Five Tips for Styling a Small Bathroom
Hi friends! It’s been quite some time since my last blog post. The shop has continued to grow in every way - more amazing events happening in The Loft, an online store, and of course more great home and vintage goods to keep you inspired! Our family has also continued to grow as we welcomed our third daughter, Georgia, in March of 2021. And of course, we’ve all been figuring out what life looks like in the midst of the pandemic. I have so many new projects to show you and inspiration to share!
First up, let’s talk bathrooms. It might seem like a surprising place to restart this blog, but we all spend a great deal of time there. It shouldn’t just be another space!
We’ve all used, or perhaps, own one of those teeny tiny bathrooms. Sure, It’s nice to have as many bathrooms in one home as possible, but some are so small it can leave you feeling like “what’s the point?” in putting any effort into styling the thing. In and out, do your business, don’t linger. So why spend time investing in art work and paint colors when no one is sticking around long enough to admire your hard work?
I’ll tell you why. Because it’s still part of your home. Your haven. Your escape. Every little closet, forgotten corner, and even the tiniest bathroom can become a sweet, albeit little, reflection of your unique style, needs, and comforts. I absolutely LOVE when people put forth effort to style even the smallest spaces. It’s like a surprise and unexpected gift. To hang your coat up in a wallpapered closet. Or to find thoughtful artwork hung in an unexpected corner or half wall. And I really love to walk into a half bathroom and be wowed by the personality squeezed into the small space. Here are my top five tips for styling a small bathroom:
Paint color
The paint color you choose will be the backdrop of your masterpiece. Maybe you lean more towards light and airy colors. Choosing light colors will make your small bathroom feel bigger and brighter. Light colors reflect light and blur the lines of your space, making the walls and ceiling feel less constricting. Maybe you want something punchy and moody? I do love a bold color in a small space. A tip for painting with dark colors in a small space - paint the trim and ceiling in the same color you choose for your walls. The less your eye starts and stops, the better. When we go with a bold color on the walls and keep the trim and the ceiling in the usual white, your eye bounces - dark wall, white trim, dark wall, white ceiling, dark walls, etc…Even though you’re working with a bold color, it can still feel fluid, calm, and harmonious by using that fun trick.Storage
Storage can be tricky to find in a small space. Consider choosing storage that doubles as thoughtful decor. Try using a narrow basket on the back of your toilet for extra toilet paper rolls or a magazine. Get as much of your storage off the floor as you can and up on your walls by investing in pretty wooden floating shelves or a mounted cabinet in a fun color. Find a cabinet that has both a shelf and cabinet doors. Hang an antique hook off of your bathroom door and hang a wall basket off of that (Can you tell I have a thing for baskets?). The possibilities really do abound when you look at every area as a unique storage opportunity.Add personality where you can
Have you ever wall papered a ceiling? Look for unique opportunities to swap out something drab and typical by bringing in the unexpected. Maybe you’ve had the same vanity for years. Could you swap out the old hardware and add some funky new knobs? Maybe your faucet can be exchanged for something with personality at a low cost. Using plastic soap dispensers still? Invest in a pretty porcelain or glass soap pump for a quick upgrade. Even the ceiling can be an opportunity for the unexpected…Go ahead and wall paper it or paint it a fun pop of color!Add texture
We discussed how baskets are a great way to add extra storage in a space. But the other thing they add? TEXTURE. Mixing in as much texture as possible is what makes a space feel truly styled. Look in your bathroom now. Are most of the surfaces flat, straight, and hard? Look at your wall art. Your walls. Every element. This is one of those subtle things, you may not be able to articulate what you don’t like, you just know something is missing. Add texture! Plants, baskets, woven pieces, raw wooden elements, macrame, a tapestry instead of another flat glass framed piece of artwork. Add a natural stone element, handmade pottery on a shelf, a textured rug on the floor. Start adding that texture wherever you can - you’ll thank me later!Amenities
Can you really have a moment of “luxury” in your five minute, in-and-out, half bathroom experience? Absolutely. And frankly…why not? There are simple ways to level up your small bathroom experience. One way I like to add luxury to a space is by adding real flowers in a vase or even a small drinking glass. It doesn’t have to be a massive bouquet. Just three stems you pick from your yard in a clear drinking glass with water. Put it on your counter for guests to enjoy as they wash their hands. Add hand soap and a nice hand lotion made with essential oils in a glass pump. A small candle or room spray can make a huge difference! Everyone uses the bathroom. Several times a day, in fact. Why not make it a truly lovely experience?
I am a firm believer that ANY space can become your favorite space. Even the tiniest ones. Look at those little, seemingly insignificant places as an opportunity to catch people off guard and to surprise them with a gift - a quick moment of inspiring joy. It’s what our homes should do for ourselves, our families, and our guests - to inspire JOY.
Thank you for reading another Aviator Jayne blog today. We’ll meet you back here again soon for another moment of fun and inspiration!
Love,
Mandy