Small bathroom: interior twists and turns

Spacious apartments are the dream of many, but the harsh reality makes its own adjustments, suggesting that we settle down not in a bright and large cottage, but in a small apartment.

This is where the beacon begins. To bring housing into a divine form will require a lot of effort, time and nerves. Worst of all, a small bathroom lends itself to decor. And by a fatal coincidence, it is this room that I want to make as comfortable as possible, since it will become the only place in the house where you can spend time alone, relax after a hard day, and enjoy water procedures.

To cope with the mass of issues that arise when arranging a bathroom, you need to delve into the nuances of conducting this process. So where do you start?

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Space organization

For those who know about the critical minimalism of the living space of small apartments firsthand, there is no need to describe all the crampedness of the bathroom and the irrational arrangement of plumbing in it. All this can be radically changed and the cramped little room can be turned into an oasis of coziness and comfort. If possible, it is worth rescheduling the room, actually pushing the walls apart, moving sewer and water pipes, as well as plumbing points. By increasing the area on a physical level, you will be able to add additional accessories and furniture items to the bathroom space. If such work is carried out, there is no possibility, focus on the competent finishing of what you have.

Replacing the door structure will help win a few centimeters. A good move would be to install an accordion door. For standard versions, the door leaf must open outwards.

Try rearranging the bath. In a rectangular room of a small-sized bathroom, the font can be moved to a short wall. The costs will not be as great as the benefits of such a rotation. You will immediately free up a site for installing a sink or placing a washing machine. In order to save space, you can abandon the bulky bath bowl and replace it with a shower enclosure or a cabin.

Save space will help transfer to the corner of the sink or toilet. You can see more modern options for their fastening.

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Color solutions

A small bathroom is a domain of plain and glossy surfaces. A little darker, you can arrange only the floor. But the neutrality of the color decor should not be the reason for the facelessness of the interior.Of course, for a tiny space, pastel colors will be a breath of air. This is an opportunity to present the premises favorably. When choosing them, try to play with contrasts. Taking a cream, white, beige or peach spectrum as a basis, add fresh notes to them by adding juicy lemon and olive colors.

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Small bathroom: the subtleties of the arrangement

Decoration Materials

The modern market of facing coatings is full of offers. The range of goods is not just wide, but also meets the requirements of operation in non-standard conditions. You can decorate the bathroom:

1. Ceramic tiles.

2. Paint.

3. Plaster.

4. Cork coating.

5. Wood.

6. Porcelain stoneware.

7. Wallpaper.

8. Mosaic.

9. Agglomerate.

Ceramics

For many years, tiles have served as an ideal decor for the bathroom and today they also do not give up positions in this matter. It has become even more high-quality, durable, wear-resistant and reliable. The material is absolutely not afraid of moisture and practically does not react to temperature changes. The tile is highly decorative, presented in a wide range of colors, suitable for decorating surfaces of any purpose.

The disadvantages of the option can be considered high cost (although this indicator is very arbitrary, since you can find quite budget proposals) and installation problems (you can’t do without special skills and knowledge here).

Plastering and painting

These types of finishes are appropriate in areas with minimal humidity:

1. In the sector under the ceiling.

2. In the toilet area.

3. On the walls far from the bath.

To use materials of this quality, many are pushed mainly by the cheapness of the solution and the ability to do the work on their own. The advantage of the plaster-colorful decor can be considered the possibility of choosing colors and textures, as well as the ease of changing the image of the room. Removing paint is much easier than the same mosaic or tile.

Cork

A good solution for finishing spaces of small bathrooms. Cork cloth or plates are characterized by their large weight, low thermal conductivity, hydrophobicity, and soundproofing. Walls decorated with cork are always warm, dry and pleasant to the touch. The finishing material is not susceptible to mold damage and will not become a breeding ground for the fungus.

