In a small bathroom, everything should work for the result. Here tiles become not just a finishing material, but the main tool for visually enlarging a modest area. You don't have to sacrifice design aesthetics! We tell you how to choose tiles for a small bathroom from the point of view of beauty and practicality.
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Design of a small bathroom - bold ideas, creative solutions
Owners of small bathrooms feel that the lack of space limits their ability to decorate the interior stylishly and comfortably. Don't worry, there are many ways to make even a very tiny room cozy, beautiful and functional. Moreover, the design of a small bathroom often turns out to be more original, due to bold decorative solutions and rational use of space.
Let's put aside doubts and worries and see how we can equip our existing plumbing room.
We act according to plan
Before you start renovating your bathroom, let’s answer a few basic questions:
- Is it important to maintain a separate bathroom or can both rooms be combined? In the second case, the area of the room will increase significantly due to the demolished partition.
- What plumbing fixtures can a family not live without? It is clear that the set will be minimal to free up useful space. It is more correct to limit yourself to a standard bathroom, or even better, a shower stall (we will talk about this below), a toilet and a washbasin.
- Will redevelopment require relocation of utility lines?
- Is it possible to install the washing machine outdoors, for example in the kitchen or hallway. The design of a small bathroom from this .
- Is a full-fledged bath necessary in this case or can it be replaced with a compact hydrobox, which can give no less pleasure from water procedures.
Down with partitions
The optimal solution for a small bathroom It will be combined with the bathroom. Sometimes, it turns out to further expand the area due to the corridor and kitchen - such an option is only welcome.
The absence of an internal partition allows you to easily install a washing machine, an additional piece of furniture or a plumbing fixture.
Considering that now instead of two doors to the bathroom you will need one, it can easily be replaced with a sliding structure - it saves space and looks aesthetically pleasing.
Global restructuring will require a lot of work and financial investment, but the result is worth it. The possibilities for arranging the interior of a small bathroom will expand significantly.
Bathroom without toilet
In an apartment where a large family with young children lives, a separate toilet is necessary. And if it is not possible to make it in addition to the combined bathroom, you will have to forget about merging the two rooms.
to diversify the design of a small bathroom without a toilet. You need to place a standard set of plumbing fixtures and furniture on a few square meters; what scope for creativity is there? However, not everything is so simple.
- Let's decide on the style. For intimate rooms, modern, minimalism or oriental styles are suitable, since they involve simple, laconic forms, local colors and an almost complete absence of decor.
Pay attention to the Japanese style - it can turn the interior of a small bathroom into a work of art. The Japanese, like no one else, know the secrets of rational use of small areas, why not take advantage of their centuries-old experience?
- We use wall cabinets. Why place a simple mirror above the vanity when you can hide a flat storage section behind it? This way we will save space and visually expand the space due to the mirror surface. It is also better to make the cabinet under the washbasin hinged. Thanks to this technique, a small bathroom will seem more spacious and “airy”.
- If the washbasin has a countertop, its edge may well hang over the bathtub, turning into a convenient stand for bath accessories.
- Corner furniture will allow you to make maximum use of the space in the room and diversify the design of a small bathroom . Not only cabinets are suitable, but also open shelves; they visually expand the space. A corner washbasin is another great solution that allows you to optimize the ergonomics of the bathroom.
- A wide buried shelf can be placed above the door. This is a convenient place to store supplies of detergents and household chemicals.
- It is recommended to convert the space under the bathtub into a cabinet if there is no desire to replace it with a shower stall.
- Here's another idea for a small bathroom - placing a washing machine under the washbasin. In this case, the device should only be horizontally loaded.
Classic colors
Classic colors are used in traditionally designed bathrooms. The interior looks interesting in a brown color scheme with the addition of a shade of ivory. Monochrome slabs and imitations of natural wood are popular in the design.
Using pale green tones combined with gray or white helps bring harmony to a classic setting. The blue palette is complemented by metallic and white shades, which visually expands the area.
Bathroom design on an area of 4 m²
Such a space makes it possible to organize a combined bathroom, albeit a very compact one. The main task in this case will be to visually enlarge the room and organize spacious storage spaces.
Some tricks for a small bathroom with an area of 4 m².
- It is advisable to install several light sources - general and local to create a spatial play in the room. The same task will be performed by mirrors located opposite each other, for example, on the door and above the washbasin.
