How to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger: A Licensed Home Remodeler’s Guide
Small bathrooms can feel tight, dark, and hard to work with. When every inch counts, the wrong design choices can make the space feel even smaller than it already is.
The good news is that size is rarely the real problem. With the right design strategies, you can make a small bathroom feel more spacious, brighter, and far more comfortable.
This guide from Revive Works Remodeling breaks down proven ways to make small bathrooms appear larger.
10 Tips on How to Make Your Small Bathroom Look Bigger
To make a small bathroom appear bigger, focus on light, reflection, visual continuity, and scale. Lighter colors, better lighting, fewer visual breaks, and fixtures sized for the room can dramatically change how the space feels without increasing square footage. The goal is to reduce anything that visually chops the room up and instead let the eye move freely.
Below are the most effective design ideas we recommend you use to open up your tiny bathroom.
1. Use lighter wall colors to open the space
Light colors reflect more light, which immediately makes a bathroom feel more open. Soft whites, warm off-whites, light grays, and pale neutrals work especially well in small bathrooms. Dark colors tend to absorb light and visually shrink the room unless used very intentionally.
2. Extend tile from floor to ceiling
Bathroom tile that runs from floor to ceiling draws the eye upward and creates the illusion of height. This works especially well in showers. Stopping tile halfway up the wall introduces a visual break that can make the space feel shorter and more confined.
3. Install a larger mirror or mirrored wall
Mirrors bounce light around and visually double the space. A single large mirror over the bathroom vanity works better than multiple smaller ones. Frameless mirrors tend to feel cleaner and less cluttered, which helps small bathrooms feel more open.
4. Choose a floating vanity
A floating vanity exposes more floor area, which instantly makes the room feel larger. Even a few inches of visible floor can change how spacious the bathroom feels. It also creates a cleaner, more modern look without sacrificing function.
5. Keep the floor continuous
Using the same flooring throughout the bathroom helps the small space feel unified. Avoid breaking up the floor with multiple tile styles or patterns. Fewer visual interruptions make the room feel wider and more cohesive.
6. Improve lighting with layered sources
Relying on a single overhead light often leaves shadows that close in the space. Layered lighting makes a huge difference. Combine overhead lighting with vanity lights and, if possible, recessed or indirect lighting to brighten the entire room evenly.
7. Opt for a glass shower enclosure
Clear glass shower panels allow the eye to see through the entire room, instead of stopping at a shower curtain or frosted surface. This keeps the bathroom from feeling boxed in and helps maintain visual flow.
8. Scale fixtures to the room
Oversized vanities, bulky toilets, and large fixtures can overwhelm a tiny bathroom. Choosing compact, streamlined fixtures keeps the space proportional and easier to move through.
9. Reduce visual clutter
Too many items on counters or open shelves make small bathrooms feel crowded. Built-in niches, recessed shelves, and hidden storage help keep surfaces clear, which makes the room feel calmer, more spacious, and airy.
10. Use consistent finishes and hardware
Mixing too many finishes creates visual noise. Sticking to a tight palette of finishes helps the bathroom feel intentional and balanced. Consistency allows the eye to move smoothly through the space instead of jumping from element to element.
Smart Small Bathroom Design Choices That Make a Big Difference
Beyond surface-level updates, certain design decisions can completely change how a small bathroom feels day to day. These choices don’t always add square footage, but they dramatically improve flow, comfort, and visual space when done right.
Rethink the layout without moving walls
You don’t always need to move walls to improve a bathroom’s layout. Simply adjusting the placement of fixtures can open things up. Swapping a bulky vanity for a slimmer one, changing a door swing, or repositioning a toilet can improve circulation and make the room feel less cramped.
In many small bathrooms, the biggest issue is how the space is being used.
Build storage into the walls
Surface storage eats up visual space. Built-in solutions do the opposite. Recessed medicine cabinets, shower niches, and in-wall shelving keep essentials accessible without adding bulk. These details reduce clutter and help the room feel cleaner and more intentional.
When storage disappears into the walls, the bathroom instantly feels larger.
Create visual height wherever possible
Drawing the eye upward makes a small bathroom feel taller. Tall mirrors, vertically stacked tile, and higher shower heads all help stretch the visual boundaries of the room. Even extending cabinetry or shelving closer to the ceiling can shift how the space is perceived.
Small changes in vertical design often have a bigger impact than widening the room ever could.
Other Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to make a small apartment bathroom look bigger?
In an apartment bathroom, focus on changes that don’t require layout work. Use light wall colors, a large mirror, better lighting, and streamlined fixtures. Keeping surfaces clear and finishes consistent makes a noticeable difference without major renovation.
How to make a small bathroom look bigger with flooring?
Large-format tiles in light or neutral tones work best. Keeping the same flooring throughout the bathroom avoids visual breaks, which helps the room feel wider and more open.
How to make a small bathroom look bigger with paint?
Stick to lighter shades like soft whites, warm neutrals, or pale grays. Painting walls, trim, and ceilings in similar tones reduces contrast and helps the space feel more expansive.
How to make a small bathroom look bigger with tile?
Run tile from floor to ceiling, especially in the shower. Vertical tile patterns also help draw the eye upward. Avoid busy patterns that break up the visual flow.
How to make a small dark bathroom look bigger?
Layer your lighting and use reflective surfaces. Bright vanity lighting, recessed ceiling lights, and bathroom mirrors help bounce light around and prevent the space from feeling closed in.
How to make a small half bathroom look bigger?
Wall-mounted sinks, compact fixtures, and a bold mirror can transform a half bath. Since there’s no shower, keeping the floor and walls visually open matters even more.
How to make a small master bathroom look bigger?
Glass shower enclosures, floating vanities, and built-in storage help maintain flow. Coordinated finishes and fewer visual breaks are key in shared spaces.
How to make a small windowless bathroom look bigger?
Good lighting is essential. Combine overhead lighting with strong vanity lights, use lighter finishes, and add mirrors to reflect what light you do have.
Let’s Make Your Small Bathroom Work Better.
Small bathrooms don’t have to feel cramped or uncomfortable. With the right design choices, even the tightest spaces can feel open, bright, and easy to use. The key is understanding how light, layout, and visual flow work together.
At Revive Works Remodeling, we help Portland homeowners turn small bathrooms into spaces that feel larger, cleaner, and built around real life. If you’re thinking about an update, we’re here to help you plan it the right way.