We have heard from prospective clients far too often “Oh, its is a small room, so there isn’t too much we can do here”. Although having a modest bathroom does come with its limitations, just because it is small, doesn’t mean it can’t be transformed into a beautiful one. Here are a few ways in which even the smallest of ensuites can still hold its own against the bigger ones.
Small bathroom? No problem
By envy bathrooms
Natural light is a big player here. If a space is light and bright it is often inviting and appears larger then it actually is. If you already have a window in the room, perfect, but if you are converting an old wardrobe into a new bathroom, then maybe a skylight is the way to go. Whatever your circumstances are, getting natural light into the space is a must!
Now that you have natural light sorted, its time to think about what happens when the sun goes down. The days of having the all-in-one fan and heat lights as your only light source are over. These tend to cast big shadows across your hard furnishings like your vanity. Consider ambient lighting via LED strips either under your vanity or from above and below your shaving cabinet. Task lighting at face level can also help. This not only serves to spread diffused light around the room, but also provides practical light where you need it at face level. This can be completed though wall sconces or pendent lights. They also add a nice visual feature to your bathroom.
Whilst on the subject of light, when choosing tiles, consider lighter neutral tones. These colours will not only soften the space, but also help bounce light around the room, whatever your source is. This is also a good opportunity to play with different profiles of tiles. Tiles with a long rectangular format can help make your room feel wider or taller then it is depending on how you want to use them. Try to avoid large areas of small mosaic tiles however. These can lead to the bathroom feeling a bit ‘busy’ and cluttered. For those of you who prefer a dark and moody palette, don’t let this deter you. Everyone has their own style.
The correct layout of the space is also essential. You need the proper circulation space around all the permanent fixtures to ensure the bathroom works. The last thing you want is to have to shuffle around everything every time you enter the room. This involves working out what you need in the bathroom first, and making sure the dimensions of everything will fit prior to buying anything. It can get very costly purchasing 2 vanities or toilets because the first one did not fit like you thought.
When looking at vanities, wall hung options are a necessity in smaller rooms. The more of the floor you can see, the larger the bathroom will feel. This is where under vanity LED strips work well. Recessed shaving cabinets can pick up the slack from the compromised storage of a wall hung vanity. As they are recessed in the wall and usually come with a mirror on them you will barely notice they are there. If budget and the layout allows, consider custom cabinetry to enhance your vanity from something the ‘kind-of-fits’ to something perfect.
A shower shelf or niche is almost a given these days. A shelf works well in a room that can sacrifice the floorspace, but in a small area, the niche takes the cake. Removing from the floor all of the day to day products you need in the shower, and storing them in a dedicated spot makes the room less cluttered. As the niche is recessed withing the wall cavity, it takes up no additional space within the shower. Win, win!
As they say, “It’s not the size that matters, it what you do with it that counts”. Don’t let having a small space prevent you from creating something stunning.