Bathrooms aren’t like every other room in the house. Despite their singular function, bathrooms are now becoming more and more valued. In fact, people are now taking longer to use the bathroom as they use it to alleviate stress and relax. Likewise, bathrooms are now known to improve property value if shown to be really marketable and luxurious.
Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with huge real estate, let alone huge bathrooms. Sometimes, we need to make do with what we have. That’s why it is important to understand the value of maximizing bathroom space. Here are some tips on how to accomplish this from the experts at www.steamshowerstore.co.uk
Invest in Adjustable Lighting
Adjustable lighting takes your bathroom to a whole new dimension. Bathrooms are meant to be very personal spaces and what better way to make it multifunctional than with adjustable lights. Dimmer switches help you maintain control of the mood inside the bathroom while additional up lights help maximize visibility while inside. These up lights help you see better during the day and can serve as mood lighting during the night too.
While we’re on the subject, it also helps to be sure your lighting is even all throughout the room. A single bulb in the center of the bathroom is prone to creating dark corners in the cramped room. When that happens, the room will look even more cramped. If possible, add more fittings to distribute light evenly. If not, just switch to a brighter bulb that is able to encompass the whole bathroom.
Use Glass Doors and Shower Enclosures
Shower curtains are a thing of the past. Sure you can customize patterns and change as needed but this traditional divider also makes the room look smaller. Glass doors, on the other hand, do not obstruct the flow of light in any way thus providing more openness.
Shower enclosures are also perfect for small bathrooms. Aside from the fact that they are considered luxury items, they also fit into modern bathroom designs which incorporate space saving. They use minimal space and can be cleaned quite easily.
Get Smaller Fixtures
These days, bathroom fixtures come in all sizes, shapes and designs. That’s why it is pretty easy to choose baths, showers, sinks and toilets that can fit any bathroom size.
Be sure you choose smaller fixtures and be aware of the available space. Doing so gives you ample spare to move things around or redecorate in the future. Some space saving techniques include getting sinks with accompanying vanity units or go for pedestal sinks. Newer models of small toilets are also being sold these days which don’t look cheap at all.
Maximize Storage Space
Storage is very important especially when you have limited room. As mentioned earlier, you have the option to get a sink with a vanity unit below it. That alone serves a dual purpose and can cut your clutter in half. For those who like to have platforms for storing towels, liquids, cosmetics and the like, you can use the space above the doorway by installing a rack or a shelf. Lots of people are not aware that there is a tremendous amount of unused wall space in all bathrooms. All you need to do is look up. Open shelves or enclosed cupboards will do but if you are after a less crowded option, a bunch of towel racks will do.
Swing Out Doors
We rarely see these in households but swing out doors are actually very space saving. Doors that swing inwards cramp up the room and make it appear smaller.
The only concern here is the traffic in the corridor outside. Be sure everyone is aware that the door there swings the other way so as to avoid any mishaps.
Use Colours
Colours can greatly influence the way we perceive space. In cramped spaces, it is wise not to use dark and bold colours as they further decrease the perceived space. Neutral colours on both the walls and ceilings are advised as these help keep the ambiance light and airy which results to perceived openness. If you want to keep it simple, mosaic tile borders on your surfaces will do and so will the addition of coloured plants and accessories.
Floor Tiles
Larger floor tiles are the best choice for cramped spaces. The lesser tiles you use, the lesser gaps there are in between. If you look at a floor that has fewer edges and grout-filled spaces, you get the feeling of openness. Smaller tiles will introduce more edges and should be avoided.
Mirrors
We already established earlier the importance of glass and how it gives the illusion of space. As glass doesn’t hamper light flow, it is perfect for small spaces. Mirrors, too, are the same. Although they don’t operate in the same manner, mirrors also serve to reflect whatever light is in the room. This generates more light and makes the entire room feel more spacious. Be sure you position mirrors in well-lit areas of the bathroom.
Maximize Floor Space
Floor space is extremely valuable in small bathrooms. That’s why you need to take a second look at those objects that consume it. Things like laundry bins and baskets should be tucked away in out-of-sight places or kept outside the bathroom altogether. Things that don’t belong on the floor should be cleared right away so as to make the bathroom look bigger.
Ceiling
If you are still in the build stage of your home, be sure you design it such that the rooms have high ceilings. The added space above will give one a lighter perspective and a more open view of the room. Plus, the added wall space could be used for additional shelves and lighting.
Rugs
A unified floor can be achieved by utilizing a single large rug rather than several small ones. The same also holds true for bath mats.
These are only a couple of ways you can maximize your bathroom space. If you talk with an interior designer or take the time to research even more, I’m sure you’ll find other ways that are just as effective.
Cost-effective Bathroom Tiles
There are really only a few options when you want cheap bathroom tiles. These are namely slate, ceramic and porcelain tiles. As the material that these are made of is rather limited, interior design dictates that the color is the only other thing we can personalize. Slate tiles are among the most favored because they have decent grip and are rather easy to maintain. They are also provided in various finishes and earth-tone colors which mean that you can achieve various looks without spending a ton. Slate is commonly used when the homeowner wants to achieve a natural touch to their bathroom.
Ceramic tiles are also very popular because it is sold in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and are also very cost-effective. Due to the cheap price tag, ceramic tiles are usually the primary choice when renovating properties. Light ceramic tiles are perfectly easy to clean and also help reflect light around the room. This makes the room appear larger and also cleaner. Porcelain tiles are made from refined, heated clay and are a popular replacement for ceramic and stone tiles. It is much denser and harder than ceramic and also has a decent water absorption rate. As it is a versatile material, it is also sold in various shapes, sizes, textures and colors.
Tile Sizing
While porcelain has been in use for several years, it is only now that the technology permits it to be rather cost-effective. Although it is slightly more expensive than ceramic, it is also worth noting that because it is heavier, it is harder to cut and can cause issues when fitting certain sizes. When deciding on tile sizes, it would depend a lot on how much available space there is. 10 square cm tiles are small and are best suited for small bathrooms. Installing smaller tiles results in more grout lines than necessary. This is a problem for a lot of people because it makes the room look cluttered. If you fancy the design on small tiles which have no large tile alternative, don’t fret. You can still pull off small tiles by ensuring that the grout color is exactly the same or synonymous to the tile color.
This way, everything will blend together. Large tiles are also best suited for large bathrooms. They won’t fit well in small bathrooms because they would need to be cut unevenly. If you have a medium or small-sized bathroom, it is best to utilize small to medium tiles in order to minimize the number of grout lines you produce. Tiles are not very important but can make all the difference in pulling off a bathroom. By factoring in the tile design and budget early on in the project, you can improve the bathroom ambiance drastically with little costs involved.
