Photo by Anne Matheis
Keep colors light
Light colors on the walls and tiles make the room feel larger and airier. Jenny Rapp of JCR Design Group recommends large tile (pictured above): “It’s a cleaner, less busy look.” If you want color in your bathroom, keep it all in the same color palette. “Monochromatic always makes spaces appear larger,” says Jessie Miller of Jessie D. Miller Design.
Use mirrors
“The bigger the mirror, the better,” says Miller. She suggests covering the entire backplate of a vanity in a large mirror rather than having a small, decorative one.
Optimize light
Get in as much light as possible. Rapp likes to use at least two sources of light, preferably something overhead and some sconces. If you’re using window coverings in the bathroom, install them 6 to 10 inches above the top of the window casings. “It makes the window look larger, which gives the impression that it’s bringing in more light,” she says. “You can’t have enough light.”
Be intentional
“Think about how you’re truly using the space. If you don’t use a bathtub, don’t put one in there,” advises Miller. Similarly, if you have a small bathroom, save space by opting for a single vanity. “A lot of couples aren’t even using the vanity at the same time,” she notes.
Less is more
Put outlets inside your drawers to make it less tempting to leave out hair tools to clutter the countertop. Instead of using a lot of decoration in the space, invest in luxurious plumbing features. “That’s going to be the jewelry of the room,” Miller says. Frameless shower doors also make a space appear larger. Rapp has them built 7 feet tall, which provides the visual perception of height.
Pack a punch
If a space is light, dark floors can provide a nice contrast and “ground the room with the weight of a darker color,” says Rapp. “I would not shy away from pattern on a floor. There are some great-looking patterned tiles out right now, and those look great in a small bathroom.”
