Tiny homes present certain challenges, particularly from a design perspective. One of the most challenging areas of any tiny home’s floor plan is the bathroom. This is the one area of the house that must be efficiently maximized to its fullest potential (and oftentimes it’s also the area with the least amount of space).
Below are some of the top ways that you can maximize your tiny home’s bathroom space. Having a tiny bathroom can sometimes feel like you’re living in one giant puzzle. Getting all of your belongings, fixtures, toiletries, etc. to fit nicely alongside each other can be a challenge, which is why we made the following list of space saving strategies specifically for tiny bathroom spaces.
Get Creative With Shelving
Shelves are one of the most valuable storage systems that you can use (especially in a tiny home). Not only can you use them throughout your entire house, but you can also use them in your bathroom. If you’re worried about taking up too much space (in the already limited space of your tiny home bathroom).
One of the very best places to put a shelf in your bathroom is high up (as close to the ceiling as possible, especially near the area above the door to the bathroom). Not only will the shelf be out of the way here, it will also be in a convenient area that’s easy to access (i.e. the best of both worlds).
Another example of a creative shelving solution would be utilizing baskets along your wall. Not only can these be aesthetic, but they can also make maximum use of your bathroom’s wall space too.
Multi-Level Storage Systems for Countertops
Countertops are one of the areas that suffer the most clutter (whether you live in a tiny home or a normal-sized one). Want to know one of the best ways to fight countertop clutter? Multi-level storage systems. What do we mean by this? Think of a mini shelving unit for your countertop.
By using a vertical organization system on your countertop, you can save much needed space. These can even be made with some creative DIY skills, or you can also shop for some online (or at any home goods store in your area).
Make Your Shower Clear
Shower enclosures that are solid, or otherwise closed off from the rest of the room, make the entire bathroom seem smaller than it really is. The best way to open up a bathroom is by making the shower’s enclosure clear (i.e. glass). This will ensure that the room has a more open feel to it, while also giving the impression of a larger square footage.
Use All Available Storage Space
Making creative use of non-traditional storage areas is an absolute must when dealing with a small bathroom. Think of putting towel hooks/racks behind the door, wall shelving systems (ideally internally built), and built-in cabinet systems. These can all make a huge difference on how the bathroom feels (essentially making it feel much more open than it really is).
Consider Alternative Toilet Options
If you’ve ever seen a functional (yet tiny) bathroom, you probably understand the importance of getting creative with the bathroom’s toilet. An example of this (and a very good one at that) would be hanging the toilet from the wall of the bathroom. This is actually very common in Europe (which is notoriously known for having tiny living spaces).
Don’t Use Small Tiles
Tiny bathrooms need all the help they can get in order to look bigger than they actually are. Believe it or not, but this is where using large tiles can help (a lot). Larger tile designs give the illusion of more space. Additionally, they open the space of the room up (compared to small tiles, which use more grout/grout lines).
Use Minimal Colors
Using more than two paint colors (for walls, doors, etc.) can make the room feel a lot smaller than it actually is. Generally speaking, it’s recommended to only use two different colors. Anything over two colors, and the room starts to feel overwhelming (which in turn makes it feel small). Wove Towels has several neutral absorbent bath towels that will add a small pop to your bathroom with minimal colors.
Keep it Simple
Along the same lines as using minimal paint colors, you should also strive to keep the design elements minimal. Adding too many features, designs, and extras to the design can make it feel busy (which will cause the room to appear smaller than it really is). Remember that you’re not decorating a large en-suite bathroom. It’s a tiny bathroom, so be thoughtful with your design.