Small Bathroom Renovation and 13 Tips to Make it Feel Luxurious
These 13 tips on how to make a small bathroom feel luxurious will be the perfect guide for any bathroom renovation!
One of the first rooms I posted about when I moved in nearly two years ago now was my master ensuite. Compared to my previous master bathroom, this one is very small but I still wanted it to feel luxurious. I’m excited to share these tips with you on what to keep in mind when renovating a small bathroom and still make it feel luxurious!
1. Add a Walk-In Shower
Unfortunately (fortunately) this old tub was leaking and needed to be replaced so this entire bathroom was gutted!
I love a big soaking tub but a shower was more practical. A walk-in shower the size of a tub space is luxurious!
2. Use ‘Faux’ Marble, Not Real
You’re probably saying, what?! That’s right, this is porcelain tile! The tiles are so large and look so real there is no need to buy the real deal here. Also, cleaning is way easier and you can use those savings for the rest of this list 😉
3. Add a Bench and Wall Niche to the Shower
If you are going to be gutting your bathroom, make sure to put some forethought into the design and add a bench to one side (a must for shaving legs, in my opinion) and a wall niche for products!
4. Add a Glass Wall with Door with Custom Touches
See how this glass wall sits on the bench in the shower? Love this detail from my contractor! It makes this bathroom truly custom.
5. Have the Tile from the Shower Go All Along the Wall Behind the Toilet & Sink
Here’s another custom feature from my contractor. The tile in the shower is laid in stacked/blocked pattern and it goes seamlessly from the shower to behind the toilet and becomes part of the backsplash behind the vanity.
6. Mix it Up with Another Tile on the Shower Floor
I love penny tile and it feels good on your feet. To add more texture in this white on white bathroom, adding another tile makes the design look luxurious.
7. Use Tile as a Baseboard
Using the same tile as used on the floor instead of wood for the baseboards creates cohesion with the rest of the room, and when combined with the schluter edge (that metal edging you see) it creates a very high end luxurious feel. Its also very practical for the wet area.
8. Add Hooks for Towels
Instead of a typical towel bar, add some fancy hooks for multiple towels.
9. Add a Luxurious Medicine Cabinet
Medicine cabinets seem like something you might add to this previous 80s bathroom but when short on space, there are some gorgeous ones out there to elevate your space while still being practical.
I found this one from Restoration Hardware in polished nickel. Most are made to install recessed (sit flush in the wall) but they also can come in a top mount so if you don’t want to (or can’t) cut open your drywall, make sure whichever one you choose looks good sitting on top of the wall. Unfortunately, all the important wiring was in this one wall in the bathroom so on top of the wall it went. Because this vanity is tiny, a medicine cabinet was a must, recessed or not!
10. Match all the hardware with the Same Style and Metal
And while we’re talking about polished nickel, I love a bathroom where all the fixtures match. I’m all about mixing it up in the kitchen but in a tiny room, when all the fixtures match, it makes the space seem more luxurious. It wouldn’t be the same if this faucet was a polished chrome against the nickel mirror.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with chrome! But just make sure everything is the same from the shower head, to the towel hooks down to the toilet paper holder!
11. Add a Unique Vanity
I found this vanity at a Restoration Hardware Outlet and fell in love with it instantly. Even though it’s a bathroom vanity, I lost one of the drawers as it had to be modified to fit the piping in the back but it was worth it.
I love that it looks like a piece of furniture and I can hide my bathroom scale underneath it 😉
12. Add Custom Window Coverings
The one thing that didn’t get replaced in this bathroom was this 80s window. I had custom linen blinds put on all the windows in my house and it’s a luxury for this small bathroom. It hides most of the window while still letting most of the light in and adds a custom touch.
13. Heated Floors
Now this is the ultimate luxury, but if you’re going to have a luxurious bathroom covered in tile, wouldn’t it be nice to have heated floors?!
