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15 Bathrooms That Prove All White Is Still Totally In
Sometimes white just wins.
Courtesy of Tessa Neustadt
White bathrooms are classic, but going with a monochromatic palette can get dull, fast. Whether you want to add in some color, pattern, or go totally modern, we've got plenty of white bathrooms that'll inspire you. White on white on white is a GO.
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Add A Plant
Proof that a potted plant can go a long way. Combined with tons of natural light, this bathroom is a legit oasis.
See more at Amber Interiors.
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Bring The Party To Your Floor
To keep an all-white bathroom from feeling too blah (but still plenty light & airy, obvs), tile your floor black-and-white. This geometric pattern picks up the pendant light.
See more at Amber Interiors.
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Warm It Up With A Rug
Adding a rug = easiest decor hack ever. It helps warm up an all white space and keep it from feeling too stark.
See more at Veneer Designs.
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Contrast With Black
Is there anything sexier than a black and white combo? Accent with brass and we're done for.
See more at Nicole Franzen.
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Shiplap Never Fails
Shiplap is literally always the answer to your white farmhouse bathroom dreams. Accent with silver for a little elegance.
See more at Amber Interiors.
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Lacquer It Up
All white can easily get a little too fussy. Glossy lacquer cabinets makes it feel a little more modern.
See more at Lark & Linen.
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Go Rustic
Minimalism never looked so cozy. This rustic-inspired bathroom makes a serious case for paring down.
See more at Nicole Franzen.
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Mix In Blue
Blue and white gets us every time. This white-and-brass bathroom gets a pop of color from navy blue tiles.
See more at Sugar & Cloth.
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Stripe It Up
Play up your white subway tile with a white striped shower curtain. Stripes on stripes on stripes.
See more at Gina Rachelle Design.
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Incorporate Woods
Wood acts like a neutral, so it wont be overpowering in an all-white bathroom. Stick to lighter, reclaimed woods so it doesn't feel too dark.
See more at Sugar and Charm.
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Make It Indoor/Outdoor
Only a glass wall separates the indoor shower on the left from the outdoor shower on the right for an uninterrupted visual flow of space in this Los Angeles bathroom.
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Tile A Mural
This master bath was inspired by hanami, the Japanese tradition of going to see the blossoms as part of a celebration of spring.
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Subway Tile With A Twist
Gray-grouted subway tiles help add dimension to an all-white bathroom.
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Art Deco Inspired
This New Jersey bathroom gets some art deco glam thanks to all the mirrors and marble. The white lacquer sink ups the period vibes.
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Coastal Vibes
Are you in a pool cabana, or your home bathroom? Wood-paneled walls, blue accents, and a palm leaf make this a coastal cool room.
Sienna LivermoreCommerce EditorSienna Livermore is a commerce editor at Hearst covering best-selling products, home items, fashion, beauty, and things you just can't live without.
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Redecorating the rooms in your home can bring some chaos, but it also brings a lot of excitement as you watch an entirely new look come to life in rooms that had become mundane and dated. The long-term enjoyment and satisfaction you get from a newly redesigned bathroom, for example, is more than worth the short amount of time you spend completing the work.
When you're decorating a particularly small bathroom — or any small room — you have to make the most of every bit of available space. From creating practical spaces to letting your design imagination shine through, you could take your new bathroom in many different directions. Let's take a look at some great design ideas for small bathrooms.
Go Bold with Wallpaper
Wallpaper may seem like a dated idea, but many of today's modern prints and designs look nothing like those blocky, geometric designs from days gone by. Bold prints and striking patterns that might look overwhelming in a larger space can really shine in a small bathroom. Choose an accent wall and decorate it with bright colors or a punchy pattern or go dramatic and wallpaper the entire bathroom in a textured print.
Photo Courtesy: Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Keep Counter Lines Clean
If you have an ample budget, changing your bathroom counter can really change the entire feel of the bathroom. Choose a design that adds crisp, clean lines to the space. Decorative finishes and scalloped edges may seem fancy and tempting, but they can distract from the rest of the room and diminish your counter space. Additionally, patterned designs on the walls call for "non-busy" counters and accessories to avoid a cluttered feel.
Photo Courtesy: FluxFactory/E+/Getty Images
Add a Design Element to the Ceiling
If decorating the walls isn't your style or you don't have a lot of open wall space, consider adding an eye-catching design element to the ceiling instead. Drawing visitors' eyes up to the ceiling helps create the illusion that your overall bathroom space is much larger than it actually is, according to Elle Decor.