- It is better to choose furniture in light colors with glossy facades; the room will seem more spacious.
- The area allows the use of two types of finishes in the design of a small bathroom . Ceramic tiles are required in the bathing area; the rest of the room can be decorated with waterproof paint or wallpaper. You should pay attention to “tricks” that create additional perspective. A great idea for a small bathroom would be photo wallpapers with natural or city landscapes. Black and white images in small spaces will look more stylish and impressive than color ones.
- Hanging furniture, a washbasin and even a toilet will create a feeling of lightness and allow housewives to spend less time on cleaning.
Relief and ornament: creative and stylish
Large reliefs on the slabs and inserts of geometric patterns are original and aesthetically pleasing, but when decorating a small bathroom, proportions must be observed. Large panels and voluminous relief inserts are not recommended.
Plates with textured surfaces must be enamel coated; elements can only occupy part of the wall or ceiling.
You can include patterns in delicate shades on medium-sized slabs in the masonry.
It is allowed to include a small mosaic installation to create accents in the room and expand the space. In modern designed bathrooms you can use slabs with a 3D image.
Mini bathroom 3m²
The design of a very small bathroom should be extremely concise and thoughtful in function.
Some amenities may have to be sacrificed.
- For example, in order to place a toilet in a small space, you will have to give up a full-fledged bathtub, replacing it with a corner shower stall.
- As a rule, there is no talk about a washing machine in such interiors.
- For wall decoration, ceramic tiles or, in a budget option, plastic panels are suitable. The use of other materials in a very small room with high humidity is critical.
Decorative ideas for a small bathroom are based on the subtle play of details, the quality of finishing materials, and the purity of shapes and lines. Among the most suitable styles are modern, ethno and retro. They will create an unusual atmosphere, compensating for the lack of space with an original design.
Bathroom 5m²
With such an area, it is much easier to arrange a room that is comfortable and designed in a certain style. You don’t have to resort to tricks to squeeze in a washing machine and plumbing fixtures, there is room to place furniture, there’s even room for pleasant little things, like a decorative partition separating the toilet from the main space, a beautiful laundry basket or banquette.
However, we still have a small bathroom , which has certain style restrictions. Modern trends - modern and minimalism are still preferable to classics, art deco, country or Provence, where more space is required. You can’t place a bathroom in the center of the room on five square meters, and it will be too small for an elegant dressing table.
In this case, finishing, furniture and plumbing fixtures are selected based on the design of a small bathroom - light colors, ergonomic models and a minimum of accessories.
Hello from the past: a bathroom in a Khrushchev building
Owners of bathrooms in houses of the so-called “Khrushchev” buildings are faced with several problems at once:
- record small area;
- inconvenient location of communications;
- poor-quality building structures - uneven walls, distorted coatings, and the like.
There is only one way out - to combine a separate bathroom, move communications and carefully align the walls, while hiding at least part of the water pipes in them.
The design of a small bathroom in a Khrushchev building is built on the nuances of colors, shapes and textures. There is no place for contrasts that will visually fragment an already intimate room.
It is better to use ceramic tiles to decorate the walls and floors, and make the ceiling suspended to hide all its unevenness.
A corner shower cabin will save as much space as possible - it is the most compact of all models. There is also a way out for adherents of traditional bathing methods. designed for one person in a small bathroom will not take up much space and will allow adults to bask in the fragrant foam or children to happily splash around.
The amount of furniture should be minimal; it is better to organize additional storage spaces outside the bathroom. Doors should be either sliding or opening outwards. In the second case, you can place an organizer for small hygiene items and towels on the door leaf.
More solutions for “Khrushchev” buildings can be found here.
Bathrooms with shower
When designing a small bathroom , a shower stall is increasingly being chosen as a place for bathing.
Its advantages for small rooms, especially when it comes to a corner model, are obvious. However, in order for such a device to fit harmoniously into the interior, certain conditions must be met:
- The bathroom should be designed in a modern style: loft, modern, minimalism or hi-tech are suitable. For classics, and even more so Provence or country, a hydrobox sparkling with glass and metal is not suitable.
- The best option for those who have a small bathroom would be an open shower. It is missing two side panels and a top. The cabin is installed in the corner of the room in place of the dismantled bathtub, connecting to an existing drain. It is better to purchase models measuring 800 by 800 mm with a deep tray that reliably protects against flooding in emergency situations. Equipment doors should be transparent and sliding for reasons of aesthetics and ergonomics.
