Do you want your bathroom to look bigger? Don’t settle for just renewing or updating it, get to know all the keys to gain space in the reform of the bathroom. You will be able to gain meters visually without having to expand it.
Normally, there are two reasons that make us decide to reform the bathroom: an update or a functional improvement. Thanks to the update, the toilet, coatings and finishes are renewed and modernized. On the other hand, a functional improvement can be a change from a bathtub to a shower, for example.
In both cases, and since we are also going to get involved in works, we should take into account a series of factors that will also help us to our bathroom look bigger.
multiply light
Light visually expands the spaceIt does not matter if the bathroom is 4 or 10 or 15 meters long, if it is dark it will always seem much smaller. In the following image you can see that, thanks to the natural light that enters through the skylight, the bathroom seems much larger.
Obviously not all of us have the possibility of building a skylight that provides natural light, sometimes we even do not even have a small window. Therefore, when carrying out the reform of a small space it is important make a study of the light to maximize it.
The most advisable thing is to place a point of white LED light in the bathroom on the ceiling, as well as on the mirror. In this way, shadows and glare are avoided when shaving or putting on makeup, for example.
White as predominant color
Another resource to gain amplitude is to resort to white. The fact of using it on the ceiling, cladding and on the top of the sink cabinet will make the light bounce everywhere and multiply the visual space.
To do this, you can change the color of the tiles with special tile paint. In this link you will find a practical guide to painting tiles.
In addition, it is also possible to lay self-adhesive vinyl flooring on top of the existing one. The following guide to choosing a vinyl floor will help you choose the most suitable one for the bathroom.
create contrasts
To counteract and add volume giving a sensation of depth, you can combine white with wood or a color that stands out furniture or a wall.
If the color is applied on the wall opposite the bathroom entrance, it will make it appear deeper. This is because the eye tends to focus towards that point, creating the illusion that the space is larger.
This same resource was the one I used when I renovated one of my bathrooms (you can see it at this link). To do this, the back wall was covered with a tile that imitated wood.
Relocate the toilet
Many times, relocating the toilet can contribute to optimizing the space. For this, it must be taken into account that it will be necessary to move the downspouts or choose toilets with a bilge pump.
In the case of the toilet, the pump crushes the waste and expels it with force. In this way, pipes with a smaller diameter than usual can be placed and solve the problem of the slope when relocating the toilet.
change the doors
A hinged door always takes up more useful space than a sliding one. For this reason, it will have to be taken into account when we make a reform and assess whether it is worth keeping it or replacing it with a slider.
On the other hand, it will also be necessary to study where the door of the shower screen opens so that it occupies as little space as possible. In this sense, you can opt for an inward opening, a sliding door or place a fixed leaf.
Suspended furniture
A suspended piece of furniture or toilet is lighter than one that rests on the ground. In addition, it allows the installation of LED lighting below, so that it visually prolongs the space and gives the feeling that it is larger.
On the other hand, a mirror cabinet over the sink is very useful and practical for storing a multitude of accessories for daily cleaning. Don’t forget that having everything collected and tidy will also increase the feeling of spaciousness in your bathroom.
Reduce the size of the bathtub or shower
A form of visually reduce the dimensions of the shower is by installing a shower tray at ground level and a frameless transparent glass partition. On the other hand, you can reduce the space that the bathtub occupies without affecting comfort by choosing a small bathtub, but higher than usual.
The bathtub in the following image is inspired by a Japanese hot tub. An ofuro is a kind of jar whose sides are higher and its length is shorter than that of a traditional bathtub. Formerly they were made of wood, although today they are usually made of synthetic materials or stainless steel.
The 7 keys to gain space in the bathroom reform
In summary, these are the keys that you must take into account when renovate the bathroom to make it look much bigger:
- Carry out a lighting study so that it contributes to visually expanding the space
- Prioritize white to reflect light
- Create contrasts with other tones that give a sense of depth
- Relocate the toilet to optimize space
- Fit sliding or interlocking doors
- Choose furniture and wall-hung toilets that allow lighting the part of the plinth
- Install a smaller size tub or shower
Now that you know them, will you apply them when you reform your bathroom? If so, you will be able to gain space without having to expand it. I’m sure you’ll appreciate it over time.
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Images via Ryan Duebber Architect and Naebu
