Tips on creating a bigger bathroom

Steph Mann Steph Mann
Apartment 60, Mackay + Partners Mackay + Partners Modern bathroom
Loading admin actions …

Bathrooms are a room that are used by everyone. From the youngest family member to the oldest. If you are lucky enough to have more than one bathroom, then creating a bigger looking space may not be high up on your agenda. But of course, it makes sense to make any room look as big as we possibly can. A bathroom can easily become cluttered with towels and other items, if it is a shared space. It is supposed to be a sanctuary where you can relax and unwind after a hard day at work.

We have some great tips on how you can make a bathroom look and feel bigger than it actually is. There are ways to create space that won't cost the earth or need any walls knocked down!

Pick a wall colour that works

We love this beautiful bathroom by Latham Interiors. By taking the simple step of changing your wall colours, you can easily make a room feel instantly bigger. Not only can you make it feel bigger, you can make it feel brighter and just different. This room has a white ceiling, which adds height to the room. The wall colour is light and matches the floor. The light wall behind the bath is in contrast to the slightly darker wall beside the sink. The method of using one darker colour makes the bathroom feel longer than it really is, again creating the illusion of space. The dark and quirky sink unit gives the bathroom an incredibly unique feel and the light and dark theme here makes the room feel classic and certainly larger than it is.

Flattering floors

When it comes to choosing a floor in your bathroom, tile is one of the most obvious choices that we can have. It is resilient, easy to clean and provides a waterproof seal. We like this image because it shows how using tile can really help you create space in your bathroom. By having two lighter walls, in this narrow bathroom, it widens the whole room. The floor colour matches the end wall, which helps add length. The grey is a very unique colour choice, but it works well in this contemporary space. The tile choice is entirely down to you and the design you want, but making a small change can make a big difference. It is also worth considering larger tiles, as here, because it makes you think 'big' right away. Small tiles may make the room feel smaller if used incorrectly.

Make use of mirrors

Budgets can often restrict us in terms of what we can do.  If we have little money, time or both, then the small solutions are often the ones we opt for. Adding a mirror, or more than one, can really help make a bathroom look bigger. In actual fact they can make the room bigger because they can act as a cabinet, so provide storage too, creating more usable space. The two mirrors in this bathroom help light flow around the space. This is also aided by the addition of lights at either side of the mirrors, which add a contemporary feel too. Light is something that makes rooms always feel airy, and therefore bigger. You can add mirrors to any wall and as many as you like. They come in a huge variety of styles from classic to modern, the choice is endless.

Flood it with light

Nobody wants a bathroom that is dark and dingy. Look at this image and we can see instantly how the room is encased in natural light. Every aspect of the windows helps make the bathroom feel bigger. The floor to ceiling windows flood the room with so much light. Not only that, they offer stunning views and replace a wall, meaning the bathroom looks like it doesn't end. Obviously we can't all have windows like this, but it shows just how a well placed window can make all the difference. We can't always go a bold and large as this, however there is always room for improvement. If your bathroom is in an attic for example, consider adding additional skylights, or just adding a bigger window than the standard small ones we are used to seeing. 

Let there be light

Adding windows or extra windows can be costly and it isn't always something we can do.  If it isn't possible, why not consider other lighting options? We can always add more light to our bathroom whether that be in the form of mirrors or additional electrical lighting. This bathroom is cleverly designed to help maximise the light used within it. The room itself is decorated in darker colours and this works because the lighting helps. By placing lighting at key points, you can create the look of more space in your bathroom. It is a very cheap and effective method too. Using LED lighting will also keep energy costs down. You can use lights to highlight specific areas of your bathroom, making it look larger. Mix this with mirrors and you bathroom will instantly look bigger.

Change your suite

Whatever shower suite you have in your bathroom, you can still change elements of it. You don't have to go the whole hog and change the entire suite, just little bits of it. Consider a smaller sink for example. This will allow for more room in actuality and visually too. A smaller sink can mean a smaller under sink cabinet, freeing up floor space that can be needed. This images shows a small sink that has a lovely traditional under sink cabinet. The elegance of the room is only enhanced by the small sink. The shower cubicle has a glass side, making the room feel larger too. 

By mixing some, or all, of these tips together, you can create a larger bathroom, not only in look, but in reality. Saving space by having a smaller sink or a mirrored cabinet create more space. While adding more light helps the bathroom just look and feel bigger. Small steps to create a bigger bathroom will help keep it spacious and clutter free.

Need help with your home project?
Get in touch!

Highlights from our magazine