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Small bathrooms can be delightful if you take the time to decorate them appropriately! Emily Silverstein from

Delightful Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas

Normal, everyday people want a professional look in their smaller bathrooms. Over 90% of homes are not mansions or custom homes, and with budgets for us normal people being a little less than that of the typical millionaire, we have to be creative when decorating our space.

Bathrooms are by far the most used rooms in a typical house, yet they tend to get overlooked when decorating. We tend to look at the main entertaining areas of our home first. Below are some ideas that can give inspiration when decorating your small bathroom.

Small bathrooms are common but they can still look elegant and have as much storage as some of today's larger bathrooms if done right.

Just Because Your Bathroom Is Small Doesn’t Mean It Has to Look That Way

Even the smallest of bathrooms can be made to look larger than their square footage. Some of the most common ways you can do this are using a free-floating sink and shelving that hangs on the wall.

Instead of a dark shower curtain, use glass surround doors or a clear curtain. This will open up the space to make it appear larger. Using see-through décor in small bathrooms is essential to give it a spacious look. Larger mirrors can help, along with strategically placed lighting that we'll go over further into this article.

This bathroom is painted in a light blue which allows the light to bounce and reflect off the walls and give you a feel of openness.

Use Lighter Colors

Lighter colors are essential to make a small space look larger. Dark colors will just close in the space and actually make it look smaller and closed in. A slightly darker accent wall is ok to use if you want some contrast to give the room some depth.

Wallpaper has become more popular in recent years; however, the same rules apply to wallpaper as paint. White wainscoting is a great way to add some design without taking up space or breaking the bank. If you’re going to tile the floor, then a lighter color tile will work well and give some openness to the room.

For small bathrooms, pocket doors are becoming more and more utilized as a space saving door.

Pocket Doors

If it is possible and within the budget, a pocket door is a great way to save space as it allows you to add more shelving for storage purposes. Pocket doors with a mirror on the inside can make your small bathroom look like it’s twice the size. The door frame of the entry will have to be changed, and the typical pocket door frame will run around $100.

The door itself can start at around $200 and go up from there, depending on the size and quality of the door. Keep in mind this does not include installation. If a pocket door is not in the budget, then using a mirrored bathroom door or adding a full-length mirror to your existing door can give you a similar effect for a fraction of the cost. With this solution, you will be limited in the space you can use for storage behind the door.

Look to Hotels for Inspiration

Hotels have mastered the art of making a small space look larger than it is, so don't be afraid to look at some of their designs for inspiration.

The right lighting is everything to open the look of a small space.

Lighting Makes a Difference

A well-lit bathroom always helps when you have a smaller bathroom. If you don’t have a window where natural light can come through, then try adding brighter lights or ones that are nondirectional to make the space appear larger.

A dark, unlit space makes your bathroom look enclosed, much like a dark-colored paint would do. This is as simple as adding a higher wattage bulb to your existing light or changing out the light completely. You'll notice a substantial difference just by removing your regular light bulbs and replacing them with LED or ultra-white bulbs.

Brighter is better in small spaces. Don't be afraid to add a splash of color to your bathroom with a small potted silk orchid arrangement like the one shown.

Shelf space is always key in small spaces. Whenever possible free hanging shelves are best to keep things off the floor.

Storage

When you have a small bathroom, storage is always going to be an issue. Where do you put your towels? What about extra supplies? The top two feet of space below your ceiling is probably the most under-utilized space in a home. Above the bathroom door is often overlooked but is an excellent space to store towels, as shown in the picture above.

Use narrow but tall shelving in order to maximize functionality and space. Tall metal towel racks are great for storing extra towels in small spaces. There are many different styles to match your décor, along with options that can further expand your storage. A simple search for bathroom wall storage on the internet can pull up multiple options, from expensive wall units to inexpensive but modern metal storage options.

White wainscoting is another design technique that is coming back. Freestanding sinks are an option that is inexpensive but also takes up more space than a free floating sink.

The Bathroom Is a Very Important Room

We spend much of our time in our bathroom and it should be a place free of obstacles and clutter as it can be the most dangerous room in the house. Keeping it clutter free and organized will help you start your day with the right mindset and focused on the tasks ahead at work.

Just because your bathroom is small doesn’t mean it can’t look custom designed. Pull everything out of your bathroom and start from scratch, getting rid of some of the things that are not used and only leaving necessary items. Adding a touch of color and making it well lit are the keys to creating an open area that looks much larger than it actually is.

nottreally here on July 24, 2016:

I am using the space in walls. Put shelf in between the studs.

peachy from Home Sweet Home on January 19, 2015:

wow your bathrrom ideas could turn any bathroom into a 5 star bathroom, voted up

Cynthia B Turner from Georgia on April 08, 2014:

Great pics. I love pocket doors in a room. I don't have any, but I can see how they would free up space. Your other ideas are good as well especially when it comes to dark colors making a room seem small. Thanks for the info.

Chad Young (author) from Corona, CA on March 06, 2014:

I would love to see the pictures when you're finished.

Preston and Kate from the Midwest on March 06, 2014:

We just finished a bathroom in our basement and now I am looking for some bathroom decorating ideas. Thanks for sharing! -Kate