10 Popular Bathroom Design Styles
Find out the key features, colours and details of each style and learn which one is right for you
Laura Gaskill
3 April 2021
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Whether you’re tackling a bathroom remodel with the help of a bathroom designer, architect or contractor, knowing which style resonates with you can be a big help. Read on for the need-to-know details about 10 popular bathroom styles, including colour palettes and key features of each look. Click the links under each description to see additional pictures and more detailed information about each style.
1. Transitional
Transitional bathrooms gracefully walk the line between traditional and contemporary, with just enough detailing to please folks in both design camps. While elements of traditional and contemporary styles are both present, transitional bathrooms don’t veer far in either direction.
Key features of transitional-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: Whether you opt for cool or warm hues, the colours in a transitional bathroom tend to be soft and subtle. For a richer look, consider blue, brown, grey or wood tones.
Your Guide to a Transitional-Style Bathroom
Transitional bathrooms gracefully walk the line between traditional and contemporary, with just enough detailing to please folks in both design camps. While elements of traditional and contemporary styles are both present, transitional bathrooms don’t veer far in either direction.
Key features of transitional-style bathrooms:
- Shaker-style vanity
- Light-hued stone counters, floors or wall treatments in materials such as marble and quartz
- Undermount sink
- Subway tile
- Pedestal bathtub
- Glass shower enclosure
- Classic lighting such as drum pendants, updated chandeliers and sleek wall sconces.
Colour palette: Whether you opt for cool or warm hues, the colours in a transitional bathroom tend to be soft and subtle. For a richer look, consider blue, brown, grey or wood tones.
Your Guide to a Transitional-Style Bathroom
2. Modern
Modern bathrooms are sleek and streamlined, emphasising strong horizontal lines. Clean, flourish-free details keep the focus on the architecture.
Key features of modern-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: The focus of a modern-style bathroom is on the architecture, which means the colour palette tends toward crisp, clean white, subtle neutrals and black. Pops of colour show up in the form of accessories such as bath towels and plants.
Your Guide to a Modern-Style Bathroom
Modern bathrooms are sleek and streamlined, emphasising strong horizontal lines. Clean, flourish-free details keep the focus on the architecture.
Key features of modern-style bathrooms:
- Floating vanity
- Glass shower enclosure
- Freestanding bathtub
- Minimalist faucets
- Streamlined lighting
- Frameless mirrors
Colour palette: The focus of a modern-style bathroom is on the architecture, which means the colour palette tends toward crisp, clean white, subtle neutrals and black. Pops of colour show up in the form of accessories such as bath towels and plants.
Your Guide to a Modern-Style Bathroom
3. Contemporary
Contemporary bathrooms fully embrace the latest in technology, materials and trends for an of-the-moment look with clean lines and minimal adornment. Contemporary bathrooms can (and do) break the rules, but as a whole they stay away from heavy embellishments and traditional shapes.
Key features of contemporary-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: A black-and-white palette is a popular choice in contemporary bathrooms, although any high-contrast colour combination can work.
Your Guide to a Contemporary-Style Bathroom
Contemporary bathrooms fully embrace the latest in technology, materials and trends for an of-the-moment look with clean lines and minimal adornment. Contemporary bathrooms can (and do) break the rules, but as a whole they stay away from heavy embellishments and traditional shapes.
Key features of contemporary-style bathrooms:
- Sleek vanity
- Minimalist faucets
- Glass shower enclosure
- Statement tile
- Slim-profile mirrors
- The latest tech such as digital shower controls and smart mirrors
Colour palette: A black-and-white palette is a popular choice in contemporary bathrooms, although any high-contrast colour combination can work.
Your Guide to a Contemporary-Style Bathroom
4. Traditional
Traditional bathrooms are timeless, comfortable and refined, with gleaming surfaces and high-end materials. Unlike minimalist modern bathrooms or trend-conscious contemporary bathrooms, traditional bathrooms favour a healthy amount of decorative detail and classic elegance.
Key features of traditional-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: The colours in traditional bathrooms tend to be soft and relaxing. Subtle neutrals and pale shades of blue and green work well, or consider deeper shades of blue, brown, grey and wood tones for a richer look.
