Small bathroom Interior Design

Q: "How do I decorate a small bathroom?" —Daniel V.

A: Daniel, as someone who also has to grapple with a small bathroom every day, I feel your pain! But, I'll give you the same advice that I feel is important in any "small space" that you're decorating — it's ALL going to be in the details. Let's cover some of the basics, and then try to have a little decorative fun — even in a small bathroom.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1. Organize
Frankly, no matter how large or small one's bathroom might be, it's always going to function much better when it's well-organized. Assess the situation: Do you have (or can you install) a medicine cabinet for extra storage? Is there a place in the shower to add a glass shelf? Is there space to place a small cabinet? My caution is this: Don't just fill the room with storage — have an honest conversation with yourself about the items that you need access to on a daily basis. The last thing that I would like to see is a small bathroom crammed with furniture just so that you have a place to keep 19 different kinds of hand lotion.

2. Farm It Out
Find another place to store those "non-essentials." Personally, since I also have one of those pesky small bathrooms, I use part of an existing linen closet to store extra towels and bath supplies.

3. Make It Well-Lit
Even in a small space light is going to be at a premium. Well-placed wall sconces will make your morning schedule a little easier to deal with. But, remember, put those lights on dimmers — sometimes a little mystery will do wonders for your mood!

4. Personalize
As I said above, the great advantage of small spaces is every detail you create will make a huge impact. So get those towels monogramed, or have a shower curtain custom-made from one of your favorite textiles. Also, vintage mint julep or antique crystal cups are the perfect solution to corral supplies. Plus, adding artwork and flowers will totally bring the space to life!

One of my favorite bathrooms from a recent House Beautiful is this charming guest bath from Mark D. Sikes. It's chic and stylish. But, also functional with great lighting. And I love all of the "found storage" (baskets, antique tables, medicine cabinet, and such). I think that the wise use of mirrors not only gives it enormous style, but also the illusion of a much more spacious room. But, my favorite part is the color story. Though clearly, it's a simple black-and-white space, but, I love that the golden hue of the bamboo — both on the roman shades and the antique tables — easily echoes the wheat-colored linen shower curtain and the gold lining of the sconce shades. Truly, every detail was considered and used to its best advantage.