The Design Detail That's Making Your Small Bathroom Look Even More Cramped

When you are dealing with an already small bathroom, even the tiniest details make a difference in how cramped the bathroom feels. You probably know that choosing a simple color scheme can help your space feel bigger, and if you have a tight bathroom, you have probably already implemented that color scheme and tried nearly everything imaginable to make your bathroom more comfortable. However, there are other decorating details that might be shrinking your bathroom space not just visually but also physically. When designing your bathroom, look out for bulky brassware that takes up far too much space.

It can be easy to overlook brassware in the bathroom and forget to consider how it will fit into the bathroom as a whole. It can be tempting to reach for ornately detailed items and large towel holders, but they take up more space and attention in a room than simple, minimalistic items. So, whether you are in the process of putting together the final touches on your bathroom or about to get started, pause before you install any chunky brassware. The same details that make an item stand out to you in a giant home improvement store will also make your bathroom feel more cluttered than it really is. If your goal is to make your bathroom feel larger than it really is and to create a nice, calming atmosphere, then you should look for more minimalist items with finishes in lighter colors.

If you are on the fence at all about finishes, it might be better to step away from brass. Rather than brassware that creates a lot of contrast, sleek fixtures with white or light finishes can help make your bathroom feel larger, as white and lighter colors reflect light better than darker colors. Less contrast also makes a space look more seamless, which can help it feel bigger. Plus, neutral finishes like stainless steel and chrome work well with most other decor, making them a more versatile choice.

Aside from color, you might want to reconsider the designs like exposed plumbing. While exposed pipes can create a unique and interesting design, they are also associated with more clutter. Exposed plumbing means that there is no cabinet blocking the plumbing, leaving you with less space to store your things, and excess clutter in the bathroom will make the space feel smaller. Even if you would not place cabinetry where the exposed pipes are, they can also take up space that might otherwise hold a laundry basket, towel rack, or other bathroom fixture. In a really tight room, every inch of space matters, and you do not want to waste it. If you really want an exposed plumbing look in a tight bathroom, try implementing it in the shower. Just consider the pros and cons before hopping on the exposed pipe shower trend.

If you love your brass hardware and exposed plumbing and want to keep them despite the ways they make your space feel smaller, consider balancing the style using some other tips that will help your bathroom seem larger. The main goal should be reducing the cluttered look throughout the room. The first step should be organizing any toiletry items and perhaps storing them out of view. Once the space is tidy, you can reduce visual clutter by choosing items with clean lines, such as large, plain tiles. Use muted colors to make the rest of the bathroom low contrast and highlight your chosen features. If your bathroom has a shower curtain, it is typically one of the largest and most impactful elements of the bathroom's design. Hang a light-colored curtain for an airy, low-contrast result, or consider these 15 shower curtain ideas to make your bathroom feel bigger.

Brassware is one design detail that can make your bathroom feel even more cramped than it actually is. While changing these fixtures to minimalist, low-contrast options is the simplest way to immediately make your bathroom feel larger, you can also make brassware work by focusing on optimizing other areas of your bathroom. Ultimately, although you want your space to feel like a comfortable size, you also want it to be aesthetically appealing, so experiment and figure out the balance of visual space optimization and style you like best.