How to make a small bathroom feel more spacious

Just because a bathroom is small doesn’t mean it has to feel cramped. How you use a space affects the feeling as much as the square footage.

From upgraded finishes to a whole new shower, there’s a lot you can do to a small bathroom to make it feel spacious.

Adding more shelving and storage can make your bathroom seem more organized and spacious. Recessed shelving is the best option, but also floating shelving or storage mirrors are a good option as well. Even a small shower niche, such as an alcove cut into the stall for shampoo and soap, can save previous space by using interior wall space that might have gone unused.

Adding large mirrors to the space is an easy way to make your bathroom feel more light and open. They improve the look, give you more mirror options for makeup and so on, and offer more storage space. Take care not to use a frame that weighs down the space. Frameless mirrors work best for small bathrooms. If you want to be really ambitious, it’s possible to build one wall as a giant mirror and create a unique optical illusion.

The type of shower you have can change the look and feel of your bathroom. For example, changing from a shower curtain to a glass door can make your bathroom feel much more open and connected. If you do use shower curtains, keep them tied to a rope on the wall or pushed to each side like window drapes in order to open up space.

If you want to take on a larger project, you can install a doorless shower instead. These showers require specific flooring and drainage plans, but they can dramatically improve how spacious your bathroom feels. They tend to be complex and costly tasks, and the pitch needs to be set correctly, but a qualified pro can create a shower that takes up very little space in a tight bathroom.

Lighting is one of the simplest ways to upgrade your bathroom. Adding overhead light or wall lighting can make it feel brighter and bigger. Also, adding LED lights behind your mirrors can give them a sense of luxury. Recessed lights under shelves or alcoves can allow a warm glow. If you can install a large window during a remodel, you can really make even the smallest bathroom feel open and spacious thanks to the natural light.

How you decorate your bathroom can change the feel. Balancing darkness and light, such as with a dark flooring or ceiling, can create the illusion of more space. Small plants add flair and greenery to a bathroom design as well.

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