Your Guide to a Traditional-Style Bathroom
Traditional bathrooms are timeless, comfortable and refined, with gleaming surfaces and high-end materials. Unlike minimalist modern bathrooms or trend-conscious contemporary bathrooms, traditional bathrooms favour a healthy amount of decorative detail and classic elegance.
Key features of traditional-style bathrooms:
- Furniture-style vanity
- Elegant stone counters, floors or wall treatments
- Antique-style lighting
- Classic bathtub such as a claw-foot or pedestal style
- Dressing table
- Wainscoting, wallpaper and decorative moulding
Colour palette: The colours in traditional bathrooms tend to be soft and relaxing. Subtle neutrals and pale shades of blue and green work well, or consider deeper shades of blue, brown, grey and wood tones for a richer look.
Your Guide to a Traditional-Style Bathroom
5. Farmhouse
Farmhouse-style bathrooms balance the rustic appeal of regional, rural heritage with simplicity-loving modern sensibilities. And while farmhouse bathrooms today often incorporate modern elements, this isn’t the place to experiment with trends: Think simple, honest and homespun.
Key features of farmhouse-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: Farmhouse bathrooms favour simple, natural colour palettes. White with crisp black trim is a popular choice; for richer hues, look to nature-inspired neutrals and other classic colours.
Your Guide to a Farmhouse-Style Bathroom
Farmhouse-style bathrooms balance the rustic appeal of regional, rural heritage with simplicity-loving modern sensibilities. And while farmhouse bathrooms today often incorporate modern elements, this isn’t the place to experiment with trends: Think simple, honest and homespun.
Key features of farmhouse-style bathrooms:
- Shaker-style vanity
- Barn lighting
- Wall paneling
- Claw-foot bathtub
- Sliding barn doors
- Trough sink
Colour palette: Farmhouse bathrooms favour simple, natural colour palettes. White with crisp black trim is a popular choice; for richer hues, look to nature-inspired neutrals and other classic colours.
Your Guide to a Farmhouse-Style Bathroom
6. Rustic
Rustic bathrooms embrace the natural beauty of the outdoors, pairing rugged materials with warm, cozy textiles to create a welcoming space. Today’s interpretation of the look can lean more (or less) contemporary depending on your personal design sensibility.
Key features of rustic-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: Rustic-style bathrooms echo the hues of natural materials such as stone and warm woods with paint colours and accents in similar shades, for a rich, cozy look.
Your Guide to a Rustic-Style Bathroom
Rustic bathrooms embrace the natural beauty of the outdoors, pairing rugged materials with warm, cozy textiles to create a welcoming space. Today’s interpretation of the look can lean more (or less) contemporary depending on your personal design sensibility.
Key features of rustic-style bathrooms:
- Wood or wood-look vanity
- Vessel sinks made from stone or copper
- Natural stone counters, floors and wall treatments
- Copper bathtub, Japanese-style soaking tub or classic claw-foot
- Hardware in weathered finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze, antiqued brass or hammered copper
- Warming details such as kilim rugs and filament bulb vanity lights
Colour palette: Rustic-style bathrooms echo the hues of natural materials such as stone and warm woods with paint colours and accents in similar shades, for a rich, cozy look.
Your Guide to a Rustic-Style Bathroom
7. Industrial
Inspired by factories and warehouses, industrial-style bathrooms are simple, utilitarian spaces where raw materials and tough fixtures and finishes take centre stage. Favouring practical, hard-wearing surfaces, industrial bathrooms find beauty in the way things work rather than in surface ornamentation.
Key features of industrial-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: The raw materials used form the foundation of the colour palette in an industrial-style bathroom, with an occasional pop of saturated colour.
Your Guide to an Industrial-Style Bathroom
Inspired by factories and warehouses, industrial-style bathrooms are simple, utilitarian spaces where raw materials and tough fixtures and finishes take centre stage. Favouring practical, hard-wearing surfaces, industrial bathrooms find beauty in the way things work rather than in surface ornamentation.
Key features of industrial-style bathrooms:
- Glass-and-steel shower enclosure
- Raw materials such as concrete, stainless steel, brick and cinderblock
- Trough and basin sinks
- White subway tile
- Hefty sliding doors
- Exposed pipes and gear-like hardware and faucets
Colour palette: The raw materials used form the foundation of the colour palette in an industrial-style bathroom, with an occasional pop of saturated colour.
