Simple Ways to Bring Big Style to a Small Bath

Decorating a small bath? This is your chance to go big on style.

Avoid the inclination to minimize style simply because you lack space. Instead go bold with these simple ways to bring big style to your small bath.

Glide on glossy paint. Cover white walls with a high-impact, high-gloss paint.  By high-impact I mean a deep dramatic color like burgundy or gold. I especially like bold colors in powder rooms where the space is more like a show room for guests.

Hang a dramatic piece of art. So much of bathroom wall space is taken up by mirrors, tile and towels. Change the mood in the room with a large piece of fine art. It doesn’t matter if it’s a modern acrylic or landscape oil painting, adding art gives a room a sense of sophistication. Make sure the art is encased in humidity resistant glass and frame.

Vamp up the vanity. Replace a dated vanity with a more luxurious, furinture-like one. The smaller the bath, the more vain the vanity. In power rooms, vessal sinks give a vanity extra flair.

Take tile to the top. Why stop halfway? Tile the walls from floor to ceiling. If you’ve spent any time in the bath of a luxury hotel, you've noticed what separates a Mandarin Oriental bath from one at the Day’s Inn. It is the beautiful Italian marble installed from floor to ceiling. You can create a similar look with any tile.

Upgrade your hardware. Replace rusting chrome with high-quality polished chrome or polished brass on drawers, doors and towel bars for instant luxury. You can change a bathroom’s personality by replacing a standard faucet with an antique-style fixture. The Vintage Collection at is gorgeous.

Splurge on linens. Spend extra on a luxury shower curtain and plush towels.  The towels should match the color of the shower curtain. To create a spa look, roll towels and stack them on an étagère.

Ditch the floor mat set. Get rid of the matching three-piece floor rug set. I’m talking about the one with a matching toilet lid cover. Instead, invest in one beautiful area rug that fills the bathroom. Coordinate the rug color with the other fabrics in the bath. Noticed I said coordinate. They don’t have to match. Oriental-style rugs work with almost anything and stand out in a small bath.

Bling out the bath. Choose accessories with crystal, marble and gem-like materials. Again, accessories don’t have to match. A stainless-steel tissue holder works well with a polished chrome waste basket. Crystal and marble have reflective qualities that sparkle in baths. If you have space on the vanity, fill a large apothecary glass with marbles or beads. Go girly girl by stashing different color lip glosses in a small apothecary glass.