Interior Design & Decor

Adequate storage, organization and compatible surfaces are critical in small bathroom design because they can either make the room look spacious and comfortable or small and cluttered. Decisions about surfaces and storage will also have a significant impact on the cost of remodeling your small bathroom.

 

Storage is very important in any bathroom. Planning carefully for storage in a small bathroom is especially important. Not only do you need places to put things, you also need to think about avoiding clutter and providing secure places for potentially dangerous items and substances. Whether you decide to install a vanity (many people prefer a style that has cabinets on one side and drawers on the other side) or not, you will probably need to provide other storage with a medicine cabinet, closet or with shelves.

 

The less you have extending into the room – shelves, medicine cabinets, etc., the more spacious the room will seem. You can provide storage without protrusions by building or installing recessed storage areas, such as medicine cabinets, shelving, nooks, etc. Using either mirrors or glass on doors over these areas will reflect light and make the room seem larger.

 

Most homeowners tend to think of one, standard sized medicine cabinet in a bathroom. Sometimes it is helpful in designing a small bathroom remodel to think in terms of either a larger medicine cabinet with a mirrored door that covers most of the wall over the sink, or of adding more medicine cabinet-type storage areas. The mirrors will reflect other parts of the room and light, making the room look much larger. For example, placing a mirrored storage area near the tub or shower is the perfect place to store bath items – soaps, washcloths, towels, lotions, and more.

 

Shelves for storage are a great idea in a small bathroom, particularly if they are glass shelves. Because they reflect light they give less sense of clutter in the room. The best option, however, is to build recessed shelves if at all possible. These can be framed or left unframed. The shelves can have doors in front to keep items clean. The best material for the doors is glass, frosted glass or a mirror. Mixing storage and decorative items can create a very appealing appearance.

 

Organization of your storage areas is also important. Not only will you want to be able to find things quickly, but organizing storage space reduces the amount of storage needed. You can find drawer dividers and other organizational items in any home improvement or home decorating store. Using either adjustable shelves or shelving of different heights will also make the storage areas more useful.

 

Surfaces (ceilings, walls, floors) are also especially important in remodeling a small bathroom. The things to keep in mind when making these choices are generally matters of accessibility, ease of cleaning and maintenance, and maintaining a feeling of spaciousness. Here are a few things to consider:

 

1. Tile can be used on floors, walls and surrounds. It is often chosen because it is relatively easy to install, very easy to clean and durable.

 

2. Radiant heat must be installed before floor covering in installed.

 

3. Installing sound board around the bathroom can be a very nice addition for privacy.

 

4. You will need to use cement backer board around tubs and showers and either green board or blue board on the rest of the walls and the ceiling. These materials absorb less moisture than standard drywall and are less susceptible to mold and mildew.

 

5. If you plan to use wallpaper, never use fabric because it absorbs too much moisture. Vinyl wallpaper is more resistant of moisture and easier to clean.

 

6. Whether you are wallpapering or painting walls, vertical stripes or borders at the top of the wall will draw the eye upward and make the room seem larger.

 

7. Use no more than two colors to keep the room more peaceful and appearing larger.

 

8. Using either semi-gloss or gloss enamel paint in bathrooms is a good idea because it is less likely to be affected by moisture and it stands up better to steam and frequent cleaning.

 

A little bit of intentionality and creativity when planning the surfaces, storage and organization of your small bathroom will produce a room that is peaceful, functional and comfortable. With thought and a little effort you can make a small bathroom look and feel much larger than it is.

 

Copyright 2010 by Dan Fritschen