How to Design a Beautiful Bathroom You’ll Want to Show Off
Want to love your bathroom in the way you love your living room or bedroom? Here’s how...
At this year’s design fairs, there was a real move towards bathrooms that felt more like rooms to show off than functional spaces – from ones decorated in rich, deep colours to those furnished with beautiful pieces or vanity units as handsome as they were useful.
Other ways to build on this trend include adding soft, ‘unbathroomy’ lighting, installing inviting underfloor heating and adding luxurious trims. Check out these examples, then run yourself a bath and contemplate the design possibilities for your space.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Other ways to build on this trend include adding soft, ‘unbathroomy’ lighting, installing inviting underfloor heating and adding luxurious trims. Check out these examples, then run yourself a bath and contemplate the design possibilities for your space.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Warm things up
Bathrooms, with all their hard surfaces and – often – neutral colours, don’t always feel like rooms in which you want to linger.
In this project, shared by its builders, Making the World Beautiful, the green feature tiles add a lovely earthy look to the room, particularly combined with the wooden vanity unit.
Take note, also, of the lighting: instead of no-frills spotlights, there are interesting pendants over the vanity area that would work just as nicely in a bedroom. You can always have spots as well for when brighter lighting is required.
Bathrooms, with all their hard surfaces and – often – neutral colours, don’t always feel like rooms in which you want to linger.
In this project, shared by its builders, Making the World Beautiful, the green feature tiles add a lovely earthy look to the room, particularly combined with the wooden vanity unit.
Take note, also, of the lighting: instead of no-frills spotlights, there are interesting pendants over the vanity area that would work just as nicely in a bedroom. You can always have spots as well for when brighter lighting is required.
Find a feature mirror
Frameless backlit mirrors or mirrored cabinets can look wonderful, but for an ‘un-bathroom’, a statement looking glass isn’t a bad place to start.
Choosing a mirror with a frame makes it much more of a focal point, less of a purely practical detail. And how about that beautifully made vanity unit – and we’ve already spoken about stylish lighting, but that pendant! This room, designed by Brian O’Tuama Architects, just ticks so many boxes.
Frameless backlit mirrors or mirrored cabinets can look wonderful, but for an ‘un-bathroom’, a statement looking glass isn’t a bad place to start.
Choosing a mirror with a frame makes it much more of a focal point, less of a purely practical detail. And how about that beautifully made vanity unit – and we’ve already spoken about stylish lighting, but that pendant! This room, designed by Brian O’Tuama Architects, just ticks so many boxes.
Don’t be afraid of the dark
Here, RISE Design Studio shows how even a small bathroom can be made to feel like a sanctuary.
The star of this space is the wall covering – clay plaster in a deep, warm grey. This takes away from too much of a ‘bathroomy’ feel, as do the interesting brass taps, the plant and the artwork, positioned so it can be appreciated from the tub.
Browse the Houzz Professionals Directory for interior designers in your area.
Here, RISE Design Studio shows how even a small bathroom can be made to feel like a sanctuary.
The star of this space is the wall covering – clay plaster in a deep, warm grey. This takes away from too much of a ‘bathroomy’ feel, as do the interesting brass taps, the plant and the artwork, positioned so it can be appreciated from the tub.
Browse the Houzz Professionals Directory for interior designers in your area.
Add texture
The move away from clinical and purely functional is well represented in this beautiful bathing space by Studio k.
If you’re able to expose a brick wall, it can become a warming, characterful feature. Here, it’s just one layer of texture in a room that also features visually interesting and tactile ribbed glass and cool, smooth, luxurious marble-effect floor tiles.
Do talk to your designer or contractor about your options here, as there are restrictions in some cases to do with loss of insulation. It might be that you can instead cover a plastered wall with reclaimed brick slips (slices of brick that work like tiles). Your professional can also advise about choices for sealing your brickwork so it doesn’t crumble into your bubbles!
The move away from clinical and purely functional is well represented in this beautiful bathing space by Studio k.
If you’re able to expose a brick wall, it can become a warming, characterful feature. Here, it’s just one layer of texture in a room that also features visually interesting and tactile ribbed glass and cool, smooth, luxurious marble-effect floor tiles.
Do talk to your designer or contractor about your options here, as there are restrictions in some cases to do with loss of insulation. It might be that you can instead cover a plastered wall with reclaimed brick slips (slices of brick that work like tiles). Your professional can also advise about choices for sealing your brickwork so it doesn’t crumble into your bubbles!
