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Amid all of the design world’s triumphs in recent years, the spalike bathroom ranks high. “In prewar construction, bathrooms were not necessarily the prized possessions that you see in today’s day and age,” says New York designer Phillip Thomas. Indeed, it can seem like bathrooms today are becoming ever more luxurious, with 22 percent of homeowners enlarging their primary <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/03/26/how-much-bathroom-renovation-cost/" target=_blank>baths during a renovation</a> — according to a<a href="https://st.hzcdn.com/static/econ/2023_US_Houzz_Bathroom_Trends.pdf" target=_blank> 2023 survey</a> by Houzz — and many of them adding amenities like soaking tubs and steam showers.

But grand ambitions don’t always match reality: “Even in free-standing homes, sometimes you just don’t have the square footage to devote to a large bathroom,” says Thomas. “You have to figure out inventive ways of creating the illusion of more space than you’re actually provided.”

So, what are those of us with bathrooms closer to the size of a port-a-potty to do? Read on for expert advice on making a small bathroom live large.

Michael Mundy

“In a small space, you’re trying to create as many threads of continuity as possible,” says Atlanta designer Vern Yip. When the eye spots contrast at every opportunity, he explains, “it just breaks down a small space into an even smaller space.”

Yip’s advice: Keep all metal finishes consistent, from your towel rack to your shower door handle. “Sometimes you have the option to get the faucet or towel bar with two finishes on it, such as brass and chrome,” he says. “[That look] is really hard to pull off when you’re dealing with a smaller space.” To that end, sticking to one type of tile and a consistent color palette can also give a bathroom a more voluminous feel.

Eric Piasecki

In a small bathroom, Thomas often relies on finishes that reflect light, “where you can’t see the literal place it starts and where it ends.” One of his go-to materials for this purpose is frosted mirror. He has used it in tile form on walls and ceilings, and also installed entire sheets of it on the wall behind the vanity, as you would with a marble slab. “Frosted mirror has this glow, but it doesn’t have the reflection where you can see where the room starts and where it ends, like you would with a [normal] mirror.” Metallics can have a similar effect, as do shimmery mosaic tiles, Thomas says.

Designer Julia Miller, of the firm Yond Interiors, deployed a similar strategy with a 75-square-foot bathroom in Minneapolis, swapping a traditional built-in tub/shower combo for one with a glass wall. “We made one side a whole glass panel that faces the window, so that helped immensely,” she says. Choosing a glossy tile did, too. “[It] had a reflective quality,” she says. “The light still kind of moved throughout the space as opposed to just kind of stopping dead on a matte tile.”

For a more whimsical way to fake depth, Miller recommends wallpaper, which “can really give a lot of good illusions for both expanding and contracting space.” To achieve the former, she suggests an allover pattern such as a floral print, or something scenic such as a mural depicting rolling farmland. “Anything that’s a little bit busy or doesn’t have a repeat that your eye can see,” she says, since such options trick the mind into perceiving depth and encourage the eye to move.

Adam Kane Macchia

Going all in on design can transform a small bathroom into a wonderland so entrancing you’ll forget that it’s the size of a postage stamp. Take, for example, the dramatic makeover that Louise Copeland gave to an especially snug bathroom tucked inside a San Francisco Victorian. To lean into the historic vibe, the designer — of Charlotte-based L.B. Copeland Interiors — ordered antique marbled sheets of paper from Italy and had them <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/03/21/how-to-wallpaper-expert-tips/" target=_blank>installed like wallpaper.</a> “Because the house is very old, we thought it would be fun to use something … that would’ve actually been available to the person who built the house,” she says.

Inspiration also came from the home’s location near the San Francisco Bay. “You can hear the foghorn from everywhere in that part of the city,” says Copeland. “You’re always reminded of ships coming through.” Sconces inspired by ship lanterns, plus dark wood paneling, nod to those nautical environs.

Miranda Cullen

New paint can offer one of the quickest routes to a more spacious-feeling bathroom. Going dark might seem counterintuitive, but designer Miranda Cullen, of Denver’s Inside Stories, says deep hues can feel expansive, particularly when painted on both <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/07/18/how-to-paint-wallpaper-ceiling/" target=_blank>the walls and the ceiling.</a> She recently used a rich raspberry — “Fabulous Grape” by Sherwin-Williams — to envelop a 48-square-foot bathroom in Littleton, Colo.

While <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2022/08/24/designer-favorites-bold-paint-colors/" target=_blank>dark shades lend drama</a> and moodiness, light and bright options can equal a fresh crispness. Either can work to visually expand a small bathroom, says Cullen via email; “you just need to decide the type of feeling you are trying to evoke.” Whichever option you choose, she recommends embracing one color to create an immersive experience.

Every inch counts in a tight bathroom, so wherever you can, make choices to preserve precious space. For instance, Copeland suggests swapping swinging doors for pocket doors. Within that Minneapolis bath, Miller says, “we integrated hardware into the cabinetry, so we didn’t have anything projecting into the walkway. … Even things like that can be tricks to make a [small] bathroom at least more functional.”

“The more floor you see, the bigger a space feels,” Thomas says. “That’s why furniture so often has legs so that you’re able to see under, and your eye is able to pass through the room and it makes the room feel bigger.”

To that end, he suggests raising bathroom fixtures off the floor — employing floating vanities or wall-mounted sinks and toilets. And if you have <i>just</i> enough square footage for a bathtub, you can also choose one of those that’ll feel like less of a space hog. “The traditional claw foot tub has gotten so many wonderful, more modern iterations recently,” he says, noting that curved options are similar to a round dining table in creating the illusion of more room. “A free-standing tub allows you to see around it and helps you to amplify the feeling of space.” Just add spa-ready bath salts.

<i>Kathryn O’Shea-Evans is a design and travel writer in Colorado.</i>

A previous version of this story misidentified L.B. Copeland Interiors as Copeland Interiors. The article has been corrected.

Kathryn O'Shea-Evans

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