A small bathroom can be a cute, efficient, and stylish little nook. But let’s be honest, often “small” simply translates into “cramped.” When you’re bumping elbows with your partner, struggling to find a spot for your toiletries, and constantly banging the door against the toilet, the charm of a small space quickly fades. If you’re looking for a way to make every inch count, check out our small bathroom remodeling tips below. And if you’re ready to revamp your tiny space, schedule a consultation with our expert home remodelers today!
Master the Art of Smart Storage
The number one enemy of a small bathroom is clutter. When every surface is covered, the room instantly feels smaller and more chaotic. The solution, fortunately, isn’t to own less stuff; it’s to create intelligent, integrated storage that hides the essentials while keeping them easily accessible.
Go Vertical
When you can’t build out, build up. In many cases, the vertical space in a bathroom is underutilized. So, instead of cramming a wide, bulky vanity or multiple baskets into the space, consider installing a taller, more slender linen tower that draws the eye upward and provides ample storage for towels, toiletries, and extra paper products.
Wall-mounted shelving is another fantastic option. Open shelves can hold decorative items, rolled towels, or attractive baskets, adding both storage and a touch of personal style. Just be mindful to keep them neat and organized, as visual clutter can defeat the purpose.
Embrace Recessed Niches
During a remodel, it’s relatively simple for your contractor to build recessed storage niches. The most popular location for this is in the shower or tub enclosure. A built-in niche eliminates the need for clunky shower caddies that hang from the showerhead or bottle-filled ledges. It creates a sleek, custom look and keeps your shampoos, soaps, and conditioners neatly tucked away.
Don’t stop at the shower, though. A tall, recessed cabinet built into the wall behind a toilet or next to a sink can provide an incredible amount of hidden storage without taking up a single inch of floor space.
Rethink the Vanity
The bathroom vanity is typically the largest piece of furniture in the room, making its design critical. One way you can maximize space in a small bathroom is to install a floating vanity. This vanity mounts to the wall so that it “floats” above the ground. By freeing up the floor, you create the illusion of more space. You can even use the area beneath the sink to tuck away a scale or small basket.
An alternative to a floating vanity is a vanity with drawers. This allows for better organization and easier access to essential items. If your bathroom’s layout is particularly awkward, a corner vanity can be a lifesaver. It uses dead space and frees up more valuable wall and floor areas.
Install Wall-Mounted or Compact Toilets
Just as a floating vanity opens up the floor, a wall-mounted toilet can do the same. By concealing the tank inside the wall, you can save up to a foot of depth, which is a monumental amount in a small room. This also makes cleaning the floor significantly easier. If a wall-mounted model isn’t in the budget, look for compact, round-front toilets instead of elongated models to save a few precious inches.
Replace Your Bathtub With a Shower
Does your small bathroom have a tub? If you aren’t a frequent bath-taker, consider replacing your tub with a walk-in shower. This not only opens up the space but also improves accessibility. To maximize the effect, opt for a frameless glass door. Unlike a shower curtain or a framed door, which acts as a visual barrier, a clear glass panel allows the eye to travel all the way to the back of the shower wall, making the entire room feel larger, brighter, and more cohesive. A curbless shower entry, where the floor tile runs seamlessly into the shower, further enhances this effect.
Utilize the Power of a Pocket Door
A standard swinging door requires a significant amount of clear floor space to open and close — space you simply don’t have in a tiny bathroom. Replacing it with a pocket door, which slides discreetly into the adjacent wall, is one of the most effective changes you can make. It instantly frees up space that can be used for storage, a larger fixture, or simply maneuvering more easily. If a pocket door isn’t feasible, a barn door that slides along the outside wall is another stylish and space-saving alternative.
Make Your Tiles Do the Heavy Lifting
Your choice of tile can have a surprisingly large impact on the perception of space. It may seem counterintuitive, but using large-format tiles (like 12×24 or 24×24 inches) on the floor and walls is a great strategy. Fewer grout lines create a less busy, more seamless surface that makes the room feel more expansive. If possible, use the same tile on the floor as you do in the shower. This continuous flow tricks the eye into seeing one large, unbroken space.
Additionally, keep in mind that tiles with a glossy or polished finish will reflect light, much like a mirror, helping to brighten the room and make it feel more open. Finally, laying floor tiles on a diagonal can make a narrow room appear wider.
Create the Illusion of Space
If you’re not looking to change the layout of your tiny bathroom, you can use an array of design principles to trick the eye into perceiving a much larger area. Specifically, you should focus on lighting, color variations, and reflections.
Use a Light & Bright Color Palette
Dark, saturated colors absorb light and can make walls feel like they are closing in on you, so stick to a palette of whites, soft creams, light grays, or pale pastels for your walls, tiles, and large fixtures. Painting the ceiling the same light color as the walls, or a shade even lighter, will draw the eye upward and create a sense of height and airiness.
Strategically Place Mirrors on the Walls
Mirrors are your best friend in a small bathroom. A large mirror — or even an entire mirrored wall — can visually double the size of the room. It reflects light, both natural and artificial, and bounces the image of the room back on itself, creating a profound sense of depth.
Choose Lighting Carefully
A single, dim overhead light will cast shadows and make the room feel gloomy and confined. By implementing a layered lighting plan, you can make your space feel more welcoming. You should install ambient lighting as your main source of light. This could include recessed ceiling fixtures or a stylish flush-mount ceiling light. Then, place task lighting around your vanity or sink. Sconces on either side of the mirror are ideal, as they illuminate your face without casting shadows. Finally, install accent lighting in your shower, along the edges of the floor, or under your cabinetry for a soft, ambient glow.
Let Apex General Help Maximize Space in Your Small Bathroom
With a thoughtful remodel that prioritizes smart storage, space-saving fixtures, and clever visual strategies, a small bathroom can become a highlight of your home. At Apex General, we are experts in transforming cramped bathrooms into beautiful, efficient, and surprisingly spacious retreats. We can help you maximize every square inch of your bathroom space, offering creative recommendations that work for your lifestyle and look stunning at the same time. We can even create 3D designs of your ideas so that you can visualize every little detail before any work begins.
With our team, you don’t have to let a small footprint limit your vision. Reach out to our bathroom remodelers today to schedule your consultation and discover the true potential of your tiny space.
