Since 1997, HomeTips has guided millions of homeowners with original, expert advice for DIY home improvement and repair. Founder Don Vandervort, a nationally recognized authority, has written more than 30 books and countless magazine articles, been a host on HGTV, and served as MSN's home improvement expert. MORE
Designing for a small bathroom may seem simple—the options usually are few—but a small space is much more difficult to design well than a large one, because it is not forgiving. You can make the standard 5-by-7-foot bathroom seem—and function—larger in a few ways:
Setting the toilet and sink along one wall of the bathroom leaves a clear corridor of space.
Setting cabinetry off the floor also allows for more floor space.
Likewise, choosing a pedestal sink rather than a console sink keeps floor space open.
Setting the bathtub or tub/shower combination across the width along the far wall, under a large window, allows the eye a space-enlarging view to the outdoors.
