A small bathroom is one of the worst things on the planet. I remember the one in my first apartment, there was barely any space to move, you had to close the door to open the vanity cabinet but you also had to stand off to the side or sit on the toilet sideways so you didn’t hit your shins! There are many different factors that can keep someone from being able to do much about a small bathroom; whether it be that you’re stuck in an apartment and can’t make any structural changes or you own your own home, but you don’t have the budget to do a full bathroom remodel at the moment.

Updating your tile and replacing your vanity are a couple of the easiest and most inexpensive ways that you can make your bathroom appear more open. We’ve got some tips and tricks on how you can utilize these to make your cramped bath appear “bigger on the inside.”

Be Basic

Simplicity is key when you’re wanting to make a small bathroom feel bigger! Skip the highly decorative and opt-in for more simplistic shapes and styles. In a space like this, less is more.
The subway tile look is super popular, and it’s a really basic look that’s also classy. However, what needs to be remembered with tile is size. Go for larger format tile – the less lines and grout, the better. This creates a longer line that isn’t broken up which makes the space appear larger because the pattern is continuous.
There are two ways to go with vanities her. You can choose a pedestal sink and be really minimal, but if you must have some storage space choose a floating single-sink vanity or one with open shelves instead of cabinets or drawers. A floating vanity will open up the floor space, which breaks up the space less, while an open vanity (shelves instead of drawers) moves your eye through the room and makes you think about what you really need in your bath.

Color is Key

This goes along with keeping it simple. When it comes to color in a small space you want to choose a single color or monochromatic theme. Brighter colors work best in small spaces, especially whites – plus white is classy!
Select bright, glossy white tile or backsplash that is bigger than the palm of your hand at least (remember go big or go home with the whole tile selection). If you have a light color scheme that isn’t white then keep your tile selection in that hue, it’ll still make the room feel bigger. However, it’s a little more complicated where you already have a dark bath. When you have a dark space that you can’t completely overhaul you can still choose a lighter wall tile or backsplash. Remember, you want to try to break up the colors and patterns as little as possible!

Lighter vanities are often less popular because bathrooms are already pretty bright so a vanity is the perfect piece to contrast lighter colors! This is where you can have some fun if you want to. Keep the vanity white (or whatever single color the rest of your bathroom is) especially if it’s one with drawers and cabinets, this breaks up the space less and makes a small bathroom feel larger. If you think you can spare to have some color feel free to contrast the room with a darker vanity, however, this will work best with an open style shelf vanity.

There are plenty of other tips to make your small bathroom look and feel larger, updating your tile and replacing your vanity are just a couple of the easiest and most inexpensive ways that you can make your cramped bathroom space look and feel “bigger on the inside.”

Builders Surplus is a full service renovation company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We specialize in interior design, kitchen design, bathroom remodel, building materials, and home improvement. Interior Design and measurements come as a free service to our clients. We sell building materials ranging in every price point, from unfinished kitchen cabinets to top of the line Wellborn cabinets. In addition to interior design, we also offer installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers, we would encourage you to do so. We love sharing our knowledge with clients & potential home renovators. We write about interior design, home decor, decorating ideas, and home improvement. We hope you’ll check back in for our next article! Happy Renovation!
Written By: Kat Flaherty