Photo Courtesy: David Papazian/Corbis/Getty Images
Consider a Floating Sink
Okay, so maybe floating sinks don't really float, but these types of pedestal sinks with no surrounding counters almost give the impression they are really suspended in midair. This sink style allows you to eliminate bulky counters and cabinets by skipping the traditional bathroom vanity. If counter space isn't important to you, look for a modern floating sink with minimal plumbing to keep your walls and floor tidy.
Photo Courtesy: John Lovette/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images
Think Outside the Shower Stall
Traditional shower stalls and bathtubs take up a lot of valuable space in a tiny bathroom. If you've got the budget for a full replacement, consider turning your standard bathroom into a European-style bathroom with an open shower and drain on one end of the room, partially separated by a transparent sheet of laminated glass.
Photo Courtesy: Onzeg/E+/Getty Images
Try Hanging a Towel Bar
If you plan on keeping the counter and you need more counter space, hang a towel bar (or two) to free up space. These bars can hold standard hand towels or even full-size body towels in most cases. This use of vertical storage space saves some of your limited square footage for other uses. As a bonus, you can find plenty of towel bars with decorative designs to spruce up your walls as well.
One of the biggest problems in a small space is the lack of light, and dark rooms with poor lighting look not only dismal but also seem much smaller than they actually are. If your bathroom has a window, install decorative blinds or a window shade in a color and material that lets some natural light in, even when the blinds are closed or the shade is pulled down.
You know how funhouses always have halls and rooms with funky mirrors in them? The logic is simple — mirrors are great at creating optical illusions. Oval mirrors, in particular, create an illusion of height, and every mirror reflects both artificial and natural light to make rooms much brighter. Place an oval mirror over the sink or an open wall to add brightness and create the illusion of extra height in your small bathroom.
Photo Courtesy: tulcarion/E+/Getty Images
Use Ledges or Shelves for Storage
If you're completely remodeling your small bathroom, consider choosing a shower and tub enclosure with storage ledges in the walls. If your do-over isn't that extensive, you could hang shelves in the shower enclosure or above the sink. Ledges and shelves are great for storing shower and hair products that you don't want cluttering your counters.
Photo Courtesy: Image Source/Getty Images
Choose Flexible Storage Options
As much as you want to avoid clutter in a small bathroom, it's inevitable that you need certain items in the room. The storage items you choose are determined by the style choices you make throughout the room. If you opt for a pedestal sink, you might be able to slide a basket with fresh towels underneath it. If your shower doesn't have shelves, then look for a hanging shower caddy to drape over the shower head to hold your supplies. If you hang a shelf near your sink, pick up some cute containers to place on it to hold your toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush and other essentials.
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If you've ever tried to carve out more storage space in a tiny bathroom, you know that it's a seemingly impossible task. That's why it pays to know what kinds of products, layouts, setups, and decorating ideas can help make the most of a small bathroom and keep it organized.
To help in this endeavor, we searched our house tours high and low to round up some of the savviest small bathroom ideas we could find. It all comes down to really thinking outside the box when decorating without potentially cramming your space or losing out on storage opportunities. The following homes have incorporated everything from floating shelves and tiny sinks to mosaic tile and chic towel racks.
Continue scrolling for 60 ingenious ways to maximize even the smallest of bathroom spaces—all without sacrificing an inch of style.
1. Make it a shower room
Even if your shower takes up your entire bathroom, you can still make the most of the space, as evidenced by this gorgeous Swedish studio. A water-resistant bench for holding your belongings and towels are key.
2. Hide pipes with a plant
Name something a plant can't fix—we'll wait. While you may be disappointed with certain things in your tiny bathroom that you don't have the means to fix, like unsightly pipes or a boring cupboard, you can use a plant to take the attention off the area like these California renters did in their bath. A sink skirt would work here, too.
3. Rely on tile
Smaller square footage means less room for decor, but when you install striking tile, like what's seen in this cozy Vermont getaway, who needs anything more? The colors and patterns in the ceramic squares instantly brighten up the room and take up zero precious space, since they're used as a countertop material and to trim out the shower.
4. Turn to hanging storage
Installing hanging baskets for shower storage makes your bathroom look so much more fun—just take a look at this chic Pennsylvania home as an example. Your walls also won't feel as cluttered, and you'll avoid the pain of drilling or putting together a flat packed shelf.
5. Go all out with color
With little space for art or hanging decorations, you can fix a boring bathroom with a maximalist wallpaper, as is the case in this vivid New Jersey home. It infuses fun, lively color into your space but still leaves room for wall-mounted storage if needed.
6. Pick a bold paint color
Bright turquoise blue walls provide a stylish contrast to traditional white tile floors in a tiny bathroom, as we saw in this colorful New Orleans home.
7. Mount a few floating shelves
A pair of wall-mounted shelves turn a cramped bathroom corner into a storage-savvy scene. Let a chic Washington, D.C. apartment show you how it's done.
