Bathroom Design Ideas? Absolutely.

With life feeling more chaotic and uncertain than ever, many people are looking for creative ways to relax, decompress, and feel good. This extends to home decor and design projects where increasing numbers of people are upgrading their bathrooms. Why? The idea is simple: if we can transform our bathrooms into our own private, luxurious retreats, we can receive a small dose of spa-like pampering on a daily basis. And why not? After all, the ambiance and design of our bathroom can impact the feeling of our entire home, and enhance important parts of the day like our skin-care routines or nighttime wind-down rituals.

So, if you’re looking for a little design and life inspiration, look no further than below.

Bohemian Dreamland

How does Bohemianism manifest itself in bathroom design? Well, unlike structured and defined aesthetic approaches like modernism or minimalism, Boho design tends to lack structure and rules and is typified by an eclectic, carefree mixture of colors and textures, antique furniture pieces, travel trinkets, and earthy, natural materials. If you’ve been following our blog Design on Tap you know that we’re fans of going green, and that bringing plants into the visual mix is an Earth-friendly way to help you relax and wind down after a busy day. 

Warm Wooden Touches 

Irene Acosta Design Studio

Mimic a natural oasis by incorporating wood elements in your bathroom space, where the warm hues and textures can help offset the often sterile nature of a standard W.C.. Wood in the form of floors, paneling, countertops, trash bins, or other accessories can create a sense of hominess. Beautiful wooden soaking bathtubs made from hinoki or cedar, often seen in Japan and Denmark, are another way to warm up a bathroom and can make a real visual (and literal) splash.

Eye-Catching Color 

Fox C3 basin, Kast Concrete Basins	Elma Basin, Kast Concrete Basins

Fox C3 basin, Kast Concrete Basins

Elma Basin, Kast Concrete Basins

Black and white bathrooms are traditional, classic, and expected. However, if you’re interested in transporting yourself to a brighter, edgier vibe, consider embracing bold pops of color and intriguing color / material combinations. Ideas? Consider painting a wall or two for visceral impact, or integrating colorful floor or wall tiles to create dramatic flair and contrast. Other ideas? Upgrade your space with a radiant new sink, faucet or bathtub, brightly colored towels, eye-catching hardware or fixtures, or a vivid bath rug to create visual juxtaposition.

Neutral Yet Bold

Peter Ippolito and Stefan Gabel for Axor. Photo: Zooey Braun & Eric Laignel

When it comes to creating an inviting bathroom, you may think of bright, contrasting shades. However, you can also create a decadent, dimensional and focused space leveraging neutral palettes. Remember, neutral doesn’t equate to bland, or boring—this is because not all neutral color families are devoid of color. In fact, most neutrals contain subtle, complex purples, blues, greens, gold, and other undertones, and can vary in intensity—in other words, not all neutrals are the same. Fold in a variety of colors, textures, and shapes, and creating inviting, striking contrast in your bathroom is usually within reach. 

Unique Archways

Sub-Zero	Graff

Sub Zero

Graff

If you’re designing or redesigning your bathroom, you might consider the use of archways. For centuries, arches have served a practical purpose, but an emotional one as well; arched entrances are known to evoke the sensual imperfection of nature and contrast with the perfect lines and angles often seen in architecture and manmade structures today. If you’re looking to create a big, or small sculptural moment, an archway can be an inviting, and sexy way to connect spaces.

Bath Designed for Luxury

Graff

Not all of us can luxuriate in opulence on a daily basis, but you can capture a bit of that feeling by creating a bathroom that exudes decadence and grandeur. Select pristine and sultry tones, and a blend of classic and modern elements. Bad lighting can be downright mood-altering so invest in some flattering fixtures (and bulbs) that give you an instant boost of confidence. If within reach, consider a freestanding bathtub—it isn’t something you see every day and will immediately elevate your space. Luxury is about every single element, including the details, so consider a new bath mat, shower head, fixtures and handles, and purchase the finest bath towels within your budget.  

Small Yet Mighty

Jamie Bush + Co	Bestor Architecture

Jamie Bush + Co

Bestor Architecture

Small bathrooms give you the opportunity to make the most of an important space where you begin and end your day. From wallpaper to material accents, even minute spaces may require careful planning. This often means putting focus on quality versus quantity and making sure that every detail counts. Small-space tricks? Consider bright cheerful lighting, stay away from small, overly busy tiles and stick to large, plain tiles to extend across both walls and floors, hang large or multiple mirrors, paint walls with light colors in the spectrum of white-beige-yellow, light blue and gray, and lastly, keep it simple and clutter-free—all of these things will do a lot in making your small bathroom feel larger than it is. 

Dare to be Different

Kast Concrete Basins

Don’t be afraid to ignore conventional bathroom design trends and shake things up with something out of the ordinary that works for you, your personality, and your space. Whimsical or funky elements can set your bathroom apart, and offer richness and depth. Play around with different textures and sizes when it comes to your fittings to find your perfect sense of escapism.