Need inspiration for small bathroom decor ideas? These 17 overlooked everyday items will transform your small bathroom into a classy and quaint retreat.
When it comes to small bathrooms, choosing decor can feel restrictive and fruitless. Luckily, there are plenty of overlooked everyday items to use in your bathroom decor. Since small bathrooms don’t have the room for large decor pieces, we have to get crafty with what to use as decor. The biggest trick when it comes to decorating a small bathroom is to use everyday items as pieces of decor.
In this post, you will be given bathroom decor ideas that are made up of 17 overlooked everyday items.
After reading this post, you will be able to decorate your small bathroom like a seasoned small bathroom interior designer (if there is such a thing).
This post is all about small bathroom decor ideas.
Small Beats Them All
Maybe I don’t know what I’m missing since I’ve only ever had small bathrooms, but in my opinion, small bathrooms beat them all. There are no large spaces on the floor to fill, no bare walls to decorate, and no room for useless decor items you’ll get sick of in 2 years. It’s a win-win-win situation.
When decorating small bathrooms, you are able to take everyday items and use them as decor items. Not only does this ensure that every item in your bathroom is pretty, but it eliminates the need to purchase useless decor items. When you can use the items you need as decor, your decor goes from being pretty, to pretty and practical. Decorating small bathrooms sometimes requires more thought than decorating a larger bathroom, because you have to think outside of the box and make use of items that are dual-purpose. Each piece is chosen with intent, and serves as more than just a decorative item.
The Two Categories of Overlooked Everyday Items
When it comes to using everyday items as decor, there are two categories: easy to add small bathroom decor, and built-in small bathroom decor. Easy to add small bathroom decor are pieces you can easily place in your bathroom, such as a plant or decorative tray. On the other hand, built-in small bathroom decor pieces are items that require power tools and YouTube tutorial videos, such as shower tile and accent walls. Both add sweet decor touches to your small bathroom. Depending on your time, budget and skills, you can choose decor ideas from only one category, or a few from both!
Easy To Add Small Bathroom Decor
1. Wall Shelf
One of the easiest ways to take up wall space in a small bathroom is to add shelving. When you choose the right shelf and its contents, it can serve as both a decorative object and a functional piece. Displaying your prettiest make-up and skincare items on this shelf will add a luxurious feeling. Don’t forget to add some faux flowers and a candle to tie in beauty and function! If you want to learn how to decorate your bathroom shelf, read my blog, Useful & Pretty Bathroom Shelf Decor: 3 Elements You Need.
2. Linen Tower
Depending on the linen tower you choose, it can serve as both storage and decor. They make all kinds, but the ones with some closed storage and some open shelving tend to be the most decorative ones. This way, you can hide the more unsightly things like spare toiletries, and display the cuter things like storage canisters.
3. Baskets
Storing not-so-cute things like toilet paper and hand towels in stylish baskets can turn these drab items into cute accent pieces! Placing baskets on top of the toilet tank can distract from an otherwise not-so-sightly scene. Choosing the right baskets can be tricky… you DON’T want to give off the early 2000’s vibe. Making sure to choose lighter basket colors and thicker weave patterns will keep your bathroom up-to-date. Places like Target have the most stylish baskets, and will help you steer clear of an outdated basket.
4. Canisters
Using canisters to store bathroom essentials is a pretty way to hide not-so-pretty things. Storing items like cotton swabs, cotton balls, feminine products, and first aid essentials in pretty canisters creates a decorative vessel that disguises everyday items as decor. Other items that are prettier, such as sugar scrub cubes, would be better stored in a translucent canister to further add to the bathroom decor. There are so many options when it comes to canisters. Plastic, glass, ceramic, marble, rattan, wood, brass… the list goes on! With all of these choices, you are sure to find one that fits perfectly into your small bathroom decor.
5. Fancier Essentials
Personally, this is my favorite small bathroom decor idea, and it is the most overlooked. The most clever small bathroom decor idea is to buy decorative everyday items that you will actually use. These items include items like trash cans, soap dispensers, lotion dispensers, and tissue box covers. Rather than trying to fit decor pieces AND everyday items on your vanity, you can save room and use pretty everyday items! Finding aesthetic, everyday items may take a little more time than buying generic ones, but once you’re all set up, you’ll be set for years to come!
