10 Designs for Bathrooms that Pair Perfectly with Victorian Homes
Work a pleasing balance of modern and classic to create a bathroom style that perfectly suits your period property
Laura Wheat
12 February 2015
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
It’s difficult to imagine a time when houses were built without bathrooms, but the idea of having a dedicated space for washing and sanitation only became popular at the end of the Victorian era. As a result, many period homes built before this time were equipped with just an outside loo (at best). In the intervening years, a bedroom was often sacrificed to create a bathroom. This means that lots of Victorian homes benefit from large family bathrooms, often with attractive sash windows.
But big isn’t always better, and it can be tricky to choose a layout for a room where there are too many options. Settling on a style for your suite can also pose problems – do you pick pieces that mimic Victorian designs, or stick to slick, modern alternatives? These 10 pointers should help you in your quest to create the perfect bathroom.
But big isn’t always better, and it can be tricky to choose a layout for a room where there are too many options. Settling on a style for your suite can also pose problems – do you pick pieces that mimic Victorian designs, or stick to slick, modern alternatives? These 10 pointers should help you in your quest to create the perfect bathroom.
Select standout pieces
For a bathroom with aesthetic appeal, choose one extravagant element that makes you smile each time you see it. This eye-catching Porcher Sonnet basin console adds a hint of period style while offering plenty of surface space for lotions and potions. When combined with classic white metro tiles and a slate floor, the effect is opulent without being ostentatious.
For a bathroom with aesthetic appeal, choose one extravagant element that makes you smile each time you see it. This eye-catching Porcher Sonnet basin console adds a hint of period style while offering plenty of surface space for lotions and potions. When combined with classic white metro tiles and a slate floor, the effect is opulent without being ostentatious.
Try tongue and groove panelling
Take inspiration from Victorian interior design by incorporating wall panelling and rich colours in your bathroom scheme. Tongue and groove is an economical choice and works well to add depth and texture to a room. This soft grey panelling is combined with matching metro tiles and white floorboards for a space that feels warm and tranquil.
Take inspiration from Victorian interior design by incorporating wall panelling and rich colours in your bathroom scheme. Tongue and groove is an economical choice and works well to add depth and texture to a room. This soft grey panelling is combined with matching metro tiles and white floorboards for a space that feels warm and tranquil.
Revisit Victorian design
It’s perfectly possible to fit a bathroom suite that pays homage to your home’s heyday without going overboard on Victoriana. This high-level WC offers a characterful alternative to a modern toilet. The dark window frame and column radiator provide contrast, while a French-style slipper bath adds quirky charm.
It’s perfectly possible to fit a bathroom suite that pays homage to your home’s heyday without going overboard on Victoriana. This high-level WC offers a characterful alternative to a modern toilet. The dark window frame and column radiator provide contrast, while a French-style slipper bath adds quirky charm.
Mix modern and traditional
Don’t be afraid to mix and match your suite to include favourite Victorian-inspired sanitaryware without restricting all of your pieces to that era. Incorporating contemporary designs (such as a back to wall toilet and wall-hung basin) alongside traditional elements, like this roll-top bath, will give you a sleek, bespoke look.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match your suite to include favourite Victorian-inspired sanitaryware without restricting all of your pieces to that era. Incorporating contemporary designs (such as a back to wall toilet and wall-hung basin) alongside traditional elements, like this roll-top bath, will give you a sleek, bespoke look.
Double up on sinks
Sharing might be caring, but I’d rather a basin to myself! With all that space, you can stake your claim on one of a pair and enjoy uninterrupted bathroom rituals with no foreign hairs in the plughole. Choose utilitarian wall-mounted basins for timeless style that works well with any décor.
To give this sleek, contemporary space a flash of period detail, the tiles have been arranged thoughtfully: brick-formation tiling may be popular now, but it was also common in the Victorian era. Go for a flat (not bevelled) design for real authenticity.
Sharing might be caring, but I’d rather a basin to myself! With all that space, you can stake your claim on one of a pair and enjoy uninterrupted bathroom rituals with no foreign hairs in the plughole. Choose utilitarian wall-mounted basins for timeless style that works well with any décor.
