If you own an older home, you're probably familiar with a confounding reality of traditional bathroom design: the bathroom itself is the smallest room in the house! The reasons for this apparent snub date back to pre-20th-century homes, when the bathroom didn't even exist, and bedrooms included the necessary water pitcher and chamber pot. Back then, families bathed in a galvanized tub located in the kitchen or porch, or in the back yard - with the bathroom ancestor, the outhouse.
It wasn't until the 20th century, when scientists discovered the role of bacteria in human health, that the outhouse made its way into the home. However, even early bathroom design could not escape its modest roots. For most of the 20th century, home designers prioritized bedrooms and closets over bathrooms. As a consequence, today many bathrooms measure a measly 5- by 8-feet. If you own a relatively new home (thirty years or younger), your bathroom might measure double this space. If you own an older home, though, your small space might benefit from a bathroom update.
The best bathroom update is a full-scale bathroom remodeling project. Depending upon your budget, your project might include an entirely new bathroom design. However, even if you do not have the time or budget for a remodeling project, you can easily maximize space by performing a simple bathroom makeover. Below we offer five effective methods for optimizing your bathroom's space.
1. Maximize Efficiency
As we've noted in another article - How to Create a Clutter-Free Kitchen - most people think they need more storage space. However, the problem often isn't the amount of storage space. The true problem is the inaccessible placement and inefficient configuration of the existing space. Installing truly efficient cabinets and drawers is often a better bathroom upgrade than an entirely new bathroom design. By increasing accessibility and convenience, you can clear the existing space of unwanted clutter.
2. Clear the Clutter
Speaking of unwanted clutter, the simplest and most cost-efficient way to maximize your bathroom space is to clear the clutter. Take a look at your vanity - and all available surfaces in your bathroom. How much stuff do you really need? Trash or recycle all your extraneous beauty supplies and grooming materials. Next, take a look at your cabinets and drawers. Is your bathroom design using your space efficiently? Some homeowners stuff their cabinets with a variety of junk that has nothing to do with the bathroom. We've seen power tools, laundry supplies, even old books and magazines. If you don't need it, get rid of it! Clearing the surface space will not only make your bathroom appear larger; ridding the space of extra objects, will literally increase the available square footage.
3. Use Your Vertical Space
In most bathroom designs, a great percentage of wall space is left unused. Of course, you do not want to clutter your wall space, but you probably have enough additional space to install an attractive storage unit. Storage is gold. If the key to maximizing space is reducing clutter, new cabinetry on the wall (above the toilet is a great spot) can provide an efficient and easy-to-access storage for your toiletries and cleaners.
4. Downsize Your Vanity
A large vanity can dominate a small bathroom design. If you find yourself squeezing your way into your bathroom, you might consider downsizing. Replace your bulky vanity with a single basin sink or pedestal sink and simple cabinetry with open storage. The sink will cover less area, even as the open storage cabinets provide an airy space for face towels and toiletries.
5. Replace Your Bulky Door
When space is limited, a bulky door can seem like an unwanted intruder. If your door swings into your bathroom, try the simplest of bathroom updates: change its direction! Alternately, you might replace your swinging door with a sliding (or "pocket" door). Unlike a swinging door, a sliding door, open or closed, takes up zero space. And maximize efficiency by placing a mirror on the bathroom side of the door. Enjoy the benefit of an added full-length mirror, even as the reflective surface offers the illusion of a more expansive bathroom.
Kitchen Remodeling
Master Kitchen & Bath Design has set the standard for kitchen remodeling in the Bucks County area for over thirty years. A rare find in the kitchen remodeling industry, MKBD excels in both in-house design and construction. We never use subcontractors, all of our team members, from our lead designer to lead carpenter, take ownership of each project.
Bathroom Remodeling
Master Kitchen and Bath Design designs beautiful bathrooms to complement both older and newly constructed homes. For over thirty years, MKBD has distinguished itself as the leading bathroom remodeling company in the Philadelphia area. When you work with MKBD, you partner with the most innovative and skilled talent in the bathroom remodeling industry.
Finished Basements
In many homes, the basement is a neglected space, a hideaway for moldering storage boxes, discarded furniture, and outdated supplies. A remodeling project can transform your basement into a functional living space. From recreational rooms to guest suites, Master Kitchen & Bath Design excels in the design and construction of finished basements.