6. Organizers & Trays
Nothing is more unsightly in a small bathroom than having make-up and skincare products carelessly strewn about. It makes the room feel smaller, and a lot less neat! Making use of decorative trays will display and organize your products in a way that adds to your small bathroom decor. Having your make-up resting on a marble tray looks a heck of a lot prettier than having them all clustered together in a corner on your vanity.
7. Shower Curtain
If you have a tub/shower combo, a shower curtain is a must-have. If you must have it, you may as well make it pretty! Rather than opting for a plain-Jane shower curtain, choose one with details (like the one in the photo above), or with some subtle color. There are thousands of shower curtain patterns out there. And quite honestly, 80% of them are… unattractive. But, if you stick to subtle patterns and soft, neutral colors, a shower curtain is a great small bathroom decor idea!
8. Towels
I know… kind of an odd thing to use as “decor.” BUT, hanging two cute hooks with two pretty towels… seems like small bathroom decor to me!! PLUS it takes up wall space. That’s money in the bank. Getting bathroom towels with a subtle pattern on them, with tassel details, or even with monogrammed letters will elevate your towels from useful to beautiful!
9. Flowers & Plants
Flowers and plants are my kryptonite: I have to have them. When I’m at a plant store, I will always “find a spot” for plants I really don’t have room for. Maybe my problem is that I keep going to plant shops. This epiphany was very helpful. Anyway… using faux or real plants and flowers in your small bathroom will add color and life to your space. Whether you spruce up a shelf with a plant or put some fake flowers on your vanity, this is one small bathroom decor idea that you will always have a spot for.
10. Wall Art
Small bathrooms tend to have a lack of wall space, which eliminates the need for wall decor. However, there always seems to be that one bare spot of wall space that just needs… something. Utilizing wall art can come in very handy, especially because they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
11. Accent Stools
I’ve always thought that small, wooden accent stools add an element of quaintness and charm to a small bathroom. Placing a plant and a good toilet-time read on it will create a cute little set-up that will serve as a decorative accent in your small bathroom.
12. Toilet Shelf
Some shelving units are created to be able to be set around and above a toilet. The two legs go on each side of the toilet, and the shelves lean against the wall. This is as genius as it gets for utilizing every square inch of a small bathroom. That space would otherwise go unused, so why not put it to good use? Having useful items pleasingly displayed on the shelves along with other small decorative objects will quickly become a part of your small bathroom decor.
Built-In Small Bathroom Decor
13. Tile
Floor tile, wall tile, shower tile… any way you want it, that’s the way you need it. Utilizing tile is the perfect way to add decorative statements to your small bathroom. Tile can be a beautiful addition to any small bathroom, and does not take up floor or counter space!
14. Statement Mirror
A lot of bathrooms are finished with builder-grade mirrors. You know, the ones with no border or character. My home has these, unfortunately! They aren’t horrible, and they do the trick but they aren’t the prettiest. They’re just very “blah.” If you have some money in the budget, investing in aesthetic vanity mirror(s) will immediately elevate your small bathroom decor!
15. Accent Wall
Another great small bathroom decor idea is to add an accent wall. Creating an accent wall with materials like wallpaper, beadboard, or shiplap (I love shiplap, please don’t hate me) will add some interest to your otherwise bare walls. You can keep it simple and choose a soft color or pattern, or you can be a bit more bold and choose something that will really catch your eye! Either way, this idea won’t take up any floor or vanity space, and is a perfect way to add some flare to your small bathroom.
16. Lighting
Choosing more decorative lighting accents is another needed item that you can turn into decor. Having light fixtures that are more ornate than builder-grade ones can be a fun and unique way to add to your small bathroom decor.
17. Hardware
Replacing boring hardware with fancier hardware can change the look and feel of your entire bathroom! From the faucet to the drawer handles to the shower head, putting pretty hardware in your bathroom will instantly make everything look classier! Plus, small bathrooms tend to have minimal hardware, meaning it won’t cost a lot to replace everything. This small change will work wonders in your small bathroom decor.
These 17 small bathroom decor ideas are overlooked, everyday items that will make a huge impact in the smallest of bathrooms. Now, it’s time to take these small bathroom decor ideas and put them to the test in your own space!
This post was all about small bathroom decor ideas.