Your Guide to an Industrial-Style Bathroom
8. Beach
Beach-style bathrooms are light and airy, with a focus on natural materials, coast-inspired colours and a casual, easygoing mood. Beach bathrooms can lean traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between – the important thing is to keep the mood relaxed and breezy.
Key features of beach-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: Beach bathrooms use colours inspired by the sand, sky and sea to create a sense of place. Crisp white paired with seaside blue is a popular palette, though it’s certainly not the only option. For a more vibrant take, look to leafy greens and bold corals inspired by the tropics.
Your Guide to a Beach-Style Bathroom
Beach-style bathrooms are light and airy, with a focus on natural materials, coast-inspired colours and a casual, easygoing mood. Beach bathrooms can lean traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between – the important thing is to keep the mood relaxed and breezy.
Key features of beach-style bathrooms:
- Bold tile
- Spacious shower
- Textured elements such as pebble tile, weathered wood and mother-of-pearl
- Wall paneling
- Statement wallpaper
- Accents in breezy coastal colours
Colour palette: Beach bathrooms use colours inspired by the sand, sky and sea to create a sense of place. Crisp white paired with seaside blue is a popular palette, though it’s certainly not the only option. For a more vibrant take, look to leafy greens and bold corals inspired by the tropics.
Your Guide to a Beach-Style Bathroom
9. Mediterranean
Mediterranean bathrooms emphasise natural materials like wood, brick and stone for a casually elegant, earthy look inspired by sun and sea. While Mediterranean-style bathrooms can incorporate contemporary touches, the focus is on classics that have stood the test of time.
Key features of Mediterranean-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: Rich hues inspired by the warm earth and sparkling sea look striking in a Mediterranean bathroom, especially against a calming backdrop of white and natural wood.
Your Guide to a Mediterranean-Style Bathroom
Mediterranean bathrooms emphasise natural materials like wood, brick and stone for a casually elegant, earthy look inspired by sun and sea. While Mediterranean-style bathrooms can incorporate contemporary touches, the focus is on classics that have stood the test of time.
Key features of Mediterranean-style bathrooms:
- Ornate lighting
- Colourful tile
- Burnished metals such as hammered copper, wrought iron, oil-rubbed bronze and antiqued brass
- Statement mirror
- Whitewashed walls
- Vessel sinks in rounded and organic shapes
Colour palette: Rich hues inspired by the warm earth and sparkling sea look striking in a Mediterranean bathroom, especially against a calming backdrop of white and natural wood.
Your Guide to a Mediterranean-Style Bathroom
10. Craftsman
Craftsman bathrooms spotlight the simple beauty of natural wood and quality workmanship within a warm, cosy atmosphere. Craftsman-style bathrooms are natural yet refined, and simple without being fully minimalist.
Key features of Craftsman-style bathrooms:
Colour palette: Craftsman-style bathrooms feature rich earth tones, vibrant greens and warm neutrals that coordinate well with natural wood.
Your Guide to a Craftsman-Style Bathroom
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Craftsman bathrooms spotlight the simple beauty of natural wood and quality workmanship within a warm, cosy atmosphere. Craftsman-style bathrooms are natural yet refined, and simple without being fully minimalist.
Key features of Craftsman-style bathrooms:
- Shaker-style vanity
- Handcrafted tile
- Rich, medium to dark wood tones
- Natural stone counters, floors and wall treatments
- Artful stained glass
- Warm lighting in rectangular and square shapes with geometric details
Colour palette: Craftsman-style bathrooms feature rich earth tones, vibrant greens and warm neutrals that coordinate well with natural wood.
Your Guide to a Craftsman-Style Bathroom
Tell us
If you found this story helpful, like it, save it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
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Transitional & craftsman for me please…😁
Contemporary has me giving it a second look though…🤔🤔🤔🤔
No matter what the style, when installing a free standing tub, be certain there is a way that a hand hold or grab bar ( you can get grab bars that look like tile bars) can be reached allowing safe in/out to the tub. I’ve seen all of these pretty pictures and wonder how in the world does a soaking wet adult get out of the tub without possibly slipping and risking injury…and sorry it only gets more dangerous as we all get older.