7 Best Design Hacks for a Small Bathroom

Do you want to maximize the space in your small bathroom? Small bathrooms can be quite a challenge when it comes to space and storage. You have limited space and limited options! So today I am sharing 7 design hacks for a small bathroom that will allow you to maximize the space and make it feel bigger!

We applied these design strategies to our kids’ small bath and we are very happy with the outcome!

1. Light and Bright

Dark colors can make a room feel smaller than it really is. Which is the opposite of what you want when working with a small space! So choose light paint colors for your small bathroom to give it a light and airy feel.

Neutral colors such as light greys or beige would work best. As well as white or off-white colors. And don’t worry! This won’t make the room look boring! You can easily add pops of color with just a few decorative accents.

Pro tip: A dark shower curtain can also darken up the room since it takes up a lot of visual space in your bathroom. Consider getting a light-colored shower curtain to keep your bathroom beautiful, light, and bright!

2. Narrow toilet

Toilets can take up a lot of space in a small bathroom. So the best thing to do when designing your small bathroom is to find a narrow toilet. We got this toilet which is only 15 3/4″ wide, compared to your typical 18″ to 20″ wide toilet. This saves A LOT of space because when you are working with a small space, EVERY INCH COUNTS!

This toilet has a sleek covered base on the sides which is so easy to clean. This minimalistic look also helps to keep the bathroom visually simple and sleek.

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Extra Tip: If you don’t have any good options for where to place your toilet paper holder, get a stand instead! We got this one. It’s very convenient for the boys to use.

3. Pedestal Sink

If you can sacrifice some of the storage space that a regular bathroom vanity brings, I strongly suggest you get a pedestal sink for your small bathroom. And honestly, if your bathroom space is so small that you can only get a tiny little bath vanity that can barely hold one basket underneath, then I definitely suggest getting a pedestal sink instead.

A pedestal sink will make the bathroom look more light and airy simply because you will be able to see more of it. We got this sleek and simple pedestal sink which I absolutely love!

This pedestal sink has a beautiful sleek modern look, which was perfect for our modern farmhouse bathroom design. Plus it’s got a large, deep sink which is great for my boys! Now they don’t splash outside the sink when washing their hands!

Update: The pedestal sink I purchased is currently out of stock but I found a similar sink for a better bargain!

4. Long Mirror

A long bathroom mirror will create the illusion of a bigger bathroom. Mirrors are known to make a space appear bigger because they reflect more light across the room, this tricks your eyes into thinking the space is bigger than it really is.

So adding a long mirror will give height to your space, which will also help to make it look bigger. We got this 17.5″ x 49.5″ mirror vs your typical 24″ x 36″.

Yes, it’s a little narrow (although we couldn’t fit a wider mirror even if we wanted to) but what we lacked in width we got in height and it really stands out!

5. Long Shower Curtains

Speaking of height! Another way of adding height to your small bathroom is by adding a long shower curtain. This again draws your eye upwards, making the space feel bigger than it is. I got this 84″ long white shower curtain.

Extra Tip: Keep your shower curtains open to one side of the bath so it doesn’t block the view of the bathroom. Being able to see past the tub will make the space look bigger. And if you have a window in your tub area then that will brighten up the space even more! It’s all about illusion and perception when it comes to decorating small spaces!

6. Get Creative with your Bathroom Storage

Since I don’t have a bathroom vanity, I had to get creative with my storage solutions. But regardless it’s good to keep any bathroom items minimal in small bathrooms. You don’t want a million hair products and body creams lying around and making it feel messy and cluttered.

If possible, store some of these bathroom products in another bathroom in your house/apartment. But you can still store the essentials in your small bathroom! Just get a little creative!

You can use decorative bathroom accessories, like shelves and baskets to store a lot of items!

I got these shelves where I can store some essential items such as the toothbrush holder, tissue box, and extra toilet paper roll. While the top shelf holds decorative accents such as plants, candles, and bathroom signs to liven up the room and add pops of color as well.

Additionally, I got these adorable little baskets to keep all of the kid’s essential items inside.

7. Hang your Bathroom Towels on Hooks

Hanging your towels on hooks vs rods gives you more space to work with since the towels are not taking up too much horizontal space.

We put these hooks on a very special piece of naturally distressed wood that was given to us and I just love the way it looks!

Now we have plenty of space to hang towels and storage baskets! And I just love the look of hanging towels vertically this way.

PIN IT FOR LATER! 7 Best Design Hacks For A Small Bathroom

So there you have it! The 7 best design hacks that will have your tiny bathroom looking GRAND with little effort! If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to hit that share/pin button! And be sure to check out my 7 Modern Farmhouse Dream Bathroom Must-Haves to get this look!