1
Use portable storage
Ngoc Minh Ngo
Susannah Charbin, founder and creative director of multidisciplinary creative studio The Beaux Arts, decided to forego traditional storage furniture in this bathroom, instead opting for a vintage stool that matches the family's vintage bathtub and keeps towels off the floor without the bulky furniture.
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2
Let the light in
Jonathan Mitchell
In this floating home renovated by Colleen Daoud Saglimbeni of CDS Interiors, the doors mimic a ship's traditional portholes. The glass panes not only reflect the home's nautical nature, but also help bring more light into the small space.
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3
Make an entire wall a mirror
Kevin J. Miyazaki
In House Beautiful's 2023 Whole Home, Marita Simmons and Krista Gibbons of Kipling House chose a floor-to-ceiling wall mirror in their ladies' lounge bathroom to make a small space feel larger. Not only does the mirror create an optical illusion, it also helps bounce light around the small room.
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Four
Attach a candlestick to the mirror
Stacey Goldberg
This small bathroom mirror is fitted with three traditional sconces to put light where it's needed. The bathroom was designed by Sara Swabb of Storie Collective and Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchens & Baths. The mirror was born from an ingenious solution. “We originally envisioned a single mirror with hand-finished brass trim, but it would have been too big to fit inside the home,” says Swabb. “Instead, to save a little money, we decided to make four separate mirrors with beveled edges, which ended up being one of our favorite design details.”
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Five
Aim for pearl white
Jacob Snabery
Make a small bathroom feel airy by going all white, as Toledo Geller did in this bathroom. The white marble tiles, white ceiling, and off-white window shades create a light and soft atmosphere. The glass shower door makes the space feel larger, and the small brass table adds a touch of elegance.
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6
Use furniture for counter space
Marisa Vitale
To make up for a lack of counter space and storage in the bathroom of her Los Angeles home, designer Francesca Grace installed a small cabinet next to the sink. A simple wall hook holds a single hand towel, and a wide mirror reflects light to make the space seem larger.
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7
Sources for Vintage Statement Pieces
Nick Melle
If you're short on space, add some pop with small vintage pieces: In the bathroom of her 1960s bungalow in West Palm Beach, Florida, Jillian Segal created a romantic atmosphere with delicate vintage sconces placed between curved Mecox mirrors.
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8
Put a skirt on the dressing table
James Merrell
Chintz brings a garden feel to this Southampton villa bathroom, where Justin Cushing's clever layout included a vanity table with a matching chair that fits underneath, while the skirting hides other essential toiletries.
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9
Select a semi-transparent shade
Ricky Snyder
Opting for translucent window shades can provide privacy without blocking light. The rattan shades in this bathroom designed by Becca Casey meet the need for privacy while adding texture and warmth to the space.
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Ten
Personalize with a monogram
Alexander Reid
Alexander Reid brings personality to this small rental bathroom with a monogrammed shower curtain featuring a classic border. A beautiful framed print and a garden stool take up very little space but go a long way to creating a formal and sophisticated atmosphere.
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11
Work around the roof
Lauren Miller
Don't let an unusual floor plan get in the way of your creativity or the small bathroom layout of your dreams. Designer Natalie Chong tucked a double vanity into a dormer window in the master bathroom of her former church home. She played up the drama of the ceiling by using different-sized mirrors, taking advantage of the sloping roofline, and introducing asymmetry.
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12
Minimize woodworking
Stephen Kent Johnson
Design firm Studio Shamshiri “opted for minimal finishes and woodwork that didn't distract from the natural elements outside” and used vertical space to accentuate this bathroom's height. They also added sneaky storage with a floating custom cubicle that runs the length of the double vanity, with a matching towel bar installed below.
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13
Soften the light
Shade Degges
“Everything feels like candlelight,” says Jae Zhu of this Boston home, including the elegant powder room. Ambient lighting casts a soft glow, wood finishes radiate warmth, and green floral wallpaper enlivens the entire room. Together, these elements create a cocoon-like atmosphere.
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14
Add a Skylight
Kevin Scott
A small bathroom doesn't have the wall space for a window, but what about a skylight? Studio DIAA opted for a Crystalite skylight to fill the space with sunlight while still maintaining privacy.
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15
Use less material
Gieves Anderson
Use the same material for your shower stall and vanity, as Nina Barbiras of Fig NYC did in this bathroom. The rich marble pattern and unpolished brass work well together in this bathroom.
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16
Decorate a Mirrored Gallery Wall
Photo by Jared Kuziah
Cecilia Casagrande's collection of vintage mirrors in her Boston home are not only stunning to look at, but they're also perfect for small spaces. The mirrors allow sunlight to reach every corner of the room. By painting all of the frames Farrow & Ball's Pitch Black, the homeowners helped unify and coordinate the quirky collection. Wallpaper from Grow House Grow adds flair.
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17
Choose a freestanding bathtub
Nick Grimenakis
“The bathroom was very long and narrow, so I had to find the right bathtub to fit in it,” says Delia Kenza of the tiny bathroom she renovated for a Brooklyn client. She gutted the previous tub's surround to save precious inches and install a freestanding Signature Hardware tub on a raised platform.
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18
Building in vanity
Harris Kenger
A spacious drawer beneath the floating vanity helps with organization and maximizes every inch of space in this tiny bathroom by Andy Beers of Ore Studios (located in a cool Seattle treehouse), where crimson walls, fun graphic floor tiles, and modern pendants add personality.
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19
Hide the bathroom with a jib door
Harris Kenger
“I watched so many period murder mysteries that I knew I wanted a secret door,” says Michelle L. Morby of Landed Interiors & Home, resident of this fun powder room. No matter how small the room, hiding it behind a Murphy door can surely make it the most exciting place in the house.
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20
Stick to a tight palette
Reading McKendry
Elizabeth Cooper used an icy blue paint on the sink to bring out the deep blue veining in the marble surface of this small bathroom. Leaving part of the wall blank creates a more subdued feel, making the pattern less noticeable and overwhelming.
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