8. Give your space the tiled treatment
Add mosaic tile to the walls surrounding your bathtub or shower to create an artful display in your small bathroom, just like we saw in Shana Cohen's cozy cottage in Florida.
9. Play with texture
Take a cue from this Santa Barbara home by bringing some boho flair to a small bathroom. The duo used a mix of textures and textiles, like the woven rug, linen shower curtain, and rattan baskets.
10. Swap out your mirror.
Looking for an easy way to upgrade your small bathroom in a pinch? Replace your current mirror with a more sophisticated one—like the round floral bone mirror we found in this San Francisco apartment—to elevate the entire ambiance of your bathroom. No renovations necessary!
11. Work wonders with wallpaper
As proven in this maximalist Philadelphia home, sprightly floral wallpaper brightens up a tiny powder room with style.
12. Fake it 'til you make it
An oversized mirror, like the round one we spotted in a Michigan home, reflects light and creates the illusion of more space in a tiny bathroom.
13. Picture ledge power
Working with little to no surface space for storage on your pedestal sink? Mount a floating picture ledge above your sink to store cosmetics, perfume bottles, and other small bathroom necessities, as we saw in this Paris apartment.
14. Just keep it simple
A bathroom in a tiny home is about as small as you can get, but this Washington DC abode's bathroom doesn't feel cramped. If you keep products to a minimum and select only your favorite plant or candle to display, things will feel more spacious, even if they're actually far from it.
15. Make a splash with a shower curtain
The cheery shower curtain in a boho-style Bronx apartment creates an artful display in her tiny bathroom.
16. Gallery walls galore
A pair of gallery walls filled with eclectic artwork brings color and personality to a small bathroom—no floor space required, as we found in Apartment Therapy editor Adrienne Breaux's New Orleans home.
17. Wow with a wreath
No room for a house plant? Take a cue from this farmhouse and hang a wreath for an organic touch.
18. Spice it up with sconces
Searching for a stylish way to free up space around your sink? Swingarm sconces—like the ones in this Michigan home—will provide plenty of accent lighting without taking up an inch of surface space.
19. Be bold and bohemian
Usher some boho vibes into your small bathroom by switching out the mirror above your sink with a more eye-catching style, like the colorful one we spotted in this art-filled New Orleans home.
20. Create a chalkboard wall
Cover a single wall in a fresh coat of chalkboard paint to make an artful statement in a small bathroom, which will also keep you entertained while you're in there. Let this Rhode Island home serve as the perfect bathroom inspo.
21. The trim treatment
Bring a pop of color and contrast to your small bathroom by painting your baseboards and door trim in a bright hue. The owner of this Kansas City home nailed this design trick.
22. Embrace the awkward
Maximize a small, awkwardly shaped bathroom by covering the walls with some playful wallpaper, as we saw in this charming house in Edinburgh, Scotland.
23. Go green
24. Lean in
Not working with a ton of wall space to hang art in your tiny bathroom? Learn from Cupcakes and Cashmere founder Emily Schuman and prop a piece of art above your toilet tank. Let it lean against the wall for a sleek, nails-free display like she did inside her Los Angeles home.
25. Think pink
A bold shade of bright fuchsia wall paint turns even the smallest of powder rooms into a glamorous scene, as we saw in a very colorful Minneapolis, Minnesota loft.
26. Make mirror magic
27. Dive into the decor deep end
Dark walls allow flashy gold-finished fixtures to shine in a small bathroom, as we found in an Art Deco-inspired Indiana home, which hits a high note in our book.
28. Collect toiletries in a cute tray
A well-placed tray instantly creates storage opportunity on top of your toilet tank, as we saw in this modern Chicago home.
29. Create a glamorous glow
Switch out your humdrum flush mount for a more striking overhead style, like the pendant light we spotted in this San Francisco remodel, to upgrade a small bathroom in seconds.
30. Work with your window treatments
Hang an eye-catching curtain panel or two in place of traditional shades or drapes to make a bold statement with your window coverings in a small bathroom. Let this maximalist Los Angeles rental show you how it's done.
31. Edit your palette
If you feel a busy color scheme cramps your style, select two colors—or even just one—and stick with it. This small but stylish New York apartment shows how black and white can make a bathroom appear larger than it is.
32. Wallpaper FTW
Install vibrantly patterned wallpaper in a petite powder room to bring a touch of drama to a hard-to-decorate space, as we saw in this pretty Boston abode.
33. Work your wainscoting
Create contrast in a compact bathroom by painting the wainscoting in a rich neutral shade. In her Michigan powder room, the occupant used a navy blue that doesn't overwhelm the small space.