To give this sleek, contemporary space a flash of period detail, the tiles have been arranged thoughtfully: brick-formation tiling may be popular now, but it was also common in the Victorian era. Go for a flat (not bevelled) design for real authenticity.
Add whimsical wallpaper
Large rooms can accommodate bold prints with ease, so why not try pairing traditional tongue and groove with quirky patterned paper? The Victorians were mad for wallpaper, and in the Arts and Crafts era, floral and botanical patterns were everywhere. Go for a fresh, bright update and choose a design with plenty to look at while you relax in your extra-deep roll-top bath (colour-coordinated, of course).
Browse 11 different ways with wallpaper
Large rooms can accommodate bold prints with ease, so why not try pairing traditional tongue and groove with quirky patterned paper? The Victorians were mad for wallpaper, and in the Arts and Crafts era, floral and botanical patterns were everywhere. Go for a fresh, bright update and choose a design with plenty to look at while you relax in your extra-deep roll-top bath (colour-coordinated, of course).
Browse 11 different ways with wallpaper
Look for luxe finishes
For an elegant bathroom with added organisational benefits, fit a custom marble basin above slimline cabinets. Marble was a popular material for early Victorian fireplaces, so it’s a detail here that creates a subtle echo of the era. Carrara and Calacatta are both varieties of marble with a pale base and beautiful grey veining – perfect partners for white porcelain.
For an elegant bathroom with added organisational benefits, fit a custom marble basin above slimline cabinets. Marble was a popular material for early Victorian fireplaces, so it’s a detail here that creates a subtle echo of the era. Carrara and Calacatta are both varieties of marble with a pale base and beautiful grey veining – perfect partners for white porcelain.
Design clever cabinets
One of the luxuries associated with generously sized rooms is additional storage, and bathrooms are no exception. Borrow a little space to create a neat, built-in cabinet – you can always use the recess created alongside for hiding pipework or a concealed shower. Alternatively, an antique, glass-fronted cupboard, simply mounted on the wall, would really highlight your bathroom’s vintage.
Discover 10 smart ways to store towels
One of the luxuries associated with generously sized rooms is additional storage, and bathrooms are no exception. Borrow a little space to create a neat, built-in cabinet – you can always use the recess created alongside for hiding pipework or a concealed shower. Alternatively, an antique, glass-fronted cupboard, simply mounted on the wall, would really highlight your bathroom’s vintage.
Discover 10 smart ways to store towels
Showcase sash windows
If your bathroom is large enough, create a luxury hotel feeling at home with a built-in bath beneath a sash window. Add a classic pale marble surround and matching vanity unit for a light-filled and tactile bathing experience you’ll want to indulge in daily.
If your bathroom is large enough, create a luxury hotel feeling at home with a built-in bath beneath a sash window. Add a classic pale marble surround and matching vanity unit for a light-filled and tactile bathing experience you’ll want to indulge in daily.
Cultivate your cloakroom
It’s not only big bathrooms that can benefit from a hint of Victorian-inspired porcelain. To get the littlest room in your house to match its bigger sister, upgrade your basin with a scaled-down version of a classic design and combine with wall sconces and quirky wallpaper for a character-filled cloakroom.
TELL US…
Have you mixed Victorian and modern in your bathroom? We’d love to hear your tips and see photos in the Comments below.
It’s not only big bathrooms that can benefit from a hint of Victorian-inspired porcelain. To get the littlest room in your house to match its bigger sister, upgrade your basin with a scaled-down version of a classic design and combine with wall sconces and quirky wallpaper for a character-filled cloakroom.
TELL US…
Have you mixed Victorian and modern in your bathroom? We’d love to hear your tips and see photos in the Comments below.
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A classic freestanding copper bath, is the perfect Victorian bathroom centre piece. Due to modern technologies these are now extremely light, weighing on average about 45kg and so are perfect for delicate restorations or where weight restrictions may be an issue. They are also available in a wide variety of finishes from metallic and enamel combinations through to verdigris and gold, combining the classic Victorian design heritage with contemporary touches.
This farmhouse-style bathroom in Normandy France seamlessly blends old and new with Victorian style bath fixtures, a "rescued" enamel/metal table,white tongue & groove walls and Winckelmans porcelain tile in a 'splashy' pale green/ white pattern on the floor. As seen in Elle Décor.