If you're remodeling or installing a bathroom, you'll want to browse small bathroom decorating ideas. While the blueprint for your bathroom won't change based on how it's decorated, you can "expand" the space with a few strategic decorating ideas, creating a space that's elegant, attractive and efficient.

Small bathrooms can be a design and decorating challenge, but with the right combination of fixtures, surfaces, colors, decor and lighting, it's possible to create the illusion of a much larger space. In recent years, bathrooms have begun to expand significantly in size — master bathrooms in newer homes can be positively palatial affairs, for example. Older homes tend to feature much smaller bathrooms throughout, and even newer construction often features half baths that can benefit from the decorating tricks that help create the illusion of more space.

One of the first tenets of small bathroom decor is to consider color and light. Generally speaking, a bathroom — or any space for that matter — will always seem larger if it's lighter and brighter. For this reason, be sure to take full advantage of any natural light available in your small bathroom. Make sure any curtains or shades are translucent, and keep windowsills free of any items that would obstruct sunlight from entering the space. Similarly, when choosing paint colors or a color scheme for the entire space, focus on lighter, livelier hues.