34. Be bold
Too much of a good thing can be wonderful, and gallery walls in a small bathroom are no exception. Take a cue from this eclectic Nashville home and install floor-to-ceiling gallery displays on every wall of your bathroom for an impactful maximalist scene.
35. Hang out
An extra-long hanging plant—like the wall-length heartleaf philodendron we spotted in this Los Angeles bathroom—naturally draws the eye up so a cramped space seems larger than it actually is.
36. Dare to be woodsy
You can always count on wood-paneled walls to create an outdoorsy atmosphere in your tiny bathroom, just like we saw in this inspiring Austin, Texas abode. Who needs to trek to a log cabin when you have this?
37. Wall-to-wall color
An eye-catching coral-hued curtain panel, as seen in a Pennsylvania home, brightens up a small, neutral bathroom in seconds.
38. Try an atypical towel rack
Score some extra sink-side storage space by replacing your wall-mounted towel rack with a multifunctional leaning ladder, as we saw in a gorgeous Australia-based bathroom.
39. Fashion flower power
In the bathroom of a Highland Park, California home, a commanding shower curtain creates a colorful centerpiece in a tiny white-tiled space
40. Forge some floating storage
Invest in a sleek and slender hanging rail system, like the FINTORP series at IKEA, so you won't waste an inch of precious sink space on toiletries. Jordan and Brittany Griggs take their storage strategy to the next level with this hack.
41. Find smaller fixtures
Smaller bathrooms call for smaller fixtures, which in turn leads to a perfectly proportioned space like this sun-soaked barge-turned-home. An itty bitty sink and petite toilet help make the wee bit of square footage in here not feel cramped.
42. Consider a chair
In this Brooklyn brownstone, a pretty porcelain stool brings a burst of color and some extra surface space for storage into a tiny neutral bathroom.
43. Go wild with mosaic tile
Divert attention away from an awkward bathroom layout with colorful mosaic tiled floors and walls, as we saw in a stunning Los Angeles bungalow.
44. Be bold and botanical
When you don't have enough room to place houseplants in your powder room, consider vibrant leaf-patterned wallpaper. This trick definitely pops in a lush Beverly Hills home.
45. Keep plants in the shower
Plant parents don't need to sweat it, if shelf space is taken, and there's no room on the floor. Many plants do perfectly fine chilling with you in the shower. Just take note of how the owners of this stunning Montreal home did it and research to see if your green-fronded friends can find a home in your bathroom. You can even hang a few off of your shower rod!
46. Make a mirrored marvel
An eye-catching full-length mirror brings an artful touch to a small bathroom while creating the illusion of more space, as we saw in this Texan house.
47. Embrace the extra
A floor-to-ceiling gallery wall gives a compact bathroom a maximalist upgrade when displayed against a bright green-painted wall. Look to this colorful Los Angeles home for some inspiration.
48. Shop for slim storage
49. Try textured walls
50. Play with complementary colors
The orange shower curtain and blue walls in the bathroom of a stylish New Orleans house pull the eye up and around the space. They also help visually elongate the room, emphasizing the tall ceilings and taking attention off of the narrowness of the space.
51. Beautify with baskets
A good-looking woven basket provides more than enough storage room for rolled towels, bathtub toys, and other bathroom accessories. Let this West Hollywood apartment show you how it's done.
52. Raise a glass (shelf)
No sink storage in your small bathroom? No worries. In this Brooklyn brownstone, a slender floating glass shelf offers up space for stashing a range of toiletries without cramping up a small bathroom.
53. Color your cabinets
Bring a burst of color into a small, minimalist bathroom by painting your sink cabinets in a vibrant hue, as we saw in this soothing space in a Michigan kit home.
54. Take a seat
A petite side chair provides a place to perch and surface space for tub-side storage in a small bathroom, as seen in this English farmhouse.
55. Go geometric
A shapely wall-mounted storage unit, like the floating brass circle shelf we spotted inside an Oakland apartment, adds some geometric flair (and a storage opportunity) to a tiny bathroom.
56. Find functional furniture
An unexpected but multifunctional piece of furniture, as seen in this Berlin apartment, offers up some much-needed storage space in a small bathroom.
57. Create contrast
58. Float on
If you're working with little to no storage space around your shower or bathtub, mount a floating shelf or picture ledge on the wall above the tub to store your shampoo, conditioner, and soap. This Buenos Aires home strikes a balance between form and function.
59. Keep a low profile
When you don't have any surface space around your pedestal sink, consider employing a petite, tiered side table to create some instant storage opportunity. This Austin abode show how to get the job done in style.
60. Go big or go home
Don't let a lack of square footage hold you back from designing your dream bathroom. Take a cue from Lauren Naimola and Chad Pratt and install everything from a gallery wall to a statement light in your powder room to prove that good style will always trump size.
