Even if your bathroom is small, you can style it in a way that makes it look expensive and fancy.
You have to be a bit nifty with the fixture choices and the way you paint the place, among other things.
If you’re not sure how to do that, don’t worry. In this post, we’re going to help you out by listing quite a few different options that you can choose from.
Luxurious Paint Combinations
Paint is probably the most underrated tool in a small bathroom. The right color combination can make a cramped space feel cozy rather than just… small.
Think deep moody tones like charcoal, navy, or forest green on the walls paired with bright white trim. Or go the other way with soft warm neutrals and matte finishes that feel spa-like.
Check out this image that I found on Pexels. It shows a gray paint coupled with an earthy lower wall section.
This is a good example of a luxurious paint combination.
Benefits of Luxurious Paint Combinations:
- Creates depth and visual interest without taking up physical space
- Transforms the entire room for a relatively low cost
- Makes fixtures and hardware pop more against a deliberate backdrop
- Matte finishes hide imperfections and feel more upscale than standard paint
Estimated Cost: $30-$100 for paint and supplies, plus $150-$400 if you’re hiring someone to do it
Cautions:
- Dark colors can make a poorly lit bathroom feel like a cave. Make sure that you have ample lighting.
- Cheap paint in a humid bathroom will peel. Always use a bathroom-specific or moisture-resistant formula.
- Test samples on the actual wall before committing. Colors look very different under bathroom lighting.
Plants and Greenery
A small bathroom with a plant or two in it feels very homely and relaxing. It’s one of those additions that’s hard to explain but easy to notice.
The right greenery adds a sense of calm that no accessory or fixture can really come close to.
The key is picking plants that actually thrive in humid, low-light conditions rather than ones that’ll be dead in two weeks.
Here, have a look at this image.
You can see that there is a big old pot in there that adds a nice green touch to the place. (And clock the paint in that place too!) It’s not a small bathroom, but it does convey how impactful plants can be.
Benefits:
- Adds a natural, organic element that softens hard bathroom surfaces
- Certain plants actively improve air quality as a bonus
- An inexpensive way to add visual interest without renovating anything
- Makes the space feel curated and lived-in rather than sterile
Estimated Cost: $5-$50 per plant, depending on size and variety
Cautions:
- Not all plants survive in bathrooms. Stick to pothos, snake plants, peace lilies, or ferns.
- If your bathroom has no natural light, you’ll need to rotate plants out or use a small grow light.
- Overwatering in an already humid space is a real problem. Go easy.
Floating Vanity
Swapping out a bulky floor-standing vanity for a floating one is one of the most impactful changes you can make in a small bathroom.
Because the floor is visible underneath it, the room immediately feels larger and more open. It’s a design trick that punches way above its weight, and it’s a staple in high-end bathroom design for a reason.
There are many different options in modern bathroom vanities that you can choose from, but floating vanities are perhaps the best when it comes to making your bathroom appear expensive and high-end.
Benefits of a floating vanity:
- Exposed floor space makes the bathroom feel significantly bigger
- Sleek, modern look that reads as expensive and intentional
- Easier to clean the floor underneath
- Works well with statement tile since nothing is blocking the view
Estimated Cost: $300-$1,500 for the vanity itself, plus $200-$600 for professional installation
Cautions:
- Installation requires proper wall reinforcement. This isn’t a DIY job for most people.
- If your plumbing isn’t already set up for a wall-mounted vanity, rerouting it adds cost.
- Storage is more limited than a traditional floor-standing vanity, so plan accordingly.
Smart Mirror
A smart mirror is one of those upgrades that looks expensive…even if you have no idea what it does.
The built-in lighting alone changes the whole feel of a bathroom, and the added features make it genuinely useful on top of looking great.
In a small bathroom, especially, a well-lit smart mirror draws the eye and becomes something that catches and pulls the eye.
Benefits:
- Built-in LED lighting improves visibility and creates an upscale ambiance
- Anti-fog keeps it functional and clear right after a shower
- Voice control and display features reduce counter clutter
- Feels like a luxury hotel bathroom fixture without the full renovation price tag
Estimated Cost: $150-$800 depending on size and features, plus $80-$200 if an electrician is needed
Cautions:
- Requires an electrical outlet behind or near the mirror. If there isn’t one, factor in the electrician costs.
- More features mean more things that can eventually malfunction. Stick to reputable brands.
- Oversizing the mirror in a small bathroom can look off. Measure carefully before buying.
Rainfall Showerhead
Few things signal “expensive bathroom” quite like a rainfall showerhead. It changes the entire shower experience and looks significantly more premium than a standard showerhead, even in a modest bathroom.
The overhead, wide-coverage spray mimics the feel of standing in warm rain, which sounds like marketing fluff until you’ve actually tried one.
Benefits:
- Instantly elevates the look and feel of any shower
- Wide coverage makes showers feel more immersive and relaxing
- Available in a huge range of finishes to match existing hardware
- Relatively simple upgrade compared to most bathroom renovations
Estimated Cost: $50-$300 for a wall-arm version, $400-$1,500+ if ceiling mounting and plumbing work is involved
Cautions:
- Ceiling-mounted rainfall heads require plumbing rerouting, which gets expensive fast. Wall-arm versions are far simpler to install.
- Water pressure matters. A rainfall head with low pressure is a disappointing experience.
- They use more water than standard showerheads, so worth keeping in mind if you’re conscious of water usage.
Wrapping Up
And that’s it.
With these additions to your bathroom, you can make it look expensive and high-end.
You can get started with a few of these and then work your way to incorporate all of them one by one.
