Home Tree Atlas: Home Decor Ideas and Mood Boards

Small Bathroom Ideas and Designs

Below are the main design elements and small bathroom ideas that will help you make the most of your space. From the color palette you use and lighting, to the tiles and smart storage designs – a lot can play a role in how your bathroom feels.

Small Bathroom Color Ideas

The color palette you use in your bathroom will have a big impact on how the space feels. If you want to create a bright, spacious feeling, and airy bathroom then the best color options would be light shades – mint, yellow, white, cream, tan, light grey, like the bathrooms in pictures (1) and (2). This means using a light paint color on the walls, and decorating the space in light colored pieces – light colored countertops, shower curtains, flooring, and decor pieces.

Black can also make a space feel larger. Use it on one wall (the one against the sink and mirror), and have all the other walls in white. The black will make the wall feel like it is sunken, further away.

Light color shades do make a bathroom feel more spacious. But there is always the option of embracing a small space, and creating a cozy feel instead. If this is the way you want to go, then opt for darker paint colors. Use candles and dim lights at night. Make use of the Shabby Chic style (Shabby Chic Bathroom Decor and Design Ideas).

For more pictures and bathroom color ideas have a look at my post here:

Lighting for Small Bathrooms Designs

Lighting can also play a big role in how a bathroom feels. If you want the space to feel bright and open, light up the bathroom as much as possible (Bathroom Lighting Ideas: A Well Designed Space). Use recessed ceiling lights as they hide away all the fixtures in the ceiling, creating a modern look. Light up all areas of the bathroom, every corner, including inside the shower area (Bathroom Shower Lighting Ideas).

Try and bring in as much natural light during the day. By adding frosted windows, a skylight or solar tubes – just like the bathrooms in images (3) and (4).

Tile Ideas and Design Tips

If you are planning on using tile in your bathroom, there are a few things you can do to make a small bathroom feel larger.

You want to avoid ‘framing’ the tiles, because this will draw more attention to the individual tiles making the space feel smaller. So find a grout color that blends well with the color of the tiles you are using. Also light colored tiles and glossy ones (since they reflect light) are best for small bathrooms.

People debate on whether the size of the tile helps make a bathroom feel larger. But one thing is for sure. Larger tiles look more modern, and use less grout creating a more elegant design. But they are more expensive and harder to install.

The Power of the Mirror and Glass

A large mirror, or a group of smaller ones, creates added depth. And because mirrors reflect light around the bathroom, it makes the space feel larger.

How To Make A Small Room Look Bigger: Creative Design Ideas and Tips

Go with transparent furniture pieces, like vanity tops, shower dividers (5). Because it is see through, it takes up less ‘visual space’.

Smart Storage Solutions

If you have a small bathroom, you’ll want to have smart and efficient storage solutions to make the most of the limited space. Here are some smart bathroom storage ideas:

Use The Walls: Make the most of the wall space you have for storage and organization. Fit wall cabinets (6), floating shelves, hooks and railings. Install a recessed walls in the shower. These will all save you countertop space.

The Door: The back of the door is another place where storage space can be added. Fit hooks and railings to the back of the bathroom door.

10 Bathroom Toilet Paper Storage Ideas and Styles

A Double Curtain: You can buy double shower curtain rods. You hang up the shower curtain on the rod closest to the shower. The second rod is where you hang up your towel. When you are showering, the curtain stops the towel from getting wet. And when you are done showering, you open up the curtain and your towel is right in front of you – saving you from reaching or getting out of the shower to get the towel.

Under the Sink: A few bathrooms really lose a lot of storage potential because of the sink design. You want vanities that have storage underneath just like the bathroom in picture (7). Either have open shelves, draws, or have it curtained off.

Built In: If you are doing a remodel or a renovation of your bathroom, see if you can get built in units fitted. Not only are these custom designed to make the most efficient use of the bathroom layout, but the built in cabinets will be designed to blend in with the design of the bathroom. Because everything blends well together – this creates less visual chaos, meaning the bathroom will feel more spacious. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

For more bathroom storage ideas, have a look at my posts here:

January 31, 2014 in Bathroom, Small

Kids Bathroom Decor and Design Ideas

There are two ways you can go about decorating a kid’s bathroom. One is to make the decor non permanent so that as they grow, the decor style can easily and quickly grow with them. The second options is to go a more permanent route, and then do a big remodel and redecorate later.

Color plays a big role in kids bathroom decor ideas. For a really kids style bathroom, infuse as much color as you can. I’ll go over all the different ways you can add color below. Also look to make the bathroom as kid friendly as possible. I’ll go over solutions for the number of problems kids will have in the bathroom (everything being out of reach).

Non Permanent Design and Decor Ideas

There are a lot of non permanent and simple decor ideas you can do to quickly transform a bathroom into a kids styled one. The bathroom in picture (1) simply uses bright towels to add color and fun to a bathroom. Colorful bathroom mats and rugs are other pieces that add a kid vibes to a bathroom. And If you have a simple hanging mirror, go over it with colorful paint – ask the kids to help out.

