Transforming your small bathroom: Rental-friendly tips to maximise space
With a few simple changes you can make your small loo feel more spacious.
Image: Freepik
Many homes or apartments these days have either an en suite or bathrooms that include a toilet.
However, if you’ve just moved into an older home or small flat, you might find yourself with a loo that just about has the toilet and, if you’re lucky, a hand basin in it.
And if you’re renting, swapping out the actual toilet or moving a door is simply not an option.
That doesn’t mean you can’t make a few rental-friendly changes that will make your loo feel less like a public toilet cubicle.
Here are some tips and tricks you can use to make the tiny space appear more spacious.
Mirror and light deception
Your mission is to flood the space with light and double the room's visible size.
Go big: Use a large, aesthetically pleasing mirror and hang it with a sturdy wire or use heavy-duty, removable picture-hanging strips. Do not be shy about the size; a large, well-placed mirror is the single best way to fake square footage.
The power of the bulb: Swap the existing bulb for a brighter LED in a cool white/daylight tone. This simple, five-minute change stops the room from looking dingy and visually pushes the walls away. Remember to save the original bulb for when you move out.
Shine on accessories: Choose transparent, ceramic, or metallic items. A stainless steel trash bin or a clear glass soap dispenser reflects light better than matte plastic, adding to the room's overall luminosity.
Add a large, aesthetically pleasing mirror.
Image: Fritz Jaspers / Pexels
Vertical storage
The floor is precious and must remain visible. We are leveraging the dead space above and behind.
The over-the-toilet rack: This is your best friend. Look for a freestanding metal or bamboo shelving unit designed to straddle the toilet. This gives you three tiers of storage without touching the walls. Use these shelves for small, stylish storage baskets to hide the ugly stuff.
Heavy-duty adhesive hooks: Replace the need for towel rails by using water-resistant, self-adhesive hooks. Place these in a vertical line up the back of the door to hang hand towels and robes.
Floating shelves: You can find small, lightweight bathroom shelves that are mounted using super-strong adhesive panels. Place one above the sink or toilet for small decorative items like a framed picture or a small plant.
Small, lightweight floating shelves are great for accessories.
Image: Andrea Davis / Unsplash
Styling and scale trick
The space needs personality without the clutter. * Bold, removable feature: If the walls are sterile, consider a high-quality peel-and-stick wallpaper on a single accent wall (like the one behind the toilet). This adds texture, depth, and personality, transforming the room's mood.
Art to look up to: Hang a piece of artwork using those same removable picture strips. By drawing the eye up to the middle or top third of the wall, you emphasise the height, not the cramped width.
Monochromatic textures: Keep your towels, bath mats, and storage containers in the same neutral colour family (white, cream, or pale grey). This visually seamless look reduces distractions and makes the space feel calm and continuous.
A piece of artwork will draw the eye up to the middle or top third of the wall.
Image: Lisa Anna / Pexels
By strategically using reflective surfaces and embracing temporary, vertical storage, your small loo will feel functional and fabulous and you can still get your deposit back