If your bathroom lives up to its name as the smallest space in the house, you’re certainly not alone. British houses have always had a tendency towards less spacious bathrooms than European and US homes, and that doesn’t seem about to change the average family bathroom in a new-build house measures just two by two meters.
Luckily bathroom designers are aware of our craving for space-saving fixtures and there’s an array of solutions. Combine a compact suite, with uncomplicated decor and your diminutive bathroom will feel airy and welcoming.
- Lighten Up: Open out the space utilizing light, neutral or pastel colors on your walls, floor, and ceiling. Should you locate monochrome boring, try playing with textures and finishes. Dark shades or hectic patterns shrink any place and need to be avoided when decorating as they overpower and contract the place, and in a very small area can produce a look of disorder. If you’re desperate to add color, use towels and other accessories to introduce a splash here and there. Vertical lines give the illusion of height and horizontal do the same for width, so do consider this when choosing furniture, or wallpaper, and deciding which strategy to place tiles.
- Solar Power: Natural light is your greatest ally in creating that spacious, airy seem that will expand even the tiniest bathroom. So for those who have a window or skylight inside place make the most of it. A mirror opposite or close to your window will assist in maximizing the sunlight. But don’t install lots of mirrors in desperation to add extra depth to the place as it can look overwhelming and even a bit eerie if mirrors are placed on opposite walls. Instead, use shiny reflective tiles and fixtures to flood the space with as much light as possible.
- Go Deep: When each inch is at a premium you don’t want a long bathtub sprawling across the floor. You’ll be able to get a very good soak inside a smaller room by installing a shorter, but deeper tub. If this really is your only bathroom, install your shower over the bath, and be sure to have a clear glass screen or transparent shower curtain so you’re not closing off any of the areas.
- Excellent Cornering: Corner tubs tend to take up additional space rather than much less, so avoid these. But a corner sink could be a beneficial choice, or even a corner toilet if your plumbing permits. Newer toilets are generally a lot more compact than older models, so it might be a great idea to upgrade even if you’re leaving it where it is. For those who have an additional bath in your property, you may want to think about having just a shower enclosure instead. Curved quadrant shower enclosures are an excellent selection as they fit into the corner, but have a curved third edge, instead of a corner jutting out into the place.
- Kill the Clutter: The busier your bathroom looks the smaller it will appear, so do all you can to keep it looking tidy. Don’t keep any items on display that aren’t utilized on a daily basis and don’t retain anything in the bathroom that it’s not important to have close at hand in there. Make sure you’ve got enough storage, and maintain cupboards off the floor. Placing a cabinet above the toilet, shelves in the corner or over your mirror or window could be beneficial methods to add storage place without further crowding the place.
- Sliding Doors: If your smallest place is so diminutive it’s not feasible to have a door opening into the place. The obvious solution is to reverse the hinges so it opens the other way, but that’s not generally an alternative either. Should you find this really is the case, installing a sliding door is usually an excellent solution to save floor area. These doors can either run against the wall or even, if the structure of your building allows, disappear into a wall cavity when opened for a fabulously minimal search.