Shower curtains take up a large amount of visual space in a bathroom. Hang up a themed, graphic, or colorful shower curtain – these are easily replaceable (Bathroom Shower Curtain Ideas: From Space Saving to Decorative Extras).

On the walls, hang up some decor accessories and bathroom wall art just like the bathroom in picture (2). These art pieces can be changed over time to suit the style and taste of your child as they grow.

More Permanent Ideas and Designs

Some other areas where color can be added include: cabinets, the walls, and the floor.

Check out the colored cabinet doors in picture (3). Even though this is for a kids bathroom, it is stylish enough to work in an ordinary one.

There are a few ways to create a kids bathroom style using the walls. I like the simplicity of the stencilled giraffe design in picture (4). This can easily be painted over once the kids have grown up. Wallpaper (themes: fishes, boats, mermaids), a colourful tile mosaic (5), or a tile border (6) are other ways to decorate the walls.

Palette Ideas for Kids Bathroom Colors

If you want to create a specific color scheme for your child, here are some general ideas. Go with light shades – making the bathroom space feel bright and airy. Blue works best for a boys bathroom , just like in the picture below (A), so does green, red, and yellow. For girls, pink is always a favourite (B). Or how about orange, yellow or mint – think pastel shades. And for a unisex bathroom – mint green and yellow are some ideal color ideas.

Have a look at the palette pictures on my post here for more bathroom color ideas.

Kid Friendly Bathroom Ideas

Everything in a bathroom is going to be high up, and out of reach for most kids. The vanity counter will be high up in a bathroom. A simple solution here is to use a kids step stool (8).

Another problem area will be the lighting, as light switches are high up for a child. Solutions include rewiring the light switches so they are on a cord that hangs down from the ceiling, low enough for a child to reach (Bathroom Lighting Ideas: A Well Designed Space). Or for those middle of night bathroom visits, a portable battery lantern can be taken from the bedroom to the bathroom. Have a look at the lantern below – these can double as night lights.

The portable night light in the picture above can be bought here.

Another child friendly bathroom idea is to hang hooks and towel railings low down, so your kids can hang up their towels on their own. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/A/B

January 31, 2014 in Bathroom

Bathroom Lighting Ideas: A Well Designed Space

One ceiling light in the bathroom won’t cut it. Not if you want a really comfortable and convenient space. There are a few areas that need specific lighting, like around the mirror or in the shower. Lighting can also help make your bathroom space feel larger. Here are the bathroom lighting ideas that will help create a well designed space.

The Power of Natural Lighting

Try and bring as much natural light as you can during the day. This means making the best use of windows just like the bathroom in picture (1). But be careful not to over do it as you don’t want to feel exposed. Frosted glass is a good idea, or using a skylight (2).

Another natural lighting idea is to use solar tubes. These are tubes that are fitted from the outside of your roof to inside the room. Sunlight is then reflected down the tube and into the bathroom in the day. You can find solar tubes that have LED rings in them so they can be turned on at night.

A Brighter Room

Make the most of your mirrors to create a bright and spacious feeling bathroom. Try and use a large one (3) or a group of small ones. Mirrors add depth to a bathroom and reflect light around – making the space feel larger. Another idea is to use glossy textures – like glossy tiles. These also help reflect light.

Ambient Bathroom Lighting

You want to have as much lighting as possible – making the bathroom a comfortable, bright and spacious place. Recessed bathroom ceiling lights are the way to go as they create a modern look. Other options include wall lights and pendant lamps.

A mini channeller is another ceiling light option. The traditional styled chandeliers will look great if you want to create a more classical or shabby chic style in your bathroom. There are also simple and modern styled chandeliers available.

If you want to go for modern light fixtures, use chrome or stainless steel. Fixtures with simple designs, with no decorative shapes or designs. Find light fixtures that are similar in style to the faucets to create a well designed bathroom.

For other design styles have a look at these mood boards for inspiration:

Bathroom Vanity Lighting

The mirror area is an important part of the bathroom. This is where all the grooming takes place. Lighting plays and important role here. When it comes to mirror lighting, also known as vanity lighting, you don’t want to have shadows casted across the face. You want even lighting. And there are a few ways to do that.

You want to have lights that are specifically for the mirror area. Fit lights close to the mirror and around as many sides as possible. One option is go the hollywood route. In makeup rooms, and backstage you’ll see mirrors that have light bulbs going all around the mirror. This creates even lighting on the face making it easier to see what’s going one.

A second option for bathroom vanity lights, and a more popular option, is to go the 2+1 route. This is when you have one light on each side of the mirror and then one light fitted right above. The side lamps are usually vertical sconces, while the one above is a horizontal sconce. The bathrooms in photos (4) and (5) have well lit vanities, even though they are only using two side lamps.

Picture (6) shows a bathroom that has soft mood lighting. Lights fitted behind frosted glass by the mirror creates a soft glow around the the space.

