Ever stepped foot into a 5×6 bathroom and immediately felt cramped? I lived in that bathroom for about 9 months. I think the prior owners installed the massive vanity because it looked impressive in the showroom.
But in reality, it made the bathroom look and feel like a cave. The navy walls didn’t help. Plus, we had a towel rack, toilet brush holder, soap dispenser, and three different storage baskets.
Every single time I walked into that bathroom I felt like I had to complete an obstacle course just to get to the sink. Then came the day my sister was staying at our house for a couple days and she couldn’t even get past the vanity and door without bumping her shoulder.
She actually had to “slither” around the vanity to leave the bathroom.
Between laughter, I was horrified. Me, who likes to think I know all about creating spaces, couldn’t even step foot into my own bathroom without feeling crowded. Enough was enough.
I started doing research on how to make my bathroom feel more open and spacious. What I discovered is that small bathrooms are NOT about cramming as much “stuff” into them as possible. Small bathrooms are about removing anything that you don’t absolutely need and making EVERYTHING else serve double duty.
Step one was to clear EVERYTHING out. I mean completely empty. All of it.
The bathroom looked naked. Sterile. But sitting there empty, I could actually see the shape of the bathroom for the first time.
It wasn’t small, it was just stuffed with unnecessary accessories. What I originally thought was a problem (the navy walls) actually felt slightly better since there were fewer objects taking attention away from how cramped the bathroom really was. Speaking of the vanity.
That was the biggest transformation in the entire room. I switched out the old, large vanity for a floating vanity that is about 60% the size of the original. Sure I lost some storage space but gained something much more valuable – negative space.
When you can actually see the floor behind and around a vanity, your mind tricks you into thinking the room is bigger. It’s such an easy fix, but it truly works. Paint colour was super important to me.
I wanted something super pale – think grey/white. Nothing too bright or white, because white can sometimes feel sterile or industrial in a windowless powder room. But something that still had a warmth to it that would make people want to hang out in there.
I ended up going with Farrow & Ball’s Pointing . It has a grey undertone that slightly changes colours depending on the lighting. It was way more expensive than I anticipated – £45/litre vs £20/litre you’d pay for standard paint – but it goes on so smooth and has a chalky finish that photographs beautifully and feels high-quality to the touch.
Another game changer was switching out the light fixture. The old version was an enormous brass fixture with frosted glass globes that cast strange shadows all over the room. Instead I installed two simple chrome wall sconces on each side of the mirror.
Nothing too fancy, but the linear designs and warm LED lights really opened up the room. The key is to install them at eye-level instead of centred on top of the mirror like most people would. This eliminates those ugly shadows formed under your eyes and chin.
Alright, so I’ll admit. The round mirror hanging above the sink was a splurge. Antique stores near me were selling expensive rectangular mirrors, so I instead found this gorgeous round mirror with a thin brass frame at a local antique shop.
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Came in at £85 – pricey for a secondhand piece – but really adds character to the room without being overwhelming. Round mirrors help soften square and angular spaces, and this particular mirror reflects light from both wall sconces which helps brighten up the entire room. Storage was probably the trickiest part to figure out.
When I removed the large vanity I obviously lost some storage area on top. So I got creative. I installed a small shelf above the toilet that’s barely big enough to hold a small plant (and maybe some rolled up towels).
Below the floating vanity I installed a small basket that slides out. It stores extra toilet paper and some cleaning supplies but hides them underneath. The real kicker was paring down my accessories to THREE items.
That’s right. A small ceramic soap dispenser, a lone white towel (I keep extras in my linen closet for guests), and a small succulent I keep on the shelf. That’s literally it.
No candles, no “guest” soaps I never use, no serving dishes full of junk. It may sound boring, but here’s what happened. Everyone kept telling me how “spa-like” my bathroom felt and how “peaceful” it was.
My mum even commented that it reminded her of hotel bathrooms she’s stayed in. Friend of mine stopped over and asked me for the paint colour. I wasn’t getting these compliments before my bathroom was littered with junk.
And boy does that succulent deserve some credit. If you’ve got a small bathroom one common problem is finding ways to incorporate plants without creating long-term maintenance. I previously tried…everything.
Ferns that died from lack of humidity. Aggressive plants that took over the room. Flowers that wilted after two days.
But this little guy has been alive for 8 months with barely any watering. Must love that rush of humidity it gets when I shower. Small bathroom decor is 90% subtraction.
If it doesn’t serve a purpose, reconsider why you need it. Sure, that decorative soap dish you found at Target might look nice, but if you’re not going to use it and it’s just taking up valuable counter space then why did you buy it?! Invite only items into your small bathroom that will either serve a purpose or bring you joy.
That’s the goal. Tip: I made the mistake of trying to match everything too closely to the beginning. I even went as far to buy a bathroom “set” when we first moved in.
Complete with soap dispenser, toothbrush holder, trash bin, and shower curtain.
It MATCHED but it didn’t feel like our bathroom. So instead I embraced the mixed textures.
Now I have brass vs chrome, ceramic vs glass, smooth finishes vs textured finishes. As long as you stick to similar colours you can really have some fun mixing materials and patterns. All in all this bathroom renovation took me about 3 weekends and £400.
Paint and that ugly-ass mirror were definitely the priciest but have made the biggest difference in how I feel about spending time in there each day. I love my bathroom because it serves a purpose and isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s clean, functional, and tranquil.
Everything I need when I’m rushing to get ready in the mornings or trying to unwind at night. You really can have too much “stuff” in a space. Sometimes the best pieces of decor are having less things to look at, cleaner lines to focus on, and more space to breathe.
