Do More with Less
10 ideas for making your small bathroom more inviting

At Home,  eMagazine from Moen

 Most homeowners dream of a bathroom with the latest amenities such as a deluxe whirlpool tub, aromatherapy system and separate his-and-hers vanities. The reality is that only 16 percent of homeowners have a master bath in excess of 100 square feet that can accommodate these luxuries, so what does this mean for someone longing to create a personal bath retreat but has limited space, budget or time parameters? Here are ten ideas that can make a smaller bath more liveable, decorative and inviting.

1. No Room for a Whirlpool Tub, Try a Vertical Spa
The vertical spa experience allows you to customize your shower with body sprays, single or multi-function showerheads, hand showers, multi-function transfer valves and sophisticated temperature control systems. These showers offer the relaxation and luxury of a whirlpool spa, but without the time required to fill a large tub. More and more consumers are opting to use shower systems such as these to turn their bathrooms into spa-like havens.

2. Freshen Your New Spa's Look with New Curtains or Doors
Some of the latest shower curtains even have convenient pockets to keep lotions, loofahs and all your showering accessories right at your fingertips. Shower curtains of all designs, colours and materials are available at local department and home stores. For shower doors, choose from clear, smoked or etched glass to complement the décor of your room.

3. Get More Space and Storage Space with a Single Vanity
Sure, you'd love to have those his-and-hers vanities mentioned earlier, but most homeowners have to consider the space constraints of their room. To make the most of a small area, consider adding a new, single vanity. Today's latest styles extend the "furniture" look of the master bedroom into the bath with decorative feet accents, crown moulding and framed mirrors. This cabinetry also provides specialized storage spaces such as linen towers and vanity drawers. Many of today's vanities also offer increased height, so you won't have to bend down as far to wash your face or brush your teeth. For a small bath, look for white or light-coloured vanities. Going from a dark wood to a lighter colour vanity will brighten up the entire room.

4. Add Elegance to a Small Bath with Beautiful Faucets

Replacing the faucet is an easy and inexpensive way to upgrade the bath. Faucets today come in numerous designs and finishes, some with marble and coloured interchangeable accent pieces.

5. Medicine Cabinets and Mirrors
The latest bathroom styles call for simple, wood-framed mirrors instead of medicine cabinets above the sink. These mirrors are inexpensive and come in a wide array of wood finishes such as a maple or oak to lighten up the room. If you still prefer the storage space that a traditional medicine cabinet can offer, visit your local home centre or hardware store to see what's new in styles. As one of the focal points of your bathroom, it may do wonders to your bath design to replace a rusty or outdated cabinet.

6. Lighting
Lighting takes up little space but can make a dramatic change in the look and feel of your bathroom. If your current bathroom has a lighting fixture that could use an update, you will be amazed at the range of styles and finishes currently on the market. From the clean look of polished brass to the retro look of brushed nickel, you're sure to find something to provide an added touch of charm to your bath.

Not only is the fixture important, but so is the light it contains. In the bathroom, you need proper lighting to put on makeup, accessorize or shave. Brighten up your room with compact fluorescents. Fluorescents have come a long way in recent years -- they offer colour similar to incandescent and light immediately without flickering. And, these bulbs can last up to seven years, saving $26 to $86 in energy costs over the life of each bulb.

7. Add Space to a Room with Paint

Get rid of those mint greens, pinks and yellows from the 1950s and give a clean look with a shade of white such as ecru, oyster, almond or beige. These neutral tones will make a small bathroom appear larger.

Neutral doesn't have to mean boring.  An integrated line of home decorating paints, specialty finishes, techniques and applicators can allow homeowners to create unique looks, textures and effects. It even includes specialty finishes such as Granite and Brushed Suede. There are also Antique Crackle and Metallic finishes, and Technique Glaze -- a tin table, clear glaze that can be used to produce "colour washing," "rag rolling" and other distinctive effects.

8. Accessories Can Double as Storage Space
For added storage space, or to display collectibles, consider adding a glass shelf in the bath. This shelf allows you to display items that are reflective of your personality and design style.

Hooks, towel racks, cup and toothbrush holders are all accessories that can look classy while they hold bathroom gear (toiletries and towels). Hardware now comes in all types of finishes and materials to perfectly compliment the style of your bathroom.

9. Adding Colour
If you choose a neutral colour for the walls, liven things up with brightly coloured towels, soaps, candles and artwork -- anything to infuse the room with colour. Bath supply stores today are stocked full of items that make your life easier and add to the character of your room. Even today's towels have whimsical prints and styles to liven up a bath or powder room, and can be changed regularly to create a different décor in a minute.

If you want to go beyond adding colour through accessories, accent the room with a colourful or unique border. This might be just the thing to bring out the personality of the room. No longer do these borders need to be at the top of the wall, mix it up a little by putting a border at waist height or even eye level.

10. Window Treatments
Another great way to add to the décor of your bath is to focus on window treatments. Valences, tab-top drapes and curtains can be found to enhance the bath and provide that final element to pull together the entire room.

So, if the fantasy bath of your dreams does not match the reality of the small bath that currently can be found in your home, following these 10, simple ideas can at least give your room the "perk up" it needs. And, you won't have to spend thousands, tear down any walls or turn your home into a construction zone. As you can see, no matter what the size of your bath, you can add warmth, style and elegance.