Shower Lighting

Another area that could do with specific lighting would be the shower. Here you can have bathroom lights fitted in the ceiling (7). Use a glass shield to prevent glare, versus a plastic one because they will yellow over time.

Other shower lighting ideas include having a modern LED shower head. Or a recessed shelf can be fitted into the shower wall to add storage. This shelf can have a light fitted in the top. For more shower lighting ideas have a look at my mood board post here: Bathroom Shower Lighting Ideas.

Mood Lighting

There are times when you want to create a more relaxing spa like setting in the bathroom. For a relaxing soak in the tub maybe. To do this you want to dim the lights as much as possible. Avoid using ceiling lights, or have them on a dimmer switch if you can.

Nothing beats the flickering flame of a candle. Scented candles add another dimension of relaxation. If you are worried about the fire hazard, fill up a bowl or glass vase with water and use floating candles.

If you want to avoid the mess that comes with using candles, then use spa lights seen in picture (8). These are waterproof LED battery powered lights. You can stick them to the walls of the tub, or they can just float around in the water.

Bathroom Lighting Fixtures For The Kids

Here are some fun things you can do for your kids during bath time:

There are glowing ducks which can found here
You can get floating lights that will create a light show under the bath water
How about throwing some glow sticks into the tub (9)

One of the problems I mentioned in my Kids Bathroom Decor and Design Ideas post is that kids have trouble reaching for things in the bathroom. One of these things is the light switch. One solution is to use a stool that can be moved over from the sink to the light switches. Or the light switch can be rewired so that a cord hangs down from the ceiling that the kids can reach. One other option is to have a portable bedroom night light. These lanterns can be taken with the kids when they go from the bedroom to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Light Safety in the Bathroom

Safety precautions need to be taken when it comes to lighting in the bathroom. Different countries have different rules – so you’ll need to check up on the rules for your local area. You’ll need to use light fixtures that are rated for the bathroom – because of the dampness, moisture and possible water contact. In the UK there are specific lighting zones in the bathroom. Bathroom light fixtures have IP ratings so you know where in the bathroom they can go. There are also specific rules on where you are allowed to have the light switches. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

For a beginner’s guide to home lighting design, have a look at my post here: The Simple Guide: Home Lighting Design Basics.

More bathroom mood board posts:

January 31, 2014 in Bathroom, Lighting

Home Decor Ideas: Beautiful Ways to Use String Lights Indoors

String lights are great to play around and experiment with because they are so cheap, and are so versatile (you can shove them into wine bottles or wrap them around branches). This post shows how to bring string lights into your indoor decor. I’ve also got a post on all the DIY projects you can do with them outdoors: Home Decor Ideas: Creative Ways of Using String Lights Outdoors.

Creating Your Own Lamp

All you need to create the informal floor lamp in picture (1) is a thick rope and some string lights. For the ‘how to’ and more pictures of this nautical rope lamp head on over to A Merry Mishap.

A classy lamp idea would be to use a a brown wine bottle. The project (2) by Wit and Whistle does require some drilling of glass. Or instead, how about using hurricane lanterns to house the lights seen in picture (3) – done by Restoration Hardware.

Let’s think bigger, and create a chandelier. Instead of using a hula hoop as the base, The Project Table grabbed a grapevine wreath to create a more rustic looking string light chandelier (4).

Whimsy In the Bedroom

Adding string lights in the bedroom creates a magical and whimsical feeling. There are so many different ways you could style a bedroom with them. They can be hung above the bed just like in picture (5). If you buy LED string lights, which produce less heat, you can wrap them up in drapes or light fabric to create a soft mystical glow.

If you hang the lights from a point in the ceiling, and fan them out down towards the bed, you will create a canopy effect seen in the picture below. Turn off the bedroom lights and you’ve got yourself a makeshift starry sky effect.

When it comes to the headboard, you could create your own headboard that has string lights fitted in them. Or just hang some on the headboard to use as romantic bedroom lighting.

Another bedroom idea is to use the string lights as a hanger for your photographs, just like in picture (6). Or in a nursery, cotton balls and firefly lights make for great looking floating clouds (7). For more bedroom ideas that make use of string lights have a look at my posts here: indie bedroom ideas and romantic bedroom ideas.

Remix

There are a lot of things you can do to personalise the string lights themselves. I’ve seen a lot of craft paper used and flowers created, to stick onto each light. The origami cubes in picture (8) by Amanda look great, and can be used anywhere around the house (or outdoors if it doesn’t rain). I’ve also seen colourful pingpong balls attached to each light too.

Create your own art piece by cutting out holes in a piece of canvas. Fitting string lights behind the canvas then lights up the art work (10).

Wood and Lights

I’m a fan of bringing the outdoors inside. So one indoor string light DIY project that is on my to do list is to use branches, and wrap string lights around them to create a tall floor lamp – just like in picture (9). These days you can also find firefly lights, which are tiny lights strung on a bendable copper wire – making it easier to wrap them around things. The firefly lights in picture (11) and the picture below can be bought at Restoration Hardware.