Home Bathroom Design 27 Small Bathroom Ideas For A Functional And Stylish Space Less square footage doesn't have to mean sacrificing on design. By Abby Fribush Abby Fribush Abby Fribush is the Editorial Fellow at Southern Living and joined the team in 2023. She is a writer and editor with almost 5 years of experience in lifestyle content for local and international magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 26, 2024 Close Photo: JAMES RANSOM; STYLING: VERONICA OLSON While designing a small bathroom can be a challenge, it doesn't have to require a total renovation to make it look and feel larger. Even with less square footage, you can create your dream bathroom while maintaining a realistic budget. Whether it's a powder room or primary bathroom, small bathrooms are a chance to stretch your design muscles and use unexpected colors and materials to create a little treasure box. Check out these small bathroom ideas so you can have a functional space without sacrificing style or breaking the bank. 20 Best Paint Colors For Small Bathrooms 01 of 27 Use Wainscoting for Visual Interest HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ STYLING BY: HOLLY SMITH Overdecorating is a common issue when designing a small bathroom, as it can easily feel cramped with the wrong decor. In this bathroom, designer Laura Kay used wainscoting as a simple yet appealing break up the bold wallpaper. See How A Tennessee Cottage Gets Its Once-A-Century Makeover 02 of 27 Keep Toiletries Hidden Hector Manuel Sanchez With smaller bathrooms, storage is extremely important to ensure you're space isn't cluttered. Here, an under the sink cabinet (that blends nicely with the color palette) conceals any bathroom items and products that are less aesthetically pleasing. 2019 Idea House: A Charming New-Old Home Set On The Florida Coast 03 of 27 Add a Floating Shelf @jenniferbeekhunter If storage is an issue, a floating shelf can add space while adding an element of design. In this bathroom, the floating shelf holds hand towels and blends in nicely with the wainscoting for a functional yet stylish element. 04 of 27 Mix Art and Functionality Alison Gootee; Styling: Page Mullins If you have limited wall space, use your mirror as an opportunity to display a piece of art as well. In this small bathroom, a emerald cut glass mirror by Worlds Away grabs your attention with a little extra sparkle. Natalie Steen's Houston Home Bursts With Brilliant Color And Nostalgic Mementos 05 of 27 Raise the Sink Robbie Caponetto; Styking: Kendra Surface Counter space is a luxury in smaller bathrooms, and it's not always a given. Try raising the sink instead of a built in to allow for more space on the counter. 2020 Idea House: A Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Hideaway 06 of 27 Use White Accents Courtesy of Rachel Cannon Limited Interiors, Photography by Haylei Smith For many small bathrooms, natural light isn't as prevalent. Whether there's no windows or just a small one, using white accents like in the mirror frame, cabinet paint, and countertop can help keep the space bright. 07 of 27 Lean into Unique Elements Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox Whether you keep the character of a old bathroom with existing colorful tile and fixtures or add them in yourself, small spaces with a little bit of quirkiness can feel like hidden treasure boxes. This 1950s Mountain Cabin Gets a Dreamy Makeover 08 of 27 Prop Up the Mirror Photo: Laurey W. Glenn If the layout of your space dictates the sink in front of a window, you don't have to sacrifice the mirror. Instead of mounting it on a different wall or blocking all the natural light by covering the window, select a slender mirror leaned against the glass panes. 09 of 27 Add Color in Unexpected Places PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE Don't save paint just for the walls! The ceiling, trim, and vanities are a great way to incorporated additional color without overwhelming smaller spaces. Here, a buttery yellow vanity adds an extra layer of personality. 2022 Idea House: Our Coastal Carolina Escape 10 of 27 Use Tiles as Wallpaper Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo; Styling: Ed Gallagher While it's common to use wallpaper in a powder room to create intrigue, adding tiles to the wall makes a unique statement—and are splash proof. Not only can it brighten up a space, but it also aids in humidity control. 