Small bathrooms pose a problem because they need all the elements of a full bathroom squeezed into a relatively tiny space. Older homes were generally constructed with relatively small bathroom spaces, but today’s tastes and lifestyles have changed. If you’re craving a new look for your bathroom but don’t have much space, there are a number of ways to overcome this problem short of adding to your house.
The Shower
One of the many things you need to consider when remodeling your home is how much space you need to have the necessities. Generally, building codes require 32” x 32” for a shower, but if you can use more space do so.
Keep in mind that it needs to have enough room for every member of your family to lift their arms comfortably to wash their hair and bend over easily to pick up something they may have dropped. To make the room look bigger, opt for a clear shower door and tile that complements the rest of the room. If you’d like a bath tub, the finished room will need to have at least 5′ worth of space to allow sufficient area for it.
Storage Space
Since storage is a concern in small rooms, you need to look at options for this as well. Nothing says “crowded” like clutter, so anything you can do to provide stowaway spots will help. A recessed 8″ cabinet over the vanity is a good choice. A 36″ inch tall unit is usually the most comfortable height for most people. If your wall configuration doesn’t permit a recessed installation, wall-mount units are available.
To make organization easier, select the vanity with drawers or bins instead of doors. If you do need to go for doors, look into installing an organization system for easier use.
Pedestal sinks may look good in powder rooms, but they’re not practical in a full bath. If you can’t avoid using one, consider using one that’s 16″ or 18″ deep instead of the more traditional 21″. That gives you some storage space underneath. Another option is open air shelving.
Making it Look Bigger
Your choice of bathroom door will also have an effect on how much space you’ll need. Instead of using the traditional hinge door, consider a pocket door. Your choice of mirror also has an effect on how big the room looks. A big mirror will offer the illusion of more space without confusing the eye as multiple mirrors would.
Finally, go with lighter color finishing materials and accessories. That’s because light colors tend to expand the space more than dark colors do.
