Small Bathtubs – Think Like the Japanese

So how do they achieve better utilization of bathroom space and yet provide an enjoyable bathtub experience?  Well, there are two keys.  One is to utilize the corner spaces of the room and the other is to look up.

The first choice is the corner bathtub.  The corner small bathtub has obvious advantages in that it removes the bulk of the bathtub from the center of your bathroom space.  Even within arylic bathtubs space there are choices.  You can choose a model like this one, one with a seat in the tub, one tailored to your bathroom design, etc.

You typically think about the elderly when you think about a walk-in bathtub.  But they are no longer simply the luxury of the elderly.  More and more people are finding that this tub makes more sense.  They make much better use of space and are extremely comfortable and convenient.  They are deeper than most bathtubs and are glorious to soak in.  They even have a shower.  Heck, get one and you won’t have to get one later.  Okay, just kidding.

Claw foot small bathtubs also take advantage of taking the horizontal space and moving it vertical.  It’s hard to beat the look and durability of a cast iron claw foot bathtub.  Now, they don’t do it as dramatically as the walk-in small bathtub, but they still save space.  And man, are they nice looking and very comfortable!  If you’ve never taken a bath in one, you are missing something.

Your next option is the round small bathtub.  I don’t think the round bathtub is as space efficient as the other options, but it is nice looking.  The visual appeal of this small bathtub may win you over.  This design allows more width room than traditional tubs while putting it in a less obtrusive footprint.  As you can see, small bathtubs really do help!

The Wonder of Small Bathroom Sinks

As I mentioned in a previous article, a sink can make your small bathroom look bigger.  There are some creative sink manufacturers out there.  And heck, other places, like Europe have been dealing with these issues forever.  If you have a small bathroom, I would look into these available options: small bathroom sinks, wall hanging sinks, corner hung sinks, and pedestal sinks.  Just remember: with any of these solutions, you need to think carefully about pipe and drain placement.  This usually means rerouting exisiting pipe to hide or move the pipes and drains to fit the solution.

Corner Small Bathroom Sinks

A corner sink can really open a space.  Obviously, this is a very ornate example, but the same idea applies.  Again, just think through whether or not this will work in your situation and whether you can actually get piping and the drain over to that location.  I would get someone who knows what they are doing to assess this.

Basin Small Bathroom Sinks

This small bathroom wash basin is another good idea.  It conserves space while giving a lot of utility.  It’s classy and small, but still offers a towel holder, a faucet, and a sizeable basin.  Once again (I know, I’m a broken record!), you will want to make sure the drain and water pipes can be well positioned for a piece like this.  You want those functional things to be unobtrusive.

Hanging Small Bathroom Sinks

Here is a very plain wall hanging small bathroom sink.  It does the job and not a lot more.  I’m a fan of wall mounted sinks because it collapses the space you need.  The downside is you may see exposed copper if you used to have a bathroom vanity.

Tip: Measure the width, length, and depth of the faucet you are looking at and cut some cardboard with those dimensions.  Place that on your bathroom wall and see if you like it.

Here you see a pedestal small bathroom sink.  A pedestal sink may be too big for your particular application.  Like I stated in the tip above, measure and test things.  It will save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Of course, I am always open to new ideas and suggestions.  But you really have to love small bathroom sinks.

Before we move on to some ideas for storage, it’s time to revisit those storage spaces you already have.  That’s because most people are extremely inefficient when it comes to storage.  Try this first trick to see if it accomodates all your needs.  Get some stackable, clear containers.  Now, organize your bathroom stuff in that linen closet in those containers.  You know, all the medicine, soap, toothpaste, etc.  Now, organize and stack those clear containers on your shelving.  This takes advantage of the vertical space in your closet, while keeping an organizational structure.  That tends to work wonders with most people.

Now, if that still isn’t enough, or you don’t have a closet, then we need some more drastic measures.  First, is your medicine cabinet undersized?  Well, replacing that can give you substantial more space, with very little effort.  But, if that still isn’t effective for you and your needs, you will probably have to start using vertical space on your bathroom walls.

The thing to remember here is that any vertical space will do.  If one of your doors has space, use it.  You could paint the back of the door in a paint that allow magnets to be placed.  You can also put shelving above the toilet or just about anywhere you can find it.  Or you can install (this is about as easy as it gets) this instant bathroom shelf.  Not the cheapest thing in the world, but a great idea.  Another idea is to buy a tower rack, if you have room.  That one that I linked is just an idea.  One other idea is to hang stuff from the ceiling.  You can buy hanging storage.  Oh, one last idea – shower curtains with pockets.  I know there are more ideas, but these get your creative juices flowing.

