50 Small Bathroom Ideas That Make a Huge Impact

Make the most of a small bathroom with these 50 imaginative ideas.

Sometimes, it’s the smallest spaces in our homes that hold the most potential. This is certainly true of petite and humble bathrooms. Though function is their first priority, small powder rooms and bathrooms provide a blank canvas for us to tap into our creative prowess and dabble in self-expression. What’s more, because of their small size, it’s possible to deliver major impact with even the tiniest changes.

Whether lightly sprucing up your space or going in for a major overhaul, these small bathroom ideas will certainly ignite your imagination.

Related: 26 Easy—and Impactful—Bathroom Upgrades That Cost Less Than $100

Install a Wall-to-Wall Sink

It's crucial to leverage every square inch of precious space in small powder rooms. One way to do that is to install a vanity and sink that stretches from wall to wall, as seen in this design by Bethany Adams Interiors.

Keep It Crisp and White

A bright and neutral color scheme can help make a small bathroom sparkle. Take your cue from Elizabeth Vergara, interior designer and founder of Vergara Homes, by adding dimension via veining in a stone sink top, light fixtures, and tiny details.

"Choosing an all-white color scheme is a smart idea for a NYC apartment or small space because it maximizes space by reflecting light, offers timeless versatility for various design styles, and provides a neutral backdrop for easy decor changes in a limited area," Vergara says.

Pick a Focal Color

"When choosing colors for a small bathroom space, don't be afraid to pick bold colors for the focal point that will give the small space that wow factor," says interior designer Amy Switzer. "Lighter colors will always make a space appear larger than it is where this bathroom is prominently white, which elongates the space."

Swap in a Vanity

Maximizing the square footage and organizational options in a small bathroom is crucial. "Think through the layout to maximize how you are able to use the space efficiently," says Elizabeth Rees, co-founder of Chasing Paper. "For example, you could choose a vanity instead of a pedestal if you need a place for storage."

Bring the Garden Inside

Bring the outdoors in by infusing green touches throughout your small bathroom, as done here by interior designer Libby Palmieri, founder of House of L Designs. A ribbon of green subway tiles, floral wallpaper, and a green vanity make this space dreamy and welcoming.

Don’t Shy Away From Black

While light and bright is beautiful, there's something innately alluring about a moody black bathroom.

"For this powder bathroom, I painted the entire room—walls, ceiling, etc.—in Benjamin Moore's Tilled Soil," says interior designer Mary Patton of Mary Patton Design. "Even though the space is small, the rich, dark color creates depth. And, when paired with a modern sconce and a vintage French print, the space becomes a layered mix of modern and vintage."

Install Frameless Glass Shower Doors

Frameless glass shower doors look chic, but they can also create the illusion of a bigger bathroom. "The frameless glass doors were used here to create a further sense of space and remove the sense of a physical divide from the shower to the rest of the bathroom," Switzer says.

Paint Your Vanity

A simple painted vanity with a beautiful stone countertop and unique hardware can dress up a space, says interior designer Annette English. Here, she chose a deep navy color with gold hardware.

Opt for Glass Shelves

For a super streamlined aesthetic, use glass shelving. This pairs beautifully with the glass shower door, chrome faucet, and chrome lighting.

Add Custom Built-Ins

Custom built-ins—as pictured in this design by interior designer Maggie Winshall—are a brilliant choice in small bathrooms because they optimize storage. "We always make sure we build our built-ins to seamlessly integrate with the room's architecture," Vergara says. "This will enhance organization, and it’s a practical solution to maximize the space and functionality in small living areas." Built-ins can also potentially add value to your property.

Related: 12 Renovation Ideas That Will Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa

Add Recessed Shower Shelves

Similarly, bathrooms can start to look cluttered very quickly when items don't have a place to go. Recessed shelves in the shower are convenient, save space, and give essentials a home.

Go Graphic

Small bathrooms and powder rooms provide us with an opportunity to be a little more playful than we might be elsewhere. "Here, I went with an unexpected wild graphic wall covering and locally sourced a custom mirror that was a funky shape to play with the scale," says Chris Jovanelly, lead designer for Est Est Interior Design.

Pay Attention to the Details

Styling a small bathroom is akin to getting dressed in the morning, English says. "You start with the basics, but once you add the scarf, cufflinks, hat, belt, and jewelry, you can take an ordinary concept and make it unique and special by layering in some key elements."

That concept is demonstrated beautifully in this small bathroom design by ATX Interior Design.