Caroline Biggs
Contributor
Caroline is a writer living in New York City. When she's not covering art, interiors, and celebrity lifestyles, she's usually buying sneakers, eating cupcakes, or hanging with her rescue bunnies, Daisy and Daffodil.
Holy Reinheitsgebot! Germany is a place to party. Which is another reason why the Frankfurt Motor Show—open to the public till September 27th—is a worthwhile destination. This is the motor show where the first Porsche 911 debut in 1963, and there is a Bund's worth of new icons to covet on display right now. And at night? You can drink like the Germans have for 1,000 years.
Here's a few favorite German brews, all of which can be found in Deutschland but also here in the U.S.
1. Bitburger
Brewed not far from the Black Forest—that enchanted woodland home of Hansel, Gretel and innumerable beautiful blondes—comes the great Bitburger, a thirst-quenching delight of classic Pilsener flavor. The brewery is over 200 years old and makes about 4 million hectoliters annually. Macrobrewing at its best! Bonus: Bitburger was a major sponsor of Michael Schumacher's 1995 Formula 1 World Championship Benetton-Renault car.
2. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
This brewery has sat in a monastery atop Weihenstephaner Hill in Bavaria for nearly 1,000 years. Yes, it's the world's oldest functioning brewery. The Beer Advocate, meanwhile, rates Weihenstephaner's wheat beer as the finest mug of suds in Germany. Good enough for us—another, please.
3. Possmann Pure Cider
Turns out, people like to turn anything they can lay hands on into an alcoholic beverage. The people of Frankfurt (not called Frankfurters, by the way) live near large apple-growing areas, and they drink apfelwein, otherwise known as hard cider. Thus the Frankfurt Apple Wine Festival, held every summer. Possmann Pure Cider is made in Frankfurt. You can find it over there, and over here.
4. Spaten
Right now, this brewery in the city of Munich—which qualifies as ground zero of the beer industry, anywhere on earth—is fast at work churning out liquid gold for next month's Oktoberfest. (Last year, revelers consumed 1.7 million gallons at the autumnal bacchanal.) Spaten's brewing history in Munich dates back to 1397—another German classic, worth another pour.
5. Beck's
There are two things we love about this old-school brand from Bremen. One, its brews are pretty damn refreshing, especially on a warm afternoon. Two, the world's best-selling German beer can be found in any ol' filling station, in dozens of countries around the globe. Never mind that the Beck's you find here in the U.S. has been brewed in St. Louis since 2012. This is a beer you can remember holding for your dad while you sat next to him with no seatbelt on as he drove to the hardware store. A trip back in time, in a bottle.
While many people consider laying bathroom tile a do-it-yourself project for money-saving reasons, there are many factors that can make or break the job. This quick guide shows you how to tile a bathroom correctly.
Bathroom Tile Installation Once you've determined the type of tile you need, think about how it will be installed. The substrate, or what tile is installed on top of, is just as important as the tile itself. A flexing floor or a wall that is uneven can lead to broken tiles and failed grout.
Water-resistant backer board, not drywall, should be used under the tile that will get wet. Whether it's backer board, plywood or concrete, the substrate needs to be sound, clean and dimensionally stable. Surfaces need to be level or plumb and true to plane, as the pros say. That means no bumps.
Any cracks or voids can compromise even the best tile job. The only way to be sure the tile sticks fast is to use a notched trowel to apply adhesive to the substrate.
Create Space The space between the tiles should be uniform, so use spacers if your tiles don't come on mesh sheets. The larger the tile, the larger the space should be between them. Some do-it-yourselfers will make the mistake of pushing tiles too close together to reduce grout lines. Without enough surface area, grout won't bond well and can fail prematurely, leaving room for leaks and water damage. It's also very important to let the adhesive cure fully.
Follow Instructions Follow the manufacturer's instructions and stay off the installation the required amount of time before you grout the tile.
Few things in life are more universally loved than dogs. However, as any dog owner can attest, try as we might, communicating with our furry friends isn't always the easiest. While your special bond lets you understand each other to a certain degree, sometimes you wish you could just talk to one another. The goods news is that dogs have their own special ways of communicating with us. Understanding them can even improve your relationship with your furry friend.
Creating a Feather Bed From Furniture
If you've ever come home and realized that your dog has taken it upon himself to rip up the couch cushions or other items like toilet paper rolls, you're certainly not alone. It's a pet owner's worst nightmare but one of the most common things to happen.
Photo Courtesy: RichardThijeratt/Unsplash
However, your furry friend likely wasn't trying to be a rascal during the furniture-ransacking adventure. He was probably trying to tell you how anxious he gets when you're not around. Sometimes this behavior can fade away with age. If it persists, though, it's best to try to exercise your dog before you leave the house.
