According to UK research, the average person will spend one and a half years in the bathroom over their lifetime. That is a lot of time to spend in one room, so it makes sense to spend some time sprucing up the interior!
With space at a premium, though, the bathroom is often one of the smallest rooms in the house. For many people, physically increasing the size of the bathroom with a large scale home improvement project is not feasible or desirable, bearing in mind the disruption that these kinds of renovations normally entail. With this in mind, we have put together some design tips to help you make the most of what you’ve got!
Choose pale colours
Pastel tones, neutrals and whites reflect the light and are a clever and simple way of making a small room feel bigger. Cool colour shades also lend an air of serenity. For a clean and cohesive look, try to use the same or similar tones across the room, including the floor and ceiling. Strong contrasts tend to visually break up a room, making it seem smaller. If you want to use bright colours, save them for key accessories and focal points.
Use mirrors to create the illusion of space
Mirrors are a great way to create the illusion of space in a small room – and the larger the mirror, the greater the effect. To maximise the impact even further, consider installing lights on top of or in front of the mirror. Think about where you position the mirror – opposite a window helps to reflect light; high up on the walls helps to open up the space; and across from another mirror creates the illusion of a never-ending room!
Natural light is important
Natural light can make all the difference to a room, especially one that is more compact. Don’t block it out – protect your privacy with frosted windows or sheer drapes, rather than using dark curtains or blinds. If your bathroom doesn’t have a source of natural light, make sure that the lighting you have installed is the most effective and flattering for the room. Although a more costly option, installing a skylight or solatube can also be very effective.
Hide the clutter
Too much clutter can really spoil the look of a room. Streamlining your surroundings can have a surprisingly large impact, for relatively little cost or effort. Funky dispensers and glass jars offer stylish storage solutions, while wicker boxes and baskets can help you to keep everything else, such as cosmetics and towels, out of sight.
Rethink your layout
Your bathroom furniture and fittings have a huge impact on the look and feel of the room. Floating furniture, recessed cupboards and shelves (especially glass ones) can all help you to make the most of the space available to you, whilst installing clear glass doors around a shower (rather than a shower curtain or frosted glass) can really open up a room.
It’s also worth choosing smaller furniture that will fit the space, for example, installing a pedestal sink rather than a vanity unit. If your budget allows, you might want to consider asking a professional to design the space – that way your bathroom is designed specifically to fit your dimensions.
While some of the above suggestions may take more time or effort than others, none of them require large scale home improvements. You’ll be surprised at the difference implementing just one or two can make to your room – then you can sit back and relax in your new, much more stylish surroundings!
Dan Ware is the Manager of creative and innovative bathroom design and installers – RSF Bathrooms. Dan and the team are experts in their field and have the creative edge to make the most of any bathroom of any size.