How to Maximize the Space in a Small Bathroom

Not every bathroom can be a luxurious master spa retreat ripped straight out of your favorite magazine. If you’re looking to renovate your bathroom, but are limited on space, there are plenty of ways to make the most of it! The last thing you want is to invest into refreshing your bathroom only for it to end up feeling cramped or cluttered once you start actually living in it. At HEX General Contractors, our team can help you with smart and strategic design choices that maximize your space. Whether you’re looking to revitalize your powder room or a small guest bathroom, we have decades of experience bringing craftsman quality work to life for our Sacramento clients! Here are some of our favorite ways to make the most of your small bathroom remodel.

1. Floating Vanities

A traditional vanity can take up precious floor space with bulky cabinets and swinging doors or hanging drawers. By opting for a floating vanity, you can create the illusion of space by exposing the floor and installing open shelving where you can store towels or totes of necessities.

2. Corner Sinks

This is an unusual solution that really comes in handy in very tight spaces, like a limited powder room. By placing your sink into the corner, you’re utilizing space that typically lays empty regardless of the situation. This can free up much-needed space in the room and let it breathe.

3. Glass Shower Enclosures

A typical shower-tub combo can visually block off a large portion of your bathroom, especially if you’re using a curtain as the partition. Installing a walk-in shower with a frameless glass enclosure will remove those visual barriers and immediately make your bathroom feel fifteen-plus square feet larger! Not only that, but it also enhances accessibility, which is a huge deal for a small space.

4. Large Format Tiles

Choosing large tiles with fewer grout lines actually makes a space look larger. Opt for light-colored varieties like whites or beiges to reflect available light and visually expand the room. Earth tones like clay and stone are especially on-trend in 2025 and will make your small bathroom look and feel luxurious.

5. Pocket Doors

Your standard swinging door eats up tons of space when opening into a tight bathroom. Install a pocket door that slides directly into the wall to remove that constant cramped experience when entering or exiting the bathroom. You can also leave the door hidden in the wall whenever the bathroom’s not in use for a seamless connection to the connecting room that can make it feel like a continuous addition instead of a tiny, separate room.

6. Vertical Storage

Instead of taking up all of your floor space with big cabinets, install floating shelves (like the vanity) or recessed wall niches to place items up and out of the way. Stacking these shelves upward will make use of plentiful wall space that’s typically barren.

7. Wall-Mounted Toilets

A standard toilet sits on the floor with its tank and takes up space that we’ve all grown accustomed to. However, there are streamlined alternatives that can save space, like a wall-hung model that hides the tank within the wall.

8. Enhanced Lighting

Good lighting is the king of good feels. There may be no more efficient way to create illusions of space than with the smart use of lighting. Installing a skylight, large window, or even light tubes can make a space feel larger by flooding it with light.

9. Mirrors!

Trick your mind into believing your bathroom is twice the size with smartly placed mirrors. A large one above your vanity, or a full-length one on a side wall will make the bathroom feel larger while reflecting light.

10. Tall Tile Patterns

A short ceiling can make a small bathroom feel even smaller! To combat this, consider using vertical tile patterns or a herringbone layout to stretch the space visually from floor to ceiling with long vertical sightlines.

Make the Most of Your Sacramento Bathroom

Interior design and home remodeling is all about strategic choices. You can go into your home renovation with simply visual ideas in mind, but there’s more to it than that. For instance, you may be looking into redoing your home’s exterior, but haven’t considered the strategic decisions that go into material choices, like fiber-cement siding versus conventional siding. You’ll face similar challenges in regards to any renovation project you take on, like Trex decking versus wood decking, and the many kitchen material and style choices we have at our disposal.

It’s vital that you have a partner by your side that you can trust to bring your ultimate remodeling goals to life. At HEX General Contractors, our team knows the ins and outs of industry tricks and techniques, including these ideas to maximize your space in a small bathroom.

If you’re considering renovating any part of your home, reach out to us for a free estimate. We’d love to field your questions and offer some professional insight.