10 Ways to Splash Out in a Guest-Friendly Bathroom
Ensure your guests enjoy their stay with these stylish ideas for a bathroom designed just for them
Melanie Gardener
20 June 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. Ex-magazine editor specialising in the kitchen and bathroom industry. I am passionate about interiors and the design of interior spaces. Kitchens and bathrooms are integral to every home and I love seeing how they evolve and play different roles in different families. I travel overseas to attend relevant industry fairs every year and bring back information for the Australian kitchen and bathroom industry on emerging trends.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Ex-magazine editor specialising in the kitchen and bathroom... More
The approach to designing a guest bathroom is quite different to the one you would take when planning for a family, main or ensuite bathroom. So how do the experts tackle the challenge? Here are 10 bathrooms that designers have packed with creative features to ensure guests will feel right at home, every time they visit.
1. Razzle dazzle ’em
Wow your guests with this simple idea, which may just be the perfect way to get, and maintain, interest. The simple leaf motif is laser cut then back-lit to create a feature wall that is both stunning and unusual. It’s cleverly matched with an open screen, featuring the same leaf design. Space is allocated for a ‘rest’ zone to encourage private moments of relaxation.
Wow your guests with this simple idea, which may just be the perfect way to get, and maintain, interest. The simple leaf motif is laser cut then back-lit to create a feature wall that is both stunning and unusual. It’s cleverly matched with an open screen, featuring the same leaf design. Space is allocated for a ‘rest’ zone to encourage private moments of relaxation.
2. Create a world away
Transport your guests to another world with a full-height printed photo mural. Not only can such an image exude calm and relaxation but it cleverly makes a small powder room feel twice as large, as seen here. The colour palette of the image is matched with a moody wall paint and simple, yet highly contemporary, fixtures and fittings.
Browse a gallery of powder rooms
Transport your guests to another world with a full-height printed photo mural. Not only can such an image exude calm and relaxation but it cleverly makes a small powder room feel twice as large, as seen here. The colour palette of the image is matched with a moody wall paint and simple, yet highly contemporary, fixtures and fittings.
Browse a gallery of powder rooms
3. Find room for your ensuite
No dedicated space for an ensuite in your guest bedroom? What about a cute room within a room? That’s the cleverness of this design – it uses curved walls to soften the boundary between the bedroom and ensuite so that it doesn’t feel too enclosed. The room feels cosy, but not claustrophobic, thanks to the shape and clever neutral colour scheme. The continuation of the same floor through the bedroom into the bathroom adds continuity to the design.
No dedicated space for an ensuite in your guest bedroom? What about a cute room within a room? That’s the cleverness of this design – it uses curved walls to soften the boundary between the bedroom and ensuite so that it doesn’t feel too enclosed. The room feels cosy, but not claustrophobic, thanks to the shape and clever neutral colour scheme. The continuation of the same floor through the bedroom into the bathroom adds continuity to the design.
4. Streamline the design
Instead of a bulky tap under the vanity, this design utilises a wall-mounted spout that sits neatly on the mirror. This also means the vanity basin is a single piece, with no tap protruding, which makes it so much easier to clean. This style of tap is perfect for a guest bathroom as most of the bulk is concealed, and activation is via sensor for a more hygienic finish.
Instead of a bulky tap under the vanity, this design utilises a wall-mounted spout that sits neatly on the mirror. This also means the vanity basin is a single piece, with no tap protruding, which makes it so much easier to clean. This style of tap is perfect for a guest bathroom as most of the bulk is concealed, and activation is via sensor for a more hygienic finish.
5. Soften the borders
As with any compact space, visual elements will make all the difference to the success of a layout. Here, a cleverly-designed routed feature wall creates ripples that dance in front of the visitor’s line of sight. This softens what can be a ‘hard’ visual block, and will trick the eye into believing the room is much larger than in reality.
As with any compact space, visual elements will make all the difference to the success of a layout. Here, a cleverly-designed routed feature wall creates ripples that dance in front of the visitor’s line of sight. This softens what can be a ‘hard’ visual block, and will trick the eye into believing the room is much larger than in reality.
6. Brighten up and tailor to suit
When thinking about introducing a strong colour to a guest bathroom, consider the demographics of your most regular guests. Here, a striking red makes the feature wall pop with warmth while the textural quality of the wall acts as an invitation to come in. Paired with a super contemporary moulded vanity and gleaming chandelier, it’s the perfect combination that will no doubt appeal to a younger set.
