64 Stylish Ideas for Small Bathrooms That Designers Always Recommend (2024)

When it comes to designing and decorating your small bathroom, there are a few things to keep in mind. You need to figure out the best ways to utilize the small space so it's still functional, and you should still work on making the room feel stylish with such little square footage. However, regarding the latter issue, it may surprise you that sometimes the smallest rooms in our homes hold the most potential. As you come up with your own small bathroom design ideas, think of the space as a little vignette to play around with your style and really hone in on your creative side while keeping in mind where you're going to hang the towels and store the toilet paper.

It can sound a bit overwhelming, having to think of so many moving parts at once, but you really just have to take it one step at a time. The designers below have thought of everything, from how to make the space feel larger to clever ways to fit in that vintage vanity. Keep reading to find 64 stylish small bathroom ideas from designers and trusted experts in the home space, and start adding them to your Pinterest board.

For more small space inspiration:

  • These Brilliant Small Living Room Ideas Make the Room Feel Larger
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  • 25 Expert Clothes Storage Ideas for Small Bedrooms

1

Utilize Vertical Stripes

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Vertical stripes work the same way in home interiors as they do in fashion: They add height. For a small bathroom with a low ceiling, use a wallcovering with vertical stripes, as designer Ashley Gilbreath did in this powder room, to make the space feel taller.

Related Story: This Designer Turned a Florida Beach Rental into Her Family's Permanent Home

2

Build Up

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In this small bathroom idea, designer Christina Salway added character with her vintage touches, but doing so also allowed the space to feel less crowded. Using this vintage toilet, she added height and dimension, leaving an open pocket for the eye so the bottom half of the room wouldn't feel busy.

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3

Install Built-Ins

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If storage is an issue in your small bathroom, work with your contractor to figure out how you can install built-ins to solve the problem. The team at Gordon Dunning chose to put shelves in the wall facing the tub for easy access to towels and other amenities, but you can make the area more closed off if that's what you prefer.

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4

Add a Corner Vanity

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Not only does adding a corner vanity help save space, but it also adds an interesting focal point that you typically won't find elsewhere. The designer of this small bathroom idea, Alexandra Kaehler, also hung up the antique mirror in the corner to help the flow of the design.

Related Story: Designer Alexandra Kaehler Creates an English-Inspired Interior in Chicago's North Shore

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5

Hide Your Plumbing

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This gorgeous, floating vanity is not simply a custom statement piece—it also serves as a secret compartment. The quartzite mini counter, selected for the bathroom by designer Brittany Wurzak Hakimfar of Far Studio, hides the plumbing for the sink, creating a clean look and avoiding clutter.

6

Choose Smaller Details

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One surefire way of making your small bathroom appear larger is by using small-sized details and decor. In this powder room, designer Anne Hepfer chose a compact corner vanity, a skinny and long mirror, and double wall sconces to still fit everything she wanted in this room without it feeling cramped.

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7

Use a High-Gloss Paint

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You're obviously going to have a mirror in your bathroom, but designer Katie Ridder took it a step further when it came to reflective surfaces in this small powder room. Ridder painted the door in a rich, merlot lacquer (Arroyo Red from Benjamin Moore), which added beautiful character and contrast to the room while also serving as an extra shiny surface, making the room appear larger thanks to its reflection of light.

Related Story: How to Use High-Gloss Paint at Home, According to Designers

8

Use a Light Color Scheme

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Everyone knows that light colors can help make a small room feel larger, so follow that tip for your small bathroom idea. Designer Ben Dhong used vintage pieces mixed with new modern ones in this powder room, creating a serene space with plenty of character and harmony.

Related Story: 12 Color Schemes That Are Popping Off Right Now, According to Designers

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9

Enlist Portable Storage

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Susannah Charbin, founder and creative director of the multidisciplinary creative studio The Beaux Arts, chose to forego traditional storage pieces in this bathroom. Instead, she opted for a vintage stool to blend with the family's vintage bathtub. Towels can stay off the floor without the need for any too-large furniture.

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10

Let Light In

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In this floating home renovated by Colleen Dowd Saglimbeni of CDS Interiors, the door mimics the traditional porthole of a ship. The glass pane is not only a nod to the home's nautical nature, but it also allows more light to enter the small space.

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11

Mirror the Entire Wall

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In House Beautiful's 2023 Whole Home, Marita Simmons and Krysta Gibbons of Kipling House chose a floor-to-ceiling wall mirror for this bathroom in the ladies' lounge to make the tiny space feel that much bigger. Not only does the mirror create an optical illusion, but it also works to reflect light around the small room.

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12

Install Sconces on the Mirror

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Three traditional sconces were mounted on the mirrors of this small bathroom idea—designed by Sara Swabb of Storie Collective and Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchens & Baths—to direct light where it’s needed. The mirror came from a creative solution: “While we originally envisioned one single mirror with hand-finished brass trim, it would have been too large to even get into the house,” says Swabb. “Instead, we decided to save a little money by doing four separate mirrors with beveled edges, which turned out to be one of our favorite design details.”

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13

Go for Pearly White

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Create a sense of openness by drenching a small bathroom in white, as Toledo Geller did in this bathroom. The varying white marble tiles, white ceiling, and off-white window shade provide a bright yet soft atmosphere. Glass shower doors make the space feel larger, while the small brass table adds a pop of elegance.

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14

Use Furniture for Counter Space

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To make up for the lack of counter space and storage in the bathroom of her Los Angeles home, designer Francesca Grace placed a small cabinet next to the sink. A simple wall hook holds a single hand towel in this small bathroom idea, while the wide mirror reflects light and makes the space feel bigger.

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15

Source Vintage Statement Pieces

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If you don't have a ton of room to make a statement, do so with small vintage pieces. In the bathroom of a 1960s West Palm Beach, Florida, bungalow, Gillian Segal placed a delicate vintage sconce in between curved mirrors sourced from Mecox for a romantic touch.

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16

Put a Skirt on the Vanity

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Chintz brings a touch of the garden into the bathroom of this Southampton retreat, where Justine Cushing managed to fit in a dressing table and a matching chair that tucks underneath it thanks to a clever layout. The skirt hides other essential toiletries too.

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17

Select Translucent Shades

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Ensure privacy without sacrificing light by picking out translucent window shades. The rattan shade in this small bathroom idea by Becca Casey balances those needs while adding texture and warmth to the space.

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18

Personalize It With Your Monogram

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Alexander Reid personalized this small rental bathroom with a monogrammed shower curtain that also features a classic border. Pretty framed prints and a garden stool take up little space but go a long way as far as making it feel formal and polished.

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19

Work Around the Roofline

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Don't let a quirky floor plan block your creativity or your dream small bathroom layout. In the primary bath of her home (a former church), designer Nathalie Chong set a tub in the dormer windows and squeezed in a double vanity. She emphasized the drama of the ceiling by using different size mirrors, making the slanted roofline work for her, and dabbling in asymmetry.

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20

Keep Millwork Minimal

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Design firm Studio Shamshiri “chose minimal finishes and millwork that didn't distract from the nature outside” and used vertical space to play up the height of this bathroom. They also added sneaky storage via a floating custom cubby that spans the length of the double vanity and installed an equally long towel bar beneath it.

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64 Stylish Ideas for Small Bathrooms That Designers Always Recommend (2024)
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