There’s nothing worse than walking into your beautiful bathroom only to feel cold tile under your feet. Because this space is so tiny, the heating for the floors was not too expensive. It’s the only room in the house with heated floors and it’s a nice treat.
I’ve listed all the sources for the bathroom below. Later this month I’ll be sharing with you some different sources for tile and vanities so you have more to choose from!
This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click to read my full disclosure policy.
Sources:
- Porcelain tile – Tierra Sol Gani Collection – 24 x 24 tiles on the floor laid in staggered brick pattern
12 x 24 tiles on the shower walls and behind the toilet laid in block pattern - Penny tile
- Vanity – Restoration Hardware, Empire Rosette
- Medicine cabinet/mirror – Restoration Hardware, Astoria small
- Bathroom faucet – Delta faucet Cassidy in polished nickel
- Shower head – Delta faucet Cassidy in polished nickel
- Light fixture – Pottery Barn Mercer
- Countertop – Vicostone quartz BQ8220 Carrara polished
- Towel hooks, toilet paper holder & towel ring – Delta Cassidy in polished nickel
- Toilet – American Standard VorMax Estate, elongated
- Wall paint – Simply White, Benjamin Moore
Make sure to pin it for later!
Click in Case You Missed:
Bathroom Minimalism – How to Organize Small Bathrooms
Where to Buy Faux Carrara Marble Porcelain Tile
What great advice – Thanks!!! Very helpful for those of us who have not done (and survived) a remodel
Thanks Donna!
Hugs, Jamie
So beautiful Jamie!!! A remarkable transformation….great tips!
Thanks Shirley!
Hugs, Jamie
hey girl- love your bathroom! so pretty!
Thanks Shawnna!
Hugs, Jamie
The bathroom looks very classy, elegant and so pretty….stunning makeover and great tips! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much, Leigh!
Hugs, Jamie
I have a small master bath like this that i need to update, thanks for all the ideas, they will really help.
Thanks Marlene!
Hugs, Jamie
Your bathroom looks so pretty – very luxurious. Could you tell me which toilet you have? I have to replace a toilet and love the lines of the tank.
Hi Sheila,
I just found the source for my toilet, I’ve left the link above. It’s direct to the American Standard website.
Hope that helps!
Hugs, Jamie
You did a great job on this remodel! Thank you for sharing at Totally Terrific Tuesday and congrats on being the most loved feature this week 🙂 You deserve it!
Thanks so much, Jess!
Hugs, Jamie
This is gorgeous! I love the faux marble tile.
Thanks so much, Meghan!
Hugs, Jamie
Your small bath re-do is lovely, all the tones of white expands the bath and is so fresh looking. (White baths and kitchens are time less and classic). The faux marble tile in your shower and on the wall is a beautiful touch and a durable, easy upkeep option. I too prefer a large, tub sized shower and the seat you added is a nice touch. You certainly showed how creativity and careful planning can transform a small bath into a true gem. I enjoyed seeing all the wonderful things you are doing with your current home and eagerly look forward to seeing future posts.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Jill. It’s really amazing what one can do in such a small space! Thanks for being here.
Hugs, Jamie
Thanks for posting and for the detail! I hope you don’t mind that I’m going to copy your bathroom almost exactly. I am designing a bathroom in our 1880’s house with the same layout as yours (vanity, toilet under the window, tub/shower), and had already decided on faux marble porcelain tile, heated floors, a medicine cabinet (mine will be more farmhouse style) and I even pinned the Cassidy fixtures to my idea board! But I thought I wanted black or oil rubbed bronze fixtures until I saw your post. Now I know that I want chrome. And I had been debating about a solid surface tub surround (Koehler or Corian) until I realized I need the wall niches (thank you for that). Now I’m going to go look at that vanity.
Hi Michelle,
I’m so glad my post has helped you with your renovation! It’s sometimes so hard to decide on fixtures until you see an actual photo somewhere. Your bathroom and home sounds lovely. I’m sure you’ll be just as happy with the faux marble porcelain tile as I am.
