Small Bathroom ideas are hard to come by when remodeling a small bathroom. After all, you can only work so much into a small space., but here are a few helpful suggestions.

Small bathroom ideas

• Open storage does not work well and is a bad small bathroom idea. Exposed shelving makes a bathroom look busy. Install light colored cabinetry with closed fronts. This will give your small bath a more sleek and unified look.

• If you are doing a full remodel, draw out your space on graph paper, or use design software. Consider the shape of the room as well as the size. This is a factor that is often forgotten when considering small bathroom design.

• Will moving fixtures around make the space function better? Try it out on paper. Move the fixtures around and see if the design doesn't give you a better flow.

• Think about your living room. You have moved the furniture a few times, and there is one arrangement that works better than all others in the space you have. The bathroom is no different. Sometimes just re-positioning things in a small bathroom space can make a remarkable difference in how well it looks and functions.

• Another small bathroom idea is to consider either smaller versions of bathroom fixtures, or corner fixtures. Manufacturers are creating scaled down versions of toilets, bathtubs and showers with small bathroom design in mind.

• A corner bathtub or a corner pedestal sink may also be a solution. Each space is different, but consider this as another small bathroom idea.

• If you are going to have a bathtub or bathtub/shower combination in your newly renovated small bathroom add a glass shower door that slides. Shower curtains add to decor, but they also consume both real and visual space.

• Use muted colors in light nuetral shades for your walls, surfaces and flooring. Avoid busy prints. Large floor tiles will actually expand the visual feel of your bath space.

• A plain painted wall is a better small bathroom idea than wallpaper. But if you must have a little pizazz then add a border near the ceiling, or better yet some crown molding. This will draw the eye upwards and add visual space as well as a touch of elegance.

• Install a pocket door. This can free up a lot of real space. In a bathroom with two entrances, where one adjoins a bedroom this is a great solution. Use a regular swinging door to the hall, and a pocket door where it opens to a bedroom on the other side.

• In a small bathroom it is also good to consider the swing of a door, and how it interacts with other elements. This is as true of cabinet doors, as it is entry doors.

Begin small bathroom design

What do you want your small bathroom design to include, and are you doing a full remodel, or only a partial remodel? Take measurements so you have a fixed accurate idea of what space you have to work with.

Make a list of things that are important to include in your small bathroom design. You may have to choose between one thing or another at some point, but this will give you a place to start. Consider also what you don't want, and what currently doesn't function well.

Think also who uses this particular bath. A main bathroom that is used both by guests as well as family members will have different needs than a master bath or powder room. If young children use this bathroom, always consider height and accessability to fixtures and storage.

In a home with older children, you may be able to free up space in the main bathroom by replacing a bathtub with a space-saving shower unit. In a household with small children a bathtub is pretty much a necessity.

Small bathroom idea-control clutter

while you are planning your small bathroom design, take a good look at this small space. Begin with some early 'Spring Cleaning'. You will need to remove everything eventually when you begin your small bathroom remodel, so why not get the jump on it?

Look in every nook and cranny and remove empty containers, expired prescriptions, outdated over the counter medications and anything that is useless and get rid of it. Feel better already, don't you?

What is in your bathroom that hasn't been used in at least two weeks? Look through all your storage space and remove seldom used items. Designate another storage space for these items. A shelf in your linen closet is probably a good choice.

Go to the dollar store and pick up some inexpensive storage containers. Dish pans, shoebox containers or whatever size you need for your items. Categorize them in an order that makes sense to you. This can be the type of item it is, or who uses it. This is up to what works best for you and the members of your household.

Divide up your seldom used items, and put them in these handy storage containers and remove to your designated storage area. This makes it easy to find and transport these items when they are needed, then return to container and take back to your storage area. You will be surprised how much space you can free up in a small bathroom.

You will also have much less to deal with when you begin your bathroom remodel and have to pack everything up. Part of a good small bathroom design, is dealing with the limitations of your space, and creating a way to keep it tidy on a daily basis.

Magazines can often be a good source of small bathroom ideas. While you are planning your small bathroom design, gather pictures and ideas that may work in your bath. Take your time creating your own specific small bathroom design so that you will enjoy the results for years to come.