odd shaped bathroom design ideas
stock up on woven baskets. under-mounted twin sinks were a sleek choicefor this modern master bath, but the lack of cabinetry cut down on storage space. oversized bins do the trick instead, withplenty of room for fluffy towels. extend shelving. make up for a nonexistent linen closet witha strategic configuration. the mirrored medicine cabinet in a new yorkapartment measures two feet deep to fit towels. shelves inside are staggered around the pipes,while a custom vanity hides laundry bins. add a trough sink.
big families know that twin sinks come inhandy. just imagine using this workhorse right beforebedtime. the large trough sink in a boys' bathroomcan accommodate three kids at once, with step stools to match. know where to save on space. if you need a big tub (it's the only way youcan unwind) then make sure you're saving space elsewhere. here, designer amanda reillyincorporated built-inshelves into the wall behind the bathtub for towels and products.
try a trendy oval sink. in a lake martin, alabama, lake house bathroomdesigned by bill ingram, an oval-shaped sink looks softer — more like a bowl — andgives you more counter space than a square. use your windows. in an atlanta family home, the downstairsbathroom had virtually no walls to hang a mirror from. no problem: just hang your mirror in frontof the window, which creates privacy with a purpose. choose a washstand with towel bars.
it's the best way to save surface space. "i love this washstand, because i can hangwet towels without having to have towel bars everywhere," designer barry dixon says ofthe bathroom in a washington, d.c. row house. opt for a leggy table. a small table with an open base doesn't closeoff space in the master bathroom of designer thom filicia's upstate new york lake house. pair busy floors with simple walls. we love the intricate details of elaboratetiled floors, but (as designer barrie benson knows) it's important to keep the rest ofthe tiny space simple, so the room doesn't
become overwhelmed with patterns and color. give a long sink a shot. instead of a double sink vanity, this longdesign could save you serious space, as proven here in designer lynn butler beling's southampton,new york home. "this franke sink and the countertop are allone piece and it's long enough that we can get ready at the same time," she says. don't forget towel racks. towel racks above the tub are both convenient(no more tip-toeing around when you're soaking wet!) and save on wall space in a park avenueapartmentdesigned by christina murphy.
go big with your mirror. in a vermont cottagedesigned by deirdre heekinand caleb barber, the cedar bathroom's mirror over the tub creates the illusion of a largerspace. and the navy blue claw-foot tub is just straightup glamorous. stash bottles in niches. you could add a bulky shower caddy, but littlecubbies look so much cuter. in justina blakeney's "jungalow,"a trio ofalcoves keep soaps and sponges within arm's reach. continue floor tile in the shower.
in a new york city bathroom, designer allaakimova ran zig-zag tile straight into the shower stall. "it makes the room feel larger," she says. "if i had changed materials, it would haveinterrupted the space." try to curve the corners. we're not advocating for cutting corners,justcurving them. by making the edge of your vanity softer androunded, like designer frank hodge did here, you'll gain back space and you're less likelyto bang into the edge when you're in a rush (win-win!).
pick fixtures with storage. a small but efficient master bath in a losangeles modern housedesigned by pamela shamshiri is packed with storage. don't block the shower from sight. sure, most people opt for a foggy glass ordark curtain to block the shower from view. but designer amy meieropted for glass doors,which makes the shower suddenly feel like livable square footage again. try oval mirrors. not only are these savvy shapes better fortaller people (we had to), but designers phoebe
and james howard also know that since theserestoration hardware mirrors appear to stretch upwards, they make ceilings feel taller andbathrooms feel bigger. use an untraditional shower curtain. this curtain chosen by designer christos prevezanoslooks more like a drape than your average plastic shower curtain — which not onlymakes the room feel more sophisticated, but it also makes the shower feel like more thanjust space reserved for later use — it feels like a bonus room! never block precious windows. natural light is too important for crampedspaces to block with a dingy shower curtain.
instead, opt for clear glass doors (and atrusty lock on your door). don't underestimate a well-placed ledge. if your bathroom doesn't have a built-in vanity,opt for a savvy ledge right above the sink. this will hold all your daily essentials (toothpaste,soap) but won't take up as much floor space as a big piece of furniture. choose an unusual accent color. chrome shower accessories, like the door handle,knobs and even drain (!) add decorative elements to the bathroom, which allows the room designas a whole to feel clean and open (but not overwhelming).
ditch the built-in vanity. sometimes that giant storage unit is justnot worth the bulk. here, a vintage table with open shelving feelsslimmer and adds an airiness to the space. the more mirrors the better. it turns out mirrors are useful for more thanjust touching up your makeup: light bounces off the reflective surfaces and helps makerooms appear bigger. so even if you can only fit in a mini mirror(like the one on the hanging shelf in this bathroom) it makes a big difference. go with a sliding door.
instead of a door on a hinge that, when open,takes up space in your small room, opt for a door on a rail that stays parallel withthe wall at all times.