Homes come in large and small, and the reality is, larger homes are easier to make design choices in right? Wrong, small interiors can be challenging, but that’s what makes them cozy and personable. You can give the illusion of space by following these simple guidelines.

INTERIOR COLORS: Use light, neutral colors to give the illusion of space and airiness.  Whites, beige’s, grays, and muted pastels can make your small space feel bigger. By tricking the eye, walls will seem to disappear, rather than stand out.

ACCENT WALLS: Consider colors that are a darker hue of the already used neutral color.  For example beige walls, with a darker taupe accent wall will still help to make the walls blend with one another. When using darker colors, use them on window walls, or walls with several openings.  The darker color will actually seem lighter, because of the window light and breakup of doorways, entryways, and hallways.  Try to place furniture in front of accent walls to also “eat up” some of the dark color of accent walls. Remember, the lighter the color the more space that will be felt in the room.

MIRRORS: You’ve always heard that mirrors and reflection enlarge a space right? What about the placement of mirrors? Use a mirror at the end of a hallway to give the illusion of length. Place a mirror on the opposite side of a window wall with a view to reflect light, and the beautiful view.  In bedrooms, replace sliding closet doors with mirrored doors. In bathrooms, replace a small vanity mirror with a mirror that extends along the full length of the wall. In kitchens, use a reflective backsplash to give the illusion of space.

Is your bathroom so small that you can touch both walls when standing inside?  Small bathrooms are a huge challenge to use and to decorate. Some bathrooms have the ability to feel bigger, while others may need small renovation projects to improve the square footage.  Depending on your particular bathroom the options can be easy.  Decide what your budget is, and then follow these big design ideas for your small bathroom.

VANITY AREA: Your sink and how much space you can maneuver around it, is crucial in the use of your bathroom. Determine your specific needs for your sink. Are you someone who has a lot of toiletries, accessories, and need a lot of storage? Use a small vanity that has under counter cabinet doors, and add organization shelves and drawers inside the cabinet.  Don’t have a lot of storage needs, but want it to look decorative? Consider using a pedestal sink, or a wall mounted sink with decorative shelving below.  If you don’t have space for either, they also make sinks that fit in the corner of two walls. This sink has a 90 degree back and the sink nestles between the walls to give you maximum floor space.

TOILET: Most people enjoy having maximum room around the toilet, although this is not always a realistic option in today’s small bathrooms.  If you’re able to change out the toilet, they come in smaller sizes that take up less floor space, and allow for more room around them.  If you cannot change the toilet, try to minimize floor items like scales, trashcans, and laundry hampers in the bathroom.  The more floor area you can see and use, the better you will feel.

BATHTUB/SHOWER: In most small bathrooms you either have a combination bathtub with the shower inside, or you only have a shower. If your budget allows, lose the shower curtain and add a glass door enclosure.  Glass will create the illusion of a bigger bathroom, and when you’re using the shower, it will feel larger too.  Consider using clear or lighter colored shower curtains if installing a glass door is not an option.  If you have tall ceilings, install the shower curtain at a higher head height to elongate the feeling of the room.

LIGHT: Dark colors will make the room feel smaller and lighter colors will make the room feel larger.  If you have the luxury of having natural light pour into your bathroom, it will feel much bigger. Mimic the feeling of natural light with neutral and sunny tones that feel warm and inviting. Change your light bulbs to ones that emit a warmer glow. Light bulbs play a huge role in how you see yourself in the mirror. You will hate using the bathroom, if you hate how you look in the mirror!

Even though your bathroom is small, you can still love its potential. Use these big design ideas and love your bathroom again.

RoniqueGibson