Make the most of a small bathroom

Transform your small bathroom with these tips and tricks.

A small bathroom can be very inconvenient, but it doesn’t have to be. A few tricks can enable you to make the most of your space.

Change
Take a critical look at your small bathroom. What sticks out? Do you have a large vanity? Consider replacing it with a pedestal sink. That can dramatically open up the space, and you can use a nearby linen closet for the lost storage space. Use a clear glass shower door to make the room look bigger. If you have a shower curtain, tie or push it back when it is not in use, so that your small bathroom does not appear to end where the shower curtain begins.

Color
Color is a great tool to make a small bathroom appear larger than it actually is. Light colors are a must. Tear down that dark wallpaper or cover dark paint -- start with a fresh palette. Choose pale and neutral paint colors to for your small bathroom.

Don’t forget about the flooring. Although dark flooring can look impressive, it can also really shrink the appearance of your small bathroom. Choose light-colored flooring to make the room appear larger than it is.

Clutter
It is easy to let a bathroom countertop become the catch-all for hairspray, deodorant, toothbrushes, etc. If you have a small bathroom, it is particularly important that you remove everything from the countertop. Make a rule not to leave anything out. Nothing can shrink the size of your small bathroom more than clutter.

Clutter also includes decorations. Emphasize function in the bathroom, and let the vanity or sink, the paint, or the flooring provide the decorative touches. Keep decorations at a bare minimum in your small bathroom. Have only a few pieces on the walls. Using a minimalist touch can help your small bathroom appear bigger.

Living in a small bathroom does not have to cramp your style. Using these simple tricks can open up the small space so that it looks and feels larger than it is.