Create the illusion of a big bathroom with these smart space saving ideas
Image: Utopia Bathrooms
If your bathroom is particularly small, it can feel more claustrophobic and drab than cosy and relaxing. The trick to overcoming this issue is not to rush into planning a bathroom renovation or extension project without considering more practical options to save space and unnecessary costs.
We reveal our top five tips to making your bathroom seem bigger with a few tricks of the eye, no building required.
Invest in wall-mounted furnishings
Image: Alternative Bathrooms
Wall-mounted furniture and sanitaryware create an increased sense of space, as more floor area is visible. Experts at the bathstore.com also recommend opting for wall-hung toilets as they're 'great for streamlining bathrooms, concealing the cisern and making the space instantly appear far less cluttered', as well as increasing floor space.
Choose your basin unit wisely
Image: Vado
Consider using a wider but shallower-depth basin unit. There will still be plenty of basin area, but the projection into the room will be reduced.
Basins that can sit on top of a bathroom cabinet allow for extra storage, allowing you to tuck away accessories and free up even more space.
Create the illusion of a bigger bathroom with mirrors
Image: CP Hart
Mirrors accentuate the illusion of greater space, while a simple palette of materials and colours will create a sleeker, pared-back scheme.
It may be the oldest trick in an interior designers' book, but placing mirrors near windows or above glass cabinets to reflect natural and artificial light into the room will create a more open feel.
Fool the eye with savvy storage solutions
Image: Roper Rhodes
Use any available room in stud walls or bulkheads to create recessed shelving or cupboard space for extra storage, as well as a good place for adding feature lighting.
Specialists in designing and manufacturing bathroom equipment, Soakology, suggest utlising the area below a sink as it 'provides a generous, and often overlooked, space. An extra shelf or two to bottom left and right of your sink could be useful to store [toiletries]. When choosing your shelving, if your bathroom looks particularly busy, opt for clear glass shelves to make the room appear more open.'
Consider under-lighting on wall-mounted furniture
Image: Utopia Bathrooms
Under-lighting, wall-mounted furniture will wash the floor with indirect light, further enhancing this effect and making the furniture appear to float. Pale or glossy furniture reflects more light, too.
Have you any tricks of the eye to share? Tweet us @granddesignsmag or post a comment on our Facebook page.
Meet the experts at Grand Designs Live 2018, Excel London, May 5th - 13th
If you’re struggling with a kitchen planning, design or productsourcing problem, help is at hand. Simply book in for a free 30-minute one-to-one consultation with a kitchen specialist in Ask An Expert.
You might meet Keith Myers from The Myers Touch a company that specialises in the holistic design of luxury kitchens, or Chris Lee, winner of the New Designer of the Year category in The Designer Kitchen & Bathroom awards 2017.
Bring along any plans or sketches, as these will be a good starting point for your session. Visit granddesignslive.com to book your slot.