Hugs, Jamie
I really want to remodel my bathroom, but I really don’t know how to make it feel better. Thank you for all the tips on what I can do. I really like your tip about adding more texture by adding different tiles. That would be really fun to do.
Thanks Deb! I love neutrals but too much of the same thing can get boring so switching things up in the same color family is a great way to add more texture and not look boring. Good luck on your remodel.
Hugs, Jamie
Love your bathroom redo! I love the porcelain instead of the costs of marble. I am planning on a bathroom reno, and you’ve provided great ideas and design. Oh, heated floors are definitely on my list after i walked into a friends reno’d bath and immediately felt the difference! Thank you for sharing your beautiful rooms!
Thanks for your comment, Angela. Heated floors in the bathroom are soooo nice! Especially in my tiny space, it wasn’t a huge increase in the budget. Now I’m wishing I put them in the laundry room! I’m so happy with my porcelain tile. It looks good and it’s so easy to clean.
Hugs, Jamie
These renovation tips for small bathrooms are beautiful and it is totally looking like a fancy bathroom. I am bookmarking this for my future renovation with our bathroom. Thanks for this, Jamie!
My wife and I want to remodel our bathroom this summer, so thanks for sharing these tips. I like your point about using tile behind the sink and toilet. We might need to try this look so it becomes part of the backsplash.
Thanks Derek. I’m glad this is helpful to you!
Hugs, Jamie
I like that you mention how your contractor was about to have the glass wall sit on the shower bench to create a custom bathroom design. Having a custom design could ensure you’re able to get a unique and beautiful look for your bathroom remodeling. In order to get the best outcome, you’d probably want to research the local contractors to find one that can work with what you currently have to create the best look.
Very nice! I just finished with our bathroom remodel (almost..still painting), but I have the same glass and bench as yours. I like what you did with the little window. I love the light that comes in also. We installed blinds with a valance, but I like the pretty linen you have too. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Nan! You must be loving your new bathroom now.
Hugs, Jamie
You have shared such a great tips to renovate when you have a small budget and have less space ,through this post.I am really glad that I came across such great article.You have shared such a great tips which can be so helpful to renovate the bathroom. Bathroom remodeling is a tough job but I will definitely go for this after reading your article.
Hi Jamie,
As a contractor myself, I have to say that your tips are spot on. We suggest them to our clients, because we always want to bring the best results.
Thanks for this really awesome piece about bathroom renovation! I really liked the part where you talked about how there are some luxurious medicine cabinet pieces available that can glam up your bathroom. The cabinet pictured here looks so sophisticated with its clean curves and shiny finish.
Hi Jamie, beutiful bathroom! I want to remodel my bathroom and would like to know (if you do not mind) how much do you spent on the remodeling. My bathroom is very small and need some changes.
Great Renovation! It’s so important for everyone who’s using the bathroom to come to an agreement about what will be done before the remodel begins. Overlooked, but so important. Jenny
Thanks for these fabulous tips. Actually, I am a busy mom with 2 kids. Guess what is the condition of my bathroom? It’s being always messy as that is the play station of my kids. I already bought a door lock to keep my bathroom safe from my kids.
Amazing ideas to make bathroom new and luxurious. thank you for sharing with us.
Looking for ideas for my small bathroom, I was a bit disappointed and your article gives me some relief. Using tile as baseboard seems to me more impressive and beneficial. Besides, attaching to the typical style, I was bored and the addition of a fancy towel attracts me. Thank you for these awesome ideas. Look forward to reading your next write up.
Beautiful bathroom! The marble collection comes in many different colors. Is yours the calacatta pattern, or gold calacatta? Also, is the floor tile, and the wall tile in the shower and behind the toilet glossy or matte?
Thanks in advance for sharing.