Glam up the details
Tile trim might not be at the top of your list of design decisions, but your bathroom designer will have it on theirs and will know that making the right choice – white? aluminium? tile? rounded? square-edged? – can have a positive impact on the look of your new wash space.
Here, Emma Merry of Emma Merry Styling has chosen a striking brass finish to tie in with the towel rail and taps, upping the style and tying all the details together.
Tile trim might not be at the top of your list of design decisions, but your bathroom designer will have it on theirs and will know that making the right choice – white? aluminium? tile? rounded? square-edged? – can have a positive impact on the look of your new wash space.
Here, Emma Merry of Emma Merry Styling has chosen a striking brass finish to tie in with the towel rail and taps, upping the style and tying all the details together.
Do different
The door to an en suite may often be open, exposing the bathroom or shower room beyond. That’s all the more reason to ensure it complements your sleep space and looks beautiful.
Interesting tiles, bold black taps and a pretty pink basin shelf ensure this room, designed by Concept 8 Architects, is not a space to shut the door on.
The door to an en suite may often be open, exposing the bathroom or shower room beyond. That’s all the more reason to ensure it complements your sleep space and looks beautiful.
Interesting tiles, bold black taps and a pretty pink basin shelf ensure this room, designed by Concept 8 Architects, is not a space to shut the door on.
Lower the lights
As already mentioned, bathrooms so often have extremely good task lighting – and very useful it is, too. But you don’t always want to examine your pores or assess your make-up too closely. So, having dimmers or a secondary, softer layer of lighting to allow the space to glow atmospherically is a bit of a luxe touch.
This wood-heavy room designed by MARISA GALLO, with its gentle, moody lighting, has the feel of the loos at a very plush restaurant or hotel, don’t you think?
As already mentioned, bathrooms so often have extremely good task lighting – and very useful it is, too. But you don’t always want to examine your pores or assess your make-up too closely. So, having dimmers or a secondary, softer layer of lighting to allow the space to glow atmospherically is a bit of a luxe touch.
This wood-heavy room designed by MARISA GALLO, with its gentle, moody lighting, has the feel of the loos at a very plush restaurant or hotel, don’t you think?
Expose your floorboards
A wooden floor is often seen as an impracticality for a bathroom, but with the right professional considerations and proper protection, it can be as practical as it is beautiful.
This room, designed by Russell Taylor Architects, feels very much like an extension of the adjacent bedroom, partly helped by the continuation of the flooring between the two spaces. A fireplace, artwork, elegant marble fittings and that wonderful yellow bath positioned centre stage complete the effect.
Which flooring should I choose for my bathroom?
A wooden floor is often seen as an impracticality for a bathroom, but with the right professional considerations and proper protection, it can be as practical as it is beautiful.
This room, designed by Russell Taylor Architects, feels very much like an extension of the adjacent bedroom, partly helped by the continuation of the flooring between the two spaces. A fireplace, artwork, elegant marble fittings and that wonderful yellow bath positioned centre stage complete the effect.
Which flooring should I choose for my bathroom?
Be bold with colour
Three large blocks of colour are the visual foundation for this Victorian-style bathroom by Brooke Copp-Barton.
The two strongest colours – the deep blue and rust red – are not often seen in wash spaces and give this one a real wow factor, even though it’s a relatively small and traditionally styled room.
Shelves for plants, books and artwork layer up the living room feel.
Tell us…
What do you think of this bathroom trend – do you like it or prefer your bathroom to look functional? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Three large blocks of colour are the visual foundation for this Victorian-style bathroom by Brooke Copp-Barton.
The two strongest colours – the deep blue and rust red – are not often seen in wash spaces and give this one a real wow factor, even though it’s a relatively small and traditionally styled room.
Shelves for plants, books and artwork layer up the living room feel.
Tell us…
What do you think of this bathroom trend – do you like it or prefer your bathroom to look functional? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Rather than starting your bathroom plans with functionality at the forefront of your mind, look at the bones of the room. If you’re lucky enough to have something with existing character, as here, talk to your designer about how best to work this into your plans.
In this design by ALL & NXTHING, a double basin nods to the chimney breast’s original purpose, with the microcement referencing both a mantelpiece and the ghost of a hearth.
The designers have also opted for furniture that wouldn’t look out of place in a living room – a vintage sideboard is an excellent idea for bathroom storage if you have the space.