Many of us dream of having an enormous grand bathroom with double sinks, a chaise lounge, a soaking tub and a fabulous shower. Most of us, though, have to keep dreaming and deal with what we have. A small bathroom can be cute as well as functional so don't despair if your room has a small footprint.
The pros of having a small bathroom are that you can splurge on high-end finishes because you are using a lot less material than one might in a large bathroom. The marble floor and vanity top that you're dreaming about might be within reach because you only have to cover a small area. So, think high end and treat your little bathroom to a rejuvenating renovation.
This Kohler bathroom is typical of many older homes in Winnipeg. The claw-foot tub, while new, hearkens to the original age of these older homes. Again, in keeping with the integrity of the building, a shower has not been installed in this small bathroom. A flexible showerhead attachment fits the bill in this room.
The matching pedestal sink with its intricate iron stand gives the room tons of character while the toilet with the old-fashioned oval tank is in keeping with the décor. The rich wall colour along with the off-white trim makes the space really pop and highlights the architectural elements in the space. This is a tiny room but a lovely one.
This is the type of room where one could install that luxurious marble floor instead of wood or vinyl. A Jacuzzi-style tub might work in place of the claw-foot tub, or one could forgo the tub altogether and opt for a large shower area with high-end finishes and a glass enclosure to keep the room feeling airy. There are so many options it boggles the mind.
When you start getting into replacing flooring you'll have to deal with the removal of the toilet, tub and vanity, which entails plumbing that can get expensive. If you don't want to renovate but just want to do cosmetic changes, there are lots of options. The most common items that date a bathroom (aside from, say, an avocado-coloured tub and toilet) are dated vanities and dated light fixtures, both of which are an easy fix in most cases. With the myriad of paints available today that cover a multitude of surfaces, there is a good chance that your old vanity can be renewed with paint. I did this in our small bathroom and it totally changed the look.
As an example, you may be dealing with an oak-finished cabinet, matching mirror and towel bars that were popular in the 1990s. While these items may be structurally sound, the finish and the style of the cabinetry will make the room look very tired and old. By painting the wooden surfaces (including the mirror frame) in a fresh neutral colour, you can change the look of the room and bring it into this century.
New cabinet hardware and towel bar are a must. If you want to further enhance the cabinetry you can even add decorative moulding (creating faux recessed panels) before you paint. With the fresh, neutral backdrop you can now decide on a colour scheme and/or design style for the room.
There are so many fun ideas for bathroom accessories and storage. Do you want a beach-inspired room with royal blue ceramic tile floors and white accents? One could have a ball with accessorizing a room like this. Boat-cleat robe hooks, wooden decking in front of the shower stall, nautical accents here and there and voila!
Maybe you want to feel like you're in a five-star hotel in Europe with finishes of terra cotta tiles and polished plaster walls in weather-worn Old World colours. There are products out there for just about any design taste. In a small space you can go a little wild with colour. Small spaces can take it as long as there is sufficient lighting.
Speaking of lighting, for goodness sake, have an electrician take down that silver-finished, glass-globed vanity light strip that was installed in 1980! Replace it with contemporary lighting meant for the bathroom that is able to withstand moisture.
Fresh linens and shower curtain will finish the new look. If you opt for a more neutral backdrop you can bring in colour through these items that are easily changeable down the road. Artwork in the bathroom is a nice touch that many don't consider. Keep in mind the moisture factor, but don't shy away from hanging great black-and-white prints or photographs. These give the bathroom additional personality.
Small bathrooms usually lack enough storage or counter space, so be creative with your options. Hanging baskets or shelves can hold toiletries and smaller items such as face cloths. Decorative boxes with lids can be used to store everyday items that you prefer to be out of sight when not in use. If you don't have enough linen storage space, large baskets of rolled towels on display will make the space spa-like.
A small bathroom can be luxurious, just on a smaller scale. Research your options and treat yourself to a fabulous space.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
