There’s not much more charming than an old home. They just built them differently back then. The craftsmanship and the creativity were much more unique, but it seems that bathrooms and closets were both terribly small. In fact, our desire for more bathroom space has resulted in bathrooms doubling in size in the last 30 years. Before that, most bathrooms would average about 5 by 8 feet. Not much room for creativity there.
According to the folks over at “This Old House,” you can combat the old, cramped bathrooms by physically scaling down items. A pedestal sink, for example, not only compliments the traditional look in your old home, but it also gives you more space.
You’ll find yourself using up as much space as possible, so don’t be afraid to get creative with little cubby holes and pockets you find. Just about any place that is unused can be transformed into storage. If you can’t go horizontal, go vertical. Stacking shelves or cabinets can give you more usable space than you thought you had.
A couple of decorating pointers that will help include things like frameless mirrors. Any obstructions to the straight lines of the room will cause it too appear more cramped than it is. While we’re talking about lines… Use them to your advantage. Horizontal lines in the decorating gives the bathroom a sleek look and creates the illusion of having more space.
Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association Design Competition brings out some great ideas on how to make the most of a small space. The archives of past competitions can be found in the “inspiration” section of their website at nkba.org. You’ll discover some great ideas and help you to know what to ask for when you are ready to do some bathroom remodeling. Bath Fixers also has some fantastic before and after photos at bathfixerllc.com to give you some ideas as well.
