New This Week: 5 Ways to Make a 5-by-8-Foot Bathroom Look Bigger

Introduction

Making a small bathroom look and feel more spacious can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Even a compact 5-by-8-foot bathroom can be opened up with some clever design tricks and strategic choices.

In this article, we’ll share 5 effective ways to make a 5-by-8-foot bathroom appear larger and more expansive. With some thoughtful remodeling and decor decisions, you can create the illusion of more space and make your tiny bath feel fresh and inviting. From lighting and mirrors to color schemes and storage, we’ll explore several impactful updates that can transform your petite powder room.

Follow our tips below to learn how to conquer the quirks of your quintessential small bathroom. With a little creativity and know-how, you can enjoy a functionally lush bathroom that belies its modest square footage. Let’s dive in!

Optimize the Layout

The layout and floorplan of your 5-by-8 bathroom will set the foundation for the whole space. Carefully organizing fixtures and features will ensure the room feels open, not cramped.

Choose Strategic Fixture Placement

When planning your layout, opt for thoughtful fixture placement that maximizes every inch. Positioning the toilet, sink, and shower/tub smartly will prevent a crowded, closed-in feeling.

• Place the toilet in a corner diagonally across from the doorway. This expands circulation space.
• Opt for a space-saving pedestal or wall-mounted sink to open up floor area.
• Use a narrow vanity to allow more wiggle room.
• Install the shower or tub along the back wall to utilize the full depth of the space.
• Float the toilet and sink away from the walls to facilitate traffic flow.

Thoughtful fixture placement is crucial for optimal use of square footage in a 5-by-8 bath. Focus on opening sight lines, facilitating traffic patterns, and leveraging corners and edges fully when arranging your bathroom.

Consider Multi-Functional Fixtures

Look for fixtures that serve double duty to maximize utility from minimal floor space.

• Choose a vanity with built-in storage to consolidate necessities.
• Select a sink/vanity combo with an extending mirrored cabinet above for shelving and hidden storage.
• Install a corner shower caddy or niche to hold bathing essentials.
• Consider a tub/shower combo to allow bathing and showering flexibility.

Get creative with fixtures that multitask, so you can streamline functions and belongings in your petite bath.

Install Room Extenders

Make functionality pop with extendable, retractable, and fold-away elements to truly amplify your square footage.

• Add an extending makeup mirror that folds back flat to the wall when not in use.
• Consider swing-out storage cabinets to access toiletries when needed.
• Install a sliding barn door for the shower to save swing clearance space.
• Use a fold-down wall seat for perching during grooming routines.

Look for innovative products that extend, collapse, swing, or slide to provide bonus functional space when required in a 5-by-8 bath.

Illuminate with Lighting

Proper lighting can make all the difference in opening up a small bathroom. Use illumination strategically to impart a feeling of airy expansiveness.

Install Overhead Fixtures

Overhead ambient lighting ensures the whole space is brightly lit, without shadows or dark corners.

• Opt for surface-mounted fixtures to minimize ceiling penetrations.
• Choose luminaires with up-lighting or diffuse glass to cast a soft glow.
• Position an overhead light to illuminate the shower/tub fully.
• Use a vent fan combo unit to consolidate functional fixtures.

Proper overhead lighting is key to avoiding a cramped look in a petite powder room.

Add Task Lighting

Supplement with task lighting to direct focused beams where needed throughout the space.

• Install sconces on either side of the mirror for ideal grooming visibility.
• Add under-cabinet lighting to illuminate the sink/vanity area fully.
• Consider a lighted makeup mirror for a shadow-free reflection.
• Use an in-shower light for clear visibility when bathing.

Strategic task lighting prevents dark gloomy corners that shrink a 5-by-8-foot bath’s aesthetic.

Use Mirrors to Reflect and Enhance Light

Mirrors visually expand a tight space by reflecting and bouncing light around the room.

• Opt for a mirrored medicine cabinet to multiply illumination.
• Install a large mirrored wall cabinet to make the room feel doubles in size.
• Use a mirrored backsplash to amplify and spread light from overhead fixtures.
• Consider mirroring a whole wall, where space allows, for a seamless reflective effect.

Mirrors are a small bathroom’s best friend when used smartly to reflect and amplify light. Take advantage of this optical illusion for a more expansive look and feel.

Select Lighter, Brighter Color Schemes

A color palette of pale, soft tones will impart an airy ambiance that makes a petite bath appear larger. Steer clear of dark dramatic colors that will absorb light and feel heavy and enclosing.

Stick to Light Neutrals

Choose light, bright neutrals like off-white, light beige, soft greys, and pale blues. Avoid darker paint colors that will only make the space feel smaller.

• Paint walls and ceilings a bright flat white to maximize reflected light.
• Select soft grey wood-look tile floors for an open feel underfoot.
• Pick a light natural stone countertop to keep the room light.

Lighter neutrals help reflect light around the room for an airier, more spacious look and feel.

Use Sparing Pops of Color

Use color very selectively as accents against soft neutrals. A few brightly colored bath accessories add cheer without overwhelming.

• Display fresh flowers or green plants for lively pops of color.
• Choose solid white towels and linens to avoid further visual clutter.
• Select a vibrant patterned shower curtain as a focal splash of color.
• Consider painting just one wall an energetic hue as a distinctive accent.

Keep color crisp and minimal against tranquil neutrals. A less-is-more approach prevents a cramped, claustrophobic feeling.

Avoid Dark Dramatic Hues

Steer clear of inky colors like black, navy, or deep jewel tones that absorb light readily. Dark dramatic colors will only make a petite bath feel dreary and closed-in.

Stick to soft, light, bright colors schemes to help reflect illumination around the room fully for an expansive, inviting ambiance.

Maximize Storage Solutions

Adequate concealed storage is a must for a small bathroom, to keep surfaces and floor space clear and clutter-free. Maximize every storage opportunity for necessities and toiletries to maintain a tranquil, minimalist look.

Use Wall Cabinets and Shelving

Take advantage of wall space above eye level to stash items attractively.

• Install shallow wall cabinets with doors to neatly corral toiletries behind closed fronts.
• Consider open shelving or wall-mounted racks for neatly displaying folded towels or embellished with decor.
• Use corner shelving units to take advantage of awkward wasted space.
• Opt for wall-hung cabinetry with a slim profile that recedes into the background.

Wall storage that extends upwards expands usable space without impinging on valuable floor real estate in a 5-by-8 bath.

Add Drawers and Organizers

Supplement the vanity and sink area with specialized pull-out storage for toiletries.

• Opt for a vanity with generously sized drawers built right in.
• Install pull-out trays or racks below the sink to access items easily.
• Use standing vertical drawer towers for extra storage against the wall.

Specialized drawers and pull-out organizers keep all essentials orderly yet concealed.

Hide Items in the Shower

Take advantage of the shower walls to embed storage.

• Use corner caddies, shelves, and niches for shampoo, soap, razors, etc.
• Consider recessed or wall-mounted racks to hold brushes, loofahs, and sponges.
• Look for shower heads with built-in shelving.

Concealing shower necessities discretely prevents surfaces from getting cluttered.

Carefully designed and maximized storage is indispensible for keeping a small bath looking tidy and tranquil. Conceal belongings behind doors, in drawers, and corners wherever possible.

Include Multifunctional Furnishings

Given the compact quarters, look for bathroom furnishings that can multitask and serve more than one purpose. Dual-purpose décor maximizes usefulness from minimal footprints.

Use Convertible Furniture

Choose transforming, adjustable, and convertible furnishings to get multiple uses from every piece.

• Select a storage ottoman that doubles as extra seating.
• Look for a mirrored cabinet that doubles as a wall-mounted desk.
• Consider a bench that flips up to reveal hidden storage.
• Opt for a bath tray table that folds up flat when not in use.

