The Overlooked Bathroom Feature That Will Make Your Space Seem Bigger

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Small bathrooms are challenging because they require you to get creative and clever with storage and utilization of the available space. While renovating an entire bathroom can be expensive and involved, there are other, more attainable upgrades that make small bathrooms seem bigger. One such option is the addition of a ledge; although it might be overlooked, this solution can increase the usable surface area of the bathroom.

Bathroom ledges work similarly to floating shelves in that they can be suspended on a wall and then used to stash and store your daily essentials. A clear benefit of ledges is that they are generally designed with a narrow depth, meaning they can be hung in areas that would struggle to accommodate deeper shelves. Adding one on the wall behind your sink and below a hanging mirror, for example, will give you a spot to place bottles of creams, facial oils, or other aesthetically pleasing items that need a home. This approach to storage can simplify your morning and evening routine by keeping everyday items within reach, instead of stored deep within cabinets and drawers.

Positioning a couple in the bathroom can also help you to declutter your vanity for a cleaner visual, making it easier to maintain an orderly bathroom. To prevent your ledges from becoming overly cluttered, choose a selection of items to store there and make sure that they have a decorative appeal. A small vase of dried flowers and a reed oil diffuser, for example, will elevate the appearance of your ledge while a bottle of eye drops will not.

Depending on the style of your bathroom, you'll want to select ledges that work well with your existing themes. Minimalist bathroom designs will look great with a streamlined ledge crafted from light wood — like the IKEA NORDHÄGG picture ledge that comes in two lengths: 17 ¾ inches long ($4.99) or 39 ⅜ inches long ($9.99). Both feature a notch in the bottom to help keep pictures securely held in place, as well as a lip to prevent items from toppling off the edge. The shelves can also easily be painted in a fun shade for a kids' bathroom. An all-white or all-black ledge can also give minimalist or modern bathrooms a visual boost that blends in beautifully. For an easy change to bring a rustic aesthetic to your bathroom, you might want to opt for a richer wood-grain appearance, like this 2-pack 36-inch ledge by RICHFOCUS ($39.99 on Amazon). 

Ornately styled bathrooms, however, may benefit from a built-in ledge-and-backsplash combo crafted from marble or a matching material to whatever the vanity is made from. This option will deliver an integrated appearance that looks custom-built instead of a homeowner's add-on. However, be prepared to pay significantly more for this than for the aforementioned cheaper ledge materials. 

Those still seeking more clever ideas to make their small bathrooms seem bigger can try placing the shower bar higher and adding better lighting, too.