Until a few decades ago, all bathrooms were small—most were no larger than 5 feet by 8 feet, providing just enough room for a tub/shower combination, vanity, and toilet. You might think that the smaller the bathroom, the more challenging the remodeling, because how can you create openness and space without tearing out any existing walls? Luckily, homeowners who plan to work with what they’ve got may find that smart choices in colors, fixtures, and amenities can make a small bathroom look and feel larger than its actual square footage.
To help you get started, Bath Planet New Jersey has a few tricks to use for small bathroom renovations. We also have a design team ready to assist you with your next bathroom renovation and provide advice tailored to your needs.
Pick the Right Colors
A light color scheme for a small bathroom renovation is one of the easiest ways to manipulate the layout of a bathroom to seem larger than it is. White, in particular, is one of the best colors to use because it adds the most brightness to a space and gives it a simplistic feel, making the space look more open. Apply this neat trick by adding light-colored paint to your bathroom walls or installing cabinets with a lighter wood finish.
Keeping the walls and trim light doesn’t mean you have to settle for an absence of all color or personality, though. We recommend injecting color into the bathroom through the accessories you choose. Bold red towels and a soap dispenser in a matching shade will energize a small bathroom without overwhelming it. Add texture and color to the floor with a patterned rug. Should you tire of the look of your bathroom down the road, this color strategy makes updating easy: All you have to do is switch out your textiles and accessories to create a whole new look and feel.
Replace Your Shower Doors with Frameless Glass
While a textured glass shower door offers a bit of privacy, a clear glass shower door turns the shower into an extension of the rest of the bathroom rather than cutting it off the way a curtain or half wall might.
Frameless glass shower doors are popular among many homeowners for the style they add to bathrooms. Unlike framed or semi-framed glass shower doors, frameless doors do not have a metal or plastic frame, making them look invisible at first glance. For a small bathroom renovation, this product can be used to your advantage. Adding a frameless glass shower door that connects from the floor to the ceiling showcases the extra space behind it, making your small bathroom appear endless!
Consider Installing Windows
Along with adding light colors and frameless glass shower doors as part of a small bathroom renovation, windows also help expand small spaces. If the layout of your home permits, adding a window next to the sink or shower or even a skylight on the ceiling will allow more light into your small bathroom space, giving it a more spacious look.
Choose a Wall Mirror
Wall mirrors are one of the best accessories for small bathrooms. Their ability to reflect light and objects in a bathroom can fool the eye into thinking a space is much larger. The trick is to place a mirror above the sink or by itself on one of the bathroom walls. Additionally, the larger the mirror can be, the more it will be able to reflect light and the components of small bathroom space.
Additionally, high-gloss fixtures (tubs, sinks, and showers), shiny countertops, and lustrous tile backsplashes do more of the same. Consult the Bath Planet New Jersey team to find materials that provide the right amount of sheen and complement the rest of your project plans.
Remove Extra Walls
Walls tend to create a natural barrier in space, causing it to feel more enclosed than it needs to be. For small bathrooms especially, extra walls can make them feel very cramped. Luckily for a small bathroom renovation, removing any extra walls is a quick fix to this problem. However, it’s important to contact a professional before removing any walls in your home to confirm if they are load-bearing or not.
Try a Floating Bathroom Vanity
Floating bathroom vanities are becoming a trend for small bathroom renovations. These vanities are elevated off the ground and sit against the bathroom wall. For a small bathroom, floating vanities work best when installed under the bathroom sink. This consolidates space and also provides room for more storage under the vanity. Additionally, the extra space below the vanity allows for the wall and floor to be visible, making a small bathroom look less cluttered.
Interested in using these tricks to remodel your bathroom? Schedule a free consultation with one of our designers at Bath Planet New Jersey today to begin your next small bathroom renovation!