30 Styling and Design Tips to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger

Pedestal Sinks for Visual Openness

When you're tight on space, call on this smart bathroom remodel idea: Add a pedestal sink—or two! A traditional vanity would have closed in this bath, but a pedestal sink maintains an open feeling. Plus, a pair of windows above add natural light to this small bathroom, helping to make it feel bigger.

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Pocket Doors for More Room

Making a small bathroom look bigger—and allowing for better use of space—is all about getting creative and rethinking the standard-issue features. Here, a standard door was replaced with a sliding pocket door, so floor space once needed for the swinging door could be better utilized. This sliding door with a frosted-glass panel allows natural light to filter in but still provides privacy. Bifold doors (doors that fold up like a screen) can also save space.

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Open Shelves for an Airy Feel

Lighten built-in or stand-alone cabinetry by utilizing open shelves in a small bathroom, allowing for a more airy feel. Towels, soaps, and glass canisters are perfect for open shelving because they're decorative and functional. Try woven baskets or decorative bins to store personal items, cleaning supplies, and laundry.

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Pattern Repetition for Cohesiveness

Make a small half bathroom look bigger by employing white and pattern strategically. White surfaces reflect light, and semi-gloss finishes enhance the effect. Two strong patterns might seem like a lot for a small bathroom, but a unifying element means design success. Here, both the wallpaper and floor tile follow a hexagonal pattern.

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Clear Glass for a Bigger Picture

If you're looking for bathroom remodel ideas to make a small space feel bigger, search for ways to minimize the visual weight of the design. A glass shower door is practically invisible and adds no heft to this small bathroom. Hints of black throughout the space bring a just-right amount of gravitas.

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Go Over the Top for Impact

rustic bathroom with yellow wallpaper tiled floor mirror sink

It's easy to overlook style in a room that feels more like a closet, but there are many opportunities to create beauty. Utilize bold patterns (yes, more than one) and intriguing finishes and forms in a small bathroom. Emphasize the ceiling to draw the eye upward and keep the window treatments simple. Here, striking patterns on the wall and floor are balanced by the strong form of the concrete sink. Raked pine siding—a textured reclaimed wood—on the ceiling crowns the room.

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Movable Storage for Apartment Bathrooms

Figuring out how to make a small apartment bathroom look bigger can be tricky. To keep within your rental agreement and maximize your space, look to cut clutter and add stylish storage. Freestanding pieces, like a bookshelf, keep essentials close by, and pretty baskets and containers add polish. Plus, it's storage you can take with you when your lease is up.

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Natural and Tactile for a Calm Space

For small bathroom design that's calming, emphasize texture over color and patterns. In this bathroom, real river rock, cut smooth and meshed together, covers the floor for a natural look, while a subtle ripple pattern on the shower tile implies movement. A rough texture on the black vanity countertop adds a tactile edginess to the space. The sizeable frameless mirror serves to visually expand the small room.

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Show a Little Leg for a Lighter Look

Cabinet doors can visually weigh down a small bath. Lighten up the place with a furniture-style vanity. Use baskets to hold supplies in the open space below the vanity top; you'll never miss the cabinet storage, and the small bathroom will look bigger without heavy furnishings. Small drawers on the front of this vanity house toiletries and cosmetics.

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Big Luxuries for a Little Space

Invest in a few luxe finishes if you're want to make a small bathroom look elegant. A powder room is a perfect place to showcase high-end products because it's used by guests, and the small footprint will keep your budget in order. Here, a tile wall creates a dramatic backdrop for a glamorous moment. A standout vanity echoes the rich tone, and a shapely toilet continues the round motif.

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Our Best Solutions for Small Bathrooms

Take your tiny bathroom from drab to fab with these small bathroom ideas. Replacing a tired light fixture and mirror and adding a deluxe showerhead give the space polish. Tapping into unused space for storage maximizes functionality. And don't forget a little personality—using a shower curtain to add pattern and top off the room's color scheme creates a cohesive look.

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Bath Bling for a Powder Room

A diminutive powder room can morph into a stunning gem with a touch of sparkle. In this small bath, glass tiles create a shimmering backdrop for a floating vanity. Create a similar effect for less cash by covering a single wall with vibrant waterproof wallpaper.

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Streamline Storage for Sleek Design

Keep storage flush with walls whenever possible for a sleek, clean look. Narrow shelving units also help naturally edit what you keep in your bathroom. With enough storage, you'll have space to stash the essentials with no room left for clutter.

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Reflective Surfaces for a Wider View

Mirrors stretch space by reproducing it. For example, mirroring the long wall of a narrow bath can change the room's proportions and make it seem wider. Be sure to place mirrors, so they reflect the bath's assets—whether that's a wall hanging, a panoramic view, or the widest room angle. Two mirrors positioned opposite each other create the illusion of a never-ending room.

