed views and bring in natural light, enhancing the sense of space even further. Additionally, they eliminate the need for heavy curtains or bulky shower enclosures that can visually weigh down a small bathroom.

With a glass walk-in shower, you’ll experience an immediate transformation in both aesthetics and functionality as you effortlessly elevate the look and feel of your bathroom.

walk in shower as small bathroom design tip

5. Choose Repeat Tiles On The Floors And Walls

To create the illusion of a larger space in your bathroom, consider choosing repeat tiles for both the floors and walls. By using the same tile design throughout, you eliminate visual breaks that can make a room feel smallerThis cohesive look creates a sense of continuity and openness. 

When selecting your tiles, opt for lighter colors to reflect more light and give the appearance of expansiveness. Avoid busy or intricate patterns that can overwhelm small spaces – instead, go for simple designs or subtle textures that add depth without overwhelming the eye.

Another tip is to use larger format tiles – large-scale tiles have fewer grout lines which creates an uninterrupted surface visually expanding your bathroom. Additionally, diagonal installation can also trick the eyes into perceiving more space by elongating the room’s dimensions.

Remember, consistency is key when it comes to repeat tiling in a small bathroom. Stick with one type of tile for both floors and walls to maintain continuity and maximize the feeling of spaciousness.

repeated tiles as small bathroom design tip

6. small bathroom design tips - Get Larger Mirrors

One effective way to make a small bathroom feel more spacious is by installing larger mirrors. Mirrors have the incredible ability to reflect light and create the illusion of depth, which can instantly open up a space.

By opting for an oversized mirror or even multiple smaller mirrors arranged strategically, you can visually expand your bathroom.

Not only do large mirrors help in making your bathroom appear bigger, but they also serve a practical purpose. They allow you to check yourself out from different angles while getting ready and provide the illusion of additional square footage.

7. Install A Large Bathroom Window

Installing a large bathroom window can do wonders in making your space feel bigger and brighter. Natural light has the amazing ability to open up any room, and the bathroom is no exception. With more sunlight streaming in, your bathroom will instantly appear more spacious and inviting.

Not only does a large window provide ample natural light, but it also gives you the opportunity to enjoy beautiful outdoor views while soaking in the tub or getting ready for the day. It creates a connection between nature and your personal sanctuary, making your bathroom feel like an oasis.

In addition to aesthetics, installing a large bathroom window offers practical benefits as well. Proper ventilation is important in maintaining good air quality within your bathroom, reducing humidity levels, and preventing mold growth.

large window in a small bathroom to make it look bigger

8. Get Recessed Shelves Or Open Shelves On Walls

One effective way to maximize storage and create the illusion of a larger bathroom is by incorporating recessed shelves or open shelves on the walls. These clever design elements not only provide additional space for storing toiletries, towels, and other essentials but also help to declutter the countertops, making your bathroom feel more spacious.

Alternatively, open shelves mounted on the walls serve both functional and aesthetic purposes.

Whether you choose recessed or open shelves on your walls, remember that proper organization is key to maintaining a clutter-free environment. Use baskets or bins to group similar items together and consider utilizing vertical space as well by installing higher shelving units above eye level.

open shelves in a small bathroom

9. Use Neutral Colors For Every Item In Your Bath

To create a spacious and cohesive look in your bathroom, consider using neutral colors for every item. Neutral colors such as white, beige, and light gray can help open up the space and make it appear larger.

When everything in your bathroom is in harmony with these soft tones, it eliminates visual distractions that can make a small space feel cluttered. Opt for neutral-colored tiles on the floor and walls to create a seamless flow throughout the room.

Additionally, choose a vanity, bathtub, sink, and toilet in matching neutrals to maintain a consistent color palette. By utilizing neutral colors for every item in your bath, you’ll achieve an airy and expansive atmosphere that homeowners will love.

neutral white colors in small bathroom

FAQs on small bathroom design tips

Some tips to make your bathroom feel bigger include using light colors, maximizing natural light, incorporating mirrors and reflective surfaces, utilizing vertical storage solutions, and choosing smaller fixtures and furniture.
Using light and neutral colors such as white, beige, or pastel shades can help create the illusion of a larger space in your bathroom. These colors reflect more light, making the room appear brighter and more spacious.
Mirrors are excellent for creating an optical illusion of depth and expanding visual space in a small bathroom. Placing large mirrors opposite windows or across from each other helps bounce light around the room while giving the impression of additional square footage.
Yes, changing your lighting fixtures can significantly impact how spacious your bathroom feels. Installing bright overhead lighting along with task lighting near the mirror will eliminate shadows and brighten up the entire space, making it appear more open and airy.

Conclusion

To make a small bathroom feel bigger, focus on using light colors, reflective surfaces, and maximizing storage

Consider replacing a tub with a glass walk-in shower, choose repeat tiles for continuity, and install larger mirrors. Incorporate a large window for natural light and optimize the layout for space-enhancing features. 

By implementing these small bathroom design tips, you should be able to create a visually spacious and inviting small bathroom.

At Mortise & Miter, we’re offering complete bathroom remodeling services in Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, and the surrounding areas. We’re caring for everything, so you won’t have to move a finger.

If you want to learn more about the bathroom remodel costs, call us at (913) 214-6211, or request a quote on our website, and we’ll reach back to you as soon as possible!