Effective Ways to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger

Use Fewer Colors (or Only One!)

Too many colors can make any room feel messy and cluttered.  This is especially true if the room is already small!  When designing a small bathroom, choose one color theme for the walls, floor, and ceiling.  Lighter colors reflect more light, which helps a room feel bigger.  There is a reason so many bathrooms are white!

Use Large Tiles

Installing small tiles in a small bathroom makes logical sense in many ways, but it is actually the opposite of what you want.  The more dividing lines there are in a room, the more segmented (and therefore, smaller) it feels. Choose the largest tiles possible for the floor, shower walls, and bathroom walls. Remember to stick to one color as much as possible, and avoid bold patterns or decorations.  Using the same tiles in the shower as you use in the rest of the room also makes the room look more cohesive (and, you guessed it, bigger!).

Use Open or Recessed Shelving

Even a small bathroom needs places to store things. Cabinets with doors separate the space inside the cabinet from the rest of the room. Cabinets also stick out from the walls, taking up some of the open space. Whenever possible, use recessed shelving that will actually add a little space to the room.  To store large items that are too big for recessed shelves, use open cabinets to keep from dividing your limited space.

Hang an Oversized Mirror

The more light that is reflected in a space, the bigger it looks.  What better way to reflect light than with the largest mirror you can (tastefully) fit in your bathroom?  Whether you choose a larger mirror to hang over the sink or mirror an entire wall, mirrors are perhaps the easiest way to make a room feel larger.

Be careful when placing a mirror, however - you want it to reflect something aesthetically pleasing.  A window (if one is available) or other light source are the best thing a mirror can face; if this is not possible, perhaps a small decoration or wall hanging can be reflected. Just don’t face it right at the toilet!

Use Glass Shower Walls

While mirrors reflect light, glass lets it pass right through.  This removes visual barriers in a small room, making it seem larger and less segmented.  If you have full height walls or half height walls topped with glass in your bathroom, consider converting them to full-length glass walls.  Removing the door (even if it is glass) is another great way to remove a visual dividing line and enlarge the room!