How to Give Your Bathroom a Dash of Designer Style
Steal ideas from the professionals to lift your bathroom out of the ordinary
Laura Wheat
27 February 2016
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
Don’t be disheartened if your bathroom is looking a little rough around the edges or in need of updating – there are plenty of small tweaks you can make to give it a dose of designer style. Interior designers often use feature lighting and statement accents to enliven an otherwise ordinary scheme. In bathrooms, this translates as wall sconces, small arrangements of accessories, or perhaps using plants to inject life into the space.
Steal a few tips from the pros – some quick-fix; some more of an investment in time and money – and see what you can do to bring the magic back to your bathroom.
Steal a few tips from the pros – some quick-fix; some more of an investment in time and money – and see what you can do to bring the magic back to your bathroom.
Update your taps and shower
Dated brassware will do a bathroom no design favours and if your fixtures are past their best anyway, it might be time for a refit.
In this all-white wash space, striking black taps and a concealed shower valve bring a surprisingly effective hint of contrast. Or you could ‘tap’ into the trend for warm metals and look at contemporary brass finishes.
See 10 bathroom trends that will stand the test of time
Dated brassware will do a bathroom no design favours and if your fixtures are past their best anyway, it might be time for a refit.
In this all-white wash space, striking black taps and a concealed shower valve bring a surprisingly effective hint of contrast. Or you could ‘tap’ into the trend for warm metals and look at contemporary brass finishes.
See 10 bathroom trends that will stand the test of time
Style a display tray
Grouping together a few simple products, candles or rolled face cloths on a shallow tray is an easy short-cut to designer bathroom style. Monochrome colouring suits both classic and contemporary set-ups and will make your assortment even easier to arrange.
Grouping together a few simple products, candles or rolled face cloths on a shallow tray is an easy short-cut to designer bathroom style. Monochrome colouring suits both classic and contemporary set-ups and will make your assortment even easier to arrange.
Nod to Victoriana
If your home has period heritage, incorporate the theme with a Victorian-inspired bathroom. Metro tiles or black and white encaustics make for a stylish backdrop, while retro-looking pedestal basins, quirky taps and classic close-coupled toilets are easy to come by. You might even be able to find an original piece going for a song in a salvage yard.
If a major makeover isn’t on the cards, don’t despair – you can still get the look with a vintage mirror or a selection of apothecary-style bottles.
Like a traditional bathroom? Discover more here.
If your home has period heritage, incorporate the theme with a Victorian-inspired bathroom. Metro tiles or black and white encaustics make for a stylish backdrop, while retro-looking pedestal basins, quirky taps and classic close-coupled toilets are easy to come by. You might even be able to find an original piece going for a song in a salvage yard.
If a major makeover isn’t on the cards, don’t despair – you can still get the look with a vintage mirror or a selection of apothecary-style bottles.
Like a traditional bathroom? Discover more here.
Think big
Small bath mats can get lost in large bathrooms. Instead, think about incorporating a flat-weave cotton rug with a bold pattern to take advantage of all that floor space.
If you like the idea of a concrete worktop in your bathroom, take a look at our photo section for more ideas.
Small bath mats can get lost in large bathrooms. Instead, think about incorporating a flat-weave cotton rug with a bold pattern to take advantage of all that floor space.
If you like the idea of a concrete worktop in your bathroom, take a look at our photo section for more ideas.
Win with a window treatment
Soften an overly sterile bathroom with Roman blinds. This double-layered style features one blind in a sheer for privacy and one in an opaque fabric for night-time relaxing.
Soften an overly sterile bathroom with Roman blinds. This double-layered style features one blind in a sheer for privacy and one in an opaque fabric for night-time relaxing.
Accent your wash space
Picking out a bright feature colour, such as the blue in this scheme, is a straightforward way to liven up a boring bathroom. Try to take your chosen colour across different finishes and textures for a more subtle way to weave in striking shades.
Get more ideas for colourful bathrooms
Picking out a bright feature colour, such as the blue in this scheme, is a straightforward way to liven up a boring bathroom. Try to take your chosen colour across different finishes and textures for a more subtle way to weave in striking shades.
Get more ideas for colourful bathrooms
Rustle up a new read
Make space for reading material in a smaller cloakroom, where shower steam won’t cause problems for paper. These neat, recessed shelves could be carved out of a wall where space is needed alongside for plumbing.