Experiment with Statement Tiling

Don't feel like you need to stick to the basics with your bathroom flooring. In this design by Dawn Bane Spectrum Design Group, intricately shaped green tiling adds gorgeous contrast against a wood vanity.

Consider Pink and Gold

This grownup pink bathroom, designed by Palmieri, features a textured pink wallpaper, a gilded mirror, and crisp white details elsewhere.

Add Whimsy With a Vintage Hutch

“Unexpected furnishings like slim, vertical hutches are a way of introducing aesthetically pleasing, functional solutions into a compact bathroom,” says Whitney Leigh Morris, designer and spokesperson for Micro Cotton. The white-washed wooden texture adds an extra sense of earthiness.

Try Some Bold Wallpaper

This teeny bathroom comes alive with splashy wallpaper. "A small space is the perfect place to have some fun," Rees says. "Take a risk with a saturated paint color or bold wallpaper print."

Install a Walk-In Shower

A walk-in shower removes the bulkiness of a tub. It also creates a sense of seamlessness between the bathroom and showering space.

Lean Into Minimalism

If bright colors or artsy details aren't your thing, take your cue from Jeff Streich of Prime Renovations. This black, gray, and white palette has a chic, urban hotel aesthetic.

Hang a Wow-Worthy Mirror

To make a real statement, hang a mirror that'll make everyone say "wow!" the second they step into your small bathroom.

"The client loved jewel tones, so I mixed Schumacher’s Queen of Spain wallpaper in the blue colorway with an emerald green mirror, refreshed brass hardware, and lighting," says Patton.

Related: 6 Outdated Bathroom Trends Interior Designers Are Tired of Seeing

Bring in Texture with a Rustic Vanity

This small bathroom designed by interior designer Maggie Griffin doesn't shy away from texture. The rustic wooden vanity showcases its beautiful natural grain, which is perfectly complemented by a stone sink and chinoiserie wallpaper.

Aim For a Soothing Sanctuary Aesthetic

"Combine function with form by outfitting the space for ease of use while mindfully selecting materials, hues, and textures that enhance your decor and establish a soothing sanctuary," Morris says.

Consider a Color Infusion

Color lovers, take your cue from this Moroccan-themed bathroom designed by Sam Lund of Simply Sam. The colorful mirror frame and rug, paired with splashes of yellow, feel fresh and happy.

Dive Into Elevated Nautical

The nautical bathroom theme is a staple for a reason. Elevate the aesthetic, like interior designer Liz Williams did here, by incorporating playful touches throughout. This small bathroom features gorgeous textured wallpaper that gives the illusion of waves, unexpected splashes of bright green, beautifully framed photographs of fish, and maritime scones.

Add a Small Bench

A large bench isn't really feasible in a tiny bathroom, but a tiny bench tucked just outside of the shower offers a place for towels and other necessities to rest while you bathe.

Opt for a Floating Vanity

Floating vanities are trending partly because they offer an unexpected design touch to the bathroom, but they also serve a function. The bathroom appears more spacious because the vanity allows the flooring to extend all the way to the wall.

Hang Chic Medicine Cabinets

As old school as they may seem, medicine cabinets are a bathroom mainstay for a reason.

"Countertop clutter can make even the most well-designed and beautiful bathrooms feel small. Installing a medicine cabinet keeps small bottles concealed while maximizing functionality and aesthetics, too," says Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors. "The good news is that the options for attractive medicine cabinets have skyrocketed."

Leverage Wall Space

"Take advantage of your small bathroom’s wall space," says Morris. "For example, consider wall mounted storage and towels suspended from hooks rather than a traditional, space-consuming towel bar."

Incorporate Accent Pieces

English says she likes to treat small bathrooms as a jewelry boxes. "It’s a wonderful opportunity to make a maximum statement using a few key elements," she says. "Amazing sconces, artwork, tile, paint and plumbing go a long way to making a small bathroom become a special room."

Even tiny details can offer quite a bit of impact, as you can see in this small bathroom design by Anastasia Casey. Black tiling, a gorgeous vanity, framed oil painting, and industrial vase with pink roses help bring this space to life.

Install Custom Recessed Medicine Cabinets

Medicine cabinets are inherently slim, but you can save even more space by installing as a custom-designed recessed medicine cabinet and mirrors, Rodeheaver says.

Related: 11 Mistakes to Avoid During Your Bathroom Renovation, According to Interior Designers

Utilize Slim Storage

A slim ladder adds character to a small bathroom while also serving as a place to hang your towels. The wood texture of the ladder in this design by Collected Interiors also lends some warmth.

