Small bathroom remodeling is often about smart fixture selection, storage solutions, light, colors, and styling. For example, it helps to think of alternatives to standard versions of vanities, tubs, and even toilets. There are many compact alternatives out there and they offer a custom look, too. Is it the window that does it? The eye-catching matrix of 48 glass blocks is a perfect way to allow light in while maintaining privacy. That helps, of course, but what truly creates the illusion of space is the high ceiling. While not everyone loves cathedral ceilings, in this case a cathedral ceiling is a welcome thing. Tall ceilings are notorious energy-wasters on a large scale, but when the room is a small bathroom, energy loss is kept to a minimum. For a truly modern small bathroom idea, you can’t do much better than setting this double sink arrangement on a cantilevered bathroom counter. These clean lines emphasize the crisp geometry of the deep basin sinks and their unique fixtures. So why tuck the tub away? When you spend a bit more on a stylish tub, the tub becomes the focus of the room. This one is called a double-ended tub, with fixtures located in the middle. At night, you can lie on the left side and view the stars through the skylight. During the day, recline in the other direction so that the light coming through the windows shines on your book or magazine. Another small bathroom strategy at play here is the minimal decorations. Except for a wall cabinet and generous windows, this bathroom has few other adornments. But mirrors in a bathroom can have a secondary function. They can also expand the visual space in a bathroom, just like in other areas of the house. They provide the illusion of more space, plus they multiply the amount of available light. Here, one end of the tub is against the wall, effectively hiding the supply and drain pipes. But that leads to the issue of the bather also facing the wall. This is solved by adding a mirror on the wall, so bathers can view the open space behind while soaking in the tub. The mirror also brightens the room by reflecting light. Pair bathroom mirrors with lighter-colored walls for an even brighter effect. Drywall is always simple to paint. Make sure that you use eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss paint in bathrooms. When the walls are tile, consider painting the tile rather than removing and replacing it. Painting tile works best for low-impact areas like tile surrounds or backsplashes. If you look at the back of the bowl, you’ll notice something missing: the tank. There is a tank but it’s actually built into the spaces between the wall studs and is completely concealed by the wall finish. The best part—for small bathrooms especially—is the reclaimed space that would otherwise go to the toilet tank. Wall-hung toilets also have no pedestal or floor base, so the fixture takes up even less visual and physical space. This contemporary medicine cabinet is made of dark wood and has three shelves and sleek, linear styling. Notice how the glass nearly reaches the edges of the cabinet. Though many medicine cabinets are recessed, this cabinet is a surface-mount model. To save even more space, there are recessed medicine cabinets that have shelf compartments that go into the wall so all that’s on the surface is the mirror.
