Having a small bathroom does not mean that you need to make sacrifices with design or your personal style in your home. It can definitely present some challenges with making design decisions, though. That’s what these design tips for small bathrooms are for โ they will help you make the best use of your space and love the way it looks and feels.
Whether your bathroom is super tiny, long and skinny, or just smaller than you’d like, these tips are for you. I’ve started to figure out what makes a space feel good regardless of the size, and I also have lived with a few small bathrooms (each with its own set of challenges), so I get it.
These are 17 design tips for small bathrooms that actually make a difference in your day to day living. From look and feel to simple things that enhance your bathroom’s functionality, these design tips will make your small space feel beautiful and luxurious.
This post is all about design tips for small bathrooms. Let’s get into it!
1. Pick a color you love for your bathroom
When you’re working with a small space, it’s so important for it to be filled with a color that you love. You don’t have to go super vibrant and bold, but it is a great opportunity to try something a little bit out of your comfort zone because it is such a small space.
The color of your space determines so much. Color plays a huge role in how you feel in a space. It’s an emotional decision to pick out the color of your bathroom, and it can feel intimidating to try something new. It’s so worth it once you do, though! A few months ago, I painted my bathroom cabinets dark (almost black) in what used to be close to an all white bathroom. And now those cabinets are my favorite part of the space.
I don’t regret going bold with the color, I actually wish that I had gone even darker and moodier with like a deep, rich purple. Most of the time, getting out of your comfort zone teaches you so much about what you like.
2. Be intentional with your bathroom decor
Being intentional with your bathroom decor will help you avoid clutter and create a peaceful ambience. Take note of what ends up on your countertops by the end of the day (I feel like I take everything out of my drawers and leave them out every day ๐). If you’re someone (like me) who ends up taking up a lot of counter space, you probably want to limit the amount of decor on your countertops.
I love hanging up art and putting a little candle on the back of the toilet to create a few additional details in my bathroom without taking up a bunch of counter space and adding more clutter to my space.
3. Include greenery
Plants, plants, plants! You don’t need to go crazy here if that’s not your thing, but including a little plant in your bathroom is always a nice touch to make the space feel clean and beautiful.
A little bit of added greenery goes a long way. Plants add so much life and positive energy to any space, and your bathroom is no exception.
4. Get nice towels
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No need to break the bank here, but getting nice towels is a great place to splurge a little bit, especially when you have a smaller bathroom.
You can get all cozy and snuggly after a deliciously warm shower. Seriously, having nice towels is such a small thing that can make you feel so good on a day to day basis.
5. Include art in your bathroom
Having art on your bathroom walls is one the simplest little luxuries in life. It makes your space feel so much more personal and unique. I love how in this pin they stacked two small pieces of art next to one another. If you’re not sure where to hang up art in your bathroom, using the space above your toilet is often a great idea!
6. Love your knobs
Picking out beautiful knobs will make you love your bathroom. I used these knobs in my bathroom and it made it feel so much more luxurious and special to me. They’re such an easy thing to switch out on your cabinets, and it’s so worth it!
7. Use wallpaper if you’re willing to go there
Wallpaper changes a boring bathroom into feeling like a special hotel spa bathroom โ it’s such a transformative thing! It can vary a lot in price, but you definitely can find some pretty affordable peel and stick wallpaper, which is awesome because it means that you can transform your space at a pretty low cost.
8. Make it easy to move through your bathroom
Think about how you move through your bathroom. Like when you wash your hands, you need a towel nearby so that you don’t splatter water everywhere while you try to find a place to dry your hands. Have a place to put an extra roll of toilet paper so that no one ends up stranded and in an embarrassing predicament (we’ve all been there).
Thinking through those little ways that you move through your bathroom will help you use your space effectively and make it feel like a calming and easy space to be in.
9. Get baskets for the little items that float on your bathroom counters and floors
If you need some extra storage space, get some cute baskets! Make it easy for yourself to keep your bathroom clean. If you always have dirty laundry on your bathroom floor, put a hamper in there. So what if you have one in your bedroom too? If that’s what works for you, go with it.
10. Throw away the stuff you don’t need
This may be an obvious one, but it’s worth saying to give you an extra little nudge. Going through your bathroom drawers and throwing away the things that you don’t use helps to free up so much space.
11. Give everything that typically causes clutter a designated spot
Your habits aren’t going to change if your systems don’t โ that product you use once in a while doesn’t need to live next to your toothbrush.
12. Make washing your hands seem fun with fancy hand soap
It’s the little things! This Aesop hand soap comes in a pretty container and you can always just keep the container and fill it with other (potentially less expensive) hand soap when you run out.
13. Change your shower curtains and bathmats every once in a while
I had the same shower curtain and bathmat in my bathroom for years and years before I recently realized that I didn’t like them that much anymore and wanted to change them. They’re a very inexpensive thing to change, and they can have such a big impact on how your bathroom feels.
This collection that Quiet Town did with West Elm is so pretty and fun! I love the color blocking.
14. Hang up a big, funky mirror
When you’re not working with a lot of space, it’s important to make the essentials fun and interesting. Funky mirrors have been really popular lately, and I think that they’re a lot of fun. It’s such an easy way to add a little bit more personality with a subtle touch.
Of course, some mirrors are funkier than others! You can get inspiration on Pinterest if you’re thinking about getting a fun mirror but need a little bit more inspiration first.
15. Utilize the inches of space that you have
Every inch of your bathroom is important when it’s small. Hang up a cute pairing of artwork on your walls, get a small accent mirror and hang it up even though you don’t necessarily need another mirror. Each of these small touches makes your bathroom your own.
16. Install hooks to hang up your towels
A towel rod is so much bulkier than towel hooks (trust me, because I’ve lived with a towel rod for years). Towel hooks take up a lot less space, and they’re easier to use. You’re so much more likely to hang up your towel to dry on a hook than on a rod โ it’s just science, okay! Think about all of the extra steps it takes to hang up a towel on a towel rod. I’ll let you do the math.
17. Try to have fun with your bathroom design
The more playful you are, the more beauty your bathroom will capture. Any space will reflect the love that you pour into it back to you. If enjoying the process means taking it slow, take it slow! Do what works best for you.
This post was all about design tips for small bathrooms. I really hope that you enjoyed it and that it was helpful for you!
Here’s one last bonus tip: do what YOU like! I feel like I say it all of the time, but it constantly gets lost in conversations about home design. It’s not about proving how cool you are, it’s about designing a space for your family and your life. And yes, your cute little bathroom is a part of that!
Alright, that’s it from me (for now)! For more art and design inspiration, follow Garland Collections on Pinterest and Instagram.
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Thanks so much for reading along! I appreciate you very much ๐
