MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SMALL BATHROOM

Get designer Michelle Lisac’s expert advice for making the most of small bathrooms.

• GO UP. “It’s maybe counterintuitive, but taking tile up to the ceiling helps make the room feel taller than it actually

is,” Michelle says. You can create the same effect with vertical wallpaper or wainscoting.

• RECESSED CABINETS. “Built-in medicine cabinets are a good way to gain a little bit of extra storage,” Michelle says.

Recessing them into the wall adds storage without taking away from valuable square footage.

• DRAWERS. Use storage to gain space and declutter the counters. “When you have a small vanity with a set of doors,

everything gets lost in the back,” Michelle says. Drawers are an easier way to organize and to see everything.

• COUNTER SPACE. For a bathroom that’s used frequently, counter space is important. But if you’re designing a

powder room that won’t be used for getting ready in the morning and you’re short on space, forego a wide counter.

• RINGS. Although she prefers longer towel bars for larger bathrooms, Michelle recommends towel rings for smaller

bathrooms. “They don’t stick as far off the wall as a towel bar,” she says.

• LIGHTING. Michelle believes that “in any bathroom, lighting is really important.” Light fixtures are a great way to

add character to a bathroom through style, color and finish.