Remodeling Ideas for Your Small Bathroom

by Brett Freeman

A couple of decades ago, homebuilders realized that one of the easiest ways to increase the value of a new home was to add a bathroom--even a very small bathroom. So that's what they did. If you happen to live in one of those houses, and find yourself wondering "What in the world were they thinking about when they designed this thing?" every time you use your tiny bathroom, the answer is "money."

A better question to ask is what you can do to make better use of the space. And to that question, fortunately, there are a number of good answers.

Fix the Fixtures
In many undersized bathrooms, the space problem may be compounded by oversized fixtures. A sink with a double door cabinet underneath, for example, isn't necessary. Consider a pedestal sink instead. And those little tubs so often found in small bathrooms are a pointless waste of space. No one wants to bathe in water that's not deep enough to enjoy, and this is doubly true if, as is too often the case, your head is about 12 inches away from the toilet when you sit back to "relax" in the tub. You should be able to find a comfortable bathroom shower stall to replace that tiny tub, enhancing the bathing experience and taking care of the proximity problem in a single step. Also consider consulting a contractor with experience redesigning bathrooms to see if they have recommendations for opening the space up.

Create Space with Built-Ins
Because you are sacrificing storage space under the sink in favor of a pedestal sink to give you more floor space, you need to create space elsewhere. A built-in medicine cabinet over the sink can accomplish this, as can built-in shelves over the toilet. Unfortunately, over the toilet is not really an ideal place to store extra towels. Instead, install an extra towel rack on the wall near the shower door that allows you to put out two full sets of towels. Finally, consider replacing your bathroom door with a pocket door. This allow a little extra leeway as you contemplate a new floor plan.

Source:
Ask the Builder, Bathroom Design by Tim Carter
Ask the Builder, Bathroom Remodeling by Tim Carter

About the Author
Brett Freeman is a freelance journalist. He also owns a landscaping and irrigation company in North Carolina. Previously he has worked as a beat reporter, a teacher, and for a home improvement company, and he used to own a bar/live music venue.