If you want to expand your home, but are strapped for cash, or can only renovate one space but have ideas for multiple rooms, then you’ve come to the right place. As a skilled residential contractor and owner of Mountain Works LLC, Ferdinand Steyer knows what it takes to transform nearly any room in your home from stuffy to spacious. And it doesn’t require any extensive demolition.
What’s his recipe for creating a new space? A dash of design and a splash of creativity. For this particular renovation, Steyer focuses on remodeling a tiny bathroom so that it appears to larger.
Purge: Take everything out of the room. That includes tissue boxes and nail polish remover, as well as light fixtures and mirrors. Redesigning works best when you have a blank canvas instead of trying to incorporate new items with existing pieces.
Colors: Go for lighter colors that complement one another. A yellow wall with a white chair rail or a pastel that is bright, but not overbearing, will lighten the whole room. And, if you are uncomfortable making paint decisions, then choose a bright, clean white and add pops of color with accent pieces like towels and storage.
Tiles: Steyer recommends choosing smaller tiles, again in lighter colors. Using more tiles will give the appearance that your shower area or floor is bigger than it really is. For example, a shower wall with 20 small tiles will look more expansive than the same wall with six large tiles.
Lighting: If you have lighting on the ceiling, your best option is probably to change it to recessed lighting so that nothing is hanging too low, which can cramp the room. Steyer notes that changing the location of a light fixture can increase space and update the room as well. For example, instead of having lights above the vanity, opt for two small wall sconces on either side of it.
Organize: Clutter will make a small room look minuscule. Use the space under the sink and any drawers or cabinets to store as much as you can. And for odds and ends that you use every day, like toothpaste, cotton swabs, or hair brushes, buy small boxes or baskets. Put them in an accessible spot, but keep everything confined to one space instead of scattered.
Accents: Since bathroom windows are generally mall, avoid heavy, overbearing window treatments. Opt for light curtains and blinds that will allow sunlight in. Also, place a mirror or two in the room, which reflects natural light and opens up a small area.
Remember, advises Steyer, if you feel like your bathroom needs more than just a color change to transform it into the space you want, local contractors can gut the room and start from scratch. You can remove shelving and cabinets, replace the tub with a shower and redo the floor to completely revitalize the room.