The cork surface can be cleaned with household chemicals. The coating is presented in a variety of colors and there are no problems with its selection in the interior. The main disadvantage of the finish is its poor resistance to damage. Frightens off consumers and the price of exotic material.

wood materials

“Finishing wood for the bathroom of a small bathroom is no less popular solution than decorating its walls with ceramic tiles”

Whoever said that wood and moisture are incompatible was greatly mistaken. Wood trim for a small bathroom bathroom is no less popular solution than decorating its walls with ceramic tiles. The wood array is environmentally friendly, acts as an excellent heat insulator. Being treated with wax or other specific impregnations, it acquires water-repellent characteristics.

Well-organized ventilation in the bathroom will allow wood decor to last even longer. A negative point can be considered, albeit insignificant, but still "eating" the usable area.

Porcelain stoneware

Granite will serve as a prototype of stoneware. The manufacturing process distinguishes the material from ordinary wall tiles.Porcelain stoneware is considered the best type of finishing material for bathrooms, as it has a low water absorption threshold. Drops of moisture simply drain from it, leaving no limestone paths and fungal colonies behind.

Wallpaper

This type of finish became possible in the bathroom not so long ago. Simple paper type wallpaper could not provide a specific room with a decent look for a long time. They quickly got wet, moved away from the walls and lost their color appeal. With the advent of vinyl wallpapers, which are quite tolerant of high humidity in the room, the possibilities for decorating bathrooms have expanded markedly.

Despite the good characteristics, it is still not worth decorating the font or shower area with them, it is better to combine finishing coatings. Using wallpaper is an opportunity to add color accents to the interior of a small bathroom.

Mosaic

Mosaic decoration is akin to ceramic cladding. The finish is durable, as it is not afraid of the specificity of the microclimate. The indisputable advantage of the mosaic, in addition to its excellent technical and aesthetic characteristics, is the possibility of laying on geometrically complex areas.

It can be revetted with rounded surfaces and arched niches, angular and bevelled ledges. Mosaic can decorate the bath and sink, shower area and toilet. Small mosaic elements can be assembled into small blocks of square and rectangular configuration, which will significantly facilitate and speed up the surface finishing process. The pixel pattern of the material gives unique combinations, so the mosaic is in demand when creating original and exclusive decors.

Mosaic can become an element of space zoning. It can allocate a space for a mirror, an area for hangers, an entrance group, zone segments for receiving water and carrying out hygiene procedures.

Agglomerate

A novelty of the departments of facing materials. Suitable for decorating all surfaces, including floors and ceilings. The natural coating is close in structure to the stone. It contains mineral and stone chips, bound together by a cementing compound. It is produced in the form of tiles of various configurations and colors.

It is convenient to work with the agglomerate. It is indispensable when you need to reproduce the impression of a complete continuous finish, as it can be placed on the surface using a seamless masonry method.

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Ceiling in a small bathroom

The ceiling surface in a small space is always finished in a light spectrum. It can be hidden behind:

1. PVC panels.

2. Slatted overlays.

3. Tensile structures.

A very good effect, in terms of adjusting the perception of space, is given by a slatted finish with mirror inserts. Such a ceiling will perfectly scatter light and give the room volume.

It is impossible to simplify the task and completely cover the ceiling surface with mirror plates. This will have the radical opposite effect. An already small bathroom will turn into a real well.

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Floor finish

The bathroom area is one of the most traumatic areas of the house. It is easy to slip and hurt yourself here. To prevent this from happening, you need to properly finish the floor. The best option for flooring will, of course, be anti-slip tiles. You can put it in a variety of techniques.

For limited spaces, it is better not to focus on checkerboard masonry. Asymmetry, displacement, a three-layer version will be perceived much more interesting here. The latter will be the highlight of the country bathroom. The mix of neutrals, whites and blacks looks simple yet incredibly elegant.

An eclectic floor will also decorate the bathroom. Its arrangement is doubly beneficial. In addition to being really beautiful, you can recreate it using the remains of a tile.

Unexpectedly, mosaic masonry will look luxurious on the floor. Using this material, you can create patterns of any complexity and beauty: from gentle and delicate to progressively incredible.

For a small space, a real find will be the hexagonal tiles on the floor. With its help, it will be easy to give the atmosphere a vintage look, space - volume, and the atmosphere - a special charm.