Hang Floating Shelves

Shelf brackets can add a cluttered feel while also taking up precious real estate space. Opt instead for a floating shelf.

Splurge on a Special Piece

Small design projects tend to have lower costs. If your budget allows, don't be afraid to splurge on a wow-worthy detail. Take, for example, the stunning black marble sink seen in this small bathroom project by Unique Kitchens and Baths.

Lay Dark Flooring

Dark floors add both a feeling of warmth and luxuriousness to a small bathroom. They also contrast beautifully with an otherwise crisp white aesthetic. Tie everything together with additional black details—including hardware and planters—like in this design by Block Renovation.

Try a Frameless Shower Door with Metal Work

If you like the concept of a frameless shower door but want a bit more dimension, consider one with metal latticework, like in this small bathroom design by Block Renovation. It creates a bit more separation between the shower and the rest of the room, but still helps the space feel large. It also lends a sense of urban sophistication.

Maximize Countertop Space With a Single Sink

Even if the space technically allows for two sinks, you still might consider just one to allow for more counter space. In this small bathroom design, two faucets flow into one large sink for a creative spin on the standard double sink option.

"When designing, we wanted to keep the integrity while improving the function," says Cory Rodeheaver of Spectrum Design Group. "It was small, but [the client] wanted a space that could be shared simultaneously. To achieve that, we designed a large custom barrel sink with two faucets that two people could use at the same time."

Mount Vertical Lights

In small bathrooms, even wall space can be hard to come by. For a creative solution that doesn't sacrifice on style, consider narrow, vertical lights as pictured here in a design by interior designer Cory Rodeheaver of Spectrum Design Group.

Build Out a Dark Shower

A black bathroom promises instant glam. In this design by Los Angeles-based design firm The Layered House, shiny black tiling in the shower adds texture and high drama. The leopard wallpaper and matte black countertop lean into the moody theme.

Make Use of Natural Light

When possible, incorporate as much natural light into your small bathroom as possible. This may include installing a new window, widening an existing window, or adding a skylight. You can also increase natural light by using sheer window dressings if any at all.

Elevate With Wainscoting

Wainscotting is especially trendy right now, but this subtle design feature has stood the test of time which makes it a safe bet. This doable DIY quickly elevates a small bathroom—and with very little effort required. In this bathroom by ATX Interior Design, the wainscotting quickly elevates the entire space.

Related: 13 Smart Ways to Upgrade Your Bathroom Without Renovating It

Try Statement Lighting

"Powder rooms don’t have to have the same functionality as a primary bath when it comes to things like lighting," says Jovanelly. He says to get playful with your lighting choices, which makes for a fun experience for you and your guests.

Don't Forget Plants

Incorporating living plants into your bathroom can help it feel like more of an oasis. To leverage available space, hang plants from the ceiling or tuck them into corners.

Related: 18 Houseplants That Will Thrive in Your Bathroom

Embrace Earthy Tones and Textures

Earthy elements can make small bathrooms feel extra cozy and inviting. In this design, a handsome wooden statement sink offers instant wow and is complemented by gold fixtures, a wooden mirror, and recessed shelves painted in a beautiful clay hue.

Incorporate a Pop of Color

A pop of color quickly lends character to a small bathroom. This bright bathroom design is mostly white but sidesteps the expected via a modular vanity painted in a bold hue. Colorful vases and a blue door add even more depth.

Opt for a Small Sink

Space is especially sparse in half bathrooms, which means a tiny sink may fit the room more organically. This black marble sink is small in stature and helps save space, but it still makes a statement.

Related: These Beautiful Half Bathrooms Prove That Small Spaces Can Pack a Major Design Punch

Install a Gorgeous Tub

If you're a serial soaker, don't feel like you have to abandon your dreams of a luxurious tub in a small bathroom. The key is to maximalize the existing as best as you can. If you want a shower and a tub, install a showerhead on the wall that empties into the tub.

Related: How to Take a Bath That Soothes Your Mind and Body

Go Minimalist-Maximalist

This small bathroom effortlessly blends minimalism with maximalism. The colorful tropical wallpaper does the most work and is tempered with a simple white sink and mirror.

Make the Shower a Star

Fun tiling in your shower can make this part of a small bathroom feel particularly special. In this space, a blue quilt-like pattern wows in an otherwise simple design.

Install a Hook Rack

A hook rack is a smart way to leaverage wallspace in a small bathroom, and it also provides a home for towels and other odds and ends.

Ground the Space with a Rug

Forget the expected bath mats and instead lay a beautiful rug. This runner sits between the sink and shower—and just in front of the tub—providing warmth and character.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.