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Recessed Shelves for Extra Storage

If you're undergoing a complete bathroom overhaul, try this remodel idea: Carve out additional storage by building a recessed shelf between the studs in a wall and put unused space to work. They don't take up floor real estate, which is a plus in a small bath.

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Mix Old and New for an Updated Look

Create an eye-catching focal point by pressing an antique table or dresser into service as a vanity. Modern vessel sinks partnered with vintage-inspired faucets connect old and new. A metal basket below plus narrow matching built-ins provide plenty of space for towels and toiletries without overwhelming.

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The Best Vanity Ideas for Small Bathrooms

Storage and style are must-haves in a small bath. The right vanity can help you achieve both and make a small bathroom look bigger. Explore these small-vanity ideas, designed to be both attractive and functional.

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Simple Window Treatments for Sunshine

No matter their size or style, windows enlarge the feel of a room if they let in light. So, if possible, leave windows unadorned with clear or frosted glass. Mini blinds, matchstick blinds, or shades that can be drawn to the top of the window are other sleek solutions. Or cover the lower half of the glass with sheer fabric that will admit light but maintain privacy.

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Small Patterns for Big Attention

Make a ceiling look taller with some visual tricks. Vertical stripes on the walls or a shower curtain give the illusion of a higher ceiling. Wood moldings, wallpaper borders, and tile designs placed where the walls and ceiling meet will also provide a splash of color and help naturally draw the eye upward. Otherwise, choose a wallpaper with a small, airy print or lattice design. Avoid large or busy patterns that will diminish the scale of the space.

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Light Colors for a Bright Mood

Extend the sight lines of a small bath by using a light color throughout the space. In this room, white finishes on the floor, walls, sconces, toilet, and shower make the small space seem bigger. A few gray and black tiles on the floor and wall add visual interest without overpowering.

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Added Features for Bonus Storage

Minimize clutter on bath walls by attaching a towel rod to the side or front of a freestanding vanity. For an extra dash of panache, change out a standard mirror for one with a decorative frame that complements the style of your vanity. Two open shelves boost storage while keeping the look of the vanity light.

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Storage Ideas for Small Bathrooms

In a small space, clutter feels even more apparent because it has less room to spread. Combat the phenomenon and add storage and organization with ideas tailored to tight spaces that make small bathrooms feel bigger. Use these smart tricks and ideas to bring order to toiletries, linens, and bath necessities.

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Clear Surfaces for a Lighter-Than-Air Feel

Solve the "how to make a small bathroom look bigger" problem in a guest bath with transparent surfaces. Glass shelves increase a room's sense of space because they can appear invisible. Items placed on them seem to hover in air—a much lighter effect than heavy cabinetry. Continue the effect in a small powder room with a glass floating vanity top.

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Going Up for Storage

Limited storage space is one strike against installing a pedestal sink in a small bath. Adding a tall cabinet behind the sink or toilet can give you the best of both worlds—convenient compartments for beauty products and a streamlined sink that won't weigh your bath down.

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Open Space for Visual Appeal

Compartmentalized rooms appear smaller, while open spaces create the illusion of size. To maintain an unobstructed view, trade in a traditional shower curtain for clear-glass doors, which help stretch the visual length of the room. Or keep wrap-around shower curtains open for the illusion of a larger space. Continue bath flooring into the shower to amplify the effect.

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A Classic Approach for Warmth

Not all small bathroom ideas need to be austere. Give your bath an elegant, timeless look by splurging on a marble countertop and saving on inexpensive cabinetry. This simple marble-topped, furniture-style vanity provides room for towels and toiletries under the sink. Oversize circular hardware adds a modern touch to the traditional storage unit.

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High Style for Narrow Space

Plenty of natural light, wall-to-wall glass shower doors, and white woodwork create an expansive look in this narrow master bath. The shower is the focal point, wrapped in luxurious marble mosaic tile. A simple white vanity balances the splurge.

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Wrapped in Fabric for Softness

Vanities with cabinet doors are great for hiding personal items, cleaning supplies, and plumbing fixtures. Still, opening and closing the cabinet doors in a long, narrow bath is tricky. The visual weight of a hefty vanity also overloads a tight space. Adding a sink skirt to this bath helps hide the toilet and the sink's plumbing while highlighting the existing decorative red tile border. A Roman shade in the same fabric completes the look.

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Neutrals for Every Surface

Pale and cool colors reflect light, so soft whites, pastels, and neutrals can make a bath feel bigger. Woodwork, trim, and doors will "disappear" if they're painted the same hue as the walls, and the effect is enhanced if cabinets and counters are also the same color as the walls. To keep a neutral scheme from appearing bland, introduce bold colors in small doses through accessories, linens, and artwork.

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Corner Unit for Better Flow

Open a small, square bath to smoother traffic flow by positioning the vanity in a corner. Extend storage by opting for an L-shape unit. For eye-pleasing symmetry, flank a mirror with matching sconces and the vanity with coordinating towel rings.

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