I Made My Tiny '90s Bathroom Feel Bigger - Without Moving Walls

"The older bathrooms in my historic Washington, DC, neighborhood are not known for their square footage. People 100 years ago knew how to use space efficiently, and, despite my best efforts, there was no footprint workaround or miracle floor plan that was going to add more square footage to my primary bathroom (short of stealing space from another room and signing up for a major and costly renovation, which I wasn't interested in)."

"However, there was a way to make this space feel light and bright while infusing it with some classic style that could overcome its now-dated late-'90s renovation and its non-functional state. (The cold water on the sink was the only thing that worked in the bathroom when we bought it!) With some style changes and fixture swaps, I was able to transform this tiny bathroom into a space where I'm excited to get up and get ready every day. Here's how I did it."

"I decided to take out the tub and replace it with a glass shower. My contractor confirmed that we could swap the shower head from the weird middle-of-the-room wall to one of the perimeter walls, which gave us the flexibility to open up the layout. I wanted to go full glass with the shower, but my contractor convinced me to leave a half wall to block the toilet. Definitely the right move!"

Historic Washington, DC bathrooms often have very limited square footage, leaving little opportunity for expansion without major renovation. Efficient layout changes can create a lighter, brighter, and more functional primary bathroom. Removing a standard enclosed tub and installing a glass shower opens visual sightlines and increases perceived space; relocating the shower head to a perimeter wall enables that layout. Retaining a half wall to shield the toilet preserves privacy while maintaining openness. Light-reflective finishes, budget-friendly tiles, and targeted fixture swaps refresh dated late-1990s renovations and make small bathrooms pleasant and practical for daily routines.

Read at Apartment Therapy