The very small size of the room, which is often reserved for the bathroom in apartments with a small area, cannot be a stumbling block in order to decorate it beautifully and stylishly. The result can be unexpected and original, the main thing is to decide on the main idea of the interior. In this article, we will talk about interesting small bathroom design ideas: finishes, materials and plumbing.
Where to start?
Renovation planning should always be approached with the utmost seriousness and every detail must be considered in advance, from the idea of decorating the ceiling, walls and floor to the optimal placement of all necessary furniture and appliances. This becomes especially relevant when it comes to the modern design of a small bathroom. First of all, it is necessary to solve several pressing issues that are very important for everyone living in the apartment:
- What is the minimum setnecessary plumbing needs to be placed in such a limited area? It immediately becomes obvious that there can be no question of installing, for example, a double sink, bidet or jacuzzi.
- According to generally accepted rules, the door leading to the room should open inside it, but in our case, you can deviate from the canons and do the opposite or even change it to a sliding structure.
- Is it necessary to install the washing machine in the bathroom or can it be placed, for example, in the kitchen.
- Is it important for all households to have a bath, or can it be replaced with a compact corner hydrobox, which will help to significantly save such necessary useful space?
- Is there a need to transfer any communications for optimal planning, since in our time it is allowed to transfer not only sewer, water, but also heating pipes within a given room?
What can be changed?
Now on the Internet you can find many ready-made projects specially created for a small bath. The design of a bathroom of this size requires the most balanced arrangement of plumbing. It is clear that there is no ideal way of planning that would suit absolutely everyone. Everyone will have to choose for themselves, based on the following real components:
- positions of communication systems;
- the optimal amount of plumbing (depending on whether the bathroom is combined or not);
- door and window locations, if any;
- room shapes.
Usually, when designing a small bathroom, specialists try to position the sink and mirror above it so that those who open the door to the room see these items first. However, in reality it is not always possible to follow this rule. Therefore, it is best to move the sink to the bathroom, while placing the toilet closer to the wall and the sewer system.
The minimum set of the most necessary sanitary ware will help create a comfortable and fashionable design for a small bathroom. Sink, toilet and bath - this is what you can find an effective replacement. If the presence of the latter is not important, then replacing it with a shower stall will largely free up the usable space of a small room. This will allow you to place a washing machine in it. If this option is not to your liking, the designers offer another - a combined shower room with a bathtub. It is equipped with a glass transparent partition that does not allow water to spill outside.
Bathroom tile size
The design of a small bathtub can be made beautiful and original if you choose the right finishes for walls and floors. Most often, ceramic tiles are preferred because they give room for imagination, look great and are easy to clean. Nowadays, there is no problem in finding exactly the color, pattern or texture of a given finishing material that a bathroom would like to see.
Withinin a small room, the size of the tile matters, as a large-format one can visually narrow the room and even break its proportions. To prevent this from happening, some part of the walls is laid out with mosaics.
Texture and styling
In the design of small baths, tiles look very good. But experts do not recommend using such a popular design today as images in 3D, as well as a large number of shiny rhinestones. It is better to use tiles with an unobtrusive ornament or imitating natural material, for example, natural travertine stone or more familiar marble.
Wood-like tiles will also help to refine the design. You can also use slightly patterned tiles, which look best when laid vertically. Designers also recommend using a stylish mirror tile, as it can add extra volume to the room, but at the same time it will require more thorough and complex maintenance.
In the design of a small bathroom, it is recommended to divide the walls vertically and in no case horizontally. Ornamented stripes or colored inserts directed from the ceiling to the floor will help zone the room, especially if it is a combined bathroom. Large patterns on tiles will only narrow a small room.
Light finish
The color of bathroom tiles is also very important. The design of a small bath, according to generally accepted rules, should be done in light colors. At the same time, you need to know that warm shades visually reduceroom, while cool ones, on the contrary, move the walls away from the person looking at them.
Indeed, light tiles will help create an atmosphere of lightness and ease. However, when dealing with snow-white tiles, the main thing is not to overdo it, as there is a risk of turning your bathroom into a sterile operating room. The height of the room can be given by finishing the lower part of it and the floor in darker tones.
If you still decide on a totally light design of a small bathroom, then you will definitely need to create some kind of color accent. This can be done, for example, with the help of various lighting fixtures or other decorative elements: a small original rug, bright towels, as well as an unusual type of shelves or cabinets designed to store the necessary toiletries.
