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Christy has been writing for almost two years. She was the site’s assistant editor for over a year before starting as a contributing freelance writer. She is currently an e-commerce lifestyle writer for Meredith.
Long Narrow Bathroom Remodel Ideas
So, you’ve found the perfect apartment or house that ticks every box on your list – there’s just one problem: the bathroom is too small for your taste. Whether you live in an apartment or a small apartment, most homes have at least one bathroom that is seriously lacking in square footage.
Long & Narrow Bathroom
But this is not a reason to reduce the space: there are actually several ways to make any bathroom look like a worthy spa. All it takes is a few carefully placed decorations, the right kind of storage, and some hope to make it happen.
I tapped interior designer Baylee Floyd for her best small bathroom design ideas. Although she has many ideas to make a room feel great, there is also one big decorating mistake that she wants you to avoid. “A common mistake I see many people make when decorating a small bathroom is thinking that they have a small space, they can’t have storage,” she explains.
Baylee Floyd is the founder of Baylee Deyon Design, an interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. He is also appointed as one of the decorative designers.
Below, keep reading to learn Floyd’s best small bathroom ideas, tips and tricks to make your space bigger than you ever dreamed it would be when you first laid eyes on it.
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When it comes to painting a small bathroom, Floyd recommends sticking to light, neutral shades. “I find that often there is not a lot of natural light, or [a window] in a narrow bathroom space, so I like to put in white and neutral gray to make the space feel bright and as ventilated as possible,” the designer Explained.
Your shower takes up the most space in your bathroom, so why put a curtain over it? We love how the designer opened up the entire room with the simple choice of white shower doors. With the windows inside, there is a visual line to the back wall and lots of natural light from the moment you enter the room.
“Plants are a must in the bathroom,” Floyd said. “There’s just something about a little touch of green that really brings a space and invites you in.” If you don’t have room for a statement vase, choose hanging plants that float in the corner. “It also adds a sense of calm and serenity to the movement of the bathroom.”
This modern statement works too. Plan floor-to-ceiling storage in your space to make the most of every inch without making your bathroom feel cluttered. We love the small open shelf in the middle that breaks up the closet and makes it a decorative space.
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The right mirrors can work wonders to make a small bathroom feel spacious. “Not only do they reflect more light around the scene, but they also feel bigger overall,” Floyd explains. Large mirrors reflect light to create the illusion of more space in a narrow bathroom.
Narrow rooms are hard to design: we get it. But with the right decor and furniture, your bathroom can still feel like a suite. Thin wardrobes, wall hooks, and the creative use of a separate tub with an overhead shower head all use the negative space in the room to leave more room for walking.
According to Floyd, the right medicine cabinet can be a “life saver.” The trick is to find one that doesn’t feel dated. Floyd suggests that you look for a piece you would never encounter is a medicine cabinet, thanks to its modern design. Hiding storage behind your bathroom mirror keeps the space feeling nice and open.
This design works well in square-shaped rooms. If your master bedroom doesn’t have the luxurious en-suite bathroom you were hoping for, make it a more open space by arranging faucets and cabinets around the room. Here, a small soaking tub carefully placed next to the shower hardly fits – but the result is just right.
Design Ideas For Small Bathrooms
A small bathroom does not mean you have to choose a vanity instead of something with drawers and hidden storage. “In a small bathroom, you want to maximize your storage options,” Floyd suggests. Even an 18-inch vanity with a few pictures in it can do anything.
Although we like to work with light, neutral colors in a small bathroom design, the best way to feel as open as possible is to go all-white. The variety of style in this room, from tilework to matte walls and thick hand towels, help to break the room with a soft design.
The floor of this bathroom blends seamlessly with the rest of the bathroom. It is not a completely open bathroom, which still leaves room for the main area to dry after you shower. But thanks to the clean glass doors, this room feels like a unified whole.
On the opposite end of neutral colors, Floyd is not against the use of a small bathroom wall. “I’ve found that a wall is a great solution for updating a small bathroom in a rental. It gives the whole space a facelift while being portable and affordable,” she added.
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Natural light has a wonderful way of making rooms feel clean, open and airy. Add windows to your bathroom to focus on the outdoors – even if you’re working with limited square footage, it will draw attention to the landscape rather than the narrow walkways.
Choose a floating vanity to place under a stylish mirror that doubles as extra storage space. “You wouldn’t believe what a difference it makes to not have your legs on your vanity or cabinet-type vanity,” Floyd says. “When you take a vanity off the floor, you’ll be surprised how much bigger it makes the room feel.”
Use the space under your floating vanity to place a storage basket that can hold towels, extra soap or makeup, and other daily necessities.
When you can’t make a room feel wide, make it feel long. We love the small chandelier in this bathroom that draws the eye up to the ceiling for an open plan. Its matte color, light paint color complements the tones of the room, and it adds to the space by adding a beautiful look.
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Even if your bathroom is small, making it feel intentional and together can create a modern vibe. We would like to get ready every morning in this room: elegant gold furniture ties together the design to contrast with the patterned gray walls and add an elegant finish.
With limited storage space in bathroom drawers and cabinets, it’s especially helpful to find efficient ways to store towels and other accessories. It seems like an obvious solution, but in addition to the towel rack, you can also hang small baskets and jewelry to save space in your main storage.
We love how the first thing you see when you walk into this bathroom is the modern vanity and decor. The all-white walls get a visual touch with the ships, and thanks to the bright design, the small space still feels open and airy.
Another important place to save? “Most bathrooms are located near the shower or tub, so I like to put floating shelves above the towel roll for laundry storage and easy access to the shower,” says Floyd.
Bathroom Layouts That Work
When you have little storage, it can be difficult to find room for larger items like towels. In the bathroom design, a woven basket is cleverly placed under the vanity to keep it organized (and save valuable closet and shelf space).
If you’re not renovating your most used room, choose a vanity for the guest bathroom. This method saves the most space on the floor to move around comfortably. We’re also fans of bold walls and custom lighting in guest baths, because they add personality to small rooms.
There is nothing like clear design to make a small room look bigger. To keep an all-white space feeling vibrant, mix different patterns. We love how the marble countertops and tile pop against the matte walls in this room.
While you still need valuable drawer and counter space, choosing a small vanity can keep things functional while keeping the room from feeling cramped. We love the dark blue design of this bathroom that creates a modern vibe with gold hardware. Since it is locked in a corner, it does not take away from the watch-in closet.
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When you have an open floor space, it is important to make it look as good as possible. By using smaller columns, your intricate patterns will have more room to repeat multiple times and create the illusion of a longer design. We love the minimalist black tile in this bathroom