How Can a Reno Make Your Small Bathroom Seem Bigger?

A small bathroom is still useful as an extra space for taking care of important tasks. You want enough bathrooms to serve your family and guests without creating competition for access. However, you don’t have to feel stuck with your smaller bathrooms just because you don’t have a lot of free space available. We have a number of renovation tricks on hand to make the room seem bigger with or without the need for major structural changes. Even if you’re working with a lot of limitations that interfere with your plans to expand the space, we’ll find a way to at least give the appearance of a larger room. Peruse our tips for creating a spacious bathroom design as part of your next renovation project. 

Borrow Extra Bathroom Space From Adjacent Rooms and Closets 

One option for physically adding space to a cramped bathroom is to take space from adjacent rooms and closets. If you have a hall closet or bedroom closet that shares a wall with the bathroom, you can easily connect the two spaces to make the most of them. Moving the wall of a guest room or home office a few feet can make a huge difference to a bathroom without leaving the affected room feeling much smaller. Expand the footprint of the bathroom into adjacent areas that are underutilized to reallocate space where you need it the most. With our design expertise, we can help you make the most of every inch you add. You’ll be surprised at what we can squeeze into a newly expanded bathroom, transitioning half baths into full suites and more. 

Consider an Extension or Addition 

If there are no convenient spaces to borrow from around the bathroom, we can still expand the space through an addition. Home additions are popular in Toronto to create valuable square footage without the need to move to a new home. Small extensions, also known as bump–outs, make a big difference in a space like the bathroom. With the help of our expert design team, you can identify clever ways to create the space you need. You might be surprised at where we can squeeze a little extra space on your lot, even with restrictive setbacks and other zoning requirements. Don’t be afraid that a home addition is too big of a project to handle. We’ll put our entire team to work making sure it all goes smoothly for you. We’ve handled many extensions and addition projects in the area and know what permits and planning permissions are necessary to keep the work on track. 

Implement Smart Storage in Your Bathroom 

There’s no need to choose between storage in the bathroom and extra space. We have the solutions to achieve both an open and spacious floor plan and plenty of cabinetry for organizing cosmetics, towels, and more. Floating shelves, hidden drawers, and spacious vanities work well in all kinds of bathrooms. We’ll identify the best ways to make use of spaces like the area over the toilet and room behind the door without compromising on access or a luxurious appearance. Little details like electrical outlets built into cabinets and drawers allow you to keep everything organized and out of the way. You can plug hair dryers and other self–care tools in and tuck them away when you’re done without having to unplug them. 

Make the Most of Niches 

Speaking of built–in smart storage, work in as many wall niches as possible for extra storage. These niches fit into the wall itself, reducing how much space is lost from the rest of the room. While they’re commonly used in custom–built shower enclosures to give you shelves for organizing shampoo and soap, we can also build them throughout the rest 

of the bathroom for both decorative and functional purposes. Consider highlighting the niches with custom tilework that adds colour and decoration to the space without distracting from a clean and sleek look. We can combine floating shelves with wall openings for a distinctive modern storage system that adds to the luxury look of the finished bathroom. 

Increase the Lighting 

Many bathrooms aren’t really that small, they’re mostly just dim. A lack of lighting makes any space seem smaller. You don’t have to settle for the same old basic vanity light sets that most designers use for this kind of room. We’ll think outside the box to combine natural lighting sources like windows, skylights, and solar tubes with fixtures that add beauty to the bathroom. You’ll be surprised at how much more space it seems like you have once the room is bright and airy. Good lighting is also a matter of safety in the bathroom. Without adequate lighting, you could slip in the shower or cut yourself while shaving. Taking care of yourself means employing both ambient and spot lighting that’s appropriate for the room. Our skill at lighting design is one of our highlights that continues to earn praise from our clients. 

Keep the Colours Light & Bright 

Brightness also comes from the colour palette you choose for the bathroom design. Light colours tend to make the space seem larger, especially if you pick finishes that reflect light. However, you should consider a few splashes of dark or intense colours to help add contrast to the space. Too much white on white design will wash out the space and take away from the sense of openness. Matte black fixtures and hardware are a good choice that works with almost any light and bright colour palette you prefer. If you want to add bright colours to the design without making the space seem smaller, consider using the colour towards the upper part of the room as a ceiling border or colourful light fixture. This creates a vertical visual effect that can create a sense of space. 

Install a Glass Shower Enclosure

When it comes to the shower, you should consider upgrading to a full glass enclosure if at all possible. Most bathrooms can accommodate at least a small stall–sized enclosure, if not a large custom design with benches and rainfall shower heads. The all–glass enclosure allows light to spread through the space for a spacious appearance. Fibreglass enclosures and solid tile designs block light, making you feel cramped and uncomfortable. Upgrading your showering experience is often the single biggest change you need to make to freshen up a space. If you still have an older tub and shower combo, it’s time to upgrade to freestanding designs that separate the two. 

Putting in a new shower enclosure can do more than make a small bathroom seem bigger. It also increases the functionality of the room and can be part of a plan for aging in place. We often install barrier–free walk–in showers that work well with mobility devices and even wheelchairs if necessary. Even if you don’t need this kind of shower enclosure just yet, it’s more affordable to add it during a planned renovation than to re–engineer your bathing experience later. 

Switch to Pocket Doors 

Doors that swing inward take up a lot of space, limiting where you can place toilets, sinks, and showers. If you want to squeeze a freestanding tub in the bathroom but can’t make it fit with the door, check out pocket doors. These doors retract into the wall itself so that there’s no need for so much clearance either inside or outside the bathroom. While these doors were once only used for closets, today’s modern designs are much more attractive and sturdy enough to use for bathrooms and other rooms where space is at a premium. We can determine if your walls will hold this kind of door with a quick inspection, allowing you to save space and get more out of every inch of the bathroom.

Get in Touch with Sosna

Struggling to get through your daily routine with a cramped bathroom only reduces your happiness in the long run. Investing in a renovation that makes the most of your existing bathroom space is the best way to remedy those issues. You’ll be happier with your newly expanded layout the very first time you take a shower or prepare yourself for the day. Experience what a truly luxurious home spa experience is like by adding some high–end features to the design as well. Adjustable LED lights, music systems, Jacuzzi tubs, and sauna additions all transform basic bathrooms into outstanding spaces. Let our design team  guide you to the perfect improvements to any room in the house. Our production team will quickly complete the work, even if you want all of the bathrooms in the home updated at once. 

We’ll be by your side every step of the process so your home renovation journey is as enjoyable as possible.

Discuss your needs for the new bathroom to give our team a good starting point and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what we can create for you.