I need some good ideas on painting & redecorating a dark/small bathroom. Winning combo - I know. HELP!?

Question

My bathroom is in the center of our 20's-built railroad-style flat so it is very dark and small. I really want to try to add lightness & calm to this bathroom. Also, we RENT so we can't do anything too crazy. Probably just some paint & accessories. Thoughts and Ideas very welcome!

Answer 1

The best way to increase the size visually is with mirrors. Since you are renting its probably not a good idea to have mirrors installed onto the walls so use your imagination and do a wall of mirrors (or more than one wall if you want) You can do one large one with various smaller ones in different sizes, different shapes but have the frames all the same color. I've done it and it looks magnificent. You might also consider purchasing some inexpensive framed posters. Make sure they have light colors, preferably with white background and white matting. Also any accessories you put in which are shiny like chrome or stainless steel will help to mask the size because they reflect light but try not to have too many small accessories because it will look cluttered.

Answer 2

WHITE!! White paint in small dark areas helps reflect any light and pulls walls visually AWAY from you. Any towels etc should be white, off white, pale yellow, beige, etc- stay on the pale pastel end of the range to keep the darkness closing in......Also try lots of mirrors- they will also help reflect the light available AND the white paint, making for a brighter room. You can't beg the landlord for a skylight can you? Or are you strata flats? But EVERYTHING in that bathroom should be very light in colour- it's amazing what that will do; plus a fresh coat of paint makes anything look good! Cheers!!

Answer 3

you could go with off white Sim gloss paint if you go with flat in a bathroom it will show water or steam marks also light color accessories I like the foe window idea get an old window and put a mirror in it mirrors always reflect light and make a space look bigger also try some of the colored decorative candles the kind that run on batteries so you can leave them on all the time and you can buy rechargeable batters use the candles on small shelves try a plant they always look lively maybe try some glass gars with sand and sea shells in them on the shelves as well a nice basket on the floor with some towels and decorative soap always look nice and inviting maybe do to shades of paint a nice light tan on the bottom and white on top with chair rail molding in the middle of the two maybe some linoleum on the floor that looks like slabs of stone with brown and gray tones in it you can buy this at home depot for $20. or so for 9x9 that way you can stay with earth tones as your base and use bold color accessories or pastels one thing I know is earth tones will go with what ever you decide to accessorize with

Answer 4

I love Stan's fake window idea. I have seen this done and it looks great.
Make sure the mirror over the sink is as large as you can fit, so it reflects more light. Shelf unit over toilet might work to hide clutter.
Paint it your favorite light color, or one that complements the other rooms. Do not use gloss paint - it will glare.
[ I would avoid white, blue, or aqua so you don't feel like you're inside a freezer. ]
Add a small plant and a pretty candle.

Answer 5

Everyone says to paint white if you have a small room. Yes, lighter colors are going to make it seem brighter compared to dark ones. I would not do white-it will give your room no depth. Use a lighter fresh color. Like a light mossy green or a light blue green with a hint of gray. These aren't dark colors but they will add some color and if you paired them with pewter or white they would look fantastic. But really it's whatever you want. Use a satin paint though. Flat you NEVER want to use in a bathroom seeing as though with flat you will have mildew problems. Use a satin-it isnt super shiny, easy to repaint over, and scrubbable.

Answer 6

exchange the bathe curtain to a 'subject' which you like, then choose paintings in that subject to cling on the partitions. next, using hues from the bathe curtain and paintings, choose your tub rug and towels, then get 'complimentary hues' (no longer 'matching' yet different that make the main shade 'pop') for issues like the trashcan, cup, cleansing soap dish, etc. this can provide you a 'adorned' look and you will have an extremely comfortalbe bathing room. We began ours from an paintings piece of 'shells' by potential of Escher, got here across an excellent 'scallop shell' bathe curtain, and function 'purple' as our complimentary shade. We do have some 'kitsh' in our bathing room, too, in spite of the undeniable fact that ... 4 'devil ducks' ... such as 'rubber duckies' yet with 'horns' and in different hues.

Answer 7

Flat off white walls and semi-gloss ceiling will open it up. Then use two or three patel colors in accessories to highlight and a primary color to set it all off. Keep it simple. The landlord should have no problem with the light off white paint job, that's nutral and what you usually expect anyway.

Answer 8

Light neutral colors for the paintable surfaces and neutral bathroom accessories. Paint color makes a big difference. You don't want to go too neutral or else it screams funeral home. Your other option is to combine neutral wall color with bright tropical accessories.

Answer 9

How about a fake window - in the form of a mirrored window box?

Here's a link with an example of one you can hang on your wall and plant (fake or real) colorful plants:
http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-furniture-MIRROR-pine-window-box-style-mirror-Stratford-W0QQAdIdZ7594229

Paint walls brightest white. Towels to match flower theme (not too loud though).

The idea is to look like a garden - maybe one you'd see from a train window!