Tile & Shiplap Ideas for a Small Bathroom (Budget-Friendly!)
How to add personality & style to a small bathroom
While many curse their small bathroom and its lack of size, function, and storage, they could miss out on a great opportunity. Why? Because other than between the sheets, small bathrooms are the best places to have a little fun in your home!
Let’s explore a few reasons why small bathrooms are the bomb…
1. MORE BANG FOR BUCK
This could also be said about the ‘in between the sheets’ comment.
It’s easier to justify spending a bit more on a super cool but slightly pricey tile for 30 sq ft compared to a room with 100+ sq ft. Remodels can be EXPENSIVE, but small bathrooms are often on the more manageable end of things just due to their size!
2. LESS OF A COMMITMENT
Nothing eats money like a large bathroom or kitchen renovation, which means that you’re far less inclined to change anything in the near future. But in a small bathroom, it’s easier to justify changing things up every few years as the cost and effort are greatly reduced due to the minimal square footage.
It also means that you can step out of your comfort zone and make BRAVE choices!
3. MORE IMPACT
Whether it’s a fun pattern, texture, or color, condensing it in a small space can be a GREAT way to inject instant personality into a small room without feeling like you’re changing the trajectory of your entire home.
So, when it comes time to update a small bathroom, two of the best ways to add character and visual value are with TILE and SHIPLAP – either or both!
TWO TILE IDEAS FOR A SMALL BATHROOM
Whether it’s a bright color or a cool pattern, don’t be afraid to live out your wildest dreams in your small bathroom (okay, maybe not THOSE dreams – sadly, Ryan Reynolds is married). But really, have some FUN with it!
1. TILE THE WALL BEHIND YOUR VANITY
A tiled bathroom backsplash is my favorite way to add interest to a small bathroom or powder room. Opting for a unique tile on the wall means you can be a bit safer on the floor without sacrificing your room’s potential.
The above bathroom looks awesome with the dark warmth of Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray. It also happens to have cool floor tiles…
Thanks, HA Photography, for the photo!
With only 24 sq ft of floor, it was easier to go above and beyond on the floor and the walls without breaking open the kid’s piggy bank.
This next powder room looks striking with its hexagon marble backsplash tile. 15 sq ft of tile = years of visual pleasure (and a sneak peek at yours truly to boot—so glad I coordinated)!
Sherwin Williams High Reflective White walls and vanity
If you have a low ceiling, install a tile with vertical lines to help create the illusion of higher ceilings.
This tile is no longer trendy (this project was about 8 years ago), but the idea still applies!
2. TILE YOUR FLOOR IN A COOL PATTERN
While they’re a bit more of a commitment than tile behind the vanity, cool floor tiles add personality and visual value to a small bathroom.
This first bathroom is a great example of a WICKED pretty vanity, along with a dark gray hexagon tile floor from Ames Tile…
The above tile is the same one in the previous bathroom with the penny tile backsplash (and I’m seriously obsessed with the green vanity – Sherwin Williams Isle of Pines).
The 6 Best Colours for Your Bathroom Vanity
Small Bathroom? Check out These Lovely Little Vanities!
Small hexagon marble tiles aren’t just for backsplashes! Check out this next powder room floor, along with a great DIY beadboard application…
Benjamin Moore White Dove & Stonington Gray/vanity from Wayfair
The quality of this next bathroom photo is rough, but I take what I can get! Remember…
I rely 99% on my Online Color Consulting clients and readers to send in their AFTER PHOTOS! Thank you for doing so; you make my colorful world go round!
This next bathroom has more than just a fun hexagon on the shower floor; there’s also an enlarged version in higher contrast on the main walking area of the floor…
However, if it were me, I’d install a dark charcoal/black small hexagon tile on the shower floor rather than marble.
Why?
- Enhance the dark border around the large hexagon tiles, bringing it more to life
- It would be a wicked pretty contrast to the warmth of the wood vanity
- I hate cleaning white grout in a shower
- Ground the space and add some interesting contrast
SHIPLAP IDEAS FOR A SMALL BATHROOM
I’m a big fan of shiplap, and not just on boats. Here are a few of the many reasons why I love it…
- it’s affordable on almost any budget
- it’s DIY friendly; even if you only own a plastic miter box and saw
- shiplap adds instant charm and personality to a space whether you leave it wood, paint it white, or cover it in a beautiful color!
WHITE SHIPLAP
White shiplap is classic in a modern farmhouse palette, but it also works in country farmhouses, transitional, coastal, vintage, etc.
The shiplap in this next small bathroom is only on the toilet/vanity wall. It’s much more affordable than tile and makes for easier wipe-ups than drywall.
Benjamin Moore Super White
Would I do the above shiplap application on ALL of the walls?
You bet your booty I would, as this room suits it. However, in the long term, if I ever got tired of the shiplap, it would be easier to remove it from one wall than four.
Of course, there’s authentic shiplap, as shown in this next bathroom—I love the original character it adds without even trying. And clearly, someone’s stocked up on their TP (I might get a basket with a lid, just sayin’).
Sherwin Williams Big Chill & Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
COLORED SHIPLAP (GREEN OR BLUE)
This next small bathroom is a lot more fun with a gorgeous shade of green on the half wall of the shiplap…
The color we chose is Sherwin Williams Shade Grown with Benjamin Moore White Dove (25% lighter) on the walls, trims, and ceilings. Even a plain acrylic tub/shower surround can look cute when the surrounding space is well-decorated!
The Best Medium to Dark Green Paint Colors
WOOD (STAINED/GRAY-WASH) SHIPLAP
In this next wee powder room, the shiplap is a beautiful wood with a gray wash. The paint color (Benjamin Moore Trout Gray) coordinates with the violet undertone in the wood, pulling it together in a gorgeous palette.
The Best Budget-Friendly Bathroom Sinks & Faucets
GRAY SHIPLAP
This first bathroom is my favorite. It has Sherwin Williams Online on the shiplap and Benjamin Moore White Dove (25% lighter) on the walls, ceilings, and trims (it’s in the same home as the above green shiplap bathroom).
Here’s another beauty with Sherwin Williams Pure White and Light French Gray…
The Best Paint Colors to Update Gray Flooring
READ MORE
3 IDEAS TO ADD STYLE TO A SMALL BATHROOM
The 6 Best Paint Colours for a Bathroom Vanity
Small Bathroom? Check out These Lovely Little Vanities!
How to Get the Look of Marble Without the Cost & Maintenance
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How to Redecorate Your Living Room Decor Without Spending Any Money
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I refer to your posts when choosing paint colors. Haven’t been wrong yet!!
WAhoo, this is what I love to her, Connie!
It seems like it’s been a long time since I received an email from your site until this one came. Do you not send out n ew post notifications anymore? I thought maybe you were just taking some time off, but I see a bunch of recent blog posts I haven’t read.
Hi Jodi, you’re good! Well, we’ve been working on a revamp of the site, so while i put out some content I hadn’t sent anything out! Thank you for noticing, that actually means a lot to me!
Hello,
You have such great ideas! Could you tell me what type of shiplap wood was used in the wee bathroom above with the trout gray paint? And would you share the gray wash specific color and brand of stain to get that look?
Thanks
Irka