How to Decorate a Small Bathroom
Tricks to make the most out of your space.
Small bathrooms may seem difficult to decorate, especially if your room is a little cramped. However, with a few changes, your space can feel rejuvenated and bigger – regardless of its size! Here’s how to decorate a small bathroom to complement your home and personal tastes.
1. Lay Down Fun Flooring
Updating your bathroom flooring is a great way to decorate your bathroom without doing so in a way that consumes more space. You can decorate a small bathroom by placing vinyl flooring or ceramic floor tiles, since they come in plenty of trendy patterns and designs. The best pattern to use for a small bathroom is marble since this effect can make your space look wider. A pattern with a whimsical design and a deep color like navy blue also helps visually expand a space. Ceramic tile is the best flooring choice for bathrooms since it’s waterproof and won’t absorb bacteria. If you don’t want to put down ceramic tiles, vinyl flooring is another excellent waterproof option that can withstand bathroom use.
Wall tiles are very similar to floor tiles and can be used to decorate a small bathroom too. You will find a plethora of wall tile choices containing colors, patterns, and design options to fit your overall aesthetic. Look for tiles with lighter colors and reflective finishes to make the room appear airy and more open. Since wall tiles are water-resistant, they hold up well to the steam and water that builds up in a bathroom.
A small bathroom is the ideal place to put up bold wallpaper for a statement that won’t take up any extra space. You can hang a wallpaper that contains a loud pattern or color choice that you couldn’t normally put in a larger room in a small bathroom since the limited wall space will keep the pattern/color from feeling too overwhelming.
Tip!
When decorating a small bathroom, make sure the patterns of your tiles do not clash if you decide to tile more than one area.
4. Redesign Your Shower Walls
Another way you can decorate a small bathroom is by tiling your shower with subway tiles to enhance the look of your space. By installing white subway tiles, you will be creating the illusion that your space is wider because of the rectangular length of the rectangle tile shape. White subway tiles create a brighter and fresher look that will make your room appear more spacious and airy, which works perfectly in a small bathroom. Shower wall tile is water-resistant and strong enough to stay put for years to come. These tile options have a plethora of colors, designs, and patterns to bring a stunning decorative element to your small space.
Extending the length of your bathroom floor into your shower is another way to give your bathroom depth and make your small bathroom look bigger, since it extends the visual line of your floor. Bathroom shower floor tile is constructed to resist mold and mildew from the water of your shower so the tiles stay fresh and clean for years to come.
Swapping older shower doors for newer ones can decorate a small bathroom by modernizing its design. Some shower doors have a particular trim finish that can match your room’s aesthetics and give your room a fresh, modern appeal, like in the picture above.
Bathroom vanities are essential for your bathroom’s and can also be used to decorate a small bathroom. Bathroom vanities provide essential storage and organization benefits for smaller rooms, since many come with cabinets and drawers where you can tuck away toiletries. You can decorate a small bathroom by selecting the color, finish, and hardware that best elevates your room’s design and color palette.
Every bathroom needs lighting, so choosing a fixture that fits your style is another way to decorate a small bathroom. A vanity light will make the room more functional and stylish with the various finishes, colors, and designs. Vanity lighting fixtures, like the one above, with gold finishes and straight lines can highlight other colors in your bathroom with items such as your mirrors, vanity hardware, and more.
Speaking of vanity lighting, another bathroom essential that can be used to decorate a small bathroom is a vanity mirror. Vanity mirrors have trims and finishes that give the mirror a distinct style, so choose one that matches your room design. If you’re looking for something extra decorative, choose a unique mirror shape like a circle or irregular shape instead of the traditional rectangle.
Using the walls in your small bathroom is the best way to add decor and storage without cluttering up the space. Sit decorative elements like candles, small plants, and more on a wall-mounted shelf for out-of-the-way decor. Plus, the shelves themselves also add decor to your space – choose a color and style that complements the aesthetic of your bathroom.
Shower curtains are easy ways to decorate a small bathroom that are also very functional. Shower curtains protect your privacy when you’re bathing and complement your room’s aesthetic simultaneously. Using a shower curtain to decorate a small bathroom is a nice way of bringing your personality to the space for a big impact.
Tip!
Don’t forget your shower liner to keep water from getting on your floor.
Bath mats are simple items that decorate a small bathroom while being very useful. These mats bring color to the room and prevent you from slipping after a bath or a shower. Bath mats differ from traditional rugs in that they are more absorbent and have a non-slip backing to prevent you from sliding on a slick floor.
Using faux plants for decor in a bathroom will not only elevate your aesthetic, but will also boost your mood and energy. Faux plants connect you with nature – in a way that doesn’t include upkeep – while also bringing a calming effect to your room. Plants also add depth and character to any space and can be placed in many areas of a bathroom. Put a small plant on your vanity or a single taller plant in the corner for a simple decor piece – the options are yours to choose!
Keeping your towels and washcloths out in the open can be another simple way to decorate a small bathroom. Show off their colors and patterns through the way you display them. Drape your towels over the edge of your bathtub for a cozy look or roll or fold them neatly on a shelf for an organized look.
The storage you use for holding bathroom items such as cotton balls, Q-tips, and more can be used for decor purposes too. Clear canisters and jars can hold your bathroom essentials while creating a clean and organized look that makes your space appear to be more elegant.
Another detail to update to decorate a small bathroom is your bathroom hardware. Replacing cabinet drawer pulls and knobs for a darker or lighter finish can add a pop of decoration to your bathroom, and the same goes for your towel hardware sets. Gold or bronze hardware options can give your vanity and towel holders an eclectic boost.
Updating your sink faucet can make a dramatic difference in your bathroom. Standard faucets are silver and simple in design, so swapping this essential hardware out for a gold or bronze tall faucet, like in the picture above, will help decorate a small bathroom in a simple way.
Wicker baskets have a woven finish that serves as another textual component in your bathroom decoration. Their various color options can bring depth to your bathroom while also functionally serving as a laundry basket or storage facility. Since they are simple pieces that have quite a lot of design variety, wicker baskets can complement nearly any bathroom aesthetic.
Now that you know how to decorate a small bathroom, it’s time to give your space a makeover!
Tip!
For more bathroom decor inspiration, check out our guide: 12 Beautiful Bathroom Decor Ideas.
