Living in a log cabin can be an amazing way to simplify your life, get away from the rush, and enjoy the experience of being at one with nature.
In many cases, however, space can be an issue – especially when it comes to the bathroom!
To help inspire you to make the most of smaller spaces, we have put together the ultimate guide to space-saving bathrooms – get ready to transform your log cabin!
Add A Skylight
A great way to add space to your bathroom, and help your log cabin to stand out from the crowd, is to install a skylight in your bathroom.
This is a great option if space is limited, and will add light, air, and the illusion of roominess to even the smallest and coziest of bathrooms. Best of all, it allows you to create an incredible, tranquil experience – stargazing while in the bath, anyone?
Think Vertically
When you have a small or restricted space, one of the best options for decorating is to go up. This attracts the eye of the viewer and forces it up towards the ceiling.
Not only is this a great distraction from the lack of space in the room, but it can also offer the illusion of higher ceilings and this, in turn, can help your log cabin bathroom to feel bigger than it truly is.
Create A Secret Door
If your issue is with the main room of the cabin, then why not get creative with the door to your bathroom?
Rather than a standard wood panel design, opt for a bright tapestry, a clever, integrated design, or, if you really want to go the extra mile, a specially designed “secret” door that doubles up as a bookcase, shelving unit, or another functional item.
This has two benefits – you can use the door for another purpose; ideal in a cozy log cabin – and you also have a ready-made talking point!
Switch To Sliding Doors
Speaking of doors, one major change to make when space is short is to switch to sliding doors, rather than those that swing open.
This immediately gives you a lot more space to move, both in the main living area and in the bathroom itself. Why waste precious floor space on a swinging door when you can invest in a super cool sliding panel?
Use One Shade
When it comes to decorating, using a single shade in your bathroom is a great way to disguise small spaces.
As a rule, log cabins tend to be cozy, so make the most of this by picking your favorite color, and using this to create a cohesive, smooth aesthetic that runs throughout the whole bathroom.
Mix Your Materials
Another top tip is to mix and match your materials as much as possible – this creates an interesting visual effect that can be a great distraction from a small space.
Log cabins tend to be focused around wood, so experiment with different fabrics, textures, glass, and stone for a mixed bag of materials that create a stunning visual experience for visitors.
Choose What You Love
One of the most important things to remember is that you should fill your home with things you love – and this is a rule that also applies to the bathroom.
If the space is feeling cramped or crowded, take a little time to assess the items you have in there.
Do you really, absolutely, totally love every single thing, or is it there to fill a space, keep a relative happy, or because you forgot you had it?
Being ruthless with your items means that you can ensure that everything that is present is something you truly appreciate, and that gives you joy every time you see it.
It should also be noted that sometimes a cozy, cramped aesthetic is what you are searching for – in this case, fill the room with things that you truly love!
Fit Cabinets Flush
A top tip for small spaces is to fit your cabinets flush to the wall – this not only offers you more physical space, but it also makes the entire room look taller and wider, offering the illusion of more space while still ensuring that you have the storage you need.
You can also opt for cabinets in the same color as your other walls and accessories to emphasize that “all-in-one” look we saw earlier.
Function And Fashion
In the same vein as ensuring that you really love everything in your bathroom, you should make sure that everything is working as hard as it can – nothing should be there unless it is either functional or fashionable and, ideally, everything should be a combination of both.
While this is not always possible, aim to purchase storage and other items that you not only love the look of but that can also be used for multiple purposes and functions.
Go Monochrome
If you are really struggling to transform a small space in your log cabin, then you can always fall back on reliable, classic advice: go monochrome.
This is a great color scheme for bathrooms and adds a real sleek sophistication that is not often found in a log cabin.
Aim for white walls and black accessories, black walls and white accessories (especially if you are feeling dramatic!), or a combination of both for a real statement space that you can be proud of.
Hide Your Toilet Paper
Make sure that you only have a few, select focus points in your bathroom by hiding toilet paper and other non-essential items away and out of sight.
You will be amazed at how much fresher, cleaner and brighter your bathroom looks when you remove any excess clutter and visual noise, and this is the key to helping to create a feeling of space and light, even when both are lacking.
You can even opt for storage units that emulate the wood of the cabin for a cool camouflage effect.
Make The Most Of Mirrors
It goes without saying that mirrors are a must if you are trying to boost a dark, small bathroom.
Make sure that you choose a frame that really emphasizes the mirror – perhaps a wooden frame to blend with wooden walls, or an invisible frame to let the mirror really speak for itself.
For the best results, place this opposite a window, and watch the light come flooding in to transform the bathroom.
Install Good Lighting
Just like mirrors and windows, good lighting can be the secret to success when you are trying to bring your bathroom to life.
A carefully placed spotlight can eliminate shadows, and concealed lighting means that there is less visual noise to make the space seem crowded or small.
Opt for plenty of bright, flattering light to add a cozy glow.
If you are looking for an authentic log cabin experience, you can even select lighting designed to emulate firelight and torches – this can also be great for setting a perfect mood!
Get Creative With Tiles
When you are working with limited space, the number one priority is to ensure that that space is working for you. An easy way to achieve this is to tile everything you can and transform every inch of your bathroom into usable space.
This way, you turn a pokey shower into a luxurious walk-in experience, or a crowded sink into a flowing, integrated bathroom suite.
As a rule, smaller tiles are the best option for making a smaller space look bigger, as they draw the eye up.
Add Some Artwork
Just because your space is small does not mean that you should neglect artwork – on the contrary, this offers an amazing distraction for those viewing the room.
Emulate eighteenth-century galleries by creating your very own gallery wall, and opt for different shapes and size pieces to make a feature of a specific area of your bathroom – this can also offer a great talking point when you have visitors!
Use Your Ledges
There is a common tendency to add lots of shelves to small spaces, in an attempt to get clutter off the floor and move it up onto the walls.
While this can be effective, a better idea is to look carefully at what you already have and make the most of this.
Window ledges or the top of the toilet provide a unique, ready-made ledge, and with a little creativity, you can make the most of the space that you already have without increasing the amount of “stuff” in the room.
Dark Or Go Home
There is a temptation to automatically paint a small bathroom bright white, but this can be a mistake, and can actually accentuate how small the space is – particularly if the rest of your log cabin has a dark, traditional, and cozy aesthetic.
With a little courage, you can actually create far more of an impact by picking a dark color for your bathroom.
Rather than making an effort to hide how small the bathroom is, you can embrace it for a luxurious and intimate feel, and make a serious statement.
Get Comfortable With Glass
When space is tight, glass is your friend – especially if you are planning details such as shower doors versus curtains.
A clean, clear glass door will create an optical illusion – the eye will be able to see right across the bathroom, and this can help the space to feel more open and fresh.
Just make sure that you pick a door that is easy to clean, as stains and smudges can quickly make a smaller bathroom feel grubby and unloved.
Use A Shower Niche
If you have the option of a whole new shower being installed, make sure that you incorporate at least one niche into the wall of your shower.
As the name suggests, this is a small section that is set back slightly into the wall and offers you a little extra storage space without having to hang shelves or place things on the wall.
This is a must for smaller spaces.
Bright And Cheerful
If dark and brooding is not your thing, then you can always opt for a cheerful color for your bathroom – especially if you already have good natural lighting.
The trick here is to pick a solid, bold color, and then accessorize in a different shade; this prevents the overall aesthetic from becoming too bleak, clinical, or sterile, which is a risk when you work with a lot of white.
