Top Fresh Bathroom Renovation Ideas

By Sherry Willing
Lead Interior Designer and Co-Owner of Make It Real Design
Are you looking for bathroom renovation ideas for your upcoming project? Make It Real Design can help you maximize the potential of your area. We have some ideas that will help make your bathroom more functional and beautiful.
You don’t need a lot of square footage to have a luxurious bathroom. With these ideas from our lead designer, you can add function and beauty to your bathroom without breaking the bank.
Bathroom Ideas to Make You Love Your Space
Many homes in the Victoria area have that one bathroom that just seems too small. Maybe it’s a powder room downstairs, a Jack-and-Jill bathroom shared by siblings, or even the primary bathroom. Whatever the case, we all want our bathrooms to be stylish sanctuaries where we can relax and recharge.
If you’re dealing with tight quarters, don’t despair — there are plenty of ways to make the most of your limited space. With a few strategic design choices, you can create a bathroom that feels larger than it is and functions perfectly for your needs.
In this article, we’ll share our favorite ways to make your bathroom look and feel spacious and inviting, using real-life examples.

Accent Wall
Black tile makes for a dramatic accent wall
Wood Side Table
Keep only a few items on exposed storage surfaces
Black Fixtures
Matte black hardware pairs well with natural features
Hover over blue dots
Tap blue dots
How To Make Your Bathroom Feel Larger
When remodeling a bathroom, many people assume you need to tear down walls and enlarge the actual room. However, there are many ways to make a small bathroom feel larger without expanding the existing floor space.
Ideas for small bathrooms with showers

Use Glass
Skip the shower curtain. Glass makes a space look bigger because you can see straight through to the back walls. Frameless glass on the shower door increases the effect.
Neo-angle
We enlarged the shower and then cut off the corner, resulting in more shower room overall.
Barrier-free Shower Entrance
The flow of tile between the shower and the rest of the bathroom creates the illusion of more space.
1. Tile the Walls
Wall tile is especially eye-catching in a tiny bathroom. You can make one wall the focus by using a color or a pattern, or tile everything to make the space cohesive. Also, light colors, like whites, off whites, and greys, enhance the sense of spaciousness.
2. Tile the Ceiling
At Make It Real Design, we often tile bathroom ceilings. Ceilings tend to collect a lot of condensation. Keeping the drywall covered helps prevent mold.
Consider tiling over the shower if you don’t want to tile the entire ceiling. If your shower wall is a focal point, extending the tile up to the ceiling will help give the illusion of a taller space.
3. Change Your Door
We sometimes suggest a barn door for a small bathroom. If you have a door swinging into your bathroom, invariably, there’s some dance you have to do to get around the door.
A barn door that slides open gives you access to the bathroom without taking up any space in the room. These doors come in various styles and can be customized to match your bathroom’s design.
4. Think Sink
Consider a corner sink. There are some small sinks out now that are super functional and space-saving. You can even get a small floating sink that doesn’t have any legs, which makes it look very sleek and modern.
5. Go Double Duty
The old idea about using your bathtub to double as a shower space is still practical, especially for families. You can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Getting a Modern & Stylish Look
One goal of many renos is to make the bathroom seem less dated. There are many ways to achieve a more modern look without starting from scratch. A small bathroom can be both functional and stylish with a few key updates.
A Modern Small Bathroom Design

Accent Wall
wallpaper designed for moist areas
Framed Mirror
Adds interest and a sense of space
Open Shelves
Store only a few items to prevent a cluttered feel
Wall-mounted Vanity
light pastel color for a fresh statement
1. Update the Wallpaper
There are wallpapers with coating or vinyl that are designed to go into moist areas. These are an excellent option for small bathrooms because they can help you achieve that high-end, spa-like look without breaking the bank.
2. Mind the Vanity
Anything bulky and built-in is automatically going to date your bathroom. The vanities make a big difference. Use a light-colored vanity to make the room feel more open and airy.
If you use a wall-hung vanity, even better. These floating-style vanities have become hugely popular over the last ten years. They tend to take up less visual space, making the room appear larger.
3. Light from Below
One small thing you can do is put lights under the vanity or counters. The light from underneath adds to the sense of space – and you don’t have to turn on the light when you walk into the room.
4. Put it On a Pedestal
If you don’t need a lot of bathroom storage space, use a pedestal sink. You will see through the base, which visually elongates the room. Again, you lose a bit of storage, but what you gain in the feel of your bathroom is significant.
5. Use Framed Mirrors
Small mirrors with interesting frames create interest without overpowering the space. If you have an old-style builder mirror that dominates one wall, try replacing it with two smaller ones.
6. Pay Attention to Toilet Type
You want something that’s going to be comfortable, but choose a toilet that’s a one-piece construction. The design is simple and modern – and as a bonus, they are easier to keep clean.
Storage Solutions for Smaller Baths
One of the biggest challenges in small baths is finding enough storage space. But with a little creativity, it is possible to create functional and stylish storage solutions.
1. Hook it Up
Try using towel hooks. They don’t take up much space and you won’t have a big rod or ring jutting from your wall.
2. Take Advantage of Smart Style
Manufactured vanities are becoming smart and clever. In the old days, vanities just had doors. Today, these units come with a plug for your hair dryer and charging stations for your electronics.
3. Open it Up
Open shelves are lovely, and they do add storage. However, only use them to display things like plants, beautiful things, or even a couple of fun items. Using this shelving as a dumping place could be very tempting, so stay disciplined if you go this route.
4. Store Items ElsEwhere
You don’t have to have cleaning products for the whole house under your vanity. Instead, put them in a caddy or a little bucket and store them elsewhere. Just carry them to your bathroom when you need them. The same idea goes for the toilet brush and plunger. These items don’t need to be on display.
Embrace Current Trends
When updating your space, look to current trends for design inspiration.

Framed Mirror
Adds interest and a sense of space
Lighting
Unexpected placement of an interesting light fixture
Nature Inspired
Tile mimics the pattern of leaves
Stone Sink
Adds another natural material and provides a dark accent
1. Look to Nature
Right now, designers are starting to bring in more elements from nature. Think leafy patterns on wallpaper or even tiles arranged to mimic an organic form.
A stone sink can also be a grounding force in a small room. If you don’t want to go that far, try earth-toned towels or even a plant or two. (Orchids are one of the great things to have in bathrooms – they thrive in the warm, damp environment).
2. Experiment with Lighting
We used to think light fixtures had to be directly over the sink. But lighting has changed so much that we can play with placement. Now, light fixtures and their light can be a little dramatic statement.
3. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Dark elements, like black tile or matte black hardware, are popular to pair with natural features. Try adding a wood element, like a small stand or shelf, to balance out the bold starkness of the black.
We hope these tips have given you some ideas for renovating your small bathroom. If you need help with your renovation or interior design, we are happy to assist you!
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