Creating a bright and airy atmosphere in a bathroom often relies on natural light, but what do you do if your bathroom does not have any windows? Bathrooms are already small rooms, and maximising space in a windowless bathroom is even more challenging than when your small bathroom is flooded with natural light. Does this mean you need to paint your bathroom a stark white and keep your walls and surfaces clear, to keep your space from feeling too crowded? No, because even though a small bathroom with no windows can make a person feel boxed in and claustrophobic, there are ways to counteract this with the right design strategies.
Interior Design Ideas to Refresh your Windowless Bathroom
Keep it bright
Many of the strategies for making a windowless bathroom more appealing are similar to design ideas for small bathrooms. Making a windowless bathroom look brighter, like making a small bathroom look bigger, involves both technical and psychological tactics, choosing the right light fixtures and reflective surfaces, and subliminal tricks that make the mind see the room as a brighter, larger, cheerier room.
Choose good lighting
When a room does not have windows, the lighting can make all the difference. Layer your lighting, with a centred ceiling fixture to light the whole space, and focused lighting directed towards specific areas. Lighting on either side of the vanity can illuminate it effectively, and adding a good lighting scheme to your shower can make the whole bathroom seem brighter. Choose fixtures that maximise the light, avoiding anything that mutes it, like coloured or frosted glass fixtures. You can also make the room feel brighter by choosing light fixtures that have personality and make the space more appealing. Additionally, if you want to make the room feel lit by natural light, choose warm bulbs rather than cool.
Make Your Walls Count
White or light panelling adds texture to a room, enlivening it without making it feel smaller or darker. You do not have to stick to just one colour in your bathroom, though. Painting a room with a light upper half and a deeper hue on the lower half creates the illusion of space by adding interest. You can also paint a trim around the room, or paint the room in a light neutral tone and choose a second, much more saturated hue to create focal points that pop. Choosing reflective tiles for your shower, backsplash, or even walls can help bounce light around the room and make it feel lighter and brighter. When these tiles are beautiful and/or interesting, it works on both a technical and subliminal level. Provide something to look at, and you will not be as likely to notice that the bathroom is windowless or cramped.
Mirrors Make Your Lighting More Effective
Did you know that a large mirror can double your light? Not only that, but mirrors create the illusion of a larger room, doubling the perceived size as well as the light. More than one mirror is even better, and you can get creative, using mirrors in unique ways, to make your bathroom brighter and more interesting. A mirror behind open shelving, or even a disco ball- or a series of small disco balls, can be effective at refracting and reflecting light, while also adding interest.
Use Patterns to Your Advantage
Tiles can be used to create drama when you choose the right patterns. Even if you do not want your tile in a pattern, it is a good idea to do something appealing with it, to give your space some interest. If you have the budget for it, a dramatic marble style can be a wonderful way to add a luxurious touch to a shower, counter, floating sink, or wall, distracting from the sparse feeling of a windowless bathroom. Carry a tile pattern down the wall and onto the floor, or use it in the shower and behind the sink, to create a cohesive feel. You can also use wallpaper to bring a pattern into your bathroom, either throughout the room or in a feature wall. And while it might seem counterintuitive, you can use a big, bold wallpaper pattern in a small, windowless space, without overwhelming it. You can also choose a smaller pattern in a funky style.
If wallpaper is not your preference, you can still create a gorgeous feature wall to serve as a focal point, using an accent colour, moulding, a mural, or floor to ceiling tile. The idea is to create a distraction, so that people in the bathroom forget about its lack of windows. Patterns in the bathroom can take many different forms. If you are concerned that it is too big of a commitment, you can always use patterns on textiles, like a bold shower curtain or a patterned window treatment that appeals to you. On the other hand, wallpaper does not necessarily need to be a permanent feature, as there are peel and stick wall coverings in many different patterns, perfect if you are renting your home and cannot make dramatic changes. If you are interested in patterns but want to take a subtler approach, layering textures can add depth as well, with a bathmat, an upholstered chair, textured wallpaper, tile, panelling, or baskets in natural materials.
Make Your Shower Work for You
If your shower is closed-in, with a shower curtain, it could be making your bathroom look darker. Consider a walk-in shower with a glass enclosure and light, bright tiling. Clear glass, frameless shower doors, white or light tile, and shiny plumbing fixtures can help bounce light around your bathroom and keep it from looking dark and dreary. Particularly when you pair this style of shower with a good in-shower lighting scheme, it can be a game changer.
Go Monochromatic
We have talked about using colours and patterns to make an impact, but what if your style is more minimalistic? A monochromatic colour palette, with a simple scheme that uses colours already in existence in the space, can brighten the room while giving it a clean look. This is another instance when textures can make a big difference, even if your colours are not contrasting. Mix your metals, choose textiles in different textures, or juxtapose reflective shower tiles with rough, textured floor tiles.
Be Attentive to the Details
Metallic accents, including taps, shower head, draw pulls, and cabinet knobs can elevate your bathroom by catching the light. You can also use metallic tiles, or a large mirror with a metallic frame. Keep your surfaces uncluttered, and curate what you do bring into the bathroom. Remember that a space packed full of random items will look smaller and more crowded. Consider pulling in some natural accents, like ceramic storage in reflective colours, woven storage baskets in light hues, or even live plants. All of these can bring a feeling of the outside, which will make it less obvious that there are no windows. You can also choose a vanity with long legs and open space to add some breathing room or use Lucite accessories to make your countertops feel airier.
Carefully Choose Your Wall Décor
The right wall décor can do a surprisingly good job at brightening your bathroom, with or without a window. We have already discussed the virtues of mirrors, but artwork with a white or bright frame can make a big difference as well. Sometimes, a bathroom feels darker because it is not an inviting space, so bringing some of your personality into the room by picking artwork that appeals to you can make your bathroom feel more welcoming. By extension, it is likely to feel lighter and brighter. Consider a gallery wall, or one large, striking piece, or even a bright, white sculpture to bring some artistic flair to your bathroom. You can also use faux architectural details, like beadboard trim, moulding, or- hear us out- an artificial window. Glass blocks between two parts of the bathroom can give this impression, as can a light panel, or even a well-lit mirror.
Turn to Bathroom Inspirations for Help Making Your Windowless Bathroom Beautiful
Do any of these ideas appeal to you? If you feel lacking in inspiration and you want to see some beautiful examples of how a windowless bathroom can be transformed into a welcoming oasis, check out the gallery of work we’ve done, to see some of the stunning bathrooms we’ve created and accessorised. Whether your bathroom just needs an update, but if you’re ready for a complete renovation, call the bathroom installation professionals at Bathroom Inspirations. Our Dorchester-based company is family-owned, and managed by Bridport-born brothers Patrick and Paul Ackerman. Established in 2004, the business now boasts one of Dorset’s largest showrooms, presenting stunning, innovative bathroom designs in real life settings. We’ll even help you design your bathroom, with free design services that use state-of-the-art 3D design technology, for visualising the finished bathroom before committing to the work. To learn more, feel free to explore some of our work or schedule an appointment to visit our showroom in Dorchester.