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Plumbing for a small bathroom

When solving the problems of arranging a small bathroom, it makes sense to take a closer look at the combined plumbing. In such products, the bowl itself can be combined with a shower, and the toilet with a bidet. An interesting water lily sink, which can be placed over a laundry basket or a washing machine, if the latter, of course, has a front-loading.

Like it or not, the bath remains the most cumbersome accessory in the room. If you are not ready to refuse it, play with forms. Estimate how the corner version of the font will look in the setting. In terms of design features, it is somewhat deeper than standard bathtubs, but shorter in length. Adults may not be very pleased, but children will meet the innovation with delight. Perhaps you will be satisfied with a sit-down model of the bath. Of course, it is not as comfortable as its predecessors, but you should not discount it.

If you are leaning in favor of the shower, then there is also plenty to choose from. You can put a full, albeit small shower stall or focus on arranging a shower corner. In the classical sense, the latter is a fenced area of ​​​​the room space, equipped with a floor drain and a shower panel. The configuration and level of comfort of this zone can be adjusted at your own discretion. In the classic case, about a square meter is allotted for a shower enclosure. The shower room may or may not have a tray. The enclosing structure, which protects against moisture splashing, is similar to the doors of shower cabins. It can be made of glass or plastic. In the case of a small bathroom, it is better if they are transparent. Sometimes a sliding fence is replaced with a screen. The solution is simpler, but less effective in terms of splash protection. The use of a screen can be justified when arranging a shower area with a high tray.

After the bathroom issue is resolved, it will be the turn to install the toilet and find a place for the sink. You can win precious centimeters with the console model of the toilet bowl. In this case, the tank will be recessed into the wall, and you will get up to 30 cm of free space. The corner model of the toilet bowl will help out a lot. From ordinary relatives, the design will differ only in the shape of the tank. The drain bowl here is given triangular proportions. The corner toilet in the interior of the bathroom becomes not only an ergonomic, but also an unusual solution. The arrangement of plumbing in the corners allows you to smooth out the sharpness of the lines of the room and make it more spacious.

An excellent design move for small spaces is suspended plumbing.More recently, installation models were in the category of elite accessories, but today they can be found in ordinary interiors. Console toilet bowls please with a variety of shapes. Their shell can have not only the usual oval shape, but also be made in the form of a cube, circle, square with smoothed corners. Models and textures differ. Not a curiosity today, a hanging toilet bowl made of glass or stainless steel.

As you can see, solving the ergonomic issues of arranging a small-sized bathroom will not be difficult.

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Bathroom furniture with space deficit

“In a small bathroom, you need to use the surface of the walls”

As already mentioned, it is undesirable to force a small bathroom with bulky pieces of furniture. Sometimes it is even impossible to squeeze some kind of pencil case or shelf into it, not to mention a chest of drawers or something more global. Look around before furnishing a room. You will certainly find in it a few free corners that it would seem impossible to use.

The first thing that enters your field of vision will be the sink area. The empty area under it may well be useful. There you can put a multi-level system of shelves or an accessory for drying small balil. A semi-circular, open cabinet, with several tiers of mesh shelves, will organically fit into the space. Here you can arrange cleaning products, spread out brushes, sponges and other things you need in everyday life.

The benefits of multi-level furniture are obvious. It is compact yet manages to retain its capacity.

In a small bathroom, you need to use the surface of the walls. Shelves partially built into the wall will take up the least space. It will be interesting to look at a mini sideboard with high legs, towering over the toilet bowl.

A non-standard solution would be drawers that, when closed, can serve as a screen for the bath, or a dressing table that has a built-in sink and drawers. The latter is noticeably smaller than conventional cabinets and does not weigh down the space.

You should not refuse hooks that will serve to hang towels and bathrobes, adjustable clothes dryers that can be located above the bathroom, hanging containers for storing cosmetics.

If you treat the furnishing of a small space with a soul, it will certainly answer you with rationality and comfort.

