Small bathroom renovation ideas that make a real difference

Small bathrooms are some of the most common rooms we renovate. Many Fraser Valley homes have a main bathroom or an ensuite that is tight on space, with an old tub insert, a dated vanity and not enough storage. The good news: a few smart choices can make a small bathroom feel much bigger and work much better.

1. Swap the tub for a walk-in shower

If nobody in the house uses the tub, replacing it with a walk-in shower is often the single biggest change. A tiled shower with a glass panel or door lets the eye travel across the whole room, so it feels larger. It is also easier to step into and easier to clean.

In one recent job, an old acrylic tub-and-shower insert came out and a tiled walk-in shower with marble-look walls and black fixtures went in. The room is the same size, but it feels completely different.

If you have only one bathroom and young children, keeping a tub may still be the better choice. We'll talk it through.

2. Use light, large tiles

Large tiles mean fewer grout lines, which makes walls and floors look calmer and bigger. Light colours reflect more light. A marble look, a soft white or a pale grey all work well in a small room. Run the same tile from floor to ceiling in the shower to make the room feel taller.

3. Choose the right vanity

The vanity does a lot of work in a small bathroom. A few ideas:

• A vanity with drawers instead of doors makes the space easier to use
• A slimmer or shallower vanity frees up floor space
• A wall-hung vanity shows more floor, which makes the room feel bigger
• A quartz or laminate top with an undermount or vessel sink keeps the top clean and simple

4. Add storage you don't see

Clutter makes small rooms feel smaller. Plan storage into the renovation:

• A recessed niche in the shower for bottles
• A medicine cabinet or mirrored cabinet over the vanity
• A tall, narrow cabinet beside the vanity or above the toilet
• Hooks or a towel bar in the right place, so towels have a home

5. Get the lighting right

Many small bathrooms have a single ceiling light, which leaves shadows on your face at the mirror. Light beside or above the mirror makes the room work much better. Add a good bathroom fan too. Fraser Valley winters are damp, and a fan that moves moisture out protects your new tile, paint and vanity.

6. Keep the fixtures consistent

Pick one finish for the faucet, shower head, towel bars and handles. Black, brushed nickel or brass all work. One finish looks calm and planned. Mixed finishes can make a small room look busy.

7. Think about the years ahead

A renovation is a good time to make the bathroom easier to use later. A curbless or low-curb shower, blocking in the walls for future grab bars, and a comfort-height toilet cost little to plan now and make a big difference later.

8. Don't forget the door

In a really tight bathroom, the door can take up more space than you think. A door that swings out instead of in, or a pocket door that slides into the wall, can free up room for a bigger vanity or an easier path to the shower.

What a small bathroom renovation involves

Even a small bathroom has a lot happening in a small space: demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, the vanity and countertop, fixtures and finishing. Getting the order right matters. Waterproofing behind the tile is the part you never see, and the most important to get right.

Because Cheam Sardis does both the renovation and the vanity and countertop, one team plans and builds the whole room.

Get ideas for your bathroom

Send us a few photos of your bathroom and tell us what bothers you about it. We renovate bathrooms from Langley and Abbotsford to Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope, and quotes are free, with no strings attached.