Hi Lillian,
The invoice I have for my tile doesn’t specify but it’s definitely the lighter color (Gani gold calacatta marble from the photo on that site) and 24×24 on the floor and 12×24 on the shower wall. All the tile is the same throughout the bathroom except the penny tile on the shower floor. It’s glossy.
Hugs, Jamie
Second Lilian C’s question: The marble collection comes in many different colors. Is yours the calacatta pattern, or gold calacatta? Also, is the floor tile, and the wall tile in the shower and behind the toilet glossy or matte?
Hi Steve,
The invoice I have for my tile doesn’t specify but it’s definitely the lighter color (Gani gold calacatta marble from the photo on that site) and 24×24 on the floor and 12×24 on the shower wall. All the tile is the same throughout the bathroom except the penny tile on the shower floor. It’s glossy.
Hope that helps!
Jamie
Love your new bathroom and am using it as inspiration for my remodel. Can you tell me what schluter finish you used?
These are one of the coolest bathroom design that I have ever come across. So elegant and clean with top arrangement and excellent bathroom accessories placement. I am also satisfied by my recent project experience with bathroom remodeler from Phoenix.
I love your bathroom. Thanks for sharing the pics. Which type of heated flooring did you use?
Thanks Debbie! We used Nuheat in our floors.
Hugs, Jamie
In small bathroom some things are limited and you have to adjust the objects and stuff because of less space. Make sure you remove the unwanted objects in your bathroom and make it look minimal and beautiful
Thanks for sharing the article. Explained very nicely and used excellent Images. I liked the idea of bathroom renovation idea. It can help how to renovate the bathroom and needs to make the bathroom look updated. I really liked the tips given by you these are really helpful. Keep sharing with us more ideas.
You make a good point when you mention how a large walk-in shower can make your bathroom look luxurious. My wife and I have an old tub that we do not use very often and want to add a shower in our bathroom. We’ll see if we can find a contractor that can help us make a big shower that can replace our old tub.
I love the idea of adding a bench and wall niche to a shower during a remodel. My husband and I want to remodel our master bed and bath. We’ll have to look at how these ideas could fit into our plans.
Your bathroom renovation idea is very creative. I liked that one the most because renovated bathroom adds value to your home, updates its style, and makes it better adapted to your current needs. Thankyou for sharing this post
The restroom looks tasteful, exquisite thus lovely. I have a little ace shower like this that I have to refresh. Might you be able to disclose to me which latrine you have? I also lean toward a huge, tub measured shower and the seat you included is a pleasant touch. You positively indicated how inventiveness and cautious arranging can change a little shower into a genuine pearl.
I really enjoy your idea to add heated floors to your small bathroom. My husband wants to remodel the bathroom so we will need a contractor. I’ll be sure to talk to my husband and whatever contractor we hire about adding heated floors.
I love your walk-in tips. My wife and I want a walk-in tub. Ours is currently too small.
Thanks for these great bathroom renovation tips! I liked your suggestion to add a glass wall the most. We’re thinking about remodeling ours and I’m sure my wife will love your ideas and the images you included. I’ll definitely use them as a reference for when I talk to a contractor!
I like that you talked about when renovating your bathroom, it is important to make sure all of the fixtures match each other. I want to renovate my bathroom soon and I think it would be cool to get a new shower with glass walls. It would probably be a good idea to find a local supplier and get some quotes on how much shower glass is.
I really like your idea of installing a bench in the shower stall. We’re hoping to remodel our bathroom in a couple of months and are working on getting ideas. Being able to sit down when taking care of your legs and feet would be a great feature.
This is a great renovation. What’s the actual size of the bathroom and how wide/deep is your shower (from the tile wall to the glass)?
Hi Monique, the shower is 31 3/4 inches wide.
I’ve been planning to remodel my bathroom and change it into something modern. I never knew that you can use porcelain tiles instead of marbles! Maybe I’d this idea for my modern bathroom; I just have to look for a contractor first.