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Accessories

They are an important part of bathroom decor. The accessory list includes:

1. Towel dryers.

2. Faucets.

3. Cups for toothbrushes.

4. Soap dishes.

5. Hooks.

6. Baskets.

7. All kinds of stands and containers.

8. Shower curtains.

Any of these items must be of high quality and be durable. Most accessories are purchased for long-term use, so do not skimp. It is important that all the “small things” be chosen to match the interior style, then the bathroom will acquire a complete harmonious look.

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Lighting

No matter how hard you try, no tricks will help to turn a small bathroom into a spacious room on a physical level. It remains to work on visual perception. Proper lighting can help adjust the amount of space. A small bathroom should not be lost in the shadows. It needs to be illuminated with sufficiently powerful, but not blinding lamps. Suitable:

1. Spots.

2. Spot LEDs.

3. Halogens.

4. Fluorescent types of energy-saving lamps.

5. Incandescent lamps.

It is impossible to fully illuminate a small space by hanging a chandelier from the ceiling.This solution will save you from the laborious work of creating a lighting scheme, but uneven lighting will turn the bathroom into a gloomy closet. In the corners, thick shadows will certainly form. They will steal space behind furniture and plumbing. Your task is to evenly illuminate all areas of the room, so think about a combination of wall-mounted ceiling, and possibly floor lamps.

It is not bad if you, in addition to a well-combined lighting system, install a flow controller. This way you can control the degree of illumination of a particular zone, creating a certain atmosphere and mood in the room. Playing with the level of brightness of the light flux, you will never reduce the visual boundaries of even the smallest bathroom.

Although it is not advised to zone the premises so limited in area, if necessary, this issue can also be resolved. Again, lighting fixtures will come to the rescue. Most often, a mirror area is required to make morning makeup and evening toilet comfortable. Overhead light will help a little here. It's generally better to mute it. The main lamps such as sconces are installed on the sides of the mirror, sometimes on top of it. Local lighting should highlight furniture items, plumbing, accessories. It is organized using LED strip. Beautiful, unusual, pleasing to the eye.

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Stylistic solutions for a small bathroom

Limited bathroom space should not be a reason to give up trying to recreate a stylish interior. Naturally, such trends as Baroque or Empire, with their pomposity and craving for massive furniture, cannot be placed in such modest areas, but as for modern trends and the same classicism, it’s worth a try.

Classic

A classic interior in its purest form in a small bathroom is rarely equipped. Taking his idea as a basis, the classical canons are diluted with inclusions of elements inherent in other stylistic trends. Popular marble inserts, decorative frescoes and panels, wall paintings. The originality of the situation is emphasized by antique accessories and gilded objects.

Modern interior interpretations

Hi-tech, minimalist interiors, modern - these are the most successful solutions for decorating a small bathroom. The directions are distinguished by the restraint of the decor and the practicality of the situation.

Modern

If you are ready to experiment and are eager to show your design talents, stop at modern. You will not be limited either in the choice of materials, or in the choice of colors, or in the selection of accessories. The decoration of the room can be both natural stone and glass.

Modern is a style of saturated shades. Here you can mix any natural colors:

1. Brown.

2. Green.

3. Grey.

4. Beige.

In such a bathroom, calmer pearl gray or faded blue combinations will also be wonderfully perceived.

If there is a shortage of bright colors, add them in accessories. For example, paint the mirror frame in a rich color, use an original towel rack or hang an unusual lamp. You can diversify the situation with the help of tiles decorated with floral ornaments.

The Art Nouveau interior is not always ostentatious restraint. It can also look very expensive. The main stylistic features are considered: the play of forms, the streamlining of lines and the high decorativeness of all the elements present. Such interiors are comfortable and functional. Here everything should be concise and harmonious.Installing a corner bathtub, a wall-hung toilet bowl or mounting a washbasin into the wall will help save space.

Modern is the realm of natural forms, so modern storage systems made of glass, wood, and shiny metal may well appear in the room.

Bathroom lighting should be bright. In the most optimal mode, it will be provided by a combination of a medium-sized chandelier with compact spotlights.

