When it comes to bathrooms, small can be beautiful. Special finishing touches, bold patterns and clever storage solutions can turn even the tiniest bathroom or powder room into the jewel of your home. Here are 18 of our favorites that prove the best way to manage a lack of square footage is to embrace it!
This playful main-floor powder room offers guests a burst of color — and a movie reference to boot. The zebra-printed wallpaper is straight out of Margot Tenenbaum’s bedroom in The Royal Tenenbaums .
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home March 2017
Designer: Shirley Meisels
Black hexagonal floor tiles, beadboard panelling and sturdy white oak shelving complete this basement bathroom reno. Large woven baskets hide the plumbing and provide much-needed storage.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2013
Designer: Suzanne Dimma
Consider swapping out an old radiator with heated floors for a little luxury and a lot of extra space. The marble is carried from floor to ceiling to create a seamless look, while a glass tub enclosure makes the room look more spacious.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home September 2014
Designer: Anne Hepfer
This tiny powder room was freshened up with luxe marble tiles and pretty wallpaper. The slim legs of the sink offer visual appeal without appearing too heavy for the space.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home September 2014
Designer: Anne Hepfer
The blue-grey of the patterned wallpaper softens its bold, graphic pattern, while the clean lines and deep tones of the vanity ground the eye.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home May 2014
Designer: Suzanne Cohon
A pair of sconces and a black-framed mirror bring a modern look to this trad vanity. Crisp, white walls expand the space.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home March 2013
Designer: Mandy Milks
Dark grey grout gives these square-cut tiles a modern look, while the bright brass fixtures offer a hit of warmth.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home March 2013
Designer: Mandy Milks
In a small powder room why not pull out all the stops? The whimsical pairing of an antique bronze faucet with a bold paint treatment offers big design impact. Traditional accessories master the mix.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home March 2013
Designer: Tommy Smythe
In this tiny studio, the design is all about creative use of space. A floor-to-ceiling mirror beside the floating shelves and slim sink creates a reflection that makes the room appear larger. The bright blue tile is left to be the star of the show.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home September 2015
Designer: Denise Ashmore
In this small bathroom, a light-reflecting frameless mirror and floor-to-ceiling Persian limestone creates a more open, seamless look.
Photographer: Jean Longpré
Source: House & Home September 2013
Designer: Alexandre Blazes and Benoit Gérard
“I knew I had to make comfort and luxury fit into this teeny-tiny principal bathroom,” says designer Margot Austin. Simple towel hooks and a long shelf above the deep tub gives the sunny bathroom a country feel.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home August 2016
Designer: Margot Austin
Bold wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries and an English Chinese Chippendale mirror give this small bathroom a dramatic, masculine appeal.
Photographer: Drew Hadley
Source: House & Home February 2017
Designer: Scott Yetman
This bathroom is all about fun. A splatter-style wallpaper and blue-painted trim are fresh and playful, while warm gold accents lend the unique design a touch of glam.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2014
Designer: Robyn Young
This tranquil design by style editor Stacey Smithers combines a watery blue wall paint, white subway tiles, and a hexagonal marble floor. A bright floral shower curtain adds a colorful splash of personality.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home April 2014
Designer: Stacey Smithers
A small bathroom is the perfect (and cost-effective) place to lay a patterned floor. These glazed ceramic floor tiles in blue, brown and cream add a luxe look to this tiny powder room.
Photographer: Ted Yarwood
Source: House & Home March 2012
Designer: Theresa Casey
This small bathroom in Muskoka was treated to rich herringbone wallpaper, industrial brass sconces and an antique Canadian pine dry sink. The effect is a pastiche of cottage decor — every thoughtful piece counts.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home July 2012
Designer: Michael Angus
This dramatic design by Colette van den Thillart incorporates mirrored lanterns, an Italianate mirror, and an antique vanity. A gorgeous hand-painted mural reflects how the Toronto neighborhood might have looked in the 18th century.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Colette van den Thillart
This dramatic bathroom is, as designer Suzy Hoodless puts it, “a condensed version of the rest of the home.” The golden fixtures and handmade Moroccan tile floors stand out against the chalky black paint. Suzy’s space-saving solutions include a hidden pocket door and a wall-hung marble basin.
Photographer: Suzy Hoodless
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Suzy Hoodless