Make space for reading material in a smaller cloakroom, where shower steam won’t cause problems for paper. These neat, recessed shelves could be carved out of a wall where space is needed alongside for plumbing.
Beautify your bath rack
Set the scene for blissful bathing with a fully stocked bath rack. Pretty toiletries and candles are a must, but also consider decanting bath salts into dainty containers or including organic elements, such as a piece of natural sponge.
Set the scene for blissful bathing with a fully stocked bath rack. Pretty toiletries and candles are a must, but also consider decanting bath salts into dainty containers or including organic elements, such as a piece of natural sponge.
Hang a show-stopping shower curtain
The much-maligned shower curtain is overdue a design renaissance, offering an easy and affordable way to spruce up your bathroom.
Easier to maintain than glass screens (where limescale is often an issue), there are plenty of patterns available, meaning you can change the whole look of your space with one small tweak.
These fancy floral numbers feature normal fabric lined with a waterproof plastic curtain, an idea that really opens up the design possibilities.
The much-maligned shower curtain is overdue a design renaissance, offering an easy and affordable way to spruce up your bathroom.
Easier to maintain than glass screens (where limescale is often an issue), there are plenty of patterns available, meaning you can change the whole look of your space with one small tweak.
These fancy floral numbers feature normal fabric lined with a waterproof plastic curtain, an idea that really opens up the design possibilities.
Fix up some furniture
Freestanding furniture provides extra storage, handy display space and a useful balance to an overload of cold tiles and white sanitaryware. Natural-looking wooden pieces have a particularly softening effect, as well as mixing well with most design schemes.
Freestanding furniture provides extra storage, handy display space and a useful balance to an overload of cold tiles and white sanitaryware. Natural-looking wooden pieces have a particularly softening effect, as well as mixing well with most design schemes.
Tweak a classic
Take metro tiles to the next level with unusual colouring or an unconventional pattern. These bronze tiles give good glow, meaning even en masse the effect is far from cold.
TELL US…
Which designer touch would you add to your bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Take metro tiles to the next level with unusual colouring or an unconventional pattern. These bronze tiles give good glow, meaning even en masse the effect is far from cold.
TELL US…
Which designer touch would you add to your bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Related Stories
Bathroom Planning
8 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Bathroom Renovation
Revamping your wash space? Get a clear idea of what you want to achieve by thinking about these essentials first
Full Story
Bathroom Planning
How to Design a Bathroom That’s Easy to Clean
Want a clutter-free, sparkling bathroom? Follow this expert advice on how to cut down on cleaning time
Full Story
Kitchens
What to Expect at the Biggest Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Show
Plan ahead with our rundown of what’s in store at the kbb Birmingham event this March
Full Story
Bathroom Design
Ditch These 5 Things to Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger
By Kate Burt
We’ve plundered Houzz pro designs to bring you the most common things experts do away with for a spacious bathroom
Full Story
Bathroom Inspiration
16 Bathrooms With Vertically Stacked Tiles
Looking for tiling inspiration? Browse this gallery of beautiful bathroom images
Full Story
Bathroom Design
How to Create Layered Lighting in a Bathroom
By Cheryl F
Want a space where you can relax and unwind, but not sure how to achieve it? Our lighting experts can help
Full Story
Kitchens
16 Kitchens and Bathrooms That Showcase Warm-toned Marble
From the subtle to the dramatic, be inspired by these statement marbles with veins of gold and brown
Full Story
Bathroom Inspiration
The 5 Most Popular Bathrooms on Houzz Right Now
From beautiful tiling to unexpected colour, take inspiration for your bathroom from these most-saved photos
Full Story
Bathroom Inspiration
8 Key Elements for a Calming, Indulgent Bathroom
Keen to create a space where you can relax and wash away the cares of the day? See whether you can slot in any of these
Full Story
Bathroom Planning
How Easy Would It Be to Change My Bathroom Layout?
By Cheryl F
Looking to rejig your washroom? Consider this expert advice before you start rearranging any plumbing
Full Story
Hi Ashleigh,
we don't have that exact frameless bevelled mirror but we do have 2 that are failry close in style.
http://bit.ly/1RZmmMD
http://bit.ly/20a2zNR
Hope this helps!
Thanks.
Thanks for including us in your editorial!
I would definitely add the shiny metro tiles for something unique. This style definitely has the wow factor.