Remodeling a small bathroom

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Even a small bathroom can be remodeled with success and style

Remodeling a bathroom can seem like a big project, but it can be easy to do with a little know-how. Remodeling a small bathroom can be even more difficult, since you are dealing with less space but still have the need to fit all the standard fixtures into the room.

It isn?t an impossible task, however; it simply requires more patience and planning.

Understand your space

The first thing you should do is measure your bathroom and draw it to scale on graph paper. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it is an important one. You need to be able to visualize the space you?re dealing with. Once you have decided on your fixtures, draw these to scale as well, and cut them out. You can then rearrange the fixtures on your bathroom graph, making it easy to try various arrangements.

Think high

One of the ways you can utilize space in a small bathroom is to use wall space. If your bathroom has a furnace vent or radiator, try mounting it high up on the wall. This leaves more space on the floor for fixtures.

Counters and under-counter cabinets take up a lot of floor space, something that is in short supply when remodeling a small bathroom. Look at hanging cabinets and corner-mounted medicine cabinets as storage solutions. Hooks and bars mounted to the walls are great for hanging towels and bathrobes, as well.

Go for a shower

If the small bathroom isn?t the only one in your house, or if you have no particular need for a bathtub, consider skipping the tub and going for a shower stall alone. There are many different shower stall designs, including corner showers with curved doors, which can leave space for other fixtures.

Change the door

Installing a pocket-door or sliding door can help conserve floor space in a small bathroom. There isn?t any need to have the floor clear for the door to swing inward, and therefore you have more space for bathroom fixtures or storage.

Skip the counter

A sink with counter-space is definitely convenient, but in a small bathroom, it takes up valuable floor space. Look at installing a pedestal sink or a wall-mounted sink. This can really free up a lot of space. In our small bathroom, we have a pedestal sink, and my husband installed a cabinet above the toilet to compensate for the lost storage space.

Use mirrors

Mirrors do not actually create space, but they do give the illusion of space, making a room appear larger and brighter. Try a half-wall of mirror, mirrored tiles, or mirrored shower doors.

Remodeling a small bathroom presents a unique challenge, but the hard work will pay off with an increase in the value of your home.