When thinking about introducing a strong colour to a guest bathroom, consider the demographics of your most regular guests. Here, a striking red makes the feature wall pop with warmth while the textural quality of the wall acts as an invitation to come in. Paired with a super contemporary moulded vanity and gleaming chandelier, it’s the perfect combination that will no doubt appeal to a younger set.
7. Create an asymmetrical balance
Guest bathrooms don’t need much in the way of storage, which means the design can incorporate a range of interesting open and closed spaces. Here, one end of the vanity provides an adequate amount of storage while the other end utilises the negative space underneath for hand towels. The ladder makes it easy to hang towels, but its open structure doesn’t add bulk to the room.
Guest bathrooms don’t need much in the way of storage, which means the design can incorporate a range of interesting open and closed spaces. Here, one end of the vanity provides an adequate amount of storage while the other end utilises the negative space underneath for hand towels. The ladder makes it easy to hang towels, but its open structure doesn’t add bulk to the room.
8. Offer old-fashioned hospitality
Guests love to feel pampered, so don’t be afraid to include some old-fashioned luxury. Even still, a traditional aesthetic can conceal a wealth of modern technology to ensure a high level of functionality, while the period styling of the tiles, mirror, accessories and timber toilet seat remind us of a time gone by. It’s easy to believe the butler will be along any minute with a warmed towel and cosy robe. And possibly a new roll of toilet paper?
Browse more traditional bathrooms
Guests love to feel pampered, so don’t be afraid to include some old-fashioned luxury. Even still, a traditional aesthetic can conceal a wealth of modern technology to ensure a high level of functionality, while the period styling of the tiles, mirror, accessories and timber toilet seat remind us of a time gone by. It’s easy to believe the butler will be along any minute with a warmed towel and cosy robe. And possibly a new roll of toilet paper?
Browse more traditional bathrooms
9. Delight with light
Clever lighting is the key to the success of the design in a small guest bathroom. Here, a feature panel is lit with vertical strip lighting to enhance the visual height of the ceiling. Coupled with the horizontal panelling on the two parallel walls, this serves to give the bathroom a degree of light and space that doesn’t really exist. The fittings and fixtures recede into the background and become almost invisible.
Clever lighting is the key to the success of the design in a small guest bathroom. Here, a feature panel is lit with vertical strip lighting to enhance the visual height of the ceiling. Coupled with the horizontal panelling on the two parallel walls, this serves to give the bathroom a degree of light and space that doesn’t really exist. The fittings and fixtures recede into the background and become almost invisible.
10. Hide it under the stairs
When space is tight, it takes a creative approach to find room for a guest bathroom. Utilising an otherwise empty space, such as this one under stairs, allows for a small powder room in which guests can freshen up. As it doesn’t need to function as a full bathroom, elements can be kept to the essentials only, so every centimetre of the room can be used effectively.
TELL US
If you have the space for a guest bathroom, what elements would you include? Tell us your ideas in the Comments below.
MORE
7 Luxury Touches for a Guest-Friendly Bathroom
10 Ways to Set Up a Blissful Bathroom Pamper Zone
4 Ideas for Impressing Guests Within Mere Minutes
When space is tight, it takes a creative approach to find room for a guest bathroom. Utilising an otherwise empty space, such as this one under stairs, allows for a small powder room in which guests can freshen up. As it doesn’t need to function as a full bathroom, elements can be kept to the essentials only, so every centimetre of the room can be used effectively.
TELL US
If you have the space for a guest bathroom, what elements would you include? Tell us your ideas in the Comments below.
MORE
7 Luxury Touches for a Guest-Friendly Bathroom
10 Ways to Set Up a Blissful Bathroom Pamper Zone
4 Ideas for Impressing Guests Within Mere Minutes
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The ceiling painter left his ladder behind.
Soundproofing and a box of matches.
No really - a decent mirror, good towels, hot water, a dry place to keep toiletries and make sure its clean. I'd probably put in a heat lamp too - but make them use it in the day when it can be solar powered! I once stayed with people who had a calander in the bathroom where they crossed off the days as people stayed there ........ probably wouldn't do that.