Our bathrooms are our sanctuaries; the places we liven up in the morning to get ready and raring for the day, and where we relax after a long day. We use them constantly; according to a 2019 survey from YouGov, 49% of people shower once a day, and 6% more than once!
As such, it’s important we enjoy them, but if you’re stuck with a small, pokey bathroom, what should you do? Thankfully, there are lots of things you can do to make your bathroom look a little larger.
Choose the right paint
Dark colours and patterns are a quick way to make your bathroom appear much smaller than it is; they absorb all the light entering the room and can feel quite oppressive.
Instead, paint your bathroom in a brighter shade. Whites naturally work best, but if you want to inject some personality, mint greens and pastel pinks are a great shout too. There are plenty of bathroom-friendly paints out there – just make sure to look for products that can be cleaned and wiped down easily so they don’t promote the growth of mould.
If you instead opt for tiles, find the smallest ones you can – they will trick the eye into thinking the room is larger than it is.
Use mirrors
By including large mirrors in your bathroom space – whether floor length, an entire wall, multiple mirrors, or a large mirror above the sink – you can create the illusion of space.
Interestingly, this approach can make very dark (read: black) coloured rooms look much larger, but you have to commit with black floors, shiny black fittings, and black towels. A big ask, we know!
More natural light
While we all need privacy in our bathrooms, a lack of natural light will make the space look dim and dismal. You need to maximise the light coming in, so consider covering the bottom half of your window with frosting or a blind so you can still benefit from a constant stream of light entering your bathroom, while still preserving your decency.
Combined with light colours and mirrors, this tip can make a significant difference to your bathroom, ensuring it’s a refreshing and rejuvenating place to spend time.
Space-friendly décor
Pedestal sinks, footed baths, and minimal cabinets are all crucial when designing a space-friendly bathroom. Yes, you won’t have as much storage space, but this can be a way time to declutter. Use other storage spaces inside your home to store non-essential bits and bobs. Things like stacks of towels, replacement soaps and the like.
Decorations in general will make your bathroom look small and cluttered, so pick one or two statements (a small vase of flowers and a single piece of art, say), and leave it at that. Less really is more here.
Don’t suffer a sad bathroom. With a quick lick of paint and some smart décor choices, you can make it a lovely, laid-back sanctuary.
