Clever Tile Designs That Make A Small Bathroom Appear Larger

Guest bathrooms and powder rooms can be significantly smaller than master or full bathrooms, with some being only about 12 to 18 square feet. These small spaces can come off quite cluttered or even make people feel claustrophobic. That's where clever design tricks come in. It turns out there are quite a few ways to make small bathrooms look bigger. Careful planning and design can make the difference between a cramped water closet and a trendy guest bath. 

One of the most important features in your bathroom is the tile. With the right strategies, you can choose optical illusions with tile designs like herringbone or employ cool tones to help make a small bathroom appear larger. There are many places tiles can be used a bathroom, including the floor, shower, tub, wall, and backsplash. Take into consideration your bathroom lighting, fixtures, shower, tub, sink, toilet, grout color, and overall color scheme before choosing a tile design. These features can heavily influence how the tile looks in the room.

As a tile trend that will be dominating in 2025, large-format tiles can help make your smaller bathroom seem larger. These tiles take up more space without as many intersecting grout lines, which helps the room flow with fewer interruptions. Small tiles and numerous grout lines can cause your restroom feel busy or cluttered. You can also choose similar tile and grout colors, making the room have a more monotone and spacious appearance. Large-format tiles are also a great option if you want to install tiles that require less upkeep. Fewer grout lines mean there are not as many places for dirt, moisture, and bacteria to build up.

While white is often recommended as the top color choice to create an expansive feeling in a small room, that doesn't mean it is the only option. You can trick the eye's depth perception every time they walk into your restroom by installing cool-toned tiles. Cooler colors like light blues and greens can appear to increase the room's size by drawing the eye out instead of hyper-focusing on one spot. Make the most of your bathroom's larges window by letting the cool tones of natural daylight bounce light off your tiles, also aiding the perception of a larger room.

You can make a small bathroom stand out by including this unique bathroom design idea you shouldn't overlook – herringbone or chevron tile. Set in a zig-zag design, this pattern moves your eyes along the surface of the tile, creating a false impression of more space. Chevron tile design also adds an air of refinement and a fun, yet classic, style statement to your restroom. While you may not want to install this on your floor since it can come off as busy and make it harder to see dust and dirt, it looks great as a backsplash or playful accent wall.

You can make your small bathroom seem bigger with a clever idea from HGTV stars by adding tile all the way up to the ceiling. This design choice is perfect for bathrooms or showers that have low ceilings where you want to add the illusion of height. By stacking tile on top of each other, you're lengthening this smaller space, whereas stopping halfway makes a horizontal dividing line, cutting the room short.

Trick the eye with a small bathroom idea that will make your space seem bigger. Flowing diagonal lines can make a room look bigger than it truly is. This tile positioning also dulls hard, straight lines and creates a sense of movement that lends itself to a larger-feeling space. From the detailed cuts to the specific arrangement, these tiles not only create the illusion of a bigger room but also have a functional side. This simple twist on traditional tile increases your home's value since many people consider diagonal tile a more fashion-forward and trendy option. 

One of the best types of flooring to make a small bathroom feel bigger are monochromatic tiles. Too many hues, lines, and patterns can create a chaotic and divided look in your space. You can avoid interrupting the eye's visual flow if you simply stick to the same or similar color schemes. Continue this look by having it go all the way up to your ceiling to create a smooth transition from wall to floor. If you want pops of color, you can achieve these through tiny accents like hand towels and decor, rather than impeding your monochromatic surfaces.

Add some shine while creating a larger appearance for your small bathroom by experimenting with glossy tiles. You can illuminate the entire room when lights hit the reflective surface, giving the room a more airy appearance. Take it to new design heights by pairing this luminescent tile with a dark, bold wall or shower color. Combine this tip with other tile designs like installing your glossy tiles all the way up to the ceiling to create a flow of shimmering light that extends across the whole room.

Get bold, especially when it comes to vintage-inspired tile styles in your bathroom. Mixing small and large hexagon tiles is a classic design method that will look airy and sleek in a bathroom of any size. One of the most important things to remember when it comes to these hexagon tiles is placement is key. Bigger tiles help floors look larger while making grout lines look smaller. Showers and accent walls are the perfect spot for smaller tiles since it adds texture and style without taking over the space.