Howling Like a Wolf
When your dog breaks out into a howl, it's clear that he's trying to communicate something. Unlike other forms of communication, this is one way dogs can express themselves verbally. But what is it exactly? It could mean a few different things.
Photo Courtesy: MinAn/Pexels
One reason is that they're trying to make contact with other dogs or announce their presence. For example, if they hear a dog in the distance, they might begin howling. Another reason is that they can hear a high-pitched noise, such as an ambulance siren. Their howling could be indicative of their annoyance and their discomfort.
Excessive Licking
Most of us assume when a dog comes up to us and begins licking, it's their way of giving "kisses." Although this isn't entirely accurate, it is a form of communicating affection. Dogs lick humans to show submissiveness, which is good.
Photo Courtesy: ChrisSlupski/Unsplash
However, it's important to note that if you notice your dog excessively licking himself, it might be a sign of stress, anxiety or pain. For example, if your dog suddenly develops a habit of licking his paws, it might mean something is bothering him. It's best to keep an eye on it to see if it persists.
Dragging Their Bottoms Across the Ground
Have you ever noticed your dog dragging his behind across the floor? At first, this can be alarming because you worry about what it might do to the cleanliness of your carpets. In some cases, it can also be slightly entertaining due to the sheer silliness of how it looks.
Photo Courtesy: PaulMurphy/Unsplash
However, when dogs scoot their butts across the floor, it could mean that their behinds are a bit dirty and, in turn, irritating. This is an effort to get clean. Unfortunately, it could also mean a more serious problem, such as worms or an issue with their anal glands.
Tilting Their Heads
You'd be hard-pressed to come across someone who doesn't find a dog's head tilts adorable. But dogs aren't trying to win any cuteness points when they do this (even if that is a byproduct). So why do they do it?
Photo Courtesy: MaggieLovesOrbit/Unsplash
When dogs tilt their heads, it usually means that they're trying to hear something better. If something piques their interest, tilting their heads is a way of turning their ears upward to hone in on what the noise is and where it's coming from. Basically, this is their way of communicating that they're curious about something.
Chasing Their Tails
Second perhaps only to head tilting, tail chasing is one of the most adorable and entertaining things a dog can do. While we may find humor in this fool's errand the dog is on, dogs (most often puppies) do this when they've yet to learn that their sought-after prize is attached to them.
Photo Courtesy: LilShepherd/Flickr
However, that's not always the case. Sometimes dogs do this because they're simply bored. Other times, it may look like they're being playful when really they're trying to get to an itch or something is irritating an anal gland.
Grubbing on Grass
You're walking your dog or watching him play outside when you notice him snacking on some grass. No, your beloved canine isn't switching to a plant-based diet. Rest assured that this is normal dog behavior and occasionally leads to vomiting. It may also indicate a lack of nutrients in your pet's food.
Photo Courtesy: KarstenPaulick/Pixabay
It could also mean he's suffering from an upset stomach and attempting to improve his digestion. Try giving him some water. If the problem persists, you might want to consult your veterinarian. A more severe reason may be that your dog is suffering from intestinal worms.
Digging Deep
You buy your dog bundles of chewy and squeaky toys, yet when you go outside, you notice that he opts to dig a hole in your freshly landscaped lawn. Again, this doesn't mean he's trying to get on your bad side.
Photo Courtesy: LarsForseth/Pixabay
A possible reason for the digging is that it's been bred into his specific breed type. Some dogs may be trying to hide their food or toys. Digging is also common among bored dogs. It gives them physical exercise while also giving them a task to focus on. To prevent this, try taking your dog on more walks or playing fetch to tire him out.
Following You Around the House
They say dogs are man's best friend. But if that's true, dogs can be extremely clingy friends at times. Although a dog following your every step can be annoying, it's also a behavior many homeowners find cute and endearing. But what does it mean?
Photo Courtesy: SweetIceCreamPhotography/Unsplash
Turns out this form of communication is pretty straightforward. If your dog is following your every move, it's only because he enjoys being around you, and his natural instinct is to stay with his family. It's a way for him to express companionship. In some cases, it may mean that your dog is insecure or anxious.
Comforting You When You're Upset
One of the most heartwarming dog behaviors you can experience as a pet owner is when your dog seems to want to comfort you when something is wrong. While you may chalk it up to coincidence, it's usually not.
Photo Courtesy: SashaSashina/Unsplash
Dogs have the ability to sense when something is wrong. Plus, because they know their owners very well, they're able to read our body language. If you're feeling sad, your dog really might come to comfort you. If he doesn't, don't be offended. His distance may mean he's upset — so much so that he's unable or doesn't know how to help.
