Make a small, dark bathroom brighter by adding lighter colors to the decor.
Small, dark bathrooms happen in the best of homes. Whether it's due to an overwhelming color scheme, lack of natural light or poor artificial lighting, a dreary bathroom is a common problem --- but one that just a few decorating tricks can fix. Sometimes, all it takes is a coat of paint, a new light fixture or just a serious de-cluttering to help you see your small, dark bathroom in a whole new light.
Instructions
1. Start by de-cluttering your bathroom. Just removing items that are taking up space on shelves, in cabinets or on the floor can make a bathroom look brighter. Take out anything that is not absolutely necessary, including decorative items, extra washcloths and towels, spare tissue and toiletry items. Find somewhere else in your home to store anything that is not going to be used every day --- even towels and washcloths, which can easily be replenished as they are used.
2. Take a look at your walls and floors. When it comes to paint and flooring, brighter is not always better in a small bathroom --- but lighter is. If your walls are painted a bright or dark color, consider repainting them in a lighter shade. Dark or patterned floors can also make your bathroom look dreary; if retiling or covering the floors is not an option, adding a rug in a light shade can make the room brighter.
3. Consider your bathroom's lighting. Insufficient lighting, or light fixtures that do not give off enough light, can make a dark space seem even darker. Replace or add light fixtures to brighten your bathroom. At the very least, have an overhead fixture and lighting for the mirror above the vanity; add wall sconces if the room still seems too dark. Sometimes, just using the higher-wattage bulb in a fixture can help --- just remember to follow the fixture's wattage recommendations.
4. Remove dark or patterned curtains and/or shower curtains. Sheer, light-colored window treatments preserve privacy while letting in natural light in bathrooms that have windows. A shower curtain in a light or sheer fabric reflects natural and/or artificial light, making your bathroom seem larger and brighter.
5. Replace a large, dark vanity cabinet and/or space saver with a smaller or lighter-colored version. Try a slimmer, taller vanity cabinet for a sleeker look that preserves storage space, or a pedestal sink if storage is not an issue. Painting dark vanity cabinets and space savers in a lighter color is an option if replacing them isn't.
Tags: your bathroom, anything that, bathroom look, dark bathroom, dark vanity, light fixtures, natural light