Small Bathrooms, Big Impressions

Sprucing up smaller bathrooms is often an afterthought when it comes to interior design. But it can be the most efficient and rewarding design project of the whole home. When it comes to the most style per square foot, smaller bathrooms are the ideal places to go all-out on high-end finishes and personal touches that would otherwise break the bank with a larger room.

It may seem ironic that a home’s smallest room – likely the smaller bathroom – can leave such a big impression. Remember that this room is one of the few rooms your guests will visit. What impacts the eye, however, is a matter of proportion. Smart use of the otherwise utilitarian space includes touches such as taking advantage of wall space by hanging a cabinet with an attached towel rack on the wall above the toilet, or building in storage space in or on walls – as well as under the sink – to hide extra rolls of tissue and other products. Taking a cue from public restrooms, where space is always an issue, add an empty shelf or a hook on the back of the door where guests can hang a jacket or other personal belongings.

Once the space-saving utility ideas are adopted, add elegant touches to pump up the style. Consider furnishing the space with a wood vanity and cabinets in a rich finish, and perhaps upgrade the medicine cabinet. Some of the higher-end medicine cabinets feature outlets for hair dryers and even TV screens, as well as refrigeration for storing medicine in humid conditions. Don’t underestimate the impact of the countertop and flooring: Here is where you can splurge without regret on a granite or marble countertop and natural stone for the floor. The backsplash can be textured with stone tiles to tie the room together. Another popular option for the backsplash area is travertine, a limestone material. Molding around the top of the walls and the baseboards will finish off the space nicely. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to upgrade the styling is to update hardware and fixtures. One trend that never goes out of date is the use of muted metals such as antique bronze or brushed nickel. The idea is to look beyond the paint when it comes to designing the smaller bathroom.

There are a few tricks to make the room appear more spacious. If storage space is unneeded in the bathroom, use a wall-mounted or pedestal sink that frees up the surrounding space, making the room seem less confined. The flooring option should alternatively include installing a hardwood floor or other flooring that matches the hallway floor outside the bathroom; this creates the illusion of a larger space when the door is open. If the flooring decision is tiles, then lay oversize floor tiles. Again, interior design for the smaller bathroom is about proportion.

The good news is that decorating a smaller bathroom requires far fewer materials than a larger room. This equates to less of an investment for the imported tile, the granite or whatever finishes. This also allows you to experiment with color. When it comes to paint, go past the white paint and see how rich, dark colors on walls and cabinets strike you. The quart of paint used for experimentation purposes is a small investment to find the "perfect" color or shade.

So dress that smaller bathroom to the nines. For the little time, effort and money put into it, the finished space will reap big rewards for years to come.



For information on everything from interior design for small kitchens and bedrooms to useful resources such as bathfitters, visit my website at http://www.thesmallerhome.com.

Andrzej Kozlowski has written numerous articles on topics ranging from home downsizing to simple living. He is also editor and co-author of the book, "Living Smart: The Money Saving, Eco-Friendly Guide to Downsizing Your Home and Belongings."