How to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger?

Even if a bathroom has a spacious layout and a sufficient amount of usable space, it cannot be safeguarded from a cluttered and cramped appearance unless it is not well-decorated. For a good bathroom design, it is necessary to review the tips on how to make a small bathroom look bigger. There is sure to be one of the suggestions that speaks to your personal taste.

Here are 25 ideas that will not only make your bathroom more beautiful and elegant but will also help you keep it cleaner. All of our recommendations have been thoroughly evaluated and have been endorsed by users.  

1. Use Mirrors

Mirrors are the most efficient elements for creating an illusion of spaciousness due to their reflective characteristics. Wide mirrors in confined areas enhance spatial depth, whereas frameless mirrors create an illusion of increased width. Moreover, positioning the washbasin mirrors facing one another and diffusing light in the bathroom fosters an impression of expansiveness and opulence.

2. Choose Luminous Hues

Using light colors makes a bathroom feel bigger. Popular colors like white, beige, cream, light grey, and light blue are great at reflecting light and creating a more serene ambiance. You can also achieve a more refined look by going with a style that uses these colors together. Having a large bathroom does not have to mean bunging up style.

3. Boost Natural Light

The impact of natural light on enhancing the perceived spaciousness of a bathroom should not be overlooked. For this, instead of small windows for privacy, you can choose large windows that allow light to enter while maintaining privacy. If your heavy curtains obstruct light, you may opt for frosted glass. If your bathroom is obscured by external objects or vegetation, addressing this issue is crucial for enhancing the sense of space within the bathroom.

4. Minimalist Decoration

If your bathroom is a bit narrow, a minimalist design might be a good fit. Simple storage solutions like mirrors, shelves, sinks, and seats work well for your bathroom. Moreover, multifunctional and contemporary bathroom accessories will offer ample space to optimize your bathroom layout. Cleaning up the walls with simple items will definitely make them look bigger and lighter. 

5. Use a Shower Cabin Made of Glass

The shower cabin takes up the most space in the bathroom, so it makes sense to use transparent glass there. Not only does it let light in, but it also gives the impression of more space. Also, because they make the bathroom's cleanliness more apparent, transparent shower cabins make the room feel more open. These shower enclosures, the latest fashion, can be your first step to making your bathroom even more spacious.

6. Use Large Tiles

Bathroom tiles typically come in 24-by-24-inch sizes, but with a little digging, you can find 48-by-48-inch options as well. In addition to adding style, these tiles will also visually enlarge the room. Large tiles foster the illusion of a more expansive area because of their form.

7. Use Horizontal Lines

As vertical lines increase the perception of height, horizontal lines increase the perception of width. In this respect, horizontal lines should be used in narrow bathrooms instead of vertical ones. The best players we can use to do this are undoubtedly tiles. A good example would be to decorate the bathroom and add the necessary horizontal lines for width by laying one or two rows of horizontal tiles on the wall tiles.

8. Transparent Furniture

You can choose the cabinets, shelves, and even the chairs you use in the bathroom from transparent materials such as glass and fiberglass for a more airy look. No, they will not make your bathroom appear wider, but instead, they will keep things from looking as cluttered as they would with opaque materials. Furthermore, translucent materials provide a contemporary style and a more refined appearance to the bathroom.

9. Elevated Ceiling 

Using vertical lines in your bathroom can enhance the perception of height and depth. Tiles are an effective substitute for this, but there are other alternatives that are more straightforward to implement. Vertical shelves, towel racks, cabinets, or mirrors are a few examples of furnishings that might evoke this effect. If you employ curtains, you may select those with vertical lines.

10. Open Shelves

Open shelves create a feeling of spaciousness in bathrooms. However, when placing your toiletries on these shelves, you should leave enough space between them and place your items so they are not cramped. If you have too much stuff, you can choose a second shelf.

11. Single Color Palette

Applying a single color to a bathroom wall makes the space seem larger than it actually is because it is less visually demanding and gives the impression of more light and air. Selecting light hues like white, cream, or pistachio green can create a bathroom that appears both pristine and elegant while also being spacious.

12. Purge the bathroom of clutter

Proper stacking of the bathroom's items will give the illusion that there is not enough room, making the room appear smaller than it actually is. When it comes to clearing out clutter in the bathroom, you have plenty of options.

A bench is a multipurpose piece of furniture that can serve as both a seat and a shelf. Alternatively, you may utilize shelves, toilet paper holders, cupboards, and hangers to eliminate bathroom clutter. You can also use decorative baskets or trays.

13. Enhance lighting

The bathroom lighting should be free of shadows and have a high level of light. For this, you can add ceiling lighting and opposing lamps on the walls. You can also add depth to the space by using accent lights for the mirror, shelves, and shower cabin.

Another option is to use LED lights as wall décor; you can even make a tiny pattern with them. To create the illusion of height and openness in your bathroom, try hanging a dramatic LED flat light from the ceiling to draw attention to the vertical space.

14. Rectangular Sink

Sinks are a classy way to upgrade your bathroom, but if you use a wider one than is strictly necessary, the space will appear even more cramped. A rectangular washbasin can help you address this issue effectively.

Additionally, the functionality can be enhanced by incorporating double faucets in rectangular sinks. Furthermore, rectangular washbasins establish a horizontal line, fostering a perception of spaciousness in the bathroom.

15. Match Floor and Walls

In most cases, the floor of a bathroom will be tiled in a different color or pattern than the walls. However, in confined bathrooms, it will be advantageous to slightly extend this guideline. 

By aligning the tile lines with the wall color, you can create an optical illusion that enhances the perceived width of your bathroom space. Vertical lines can enhance the perception of height, while horizontal lines can augment the perception of width.

