Remodeling a Small Bathroom

Two important features that make a small bathroom remodel include its function and overall aesthetics. While function includes fixtures and amenities that enable an occupant to accomplish immediate bathroom needs with little effort, looks play a big part. This is where personal décor and appearance provide the beauty and pleasing elements to make a visual impact immediately obvious. Use the tips you find in this article and check out our ‘ideas’ page for more inspiration in the planning phase of your remodel.

The overall size of a small bathroom presents a challenge to anyone who is looking to make upgrades or remodel. This can also become an opportunity for those who are creative with square footage limitations. This is where small spaces will heavily rely on space-saving fixtures and cleverly installed storage options. Unless you are searching for fixtures and vanity cabinets that allow a small bathroom space to retain any kind of balance vs square footage, it’ll be cramped.

Factors to Consider when Planning Small Bathroom Remodel

Before anything is removed long-before small bathroom remodel projects start, pre-planning is vital. Making a startup or ‘to-do’ list makes this kind of work run smoother; we created a list for of things to consider when remodeling a bathroom which can also be helpful when planing a bathroom remodel. Now, rather than stick to a set budget, price out everything that will be replaced to create an estimate of the total costs involved. At that point of assessing an estimate, adding another 10-15% to use as a buffer will help to fill in smaller costs such as remodeling supplies or tools.

Assessing Your Needs

The first issue to include when planning a bathroom remodel is the items that will go into that small space. Storage items are going to be just as important as fixtures, yet it’s the storage space that ultimately needs appropriate planning to create an ergonomic space that doesn’t limit movement within the bathroom itself. We’ll be thinking functionality over design – which doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a vanilla layout. We’ll work on elements that can add to the design without sacrificing usable square footage; things like lighting, color scheme and decor will go along way to achieving the design style you’re after.  Since fixtures are secured items that aren’t as moveable, these will require optimal sizing considerations so they do not take up excessive space too.

How To Measure Your Bathroom

Not everyone will need to measure the total square footage within a small bathroom space. Only the length and width are basic measurements that can create an overhead map diagram that serves as a blueprint and guide. If this is traced onto graph paper, this space can be further broken down to represent increments of feet to trace in new additions that will help plan out a remodel for anything new going into areas that are going to be changed.

Limitations And Opportunities

Little details such as bathroom windows, adding ventilation, or new lighting have their own set of limitations if you’re looking to remodel a small bathroom by yourself. It can be helpful to get in contact with friends who have professional electrical, plumbing, or construction experience to assist with aspects of a remodel that you aren’t confident to complete. The opportunity to learn some of these tricks hands-on from professional help are valuable skill for later upgrade projects.

Consider what’s Most Important

Understanding what you need in your bathroom may differ from what you want. A wish list is fine when these items and additions are weighed out with ‘pros and cons’ on whether they will be useful enough to add or not. Since the overall space will be limited, the immediate needs will often trump items that might limit space that’s available for anything that would be space-saving or ergonomically suited in your bathroom.

Design Plans

A detailed floor plan of your small bathroom will be the best way to develop a layout that helps guide remodeling projects from start to finish. Using these kinds of simplified drawings also allows you to gauge the amount of space that is occupying a small bathroom using an overhead view of the measured space. Other elements such as hanging cabinets or sinks are created on separate pieces of paper showing sections of the wall to lay out further additions that are needed.

Professional Designer Vs Contractor

There is no shame in hiring professional designers to assist with planning a small bathroom remodel. Some homeowners may decide to hire individual contractors for certain installations they cannot or aren’t sure they can do by themselves. The benefit of hiring any professional can save time that’s spent which speeds up the completion of bathroom remodel projects. Many professional bathroom designers will include a complete estimate for their designs and work from start to finish.

Maximizing Space

Maximizing space involves thoughtful design choices. Good lighting, for instance, can dramatically open up the space. Whether through strategically placed wall lights or a skylight, light transforms a cramped bathroom into a bright sanctuary. Mirrors are another secret weapon, bouncing light around and creating the illusion of expansiveness, especially when executed with large frameless options or chic mirror tiles. The choice of colors and surfaces further plays into this. Light colors and glossy finishes amplify reflections, contributing to a more airy atmosphere.

Creating Clever Storage Solutions

Storage solutions are critical in a small bathroom. Efficient use of vertical space with built-in shelves or wall niches keeps clutter at bay, while clear glass shower doors maintain an open feel compared to frosted alternatives. Consider upgrading your tiles and flooring for not just aesthetics but improved function—opt for durable, heat-and-water-resistant materials that elevate the room’s style. Steer clear of bulky fixtures like pedestal sinks, which occupy valuable floor space, and instead, choose sleek, wall-mounted alternatives for saving space.

Start your remodel by beginning with a cohesive design plan— this ensures a smoother process from start to finish. Read on for some ideas and things you should consider before embarking on your remodel.

