Making small bathrooms look bigger with paint

A small bathroom can be made to look a lot bigger with some clever paint tricks. 

The common assumption with colour is that lighter shades are better suited for smaller rooms – and while they do naturally reflect the light and evoke a feeling of space, there’s no need to be limited to a paler hue if you fancy going dark. 

Darker colours actually help smaller bathrooms look larger, if used with the right lighting and mirrors. More dramatic interiors have proved very popular in recent years as richer colours have been created by paint brands and homeowners have become more confident in their décor. They help create a feeling of luxury and work equally well in modern and traditional homes. If you’re needing a bit of encouragement, here are our top tips:

Colour first

Unlike other rooms in the home, you are not limited by existing furniture. Most bathrooms have neutral baths and toilets which won’t clash from a colour or texture point of view – so you can start with your colour choice. You can opt for a warm or cool tone in your bathroom, darks can be either, by opting for paints with a muddy or bluey hue. Get proper patches, get a few and look at them on every wall to see how they work with the light at different types of day.

Application

A clever way to make a small room look bigger is to colour drench. No white skirting boards,  or doors will create an inviting, enveloping feeling and make the room feel deeper and larger. Match the colour with a dark or plain floor and then use a bright white paint on the ceiling which will naturally draw the eyes upward to further feeling of height. 

Accessories and lighting

Use bright spotlights on the ceiling but add well as lower level lamps around large mirrors to give a pop of light that will bounce around the room. Plants and brass work particularly well against richer darker colours, as does wood.  

There are no rules on the colours you choose although deep greens and blues seem to be the most popular. As long as it works for you and your home. Don’t forget to choose bathroom paint – otherwise you could end up with unslightly patches from the steamy atmosphere.

Happy decorating!