Hello World! Welcome Friends! A cramped, small bathroom can be impractical and difficult to navigate, but renovating it can be a big headache and an even bigger mess.
In Canberra Plumbing’s years of experience, we’ve seen every type and style of bathroom under the sun, and there are various ways to give the illusion of a bigger space without having to pull up any pipes.
Taking away is the first logical point of call, but some nifty additions can make a huge difference, too.
Here are some ways to amplify the space in your bathroom without breaking the bank.
Create Additional Shelving or Cabinets
Are all your toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash and other accessories cluttering your bathroom? Getting rid of untidy clutter is the quickest and easiest way to free up space.
A mirror that’s flush against the wall is great, but you could mount a small medicine cabinet to the wall above the basin with a mirror attached to the front. That way you can remove the clutter from the basin and hide it away neatly in the cupboard.
Look around your bathroom for any areas of “dead space.” While a floating hand basin might seem like it takes up less space in the room, all the space below it can be optimized by building in a vanity.
Shelving is a great way to provide storage opportunities because they don’t protrude very much. Think of the space above the toilet or bath to assemble some floating shelves: use things like jars and holders for cotton buds or cotton pads, and small baskets for extra toilet paper, tissues or rolled up hand towels.
Use the “less is more” notion and try to get rid of anything unnecessary or put it in a cupboard. Use simple decorations and be intentional with them.
Utilize Mirrors and Glass
A mirror reflects light, which assists in opening up a space. If you have a large wall space that’s empty, you could install a large mirror. Even better would be to install a mirror opposite a window.
You can even use mirrors on the furniture, such as mosaicing the cabinetry.
Replacing barriers with glass is also a great option. If you have a curtain on your bath or shower, you could replace this with a glass pane. Not only is this a lot narrower, but it also allows the light to move through the space without any obstruction.
Even better than a glass shower door is a sliding door or concertina, to save space while opening and closing. If you’re adventurous, why not get rid of the shower door completely?
You could even replace your shower walls with glass panes to maximize space.
Light and Bright
Natural light is invaluable, so if your bathroom is in the middle of the house, you could even consider putting in a skylight.
If you’re lucky enough to have windows, ensure that they’re not hiding behind bulky curtains or blinds. The best decision is to have frosted window panes to ensure maximum natural light entry into the space, while still securing your privacy.
Make sure that the lights installed in the bathroom are bright enough. If not, there are various options of LED strip lights. You could raise the mirror from the wall and put backlighting behind it, or have the lights installed below the medicine cabinet.
Colors and Textures
Bathrooms are often designed so that the tiles climb halfway up the walls, and the top half is painted up to the ceiling. This isn’t ideal because horizontal breaks make a space feel more divided and even smaller.
A way to avoid this is to bring the tiles all the way up and extend them to the ceiling. This creates a feeling of height and draws the eye upwards rather than noticing how close together the walls are. Often the tiles are placed to cordon off the bath or shower – but even those tiles can be extended to the ceiling.
Another way to increase elongation is to have the floors in the same color as the walls and ceiling.
When choosing colors and textures, take note that dark shades can feel stifling and close in the space. Lighter and brighter colors, on the other hand, open it up and provide breathing room. Opt for glossy paints to reflect the light and assist in opening up the space.
Hang It Out
Towel rails are one of the easiest and simplest ways to free up space. But think out of the box about where to install them. A great option could be hidden behind the bathroom door.
Or, you could lean a ladder against the wall and hang towels from the rungs.
Don’t forget about the corners, which are often home to dead space. Diagonal shelving or railing can utilise an otherwise forgotten about corner.
If you want some greenery but don’t have any counter or shelf space, consider plants that are installed to hang from the ceiling. Woven or macrame hangings that hold a plant pot are a great option.
Key Takeaways
Making your small bathroom look bigger, brighter and more inviting can be a relatively simple task. There are various ways to open up a space that are incredibly effective and yet inexpensive.
Some ideas include:
- Installing cabinets or shelving to eliminate clutter and free up some space,
- Using larger mirrors on the walls, and incorporating mirrors on furniture too,
- Replacing shower curtains with glass,
- Getting rid of bulky curtains or blinds to make way for more natural light,
- Utilizing battery-powered LED strip lights,
- Having tiles go from floor to ceiling rather than have a horizontal break,
- Using the same colors from floor to walls to ceiling to create elongation,
- Choosing light and glossy colors and shades, and
- Utilizing hanging space.
While most of these options are quite easily DIY, if you are thinking of doing bathroom renovations and need to assistance of a plumber Canberra, maximizing your bathroom space is something you won’t regret doing.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
7 Overlooked Dirty Spots in Your Kitchen
Screens Can Offer Sun Protection
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Toodles,
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