More and more, there are cabinets and storage solutions that help solve the problems of limited bathroom space. There are smart storage cabinets and shelf solutions which allow you to maximize extra space in a small bathroom without sacrificing what space is already available. See our featured manufacture Rev-A-Shelf in this article. Many of these solutions are easily found at home improvement stores and through online shopping outlets.

De-clutter and Adding Open Storage

Removing items that take up valuable space in a small bathroom can be as simple as finding storage for them in smart cabinets. Wall cabinets such as shoe organizer cabinets make an excellent storage compartment for loose items like bathroom scales and storage for towels and bathroom supplies. It also frees-up counter space for vanities and sinks without needing to add portable shelving that can appear too crowded.

Light and Mirror Illusions of Space

We all know that adding mirrors into a small area can give the illusion of spaces that already appear too cramped for comfort. By just changing the light temperature of bathroom lighting, brighter and wider daylight Kelvin (color temperature) fixtures can further make a small room look bigger when combined with mirrors to illuminate everything evenly instead of patches of scattered light. Take a look how this small bathroom space, tiled ‘Graceful Renovation’ was improved by simply working in some great lighting best practices and reworking the usage of the mirror.

Fixtures And Finishes That Fit Scale And Budget

A reasonable budget for a small bathroom remodel varies based on scope and location, but thorough planning ensures value-for-money upgrades. On average, expect a modest remodel to range from $3,000 to $10,000, covering key updates and labor. Cost effective adjustments like updating fixtures or changing up the color scheme, can make a significant difference without undergoing a complete remodel.

Although it’s easy to find select fixtures that might look great in your little bathroom, they might not be the right scale. Choose a fixture that matches the size of the room it’s going into so there is less space it will occupy. Many new space-saving fixtures provide plenty of room for daily usage and aren’t taking up more space than they should. Try sticking to a budget that will also reflect economical materials that are just as effective as expensive fixtures.

Select Bathroom Fixtures Carefully

As there are many options for toilets, sinks, or bathtubs, there are also versions that are designed to be compact for smaller spaces. These scaled-down versions are best suited for small bathroom designs when space is limited. It’s a must to research the manufacturers of these fixtures to find the right size and scale that they offer for aesthetic appeal in a small space. Choose styles and designs that include comfort despite being slightly smaller in scale.

Choosing High-quality Materials

New tiles, countertops, and flooring that go into a bathroom aren’t always made from expensive materials. Often, these are composite materials that mimic porcelain, stone, and ceramics. These make excellent alternative picks that cost a fraction of pricier materials and do last over the years when they are taken care of properly. Installation of these newer composites is typically faster than traditional tile or flooring work.

Updating The Lighting And Ventilation

The Importance of Good Lighting and Ventilation

Despite small bathrooms being confined areas already, the lighting fixtures don’t always include adequate lighting. It’s essential to provide lighting that illuminates the entire bathroom evenly with positioned fixtures that have soft and diffused white lighting that’s not overly harsh. But another issue that also is essential includes proper fan ventilation since small bathrooms will always be prone to moisture and steam faster than larger bathrooms.

Options for Lighting and Ventilation

It’s not always easy to have natural sunlight in your little bathroom unless you have large windows installed or switch to a daylight shade of LED ceiling fixture lighting. Sconces are fine accents for attractive décor additions likewise. Yet, adding a skylight is another alternative if your bathroom has immediate skylight access that can illuminate this space naturally. Ventilation systems can be added to walls or ceilings which increase airflow and reduce moisture problems.

Energy Efficient Lighting and Fixtures

With the advances in LED lighting, there are many advantages to saving on electricity bills. The average life for LED fixtures is no less than 5 years, saving you even more on replacing incandescent bulbs. In addition, they can have dimming controls, color control, and Smart Home apps for overall control likewise. Some of these light fixtures can also be connected to ventilation systems that control fan speed settings.

Considerations On Small Bathroom Remodels

With all that’s been mentioned, it’s possible to make a small bathroom remodel by yourself if you know what you’re doing. Painting your bathroom is a quick and simple way to makeover your bathroom – see our guide on painting bathroom tiles here. Many of the remodeling steps do require some moderate effort and a lot of spare time on the side if you have a day job. Many of the considerations for smaller spaces also need to be scaled back to allow a small area to feel larger both visually and aesthetically. With many of the space-saving amenities that are added, this small space will be more ergonomic.

Small Bathroom Potentials And Benefits

It’s great to have a bathroom that feels roomy despite its reduced scale compared to roomier bathrooms. Quite often, another benefit will be to consult with professionals who specialize in this type of work and who already know how to solve these space-limited projects. This will help solve problems that you might not be able to accomplish that still include functionality and an attractive appearance working seamlessly.

Why Professional Designers And Contractors

Bathroom designers and contractors come with previous experience that typically knows how to tackle big and small jobs. The advantage of contacting them is a time-saving effort that allows you to work within a set budget while their services can see a small bathroom project get completed much faster than you could on your own. Many professional designers already have space-saving fixtures they can suggest for your next bathroom remodel.