11 of 27 Create Cohesion with Hardware Courtesy of Peltier Interiors, Photography by Andrew Bui If you have a full bath that is on the smaller side, making sure the space is cohesive is extremely important in making it look visually appealing. In this bathroom, the black hardware goes from the sink and into the shower to make a seamless look. 12 of 27 Go All Natural Jean Allsopp Incorporating elements from nature into any bathroom can truly make it feel like an oasis. Wood, rattan, and bamboo textures give this space a relaxing feel. 13 of 27 Add a Storage Shelf @carlaelliman If your small bathroom doesn't have any storage already built in, add in your own! This bathroom put a standing shelf in next to the sink to allow for more storage without taking up too much room. 14 of 27 Go Back in Time Laurey W. Glenn Vintage interior design styles can make any small bathroom become a true wow factor of your home. This bathroom used the Art Deco aesthetic to create a unique, stunning statement room. 15 of 27 Double the Mirror as a Shelf Courtesy of Nomita Joshi Interior Design, Photographer Alison Gootee In small spaces, storage is necessary to keep the clutter at a minimum. Here, a mirror with a ledge spanning the width of the wall is used that can hold items like towels and soaps. 16 of 27 Go White and Bright Laurey W. Glenn When space is an issue, keeping an all-white color palette can really help brighten and elongate the room. In this bathroom, white wood and white tiles were used on the walls to make a seamless and bright space. 17 of 27 Make the Floor Shine Alison Gootee; Styling: Matthew Gleason If you're looking to add light into your small bathroom without relying on a window, adding shiny floor tiles is a great way to get that reflection and brightness while staying practical. 18 of 27 Go Bold with Paint JAMES RANSOM; STYLING: Veronica Olson Don't let small spaces limit your color choices. Here, artist Dorthy Shain Henderson opted for a vibrant blue (Farrow & Ball's Stone Blue No. 86.) to evoke a cheerful and energetic space. This Century-Old Bungalow Is Full Of Playful Patterns And Happy Colors 19 of 27 Don't Forget About the Ceiling Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller When adding wallpaper to your small bathroom, don't stop at just the sides. Extend the wallpaper to the ceiling as well to create a fun and cohesive nook. 20 of 27 Get Some Funky Lighting Courtesy of Arditi Design, Photography by Claire Esparros With less square footage comes more opportunity to design a fun, eclectic space in your home. In this bathroom, unique overhead lighting and sconces were incorporated to make a bold statement. 21 of 27 Go Big With the Mirror Courtesy of Andrea May Interiors Having a big mirror in a small bathroom not only fills up wall space, but also helps reflect light to brighten up the space. 22 of 27 Throw in Some Patterned Tiles Kerry Kirk Tiles are great in bathrooms for preventing water damage, and adding one with a pattern is a great way to add extra visual interest while still being functional. 23 of 27 Don't Shy From Bright Colors Laurey W.Glenn Small bathrooms don't usually bring in a ton of natural light, so you can incorporate your own brightness through a purposeful color palette. This bathroom uses a bold yellow-green color in throughout the space to make it brighter. 20 Best Paint Colors For Small Bathrooms 24 of 27 Get Inspired by the Garden Courtesy of Jennifer Barron Interiors Bringing the outside in is a lovely way to liven up your space. Incorporating floral wallpaper into your small bathroom can create a visually appealing and lightened space. 25 of 27 Make the Shower a Focal Point Raquel Langworthy When your full bath is snug, creating contrast is a great way to make it feel bigger. In this bathroom. the shower is covered in a gorgeous black tile to separate it from the white color in the rest of the bathroom. 26 of 27 Put Your Personality Into It Courtesy of Miretta Interiors, Photography by Dustin Peck Adding bits of yourself anywhere in your house can truly make it feel like a lived-in home. In this bathroom, designer Zandy Gammons used a Biggie Smalls inspired wallpaper to honor and represent the town of Brooklyn in a subtle, stylish way. 27 of 27 Go Full Glam Courtesy of Peter Spaulding, Photography by Kelley Kish If you've always wanted to decorate a room in a bold, glamorous manner, a small bathroom is the perfect opportunity to show off your design prowess. This bathroom went all out with the moody, vintage-inspired glamor to create a unique and beautiful space in the home. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit