Are dark tiles a bad idea in a small bathroom?

Not automatically. Dark tiles on one plane – for example the floor or a single wall – combined with light everywhere else, add depth without shrinking the room.

Should I remove the bathtub?

If you rarely use it and need more space, yes. A generous shower corner feels like a luxury in itself.

What does a bathroom styling lift cost without renovating?

New mirror, new lamp, towels, dispensers and a plant typically cost NOK 3,000–6,000 and give a big visual return.

Which tile size should I choose in a small bathroom?

60×60 cm on the floor and 30×60 cm stacked on the wall is a safe formula. Fewer grout lines mean calmer surfaces, and calmer surfaces read as more space.

How do I add storage without losing floor space?

Hang everything you can: wall-mounted basin, mirror cabinet, a recessed shower niche and hooks instead of a floor-standing towel rail. One closed unit per person keeps the basin clear.

What lighting works best in a small bathroom?

Light on both sides of the mirror at face height in 2700–3000 K, plus an LED strip behind the mirror. Ceiling light alone throws hard shadows and makes the room look smaller.

Does using the same tile on floor and wall help?

Often yes. One continuous tone blurs the transition between surfaces, so the room reads as a single connected box rather than several small planes.

NO EN

Lite bad optimalisert med store fliser, stort speil og veggmontert servant – Intyria

Guide

Style a small bathroom – 9 moves that create a sense of space

A small bathroom isn't a limitation – it's a styling brief. The right mix of tile size, mirrors, lighting and built-in solutions can double the perceived size without moving a single wall.

Updated 26 July 2026

Tiles: go bigger, not smaller

Large tiles mean fewer grout lines and a calmer visual expression. In a small bathroom that immediately reads as more space. 60×60 cm on the floor and 30×60 cm laid vertically on the wall is a safe formula.

Light tones – warm white, sand beige, pale grey – reflect light and open the room. See how different palettes work in our bathroom inspiration page.

The mirror is the most important element

One large mirror is always better than two small ones. Fill the entire wall above the basin – ideally all the way to the ceiling. The mirror doubles both light and perceived area.

A wall-hung basin frees up the floor

When the floor is visible under the basin, the room feels larger. Choose a model that floats 15–25 cm off the floor, and use plinth lighting underneath for a hotel feel.

Nine concrete moves

Swap in a frameless glass shower corner – the visual space continues.
Recessed wall niche in the shower instead of a caddy.
One continuous grout colour, not two.
Hidden cistern wall with a shelf for décor.
One colour of towels – not five different.
Refill dispensers instead of plastic bottles.
One large artwork instead of three small ones.
LED strip behind the mirror for indirect light.
One large green plant that tolerates humidity – ficus, monstera or sansevieria.

Guest toilet and bathroom – same principles, different intensity

In a small guest toilet you can go more dramatic because you don't spend long there. See how dark colours work in our guide to styling the guest toilet.

Storage that frees up floor space

In a small bathroom the floor is the most valuable surface you have. Anything that can hang on the wall should: basin, cabinet, towel hooks, even the bin. The more continuous floor you can see, the larger the room feels.

Plan one closed storage unit per person using the bathroom daily. That puts toothbrushes, razors and skincare behind a door instead of on the basin – which is what actually makes a small bathroom look cluttered.

Use the depth of the wall where you can: a recessed niche in the shower replaces the hanging basket, and a shallow mirror cabinet above the basin adds storage without narrowing the room.

Common mistakes in small bathrooms

Small tiles everywhere – lots of grout lines and a busy, fragmented look.
Cold ceiling light only, with no light at face height by the mirror.
Frosted shower doors or a shower curtain that visually cuts the room in two.
A mirror that is too small – half a mirror above the basin wastes the wall.
Towels in five different colours on the same wall.
A floor-standing vanity unit that eats the free floor area.

Test before you order tiles

Tiles are expensive to reverse. Upload a photo of your bathroom to Intyria and test hotel feel, Japandi or classic elegant before choosing colour and material.

FAQ

Are dark tiles a bad idea in a small bathroom?: Not automatically. Dark tiles on one plane – for example the floor or a single wall – combined with light everywhere else, add depth without shrinking the room.
Should I remove the bathtub?: If you rarely use it and need more space, yes. A generous shower corner feels like a luxury in itself.
What does a bathroom styling lift cost without renovating?: New mirror, new lamp, towels, dispensers and a plant typically cost NOK 3,000–6,000 and give a big visual return.
Which tile size should I choose in a small bathroom?: 60×60 cm on the floor and 30×60 cm stacked on the wall is a safe formula. Fewer grout lines mean calmer surfaces, and calmer surfaces read as more space.
How do I add storage without losing floor space?: Hang everything you can: wall-mounted basin, mirror cabinet, a recessed shower niche and hooks instead of a floor-standing towel rail. One closed unit per person keeps the basin clear.
What lighting works best in a small bathroom?: Light on both sides of the mirror at face height in 2700–3000 K, plus an LED strip behind the mirror. Ceiling light alone throws hard shadows and makes the room look smaller.
Does using the same tile on floor and wall help?: Often yes. One continuous tone blurs the transition between surfaces, so the room reads as a single connected box rather than several small planes.