Increasingly, all sorts of shades of gray are used in modern design projects. Such a neutral color can be an excellent background for both snow-white equipment and shiny accessories that organically complement it. This often uses different combinations of gray tones and tile sizes, with which you can create modern original interiors.
Dark shades and bright colors
As for the contrasting interior, it is always in fashion, as it cannot be boring. Light finishes, against which dark shades will look dynamic, allow you to create distinctly structured interiors. In this case, the game of contrasts can be usedin a border, a pattern on an accent surface, or in an ornament on a floor covering.
For those who love bright colors, there is also a way out. They are much more difficult to combine, but if the main one is white, then this task is a little easier. You can make a whole sector at once, an accent wall or a wide strip. For example, paint in a bright color or tile an apron near the sink, a shower area or a niche where the bathroom is located. Another option is to leave the ceiling and walls light, and put a finishing material with a beautiful ornament on the floor.
Ceiling decoration
At first glance, you might think that almost no one pays attention to them, but as soon as you make a mistake, it will begin to catch your eye. To prevent this from happening, you need to know what exactly cannot be done when designing a small bathroom. Firstly, it is not recommended to choose dark colors for decorating the ceiling, and secondly, you must immediately abandon the multi-level design.
Sometimes you come across old houses with more or less high ceilings. They can be decorated in an original way by playing on the contrast of colors. But when the ceiling height is standard, when you enter such a room, it seems that it is about to crush you. This is a very unpleasant sensation, so dark tones should be avoided. As for the now fashionable multi-level ceilings, they will look rather cumbersome in a modest-sized room.
When designing a trendy small bathroom, the main goal will be to achieve spaciousness, albeit visual. In thatthe use of transparent materials, the same light colors, and bright lighting can help. When choosing a finish, it must be borne in mind that it will be subjected to constant temperature changes and moisture. In this regard, the most suitable are such ceilings as mirror, stretch and rack aluminum.
Mirror Shapes
No matter how small the bathroom is, you can't do without them. With the right selection of mirrors, they can make a narrow room wider, and a dark room brighter. When buying this accessory, many are guided only by their own aesthetic preferences, but it is also necessary to take into account the various flaws in the room, its layout and size. Here are some tips that are sure to come in handy for everyone:
- A square mirror will make the room more proportional. This is especially true if the room is narrow or rectangular.
- The round mirror will add extra volume to the mini-bathroom. In addition, it will make the interior more harmonious.
- A rectangular horizontal mirror will visually transform the room. It will make it a little more spacious.
- An elongated mirror suspended vertically will visually increase the height of the ceiling. It can be either oval or rectangular.
Mirror sizes
The size of this accessory may vary. However, a large mirror in the modern design of a small bathroom is always a huge plus. Should not be postedits too low, just above the sink. It is better to hang it 35 - 45 cm above it. At the same time, it is necessary to regulate these parameters taking into account the growth of all household members. The width of the mirror is also unlimited, except perhaps the size of the wall.
Style decisions
The design of a small bath can be done in the same manner with the entire apartment or radically different from it. In our case, the most optimal are:
- Provence style. It is characterized by natural materials and pastel colors.
- Classic style. This is the best option, which always looks expensive and exclusive.
- Country style. It is famous for its coziness and the use of natural materials in decoration.
- Scandinavian style. It is characterized by natural colors, extreme simplicity and functionality.
- Hi-tech style. These are, first of all, the latest finishing materials, laconic lines and modern technology.
Which bath to choose?
What will help give this room the most exclusivity? Of course, the bathtub has an unusual configuration and color. In addition to the rectangular shapes that are familiar to us, there are also other varieties: angular, deep, asymmetric and sedentary. In any case, the design of a small bathtub with an unusually shaped bathtub will look very fashionable, modern and original, even despite the modest size of the room.
Corner models are considered the most optimal of all of the above, since their minimum size is only 90 cm in length and 55 cm inwidth. Most often in such baths there are special recesses resembling shelves. For maximum comfort, they are produced for both right-hand and left-hand installation.
The design of a small bathtub with an unusual configuration, for example, in the form of a heart, a drop or tapering to one of the sides, looks very elegant, but compared to classic models, they are many times more expensive.
Combined bathroom
The design of a small bath with a toilet is practically no different from the above. The only thing that will have to be added to the room is a toilet bowl. As for the size of plumbing for such bathrooms, there are no clear standards here.
It will be quite easy to find a suitable sink, bathtub, toilet and shower cabin in specialized stores. In addition, the same applies to design, since there are an incredible variety of options for its execution, ranging from classic to the most pretentious forms.