I am stunned and thrilled by seeing your post cause the way you have submitted your post is very informative and helpful too. Mostly your ideas are impressive. Few days back, I was searching for this type of instruction to remodel my bathrooms. I am sure about this my family members are gonna like this too much. Thank you so much for shearing this post. Keep giving this type of helpful items.
I appreciate the ideas about how to improve our bathroom when we renovate it, especially the suggestion to make the floors heated. My wife and I want to renovate the master bathroom this summer because the vinyl flooring is wearing out and we want to replace it with tile. We’ll have to look into getting someone we could trust to execute it well so that we can enjoy it as long as we live here.
My mom is thinking about redesigning her bathroom so that she can get around easier in it. She has been thinking about moving the bathroom and getting a professional to help her with moving the pipes and electrical stuff so that it is done right. I’ll be sure to tell her that she should make sure that all of the fixtures are the same metals because then it will feel more luxurious.
What an inspiring renovation. Makes me so happy to start my renovating my bathroom. I also love the shower tile, so you happen to know if there’s an inexpensive option that will give the same look?
This is a very inexpensive tile, it’s faux carrara porcelain tile. You can find more details in this post here: https://somuchbetterwithage.com/faux-carrara-marble-porcelain-tile/
Hope that helps!
Jamie
This grate post and amazing tips. Thank you for the post.
This post describe how to organize the small bathroom. This fantastic tips. thank you for the post.
Hi Jamie, your bathroom is absolutely beautiful. I’m embarking on my bathroom remodel of a 1950’s brown and beige bathroom. Your space is an inspiration and makes me believe this is possible. Your tiles are beautiful and I barely see any grout lines. Did you use white grout?
Thanks so much! Yes the grout is all white. Good luck with your renovation!
Hugs, Jamie
Hi! Beautiful bathroom. Could you provide the width of your shower?
Hi Ashleigh,
The width of the shower is 58″ x 33″.
Hugs, Jamie
Thanks so much for sharing! Our small bathroom shower is getting an update very soon! Did you use white grout all around? That’s where I’m a little stumped… white or very light gray?
Thank you
Hi KC,
I used white grout everywhere in this bathroom.
Hugs, Jamie
I’ve never asked a question on a blog before so
I’m not sure how to create a new comment so clicked on reply instead to this comment. I want this exact bathroom and love that there are so many detailed resource links. It’s so beautiful. Vanity at RH is discontinued. I will find what I can but I wonder if you painted the RH vanity or if that was original color. I like the cream against BM Simply White. If you painted it, what did you use please? Thank you so much.
Hi Anne,
Welcome! I didn’t paint this vanity but I have painted another RH vanity before. I’m sorry I don’t have this paint color. It does look really nice with the white paint.
Hugs, Jamie
This bathroom looks so pretty! Definitely an inspiration. I am converting my hall bath with bathtub to have a walk in shower and hoping to use porcelain faux marble and continue tiles on whole wall behind toilet and vanity. This bathroom is a great example of that! May you please tell me what was the end dimensions of the shower (penny tile area)? I currently have a 5′ standard size tub but may have to widen it to at least 32″ plus width of the threshold where the glass will sit. Thanks!
Hello,
Love the bathroom so much. I can’t seem to find the tile or anything that is that subtle in the gray veins. Do you know of any other companies that make something very similar?
Is the polished Nickel hard to keep clean with kids?
Thank you very much.
Have the exact layout and love this. Can you tell me are there any issues when the shower door opens on to the towel hooks.
Hi Donna,
Sorry for the delay, there are no issues when the shower door opens to the towel hooks! The handle on the shower door is about the same width.
Hugs, Jamie
Thank you for sharing this post
When you open the glass hinged door what is the clearance to the toilet? What is the width of the hinged door? Do you have any issues in entering and exiting the shower? My bath configuration is very similar to yours. Thank you.
Hi Cindy,
The door is 27 1/2″ wide and it clears the toilet with 4 1/2″ to spare.
Hugs,
Jamie