Giving You the Sad, Puppy-Dog Eyes
People, particularly children, are known for giving "puppy dog eyes" when they're pleading for or seeking something. However, when your dog does it, it doesn't necessarily mean that he has the same end goal.
Photo Courtesy: MatthewHenry/Unsplash
When your dog makes these eyes at you, it could be him communicating his love for you. It's a form of establishing trust. In fact, some research suggests that canines evolved a facial muscle that lets them raise the spot between their eyebrows as a way of improving their communication with human beings.
Sticking Their Heads Out Car Windows
If you've ever taken your dog on a car ride, you've probably witnessed him trying to stick his head out the window. Maybe you let him, or maybe you didn't — some owners can get nervous about this, which is understandable.
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But sticking his head out the car window is rarely cause for concern. It's merely a way of surveying his surroundings. Also, while the wind may feel nice on his face, it's not the speed the pup is enjoying but more likely the range of scents. Dogs have high sense receptors, and the harder the wind passes, the more scents they're able to detect.
Staring Directly at You
Dog staring can be a tricky subject because it can mean many things based on specific circumstances and factors. For example, in some scenarios, dogs staring at humans and other dogs can be a form of intimidation.
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However, if a dog is comfortable with you, and you find him harmlessly and gently staring at you, it could just mean he's devoted to you and relaxed enough to make direct eye contact. He might also be asking you for something. For example, if he knows it's getting close to dinner, he might be giving you a nudge with his eyeballs.
Lounging With Their Legs in the Air
When a dog falls asleep while lying on his back and has his paws and limbs sticking up, it's sometimes known as the "dead bug" position. If your dog does this a lot, it's a good sign. This means he's comfortable around you.
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Leaving the underside of his body facing up is a sign of submissiveness and vulnerability. Dogs that sleep like this communicate a laid-back, confident attitude that demonstrates how comfortable and secure they feel — around you and in their surroundings. Also, because stomach fur is thinner, when dogs sleep stomach-up, it might mean they're trying to cool down.
Curling Up Like a Fox
If dogs that lie on their backs are confident and secure, is a canine that curls up like a fox to sleep insecure and anxious? Not necessarily. While it could mean he's a bit apprehensive, it's usually a way of keeping warm.
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If your dog doesn't typically curl up in a ball, you might think something is wrong. But it might just mean he's feeling a tad chilly at the moment. Tucking his paws underneath himself and curling in is a way of warming up, just as humans might do when they're feeling cold.
Talking With Their Tails
It's not news that one way dogs communicate is by using their tails. However, most of us assume that when a dog's tail is wagging at all, it means he's happy and excited. Unfortunately, this isn't necessarily the case. Different tail movements can mean different things.
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If your dog's tail is moving at a slower pace, he's communicating hesitation. A tall, rigid tail means he's on edge, and a tucked tail usually means he's scared. However, if he's wagging it back and forth so aggressively that it's moving the rest of his body, then he's just happy to see you!
Repetitive Sneezing or Yawning
If your furry friend starts sneezing over and over, you might assume he's coming down with a bit of a cold. But as time goes on you notice that this seems to be a habit. Ditto for yawning. Even with plenty of sleep and no illness to speak of, these behaviors persist. So what gives?
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Believe it or not, these can actually be methods of communication. Unnecessary yawning and sneezing can signify discomfort or possible stress. Next time your pet is around someone new or in a different place, see if he lets out a few yawns or sneezes. You can safely chalk it up to nervousness.
Raising One of Their Paws
Remember in school when you had to raise your hand if you wanted to ask the teacher something? You can liken this to your dog raising one of his paws. In all seriousness, one of the ways dogs communicate that they need (or, more likely, want) something is by lifting one paw.
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If you're sitting on the couch and your dog comes up and puts one paw on your leg, it probably means he wants something. It could be that he wants to play — unless you're in the middle of eating. Then you probably already know what he wants.
Bringing Random "Presents"
When your dog drops a toy at your feet, it's a clear indicator that he's ready to play, right? But what about when he brings you other random things, like garbage, a stick from the yard or (in some unfortunate and mildly disturbing cases) a dead bird or rodent?
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This can definitely be your dog trying to communicate that he thinks it's playtime. However, sometimes bringing you a favorite toy or something he dug up from the yard can kind of be like the human version of gift-giving. It's one of the ways dogs show affection.
Resting or Leaning Their Bodies on People
A dog relaxing onto your leg or resting against you can sometimes be a bit irritating — especially if you're in the middle of trying to do something. However, you'll likely feel a lot less annoyed next time this happens when you learn what it really means.
