How to make bathroom look "wider"?

Canadian777 · May 01, 2008 2:01 pm

Here is my bathroom:
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/5863/bathroom236174bu8.jpg

It is very thin and long, and walking into it you get a very deep and scary feeling with only the toilet greeting you at the end. Is there anything I can do to make it appear less long and more wide? I imagined mirrors along the bottom wall, but that seems a little tacky to me.

Walls: white (I would rather not use wallpaper or paint on the walls).
Counter: light gray color.
Tub, sink, toilet: white.
Floor: tan/brown small tiles.

Any type of decor I can use to give it a more wider, more inviting feeling?

I'm open to your suggestions and appreciate your help!

to_do_list · May 01, 2008 2:24 pm

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bec · May 01, 2008 2:24 pm

doesnt look so bad, love your description though!

in display homes they often have prints on the walls in bathrooms
something cheery on the wall opposite the bath?

to_do_list · May 01, 2008 2:30 pm

Would this help!

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Seriously though.....do you have any photos?

Tam · May 01, 2008 2:39 pm

I have seen a mirror from the vanity right up to the ceiling and on both sides of the little alcove. It was in a similar shaped bathroom to yours and made the room larger.

stonecutter1309 · May 01, 2008 3:10 pm

What about a large mirror between the towel rail & the toilet?

Michelle · May 01, 2008 3:41 pm

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What are the dimensions of your bathroom?

Paula · May 01, 2008 4:08 pm

Mirrors are great and not tacky if done correctly.

to_do_list · May 01, 2008 4:19 pm

OK....I just googled narrow bathrooms and got this hit...which is intended to be serious....!
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_design_smal ... 03,00.html

Here's a quick tip from Kitty Bartholomew for decorating small or narrow bathrooms:

Use a wallpaper and matching fabric for the shower curtain and drapes.
The continuity of patterns creates a unified look that makes a dramatic statement.

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Mish, tell me she went to a different school than you, "dramatic" is not the word I'd use.....

I seem to recall a house for sale like this in QLD......

DeeElle · May 01, 2008 11:51 pm

We also have a long narrow ensuite 4 x 1.7 metres and we've placed a 2 metre wall of mirrored cabinets on the long wall to add visual depth to the room. We've also used the narrow end to create a double shower.

Canadian777 · May 02, 2008 1:09 am

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

Some follow up questions:

Concerning the mirrors idea: What kind of mirrors would be good? I prefer not to use cabinets, as it seems that that would make the bathroom look even thinner and more restrictive. Full length mirrors going nearly from floor to ceiling, or perhaps a horizontal mirror going across?

Is there anything I can do at the end (where the toilet is) to make it look more appealing? Perhaps some sort of cabinet above the toilet? Any ideas there?

Would any kind of framed art be good? Perhaps above the towel rack? Or would this just draw more attention to the entrance of the room and looking towards the toilet would be even more empty because of that?
Or, like was suggested in this thread, framed prints across from the tub? Should I use perhaps several tall narrow prints?

Thanks everyone!

stonecutter1309 · May 02, 2008 9:36 am

Horizontal mirror I think would be best.

You could add extra depth by putting the pictures directly above the bath. So that when you look into the mirror, you see the pictures as well.

Perhaps 3 prints in a set? Something relaxing

Michelle · May 02, 2008 11:49 am

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The best way to make your bathroom look wider would be to –

1) Replace all the wall tiles with white tiles to the ceiling.
This now helps your white toilet blend in with the white tiles, and not so noticeable.

2) Then use a dark form of decoration on either side wall. This could be tricky, as then you would have tiles to drill through. But you don’t want to use paint, so tiles are the best option.

If you notice in the photos I have posted, the dark colours against the light walls draw your eye. Which gives the room depth.

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Notice how the dark laminate draws your eye.
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DeeElle · May 02, 2008 11:29 pm

I like the second pic MIsh.

Very nice.

Michelle · May 03, 2008 5:45 pm

I like that one also Dy!

Yak_Chat · May 03, 2008 9:22 pm

Ditto - working on my upstairs Bathroom to be long and narrow so I can maintain the good thermal sun I currently have there. - this design fits nicely.
Steve

Zedman · May 05, 2008 6:05 pm

Maybe a suggestion would be to move the towel rail down to be no directly infront of the open door. There use a dress like mirror, so narrow but tall - say 100mm of the floor and up to 1.8m say....and about 300mm wide. With the door open this will add imediate depth to the wall facing the door. Also very practical to have a full length mirror handy. You may incorporate a small towel ring alongside one wall of the vanity if a small towel is needed closer than the towel rail.

to_do_list · May 05, 2008 6:24 pm

I won't comment on decor....I know what I like...but not really why I like it.

But here's an idea......

I'm not sure where you are, but I've been looking for renovation, decoration, garden inspiration through realestate.com.au mainly looking at properties in the inner eastern and inner suburbs of Melbourne....I'm sure you would get ideas from other suburbs....but this search generally leads to a large number of fairly expensive renovations of small spaces with clever ideas. I've got several searches set up and they come into my inbox every night and I troll through and save the images I like.

Anyway here's a narrow bathroom I came across yesterday (just as an example which caught my eye).....don't know whether it's "good" or not...I liked it, particularly the bifold shower screen.

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I'm sure there are similar suburbs you can focus on in your state.

I figure if people are willing to have their house photographed, I'm more than happy to steal ideas....

MICA · May 07, 2008 5:13 pm

hi there.

Colour make the hugest of difference!

Try white basins, and toilets, and maybe a mid natural tone for the cupboards.

Also, mirrors! They make things look twice as big.

With the lighting, try and have like a downlight, or a ceiling mounted light. If you decide for something that hangs down, this will definitely not be in your favour.

Hope this helps.

to_do_list · May 07, 2008 6:44 pm

Another narrow bathroom I came across similar width to Canadian777...bath+dunny wide but has a separate shower.

Is it good? Dunno looks stark to me....I'll let others with better eyes judge...damn fisheye lenses don't help either.

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