apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Use metallic paint to brighten and expand. Keep the toilet lid down. Put plants, art work, or etc over the toilet to draw the eye away from the toilet. Use contrasting towels that compliment the above-toilet scene. Keep clutter to an absolute minimum. And please, NO around-the-toilet rugs.

Whatever you do, keep it simple. I think your suggested color combo sounds good, and keeping it nice and basic like that will prevent the space from feeling cluttered and small.

Keep the toilet/tank empty and put art above it to draw the eye up. (if there is no window there)

Maybe use a rug with horizontal stripes.

I'd think you'd want to keep things simple so the place didn't seem cluttered and closed in so I think blue, white, chrome, bamboo is perfect.

I'd also remove a towel bar (if there is one like in the picture) and use a simple ring for a hand towel and put towels on higher shelves so there isn't stuff at waist level on the walls. Same goes for keeping the shower curtain inside the tub.

Keep the toilet/tank empty and put art above it to draw the eye up. (if there is no window there)

Maybe use a rug with horizontal stripes

I'd think you'd want to keep things simple so the place didn't seem cluttered and closed in. So i think blue, white, chrome, bamboo is perfect.

I'd also remove a towel bar (if there is one like in the picture) and use a simple ring for a hand towel and put towels on higher shelves so there wasn't stuff at waist level on the walls. Same goes for keeping the shower curtain inside the tub.

I think your color scheme sounds great. Blues and browns are wonderful together, and the chrome will give it a clean, modern feel. The nice thing about a small space is that it minimizes the number of elements you're dealing with and the cost of outfitting the room. I'd go for a very light blue for the walls, a light bamboo brown shower curtain as you suggested (perhaps something with texture), an interesting and simple light fixture overhead (to call attention to the height of the space), towels in a complementary color (maybe even midnight blue or dark brown), and a simple mat in another complementary color). As plain jane suggested, eliminate all clutter. Use simple, color-coordinated artwork above the loo, and make sure the lighting is bright. Good luck!

wow guys, sorry for the repeats...computer was acting up.

I would use a clear shower curtain (no pattern) so you don't feel even more claustrophobic! And a LARGE mirror (no frame, just beveled edges) on the wall opposite the shower.

Totally agree w/everyone's suggestion to bring your eye UP to some great artwork above the toilet. Also love the striped rug idea. :)

I agree that if there is a towel bar, it should be removed. Install floating shelves above the toilet to store your towels. OR, get one of those cool chrome towel racks to install inside the tub surround like in hotels. I love those things.
I think a brown shower curtain would make it too dark at the end of the room. Use a bright white one with a small coordinating blue pattern on it.

What's the vanity space like? Do you have storage under the sink? If not, use baskets in the bamboo brown and line them with crisp white linen.

It might be small, but it definitely doesn't have to be dreadful.

I think your color scheme of blue, brown, chrome, and bamboo sounds great. Since it's a small space, I would find one super-fabulous, super-colorful (and perhaps a tad bit oversized) piece of art to hang in a place that would distract from the toilet--make the art the first thing you see when you walk in the door instead of the toilet.

Alternatively, perhaps the focal point could be the shower curtain--a colorful floral would go with any bamboo accessories that you have. Maybe you could go for a tropical mini-cabana theme.

Another option in such a small space is to really fill it up with stuff--not random clutter, but a lot of visual goodies for the eye. Maybe a collage of pics on the wall to the right or some patterned wallpaper.

I would use a very light, airy shower curtain and keep it open when not in use. It will visually help open the space around your shoulders when using the toilet.

Ditto on the suggestions for keeping the toilet seat down and bright lighting.

If you dont have a window behind the toilet consider putting a shelf up for coordinated towel storage.

I thought my bathroom was small! Actually they are probably the same size, just a different layout.

I agree with some of the points here, a clear shower curtain does wonders and keep it as clutter free as possible.

we moved into an 1860's apartment with a similar bathroom. we installed a cabinet behind and above the toilet and it def draws the eye. plus, it holds all our extra toilet paper, out of sight, but close at hand...
we also used a small rug which ends just about where the tub ends, so that the part of the bathroom which is more private (bath, toilet) is at least slightly defined as apart from the more public (sink/mirror) area.
by the way, if our apartment hadn't wowed me with its original plaster molding, the bathroom would totally have been a deal breaker...

Oh god, please no clear shower curtain! That reminds me of a dorm room. I'm sure you can afford a nice cotton shower curtain. I'd get a white shower curtain and a white curtain for the window above the toilet. White bath mat, as well.

This is about the same size as my bathroom, which happens to be painted a nice light blue color, and I have white towels, white bathmat, white shower curtain, which makes it look very airy instead of busy and claustrophobic.

I'd also suggest having some sort of medicine cabinet if there isn't already one so that any bottles/cosmetics could be hidden away so that the little space that you have isn't cluttered with stuff everywhere.

A couple of simple, muted prints (check out etsy.com for some great, cheap artwork) for the wall, in a symmetrical pattern (maybe four prints hung 2x2?), and that's it for artwork.

Hope that helps!

A large mirror opposite the shower will help a lot. (Hang it above-toilet height.)

Other than that, I wouldn't worry too much. People know what a bathroom is for. You don't need to disguise it.

i would suggest the simple utilitarian approach. i have a similar bathroom and it is white on white, towels, walls, mat. the shower curtain is clear with white pin stripes. this neutral background lets all the fixtures and objects blend into one, making a small room look less cluttered.

A clever friend used a full length mirror in her bathroom but hung it horizontally to stretch almost the full wall (your bathroom may require 2 to get this effect) and it gives the allusion of a lot more space and is actually quite nice looking even with a pretty cheap mirror (with the frame built in.) Install it a little lower than eye level as it's not intended to be a functional mirror as much as a decorative element that creates more space.

I also have a tiny tiny bathroom and have been struggling in making it "look" bigger. I learn some good tips from these comments. I would like to share an on-line store selling shower curtain that I checked out last month http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/home.php?cat=653. Their collection is rich and the price is very reasonable.

my bathroom is almost identical to this one & this post inspired me last weekend. So far... half way done... I moved some art around and put a nice piece above the toilet so your eye goes up and not focused on the broom below (got a nice broom tho.. and dean and deluca). it made a huge difference, just one little thing. my tiles are all white (well... aged white... need I say more) and the floor, white and black so I chose a deep green color for towels and it goes great (nautica has a great green). My room has a little bit of a vintage vibe (think Anthropologie) without looking too cluttered at the moment. I think that removing the towel bar is brilliant and that is next on the agenda. I've bought a little ring and the missing bar will buy me 3 inches in the room. HUGE difference when you are dealing with a room that tiny. Please post again when you're finished so we all can see. Cheers