7 tips to make small bathrooms look bigger
The British bathroom is known for being small. In fact, an ensuite or downstairs bathroom can measure little more than 1.5 metres square.
Trying to fit all of the necessities, and bring a touch of style, can be a difficult compromise when designing a small bathroom, so how do you create more space where it feels like there is none?
From changing furniture to adding a lick of paint and introducing some more light, there are plenty of things you can do to enhance the look of your small bathroom. In this guide we’ll give you some ideas to help make your space feel bigger without sacrificing the essentials such as storage and functionality.
1. Give your small bathroom some home comforts
There’s nothing worse than entering a bathroom and feeling like you’re in a tiny, unloved space. Bring in some home comforts with a soothing scented candle, airy curtains that let in plenty of light or even a small stool or pouffe to add a touch of luxury.
Adding in some soft fabrics or artwork gives that space its own personality, rather than feeling purely functional. By bringing in matching brassware finishes such as our Brushed Brass taps and accessories, or even using the shade of your furniture as an accent colour, a small bathroom can be turned into a coordinated space.
2. Bring in a little life to your small bathroom
Try to expand your space by adding some styling touches such as plants and greenery, as they are a great way to bring life to a tired space. Go for varying heights and sizes to make tight corners and ceilings feel less enclosed and more purposeful and refreshing.
Certain plants do better in an environment than others, mostly species that enjoy moist, humid environments. Spider plants, Maidenhair fern or Clubmosses are smaller, but with the correct amount of care can create an attractive addition. It’s worth bearing in mind that natural light is still required, so if your bathroom doesn’t have a window it may be worth investigating fake options.
If your bathroom has some natural light, but you’d like to supplement it with more, why not add some artificial light with one of our illuminated mirrors.
3. Get smart with bathroom storage
Bathroom storage is, of course, key to helping a small bathroom not only look better, but function better too. But storage needn’t be ugly, or purely practical, as unused space can easily be turned into helpful nooks that add valuable storage space for essentials.
Above the toilet is one of the most neglected and underused spaces in the bathroom. Create great space for both storage and décor by adding shelves above. For a lighter look, open shelves can help a small bathroom feel less crowded. If you’ve got a little more wall space, why not opt for a stylish mirrored wall cabinet or one of our smart storage columns? Small cabinets can hide toiletries and keep surfaces organized. Tall bathroom cabinets and other tall, slim storage solutions maximize vertical storage in small spaces.
We also have a range of vanity units specifically made for smaller spaces, and combination units can save space by merging sink and storage. Klein and Serenity provide a polished mix of form and function, with a range of available finishes. A corner sink can make use of often-overlooked space in a compact bathroom.
4. Mirrors to make a statement
We all know large mirrors can make a space feel bigger, but don’t fall into thinking bigger is better. In fact, a rule of thumb for sizing is that a mirror should be slightly smaller than the width of your vanity to create balance and breathing room.
But adding a reflective surface to any space helps make it appear larger, helps the room feel larger, and helps bounce light around the room to make the most of available lighting. Mirrors can also make the room feel bigger, especially when natural light is limited. If you only have a small window in your bathroom, or no windows at all, an illuminated mirror adds pleasing, diffused lighting to your space, meaning you can have a smaller light fitting.
Some of our mirrors, such as the Corona range, offer adjustable colour temperatures so you can create soft morning light or dimmed evening light at the touch of a button.
5. Furniture that fits: consider wall hung
Small bathroom furniture is all about optimising and maximising your space, and wall hung units with wall mounted fixtures are a great way to achieve this.
By lifting the vanity unit onto the wall with a wall hung vanity, you can create extra floor space and an airy feel, as floating fixtures expose more floor area. Our new Serenity and Klein wall hung units are the perfect solution for this, available in a wide range of finishes to suit your taste.
Matching this with a wall hung toilet or a short projection toilet, paired with towel rails and robe hooks, helps save floor space, makes the most of valuable floor space, and creates more space and more room around fittings.
6. Paint with light colours to remove visual boundaries
Often in small spaces we go for white walls to make the room brighter, but light colours can also help a small room or small space feel less cramped rather than boring and stark. The current trend for colour drenching removes visual boundaries, so keeping the ceiling, skirting board and walls in the same shade can create a more cohesive colour palette.
A good starting point with any colour drenching project is using your vanity unit to set the colour. There are a large variety of colours and finishes available across R2’s furniture, including Matt Aloe Green and Matt Fossil.
Lighter shades help to reflect light rather than absorb, making them a better choice for a smaller bathroom, as they can improve the bathroom feel, make the room feel larger and help avoid feeling cramped, as does a gloss finish on the door and surrounding frame. Neutral wall panels can also create a smooth, spacious appearance with fewer visual breaks.
7. Wallpaper can expand the room
Wallpaper is one of the most effective bathroom ideas and ideas for small bathrooms, as a large-scale print can broaden and amplify the space.
Choosing the right pattern can enhance the space you have, while adding a touch of personality at the same time. For example, a vertical stripe can help low ceilings feel taller whereas a horizontal stripe will widen a narrower space. Patterned tiles can offer a similar decorative effect, adding visual interest without overwhelming the room.
Oversized florals, with a healthy amount of light-coloured space between the pattern, create plenty of breathing room, support an airy feel, and reflect available light at the same time.
A bonus tip: Tiles add another glossy surface
Tiling in a small bathroom may be difficult or impractical, but even a small splashback or some tiled sections can add visual interest and create the illusion of a larger room, while also being practical in a wet room or shower enclosure design.
Much like a mirror, tiles with a glossy surface can reflect light around the room, helping to illuminate all corners. Picking a larger, lightly coloured tile in a compact bathroom reduces the impact of grout lines, which can create a visual barrier, giving you a large, surface clean area to make the small space feel open and uncluttered.
Tiling choices also matter when planning a bath or shower zone: a shower bath can save space because it combines bathing and showering in one unit, and standard versions can suit narrow bathrooms while P- and L-shaped options add extra standing room. If you're weighing compact baths or a small bath, they should typically be 1750mm or less in length and can still offer a comfortable soak in a compact layout.
Choosing a colour-matched grout will further minimise any harsh contrast, as will having the same finish as any other ceramics, such as the basin. A sliding shower door matters too, as sliding shower doors maximize space by eliminating door swing.