16. Replace the Inward Door

Doors that open into the bathroom will significantly reduce the bathroom area. To prevent this, you may opt for sliding doors, folding doors, or outward-opening doors. Consequently, the unused space in the doorway can be transformed into a functional area, such as shelves or hangers.

17. Choose Nature-Inspired Bathroom Design

Place a greater emphasis on the presence of natural elements in the bathroom and enhance the texture of the green. There are many alternatives, such as aloe vera, bamboo, snake plant (Sansevieria), spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), and many more. Also, use of dried eucalyptus leaves in the bath will have a refreshing and healthful effect.

18. A Simple Bathroom Design for a Cozy Washroom

In comparison to bathrooms with a lot of color, ones that are simple and uncluttered always look classier. In fact, many modern architects take this into account when designing bathrooms. These minimalist and simple designs are frequently favored in bathrooms for their width and spaciousness, as well as for creating a more inviting atmosphere.

19. Wall-to-Wall Shower Room

A wall-to-wall shower enclosure can effectively enhance the perception of spaciousness desired. The open design of these shower enclosures works particularly well in brightly lit rooms. The addition of opulent marble accents can also elevate the style of your bathroom.

20. Optimal Neutral Colors

Neutral colors are particularly well-suited to light bathrooms and can be displayed to their full potential. However, if you do go with a neutral color, be sure to accessorize it well to make it stand out. Failure to attain this equilibrium will render neutral colors ineffective in producing the desired outcome.

21. Use Corner Units to Maximize Space 

In small bathrooms, the correct use of corners is of great importance. A corner unit is an alternative to a central washbasin that takes up valuable floor space in the bathroom. You will not only have more room to move around, but you will also give the idea that the bathroom is larger than it actually is.

22. Brighten The Bathroom with Feng Shui 

In Feng Shui theory, the bathroom is best decorated with white, green, and blue hues because these colors stand for the water element, nature, and rebirth, and cleanliness, respectively. Using natural materials supports the flow of positive energy. Plants increase positive energy by bringing nature indoors, but species that do not need sunlight should be preferred. 

23. Utilise The Ofuro Philosophy

Ofuro is the traditional Japanese bathing practice involving immersion in a tub of hot water, usually made from deep wooden or stone containers. This bath is more for the purpose of spiritual and mental cleansing than physical cleansing; it is a place to unwind and meditate.

24. Get the Most Out of Wabi-Sabi

Wabi-Sabi is an aesthetic theory that praises the value of unprocessed, organic, and imperfection-laden beauty. According to this thought, bathrooms should have minimal furnishings, natural materials, and pastel color schemes. The tenets of Wabi-Sabi state that indoor spaces should be spare, practical, and in tune with nature.

25. Go for Bohemian Style 

To get that airy 1970s vibe, mix bohemian bathroom decor with some modern touches. A freestanding tub or vessel sink works well. Also, patterned concrete tiles or leather cabinetry can give the room a more medieval vibe.

FAQs

For all your bathroom design questions about how to make a small apartment bathroom look bigger, here are the answers.

What color makes a small bathroom look bigger?

Because of their ability to reflect light, bathrooms are best decorated in light, earthy, or green hues. For a sleeker, more contemporary feel in the bathroom, try using black, navy blue, or dark green as accent colors.  

How do you visually enlarge a small bathroom?

There are many ways to visually enlarge a bathroom. Brightly reflective furniture and accessories, horizontal and vertical lines, rectangular sinks, glass shower cabins, bathroom storages and large mirrors are just a few of the numerous possibilities to consider.  

How can I make my small bathroom more attractive?

When you accessorize your bathroom with items that complement its style and design, you can elevate its aesthetic value. If your bathroom is more rustic, you can add more wooden elements; if it is more modern, you can go with minimalist accessories.

What kind of flooring makes a small bathroom look bigger?

In compact bathrooms, selecting a floor that mirrors the wall pattern and aligning or paralleling the floor lines with the wall lines generates an illusion of spaciousness. Generally, the floor color should be one or two shades darker than the wall color.  

Do mirrors make a small bathroom look bigger?

Yes, mirrors are one of the most effective accessories for making a space appear larger than it actually is. This is the primary rationale behind the abundance of mirrors in high-end hotel lobby areas. Positioning a frameless mirror in various locations within the bathroom, beyond the washbasin, enhances the decor and creates an illusion of spaciousness.  

What wallpaper makes a small bathroom look bigger?

Your selection of wallpaper should correspond with the dimensions of your bathroom. With wallpapers featuring vertical lines, even a bathroom with a low ceiling can seem taller. Likewise, wallpapers with horizontal lines for a narrow bathroom will increase the perception of width and make the bathroom look more spacious than it is.  

How do you optimise space in a small bathroom?

For a clean and organized bathroom, open shelving systems and multifunctional vertical storage units are excellent choices. To enhance the functionality and organization of your washroom, consider acquiring benches that serve a dual purpose as storage solutions.  

Where should pictures be placed in a small bathroom?

The primary features of bathrooms are typically the sinks and the mirrors positioned above them. That being said, if there is room, the spots near these mirrors are perfect for your pictures. When there is no suitable location to hang a picture around the mirror, it is recommended that you identify the second focal point in the bathroom with the most visible area. When hanging the picture, select locations that are not susceptible to water splashes.

Final Thoughts

These tips for decorating a stylish bathroom are just a guiding light. They are meant to help you see how to make a small apartment bathroom look bigger by using one or more of these ideas. We at Vita Home are committed to providing you with products that make the most of the space available to you, whether that is in terms of aesthetics or functionality