- Closed shower cabins or boxes are more comfortable, but take up more space. It is better to leave them for spacious rooms.
- When designing a small bathroom , it is not recommended to highlight the area where the shower stall is located with color or material. On the contrary, this device should merge as much as possible with the surrounding space, as if dissolving in it, without cluttering the room.
Mosaic – space for decoration
For multi-color solutions, it is preferable to use mosaic. It is better to have a single color or neutral color scheme. For its production, ceramics with a porous structure, glass, smalt, and less often metal are used. And for floor coverings - granite, marble, and sometimes jasper.
Mosaic elements for multi-color solutions
Miniature size is the advantage of this cladding material. It allows you to lay mosaics in hard-to-reach places, for example, in rounded shapes. This is a definite plus for decorating a small bathroom, where there are a lot of fancy curves.
The advantage of mosaic is its small size
Dignity comes in many forms. The multi-angle format expands creativity and goes well with tiles.
Mosaic accents add sophistication and originality to the decor. Many mosaic ornaments created in past centuries have survived to this day, which testifies to the durability of such cladding.
Mosaic as an accent
Ready-made mosaic blocks with different patterns are sold. This saves time on installation.
Corner bath in the interior
A corner bath takes up less space than its traditional counterparts; in addition, it has a stylish, modern look and can become one of the main “highlights” of a small room.
Modern models are often made multifunctional, which allows you not only to take care of personal hygiene, but also to improve your health with hydromassage or other equally useful procedures.
To improve the design of a small bathroom , corner baths should be matched to the color of the rest of the plumbing, or with a transparent front wall.
If the container is tiled, it is better to use mosaic panels in light shades.
For the convenience of bathers, it is advisable to organize local lighting in the bath area.
Textured tiles - an original approach to finishing toilet surfaces
Convex, sculptural tiles of various colors and shapes are currently available in a wide range from manufacturers. With its help, you can add not only color, but also texture diversity to the design of the toilet room. The cost of textured tiles, as a rule, is slightly higher than conventional smooth ceramic models, but the effect produced by the cladding is worth it.
Using multi-colored textured tiles, you can cover one accent wall, paint the remaining surfaces or cover them with plain wallpaper. The image of the room will only benefit from this, and your financial budget will be saved.
Another option for an accent wall using textured glossy tiles. Multifaceted ceramics of rich color not only brought brightness to the interior of the toilet, but also raised the overall level of the room.
Original mother-of-pearl tiles can decorate a bathroom in a classical or baroque style. The contrasting dark wood of the furniture and doors only emphasized the noble color of the textured tiles.
Small bathrooms: design features
Let us highlight the main points that should be taken into account when decorating the interior of small bathrooms in an apartment .
- The room should be designed in light colors, with a minimum number of contrasting accents. It is better to avoid pure white, replacing it with creamy, light sand or milky shades that are more pleasing to the eye.
- It is more correct to choose rectangular, medium-sized ceramic tiles for finishing - they do not distort the space. Mosaics are good only in the form of small panels or for covering curved surfaces.
- To make the bathroom seem more spacious, it is better to lay the floor tiles diagonally rather than straight.
- Hanging furniture and sanitary ware are preferred.
- Cabinets with glossy facades, without pretentious decor or patterns, are good. Open glass shelves are a great addition to any small bathroom.
- Furniture made from high-quality MDF or plastic in small bathrooms will last longer than wood.
- You should not overuse accessories so as not to create the impression of clutter.
- Mirrors and bright lighting will visually “pull apart the walls” and add air to the room.
Small bathrooms in the apartment - no reason to worry. They can become no less comfortable and impressive than spacious rooms in country houses or modern apartments. It is important that the bathroom, regardless of its size, has its own unique appeal to all the inhabitants of the house.
Choice of gloss level of tiles – matte, glossy
Glossy and even with a surface close to a mirror, tiles always advantageously visualize the freedom of space. It does not provoke visual crowding. The matte texture mutes the perception, making it softened, cozy, and slightly reduces the spatiality, giving the room a more compact and cramped appearance. But when choosing glossy tiles, it is important to remember that water stains, fingerprints and other stains stand out sharply on them. Therefore, its surface will need to be wiped more often.
Tiles of different textures were used - matte, glossy and embossed with a pattern Source stopplitka.ru
