Big Ideas for the World's Smallest Bathrooms

By her own account, Claire's beautiful 19th century Victorian home also has the world's smallest bathroom.

"It's a true water closet," she laughs, taking me down the hall to the tiny loo that was built on the first floor of her home as an afterthought. "The way the house is set up, we can't expand this room without making major structural changes to building," she says, "so we're making do with what we have." She opens a leaded glass door to reveal a room that's decidedly luxurious.

Though a glass door on a bathroom is an unusual choice, it makes perfect sense for this little space.

"I wanted to find ways to bring as much light into the room as possible without building anything new," says Claire. The wood-framed door is inset with a panel of translucent art deco-style glass that allows for privacy while letting additional light into the room. The design in the glass also gives the room an unexpected focal point when the door's closed.

Though far from the smallest bathroom I've ever seen, the room is demure: just big enough for tub, sink, commode and a place to stand. Inside, two large mirrors are installed over the compact pedestal sink and on the opposite wall to make the most of available light. Conscious of creating an illusion of space, Claire says that lighting was the single-most important consideration when she was decorating. The mirrors both reflect light while providing an illusion of depth - a nifty trick in a small room. For versatility, the overhead lights are hooked up to a dimmer, allowing the room to go from sparkling bright to soothing spa with the flick of a switch.

EASY TIPS FOR DECORATING A SMALL BATHROOM

No matter how small your bathroom is, it can still be a luxurious space. Fortunately, many of the changes you can make are also small on the budget:

- Buy the biggest, fluffiest towels you can find and complement these with a single plush rug to step onto when you come out of the tub.

- Clear away clutter and stash the items you have to keep visible in attractive sea grass baskets or beautiful jars.

- Get rid of harsh lights as the main source of light in the room. Lowering the lights or providing a source of alternate lighting like candlelight is the quickest beauty treatment in the world. Install a dimmer switch

- Mirrors are not only a great way to maximize a small space, but are perfect in a bathroom. Consider putting mirrors on opposite walls allowing people to see themselves from the front and back at once - perfect for checking the hairdo. The back of a door is also a good spot for a full length mirror.

- For best results in the small room keep the bright colors to a minimum. White is a good default in the bathroom, and a great choice for any small room. Be liberal with it - cabinets and walls will reflect more light when painted white.

- Chrome and stainless steel fixtures, waste baskets, soap dispensers and accessories will give the room a modern look while reflecting more light.

- Giving the room a touch of spa doesn't have to take up a lot of space. Scented candles and soaps will lightly perfume the air without being overpowering. Hang candle holders on the wall to conserve counter space.