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When a dog leans his body against yours, it usually means that he's trying to snuggle and cuddle with you. Sure, that may be obvious. But it becomes a lot cuter when you realize that it's essentially his way of hugging you because he isn't able to physically do that on his own.
Sniffing You (or Strangers)
As mentioned, dogs have a heightened sense of smell. And it makes sense that they sniff strangers and other dogs as a way of getting to know them. But what makes dogs choose the places they want to sniff?
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It turns out that this mostly boils down to the apocrine glands we have in our bodies. These highly concentrated glands are where dogs go to look for more information about who we are. Scent is the strongest sense for dogs, so even if they physically see you after you return, they may need to sniff you before their tails start wagging.
Sleeping Back to Back
If you have more than one dog, you may have noticed them sleeping back to back. If you allow your single dog to sleep with you, you may also notice that his preferred sleeping position is with his back against yours. At first, this may be something you take offense to.
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Your dog sleeping in a position that faces away from you isn't an insult or a sign that he doesn't want to cuddle. It's usually the opposite! Sleeping back to back is something a dog only does when he's with his "pack" and feels entirely comfortable with his surroundings.
Freaking Out When You Walk Through the Door
It's nice to know you're missed when you leave the house for an extended period. But whether you were gone all day at work or were running a 10-minute errand, it doesn't matter to your dog: He still flips out the second you walk through the door as if he hasn't seen you in years.
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The more hyper your dog gets when you walk through the door, the more excitement he has about seeing you. Obviously, this is a good thing. It's his way of communicating appreciation for you and indicating how much he missed you when you were gone.
Crashing on Your Bed While You're Away
Not all dog owners let their dogs sleep in or on their beds. Others are a bit more lenient. Either way, you might occasionally come home to find your dog lounging on your bed, even if he could have chosen the couch or his own dog bed. Why is this?
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Sure, your mattress is probably a bit more comfortable than the couch or the dog bed. But it might go deeper than that. Your bed has your scent all over it, so when you're not home, your bed is the closest your dog can get to feeling like he's with you.
Squinting Their Eyes
Human beings squint their eyes for a number of reasons. They might be confused and trying to figure something out. Or they might be suspicious. They also might start squinting when they're tired. So what does it mean when our dogs do it?
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Not quite the same thing, actually, When dogs squint at us, they're not being judgmental or critical. Not entirely anyway. It's one of their methods of asking for attention. Try spending some quality time with your pup or giving him some cuddles for a few minutes and see if the awkward eye behavior subsides.
Eating Feces
Okay, this isn't the most pleasant one. But it's something a lot of dog owners deal with. If you've found your dog munching on some bathroom droppings, at least know that you're not alone. But what does it mean? Is your dog just being strange?
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Doing this isn't your dog's way of being gross — at least he's not trying to be. In fact, he's trying to be the opposite. Consuming feces, whether it's his or another dog's, is one way that your dog tries to "clean" his environment or territory. He doesn't want the area where he eats to be dirty.
Hanging Their Tongues Out
When you spend a lot of time running around with your dog, you might notice him starting to pant with his tongue hanging out. This can be a clear indicator that he's saying he's thirsty or he might be simply out of breath.
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However, a dog that's just hanging around the house with his tongue out is communicating to you that he's feeling happy and relaxed. This is usually something that happens after you give him a lot of attention. It's a sign that he's pleased with you and that he enjoys the current situation.
Putting Their Ears Back and Growling
Most of us already know what this means. But if you're a new dog owner, or you encounter a dog and don't have one of your own, it serves as a helpful reminder. When dogs show their teeth and growl, especially when their ears are back, this is a sign of aggression.
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Sometimes it can be confusing because some dogs lightly use their teeth or let out growl-ish noises when they're playing. But it's important to read your situation to see what the dog is communicating. If the dog has his ears back with his fur standing and a rigid tail, he's unhappy and in a protective mode.
Waiting for the Go-Ahead
Have you ever come home to find your dog in his crate? You know he's excited to see you, and the second you walk to the crate he'll get up and start wagging his tail furiously. At first, he sits there, perhaps with his ears back, and patiently waits for you to approach.
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This and similar situations are signs that he's waiting for your approval. This is a great thing. If dogs stare at you, or even glance at you, before they're about to do something, it means that they understand you're the Alpha and respect you.
Rolling Over
Some dog owners teach their dogs to roll over. This can be fun and playful. However, even when dogs aren't trained for this command, many still do it. You may find them rolling onto their backs as you approach them.
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While this does communicate submissiveness, it could also mean they're asking for belly scratches. This is most common when your dog feels comfortable around you and his environment, as lying on his back also puts him in a vulnerable position. On the other hand, if he's sleeping and rolls onto his back, he's probably trying to cool down.