Convertible, multifunctional furnishings are ideal space-saving solutions for petite powder rooms.

Opt for Furniture That Pulls Double Duty

Seek out bathroom furniture that serves more than one need to consolidate and amplify functionality.

• Choose a vanity stool that features built-in storage inside.
• Select a bathroom ladder shelf that also functions as a handy towel bar.
• Opt for a slim console table that can work as a narrow vanity.
• Use a freestanding tub that doubles as a spacious ledge for candles, plants, or trays.

Furnishings that multitask creatively help ensure every square foot works hard in a 5-by-8 bath.

Creative convertible and multifunctional bathroom furniture maximizes utility and minimizes unused floor space in tight quarters.

Frequently Asked Questions about Making a 5-by-8 Bath Look Bigger

Can I make my 5-by-8 bathroom feel bigger without renovating?

Yes, there are several DIY tricks to make a 5-by-8 bathroom appear more spacious without full-scale remodeling:

• Add a large mirror to double visual space.
• Paint the walls and ceiling a light, bright white to reflect light.
• Organize clutter and toiletries into storage bins and baskets.
• Use a lightweight shower curtain to open up floor space.
• Install space-extending fixtures like swing-out or pull-out storage.
• Supplement lighting with strategic task lamps.
• Display a few lush green plants for color contrast.

What style of vanity works best in a 5-by-8 bathroom?

The best vanity styles for small 5-by-8 bathrooms are narrow styles that conserve precious floor space. Look for vanities with:

• A width of 24-30 inches wide or less
• Wall-mounted or floating designs
• A vessel sink or small round bowl sink
• A slender open-framed base to allow floor visibility
• Built-in storage like drawers or a cabinet

Avoid bulky vanities and opt for narrow, space-saving options when choosing bathroom vanities.

How can I make a 5-by-8 bathroom with no windows feel brighter?

For a windowless 5-by-8 bathroom, use the following tips to make the space feel bright and airy:

• Install overhead lighting on both ends of the bathroom to eliminate dark corners.
• Add wall sconces and task lighting around the mirror and shower.
• Use all LED bulbs for maximum light intensity.
• Opt for reflective glossy tile or mirrored surfaces.
• Paint the walls and ceiling a light, bright white.
• Display a couple of leafy green plants for brightness.
• Leave the bathroom door open when in use to allow light to filter in.

What flooring makes a small bathroom look bigger?

The best flooring choices to visually enlarge a 5-by-8 bathroom include:

• 12×24 tile with narrow grout lines to create an unbroken look.
• Large-scale stone or porcelain tiles to expand the perspective.
• Reflective, glossy tiles to reflect light.
• Neutral light tiles that recede instead of dark dramatic patterns.
• Tile laid on the diagonal to make the space appear larger.
• Contrasting border tiles to outline the perimeter and make walls seem farther apart.

How do you arrange furniture in a 5×8 bathroom?

The key is choosing slim furnishings and locating them strategically. Try these tips:

• Float a narrow 24-30” vanity along one wall to open up floor space.
• Put the toilet in a corner diagonal from the door.
• Install a space-saving shower stall along the back wall.
• Use only a freestanding tub or forgo a tub completely.
• Add a slim storage console table instead of a bulky cabinet.
• Include a compact wall-mounted corner shelf for extra storage.
• Mount a thin towel bar/ladder shelf combo.
• Use a slender rolling storage ottoman that can be moved out of the way.
• Position a folding wall seat toward the shower area.

Conclusion

While petite, a 5-by-8-foot bathroom can be optimized to feel surprisingly spacious and inviting. Outfitting the room with space-extending fixtures, brightness-boosting lighting, a tranquil color scheme, abundant storage and convertible multi-functional furnishings allows even the most modest dimensions feel fresh and lush. With clever remodeling tricks and smart décor choices, tiny square footage can function like a much larger room. Use these tips to create the illusion of expansiveness and your small bath with shine.