The hardest part in small bathroom storage is balancing adding it with keeping that larger bathroom feel.  You may have to try a bunch of times to get it right.  You don’t want to add a ton of shelves and find that the bathroom now feels like a shoebox.  You get the idea.

The first thing you absolutely should do to make your small bathroom look bigger is to paint it a light color.  This is essential in a small bathroom makeover.  The light color fools your eyes into thinking the space is bigger.  That alone can make a cramped space feel much more spacious.  The light color will also give the space a nice, serene feel.

The very next thing you should look at is the vanity.  Typically stock, construction vanities are terrible.  They are big and bulky and lack any design coherence with the space.  Go look at some smaller, pedestal sinks.  Those work extremely well in a small bathroom.  Just remember that if your plumbing was also done shoddy (a good guess), it may require redoing after you put in that pedestal sink.  That’s because the lines may be jutting out of the wall way out to the left and right of the pedestal.

The other thing to contemplate is to replace the toilet with a lower capacity one.  This will decrease your water usage, but will also produce a small footprint.  If you have a bath in the small bathroom, you may also want to think about pulling that out and putting in a stand up shower.  And if you get a shower, get one with a clear glass door.  This allows the eye to see back to wall and increase the spatial perception.

Next, clear out any clutter on surfaces.  Then, start building your spaces upwards – where space is available.  This means putting in shelving.  Be creative here.  Think through nice accessories that will be functional and stylish.

Lastly, you may want to tile the floor with large tiles.  The large tiles also give an illusion of larger space.  They also really help update the space.

Remember, you want a space you will be happy in.  Take your time and plot out all details of the remodel – and then enjoy your renewed small bathroom!

There can be many spaces, both functional and aesthetic, in a bathroom.  Think through how to light each type of area.  Let’s start with the vanity space.  This is going to be where you “do your work” on your grooming each day.  As such, you do not want to put canned lighting over it.  This will create deep set shadows on your face.  That’s the last thing you want.  If you have a large mirror, you will want to place spreading lighting over the mirror.  This will help to illuminate the face evenly.  The best of all worlds is to place lighting on either side of the mirror.  This allows for the most even facial coverage of light.

The other spaces in the bathroom allow for choice.  The shower area may require its own lighting if it doesn’t have transparent doors.  Also, think through decorative spaces.  A well placed sconce can do wonders to adding appeal to this space.  Again, remember the bathroom is a place of peace and serenity.  We want to convey that in all elements, including lighting.  Don’t forget to think about ambient light coverage.  This helps fill the entire space with light and offers a delightful feel.

Another thing that most people gloss over is light bulb selection.  Lighting comes in all shades of white.  Think about where you want to land in the white color band – ranging from a brilliant white to a white approaching the yellow scale.  Brilliant white tends to denote a cold and clinical feel.  This isn’t what you are going for in the bathroom space.  Also, whenever possible, go with dimmers for your lighting.  This gives you control over the lighting of the space given a myriad of conditions.

Now, small bathrooms sometimes offer a particular challenge when it comes to lighting.  If you have an attic bathroom, you know what I mean.  Those sharp angles can throw shadows and make the space look very uninviting.  The key is to think about how light will be thrown in the space and where the potential shadow spaces will be.  You will have to get creative to fill those spaces.  Throw everything in the tool kit at it.  One great idea in a space like this is rope lighting around a top molding.  This gives off multi-directional light that will help to fill those voids.  But it probably still won’t be enough.  Accent those spaces, utilize cans, and make it work.

Okay, so you have decided to do a bathroom makeover.  Painting that bathroom is probably the first thing you want to do.  Here are some painting tips for you.

First, make sure you know what your color palette is before you get started.  Most people think about a color they want and just go with it.  If you will be replacing that vanity or will be adding accessories, then you want to make sure it all flows.  This includes any drapery as well.

Next, because the bathroom is a very damp area, you will want to make sure that you are doing some prep and checking.  Now is the time to check for any water stains, ie leaks.  Make sure there aren’t any leaks coming from any pipes, toilets, sinks, shower heads, in the walls, etc.  Next, check for any mildew or mold build up.  This will alert you to any past issues that need addressing.  While you are at it, grab a paint that is mold and mildew resistant for extra measure.

Now, what about actual color choice?  Well, most people want a bathroom space that denotes serenity and peace.  So, with that in mind, think of using warm and inviting colors.  We used a nice shade of light yellow in one of our bathrooms that really makes people feel happy.

Also, try to avoid using dark colors in small bathrooms.  Dark colors are strong perspective clue givers.  They will make the room actually feel smaller than it really is.  Obviously, in a small bathroom, that’s not what you want.  Use light, inviting colors in small bathrooms and the space will open up to you.  That’s because light colors fool our eyes.  They take away reference points and make our minds think the bathroom is bigger than it is.