What should your strategy be if your bathroom is tiny? I’ve got you covered. As a New York City tenant for the past decade, I’ve had my fair share of little restrooms. Unfortunately, bathrooms with limited square footage are sometimes not only tiny. Still, they often have other unpleasant elements, such as dated-looking tiles — or tiles extending up to the ceiling, making it difficult to paint or wallpaper.
Your bathroom isn’t just negligible; you must also share the space with a roommate or partner. This could make dealing with your room much more difficult. I spoke with designers to get their advice on making life with a tiny bathroom less complicated and more elegant. Please continue reading for their helpful hints.
It will help if you replace your hardware.
Okay, you can’t paint the walls or change the banana-yellow tile in your bathroom. But you can at least make your cabinets the focal point. “Most bathroom hardware is generally proportioned, making it simple to replace with an updated version in a more luxury metal finish,” explains Shannon Cassell, a designer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Just switch them out before you move.”
It’s simple to find classy, affordable drawer pulls at merchants such as Amazon, World Market, and Anthropologie, primarily online, where all three have the most selection.
Vanity isn’t the only thing you can improve. The space above was created by Kelly Collier-Clark of Plot Twist Design in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and she feels that fresh gear may work wonders. “A brushed gold or matte black towel ring, toilet paper holder, and faucet (if possible) will all make a significant effect,” she says.
Improve your fabrics
Goodbye, drab bathmat! “Think outside the usual bathroom rug and cover an unsightly floor in an antique rug,” Cassell advises. “Etsy offers many readily available options, often in odd proportions to match an older bathroom plan.” The designer adds another suggestion for keeping a bathroom visually unified. “Use a rug colour to match hand towels to tie the palette together,” she says.
With a bit of paint, you can make crazy tiles.
Not a fan of the colour of those retro tiles? Don’t make any snap judgements just yet. “I say embrace it for bathrooms with a colour palette that was fashionable in the past,” says designer Jocelyn Polce of August Oliver Interiors in New Haven, Connecticut. “Choose a moody hue that complements the tile colour, then paint the untiled walls, ceiling, and trim the same colour to merge and make it feel more like a boutique hotel.”
Your lighting should be layered.
According to Dallas, Texas-based designer Chanda Kea, doubling or tripling up on fixtures would do wonders for the overall appearance of your little bathroom. “Adding backlit mirrors, shimmering lighting fixtures, recessed lighting inside a shower, or a dimmer switch not only adds beauty and design but [it] also produces a properly illuminated and balanced space,” she says. You can always bring plug-in sconces or a small, clip-on bulb for a shelf unit if you can’t hardwire anything.
Consider using an extra-long shower curtain.
According to Cassell, this is an effective technique to conceal ugly tiles. “Use a high-quality temporary shower curtain rod that matches the finish on the hardware in the room, and you’ve got a wonderful disguise — no one will know what’s behind the curtain!” If you have an unattractive glass shower door, you can do the same with a tension rod. While at it, why not try something a little different in terms of design? “For a more opulent feel, skip the big-box shower curtain and add a custom option hanging from the ceiling to the floor,” Police says.
Don’t overlook the minor nuances.
Even in the smallest of bathrooms,
it’s all about the details! Christina Nielsen, a New York City designer, suggests stocking up on gorgeous linens for the vanity, a woven basket for towel storage, and, of course, a candle. If you need to distinguish your bath products from those of a roommate or spouse, Polce recommends attractive boxes. Small elegant touches like these will make your space appear more put together and make getting ready for or unwinding from the day more delightful.
