It’s often the ‘smallest room in the house’, but it certainly earns its keep as one of the most important. Bathrooms need to be functional, but they also need to be beautiful, and striking the right balance between the two is key to successful bathroom décor.

From heated towel rails that are stylish and practical, to delicate touches and light, bright colours that make even the tiniest space look bigger, small bathroom décor ideas need to be imaginative, individualistic, and in keeping with the rest of your home decoration style. Here are a few tips on how to create a big impression in the smallest room. 

Colours should be bright and light

Colour is the key to any interior design, and that’s just as relevant in the bathroom as it is in the living room. Traditionally, light, bright colours are standard, but that doesn’t mean that you have to forego a little bit of individualism, so be bold, be imaginative, and be prepared to use pops of colour to add interest to a white bathroom.

Pick out design details such as ocean or botanical themes by using an appropriate colour palette. But don’t limit it to your paint – your towels and accessories can also pick up on colour themes such as soft greens and pastels if you’re going for a floral motif, or ocean-spray blues for a more nautical look.

Apartment small bathroom décor idea

Make the most of every inch of space in small apartment bathrooms, with flush, wall-mounted cabinets and tall and thin towel racks. Add a splash of luxury to the overall look with heated racks so your towels are fluffy and warm when you step out of the shower! 

Keep clutter to an absolute minimum in small bathrooms, using clear glass tumblers and storage jars to give the illusion of more space. Solid colour accessories may make the room look more confined, whereas clear glass cannisters add interest but don’t make a smaller space feel too overwhelmed.

Bathroom mirrors – the trick to making a small bathroom look much bigger

Just like any other limited space, a little bit of subtle trickery can work wonders. One of the biggest tips on how to decorate an apartment bathroom to make it appear larger is to use mirrors. Not only are they a practical necessity in any bathroom for those morning ablutions, but they can reflect light back into the room, creating an illusion of more space. 

Mirrors with lighting around the edges are ideal if you’re checking your make-up’s perfect or your beard is looking its best before you go out. For a great space-saving idea, look for bathroom cabinets with mirrored fronts, so you have a practical storage solution as well.

Keep the flow going

Apartment bathrooms in particular are usually en-suite, so it’s important to keep the flow of design motifs moving from one room into another. If your bathroom is particularly small then keep your laundry basket in the bedroom, but choose one that corresponds with wicker vanity trays or containers in the bathroom, for example. 

Remember that whatever bathroom décor you choose, it needs to be functional as well as beautiful, and needs to be able to cope with the higher levels of humidity and heat that bathrooms are subjected to every day.