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9 ways to make the most out of a small bathroom

September 26, 2014 9 Comments

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Byย Samantha Magatelli

Most new builds have bathrooms that are designed to be much bigger than the bathrooms designed 20 or so years ago. So what do you do when you buy a beautiful character home that is perfect, apart from the pokey bathroom that comes with it?

Here are some tips to create the maximum space in a smaller than average bathroom:

http://www.blossomandbright.com/the-block-glasshouse-staircase-laundry-and-powder-room-reveals/
Source: Blossom and Bright
  1. Floating vanities can make the room appear larger as they give the illusion that the floor keeps on going.
  2. Two basins are not needed in a bathroom in my opinion; they just take up extra space. Couples arenโ€™t generally in there at the same time every day, so save room by putting the basin to one side. This way you maximise the amount of space on the bench for things like hairdryers,ย make-up etc. otherwise electrical items end up in the basin, and that can be dangerous!
  3. If the wall where the vanity will be going is double bricked, you will have room in the cavity to recess the mirror cabinet creating extra hidden storage.

    http://designtribe.com.au/the-block-bathrooms-terrace/
    Source: Design Tribe
  4. Hidden cisterns areย the same idea as the recessed mirror. If the wall behind the toilet is double bricked (which more often that not it is) you will have room for a hidden cistern to be placed in-between the cavity. For homes that are timber-framed it is even easier. If these are not options in your home, you can create a half wall (around 1200mm in height) for the in-wall cistern to sit into, which will also act as a shelf for storing candles or decorative items. You can also use this as an opportunity to tile the half wall in a feature tile for a bit of interest in the room.
  5. Recessed shelves/boxes in the showerย are great for storing objects like shampoo and conditioner instead of having a shelf take up more room in the shower.ย Again, this will need to be on a double bricked wall or a timber-framed wall.

    http://afamily.vn/nha-hay/bai-tri-phong-tam-4m2-sang-trong-thoang-dang-2012052402264357.chn
    Source: Afamily
  6. Larger tiles are a must for making a room appear larger as there arenโ€™t as many grout lines closing the walls in. Also, laying them horizontally tricks the eye to follow the line across the wall, making the room feel larger. Choose a rectified tile so you can lay them close together and have minimal grout lines, which makes it easier for cleaning.
  7. Tiling to the ceiling will also give that feeling of space so that the room appears larger than it is, as the light will reflect a lot better on a tile than on a painted wall.
  8. Unless you have small children, I donโ€™t think baths are necessary, especially in a small bathroom. They take up a lot of room unless you create a shower/bath combination, which isnโ€™t always the most stylish option.

    http://estmagazine.com.au/lubelso-concept-home/
    Source:ย Est Magazine
  9. Lighting is another important factor to make a room appear larger. It is vital to use nice, bright lighting in a bathroom in the correct positions so there are no nasty dark shadows. I would suggest using LED down lights, or starlights, as they are more economical than a halogen, and come in a cool or warm tone to complement the colours used in the space.

–ย Samantha Magatelli is an interior designer at S&S Interiors.

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Want to try a different tipple this weekend? Toda Want to try a different tipple this weekend?

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Their stunning timber knobs and handles from Denmark add texture, warmth and an organic feel to yourย projectsย that can only be achieved by using natural materials.

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Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping ALL the character!

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Letterbox kinder egg deliveries from a friend, dressing changes without a flinch and refusing to nap despite all the bribes (check the face on him in pic 3!).

Thanks for all your care and messages/comments for this tired and shaken up mama! Now very relieved and grateful ๐Ÿ™
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It's not just the award winning designer houses that get us excited here. It's also the beloved family homes which are renovated and extended to make them fit for purpose so people can continue to live where they love ๐Ÿค—

@inspiredspacesaus helped her clients with teenage kids transform this house in Sydney's Hills District inside and out, making it their forever home. 

Due to the nature of the block they could only extend sideways and then gave it street appeal with render, new windows and doors.

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Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into tiled steps ๐Ÿค•

Oh what a night. Thankfully Hornsby Hospital were as amazing as always and we avoided stitches. All taped and glued  back together and now to keep him calm for the next few days (๐Ÿคช) and watch for signs of concussion. 

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Funny how we go into super organised mama mode in times like these. Grabbed dinosaurs, textas and scrapbook on the way out in case we had a long wait!

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And as for their Sydney showroom (they also sell online): WOW.

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Do I recommend a timber vanity top? A big fat NOP Do I recommend a timber vanity top?

A big fat NOPE! ๐Ÿ’ง 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!๐Ÿค—

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap ๐Ÿฅด) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon ๐Ÿ˜†

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too ๐Ÿ˜‰

#interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #timbervanity
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarHome by Michelle says

    September 26, 2014 at 8:48 am

    Good tips, especially with the large tiles. I would add one thing: the bigger mirror the better:) at least it works with our long but narrow bathroom.

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      September 29, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      Great addition, Michelle!

      Reply
  2. AvatarNatalia says

    September 28, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    Beautiful bathrooms! Thanks for the inspiration ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      September 29, 2014 at 7:50 am

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  3. AvatarJanet says

    October 27, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    I recommend using a bathroom planning tool as can be found on the Reece website. You can design and visualise different layouts before demolition and the build. Measuring from at least 2 points on the same wall is also vital as most rooms aren’t square. And measure more than once. Also when seeking quotes, tradesmen will often have good suggestions and ideas that you may not have considered.

    Reply
  4. AvatarVarsha Arya says

    December 29, 2017 at 9:56 pm

    Very useful tips to make bathroom superb

    Reply
  5. AvatarMichelle says

    January 4, 2018 at 12:47 pm

    Any idea what the tiles are made of in the last image? They look like 25″ square tiles, but not sure if they are stone or ceramic. I love the space. Beautiful!

    Reply
  6. AvatarRoseanna Donovan says

    January 2, 2019 at 5:38 pm

    Please ditch all those silly exclamation marks in your copy. They give the impression it was written by a breathless 13 year old – not good for your credibility.

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      January 2, 2019 at 10:12 pm

      Hi Roseanna. While this was a guest post and not written by one of our team, is it really necessary to be so negative? This was a very popular piece of content which our readers found useful and we are always grateful when people share their expertise with us. Besides, we are an informal blog and we embrace a chatty tone.

      Reply

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