Small Bathrooms Ideas

Creative small bathrooms ideas can make a half bath or three-quarter bath seem much larger and more efficient. If you live in a town house or apartment, you may have only one small bathroom at your disposal, and using the space effectively is a priority. Even large homes can have one or two small bathrooms that seem to be used as glorified storage closets. Focus your bathroom decoration ideas on making the most of the square footage in tiny half baths, whether it's floor space, wall space or even the space on your ceiling.

The first step in implementing your decorating ideas for a smaller bath is to remove towels, cosmetics, shampoos or cleaning supplies that could be stored elsewhere. If your half bath is being used primarily as a cleaning supply closet, transferring the detergents and sponges to a storage closet or garage will immediately free up space. Your initial ideas should center around creating as much room as possible for new fixtures, a new window or an extended vanity for extra personal care space.

Tiling and Flooring

Small bathrooms ideas often center around making a cramped, dimly lit room seem bigger and brighter. Crowded bathrooms can appear even smaller if the tiling and flooring are old, stained and dingy. Replacing the tiles on your walls, shower and backsplash can make a big difference in the way bathrooms look. Choose a fresh, light or neutral color, like ivory, pale peach or gray to make small bathrooms appear more spacious. Glazed tile catches the light, illuminating the room.

Larger wall and backsplash tiles may visually enlarge small bathrooms, while small tiles can look crowded and busy in a small space. On the floors, glazed tiles can be slippery when wet. Consider a textured ceramic tile or a warm, natural limestone when you're thinking of flooring ideas for your bathroom. Vinyl tiles are affordable, durable, slip resistant and easy to install in smaller bathrooms. If your tastes run toward the exotic, expand your small bathrooms ideas to include unique flooring materials like bamboo or cork.

Maximizing Natural Light

Nothing opens up your small bathrooms ideas like increasing the natural light inside the room. While soft, artificial lighting can illuminate and enlarge a miniature half bath, the radiance of sunshine truly opens a space. If wall space is limited and you have only one tiny window that can't be enlarged, your ideas may be limited. However, with a little creativity, you can maximize the available light or even increase the amount of sunshine that streams into the area.

Frosted glass may create a sense of privacy, but it greatly reduces the natural light that enters a smaller area. As you plan your small bathrooms ideas, think about replacing frosted windows with clear glass and sheer blinds or curtains. You'll still enjoy the ventilation, condensation control and increased airflow that a window provides in a limited space, but the light won't be diminished by a frosted pane.

If your budget and the structure of your room allow it, think about including a skylight in your small bathrooms ideas. Fixed or operable skylights can be installed in the ceiling to flood the vanity, shower and toilet with sunlight. With a skylight in place, you can save your wall space for storage ideas, like recessed shelves, medicine cabinets, a floor to ceiling cabinet or hanging wall organizers. Installing a skylight or enlarging a tiny window will require help from a licensed contractor to make sure the project complies with local building codes.

Bathroom Remodeling Experts

If you're frustrated by the limitations imposed on your small bathrooms ideas, talk with a home remodeling expert about how you can enlarge your half or three-quarter bath without renovating your entire house. Remodeling contractors can analyze your room to determine how you could make the area appear more spacious without actually adding square footage. If you've lived with a room for months or years, it can be difficult to get a fresh perspective. A professional consultant may be able to identify possibilities that haven't occurred to you.

Turning your small bathrooms ideas into reality doesn't have to break your bank account. Simple changes like repainting the walls in a lighter color or adding a mirror to increase visual depth can make a big difference. If you're planning a more expensive renovation project that includes rearranging your fixtures, however, you may need a plumber's help to rearrange the plumbing lines.

Remodeling professionals specialize in implementing a homeowner's small bathrooms ideas. Compare estimates from a number of highly qualified consultants in your area to find a contractor whose prices fit your budget. Review a professional's portfolio and clarify his or her fee structure before making a final decision about this home improvement project.

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