The style is characterized by zoning of functional areas. This requirement is provided by color and texture contrasts.

Minimalism

An equally interesting solution for decorating a small bathroom. This stylistic decision is the complete opposite of modernity. There is practically no decor here. It is considered unacceptable excess. Rejects minimalism and non-functional elements in its setting. If you are already putting a locker in the room or attaching a shelf, then there must be something lying there.

The credo of minimalism is simplicity and geometric clarity of forms. The absence of decorating accessories is compensated by an abundance of light and maximum freedom of space.

The color palette is restrained. In its spectrum are black and white shades, gray and brown colors. Color combinations are allowed, in which no more than three tones can participate. Priority finishing materials are:

1. Glass.

2. Metal.

3. Ceramics.

4. Tree.

All surfaces in the bathroom should have a solid color, be smooth and not contain even a hint of a pattern. There is no need to zone a minimalist space. This will only make the situation fragmented and deprive the integrity of the interior composition.

Minimalism loves light, so the bathroom should have an abundance of not only artificial, but also natural lighting. If there are problems with the arrangement of the window, then focus on the quality of the lamps and fixtures. Lampshades of the latter are better in the form of balls, cubes, truncated cones and pyramids.

Scandinavian style

It is also a great opportunity to give a small bathroom a great look. The direction involves the use of natural finishing materials. The color scheme is symbolic and is expressed in white colors. Inserts in beige, blue, sand, brown and gray shades will help to avoid the hospital spirit in the room. Darker colors may only appear as accents.

The stylistic highlight is the simplicity of the geometry of the forms. Exclusively multifunctional things are introduced into everyday life in the most compact design. If this is a bath, then the space under it is arranged as a storage system. If the cabinet is under the washbasin, then a washing machine is built into it. Scandinavian interiors also love light, so it's good if there is a window in a small bathroom. In other cases, the lighting of areas is carried out by sconces, floor lamps and other types of lamps with directed light fluxes.

The main decorative element of the Scandinavian environment is textiles. All kinds of curtains, various curtains, napkins, rugs, towels are welcome. Color asceticism is also maintained here. All fabrics must be from a series of natural and have a neutral color. The only indulgence made for textiles is the presence of modest patterns.

Retro

Retro style will help transform the bathroom, make it more elegant and fill it with a calm and pleasant atmosphere. For the background finish here you can choose the usual painting in light pastel shades. Olive, gray or ivory walls are well perceived.Vintage wallpaper can become an element of decor. The effect of aged yellowed paper is welcome, as well as floral patterns and art deco ornaments. It is also possible to finish surfaces with white ceramic tiles of a rectangular configuration, laid out like brickwork.

A bright element of the decor will be a bathtub standing on ornately curved brass or bronze legs. All other accessories that appear in a small bathroom setting should also be saturated with the spirit of vintage.

Aesthetic appeal is important for storage systems. Change your priorities. Graceful hanging baskets should become an alternative to shelves, and wooden cabinet tables smelling of time should become an alternative to pencil cases.

A retro bathroom should be decorated with monochrome photos, unusually shaped mirrors, preferably in carved gilded frames. You can find something similar in flea markets.

Country

A bathroom in such a solution will simply smell of naturalistic simplicity. Wooden furniture, unpretentiously embroidered towels, knitted carpets, simple chintz curtains - all this is a stylistic entourage.

Rustic charm is unassuming. Everything here is familiar and natural. The interior attracts with the severity of lines and ascetic decor of functional items. If this is a cabinet, then the simplest design and almost from unplaned wood, if it is a mirror, then without pretentious frames.

Primitivism in details gives rise to the colorful atmosphere. Narrow bookcases, curtained shelves and several natural-themed paintings will add soulfulness to the atmosphere.

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Conclusion

Thanks to a variety of approaches to solving interior problems, today even the smallest bathroom can turn into the most functional, rational and comfortable space. And you don’t need to spend fabulous sums for this. It is enough to turn on the fantasy and make efforts. Everything, as always, is in your hands!

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