Bathrooms have certainly come a long way in the past several years - they’re no longer neglected when it comes to design and have even become some of our favorite rooms in the house. While there are so many ways to spruce up our bathrooms and give them a luxury facelift, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming on your own.
To help transform an outdated bathroom here are 4 design tips that we consistently go back to when starting a bathroom design project:
1. TILE - Tile selection is the best place to start when designing your bath. Think first about whether you want your tile to be the star of the show, or whether your fixtures, vanity or lighting will take center stage. The architecture of your bathroom will dictate the scale of your tile selection, and always check in with your plumber and tile contractor to get their approval on your elements (i.e. you typically need a mesh mosaic tile on a shower floor to accommodate the pitch towards the drain). You might consider picking a more budget friendly field tile for the bulk of your walls and floors, but splurge on a dramatic accent tile for the shower walls or behind the vanity. Finally, use trendier tile shapes and colors sparingly if you’re not sure you’ll love it for the long run. It’s easier to change a shower curtain or even a light fixture than it is to change up a tile scheme. We tend to gravitate towards natural stone mosaics, timeless subway tiles and artisan field tiles in our bathroom designs.
2. WALLPAPER - Wallpaper has made a big comeback and we couldn’t be happier. A hit of color and pattern can take a simple, neutral bathroom and make it sing. If the bathroom is high traffic and high moisture it’s best to consider a vinyl paper - the options on the market today are endless and they’re good - nothing like the vinyls of the 80’s! For powder rooms and lower traffic spaces you can likely get away with a traditional paper, but always check the paper’s wipe-ability. If you’re concerned about splashes, consider tiling or wainscoting up to 40” off the floor and papering just above.
3. ACCENT PAINT - If you’re feeling stuck or hesitant about going full force with color in your bathroom, consider painting your ceiling a barely there blue or blush for added interest. If you have a windowless powder room, go bold with a darker jewel tone - it will make your room feel sophisticated and special. In this basement bathroom, a standard vanity was painted a soft green and topped with a custom marble top for a polished and custom look.
4. ARTWORK - Don’t forget about artwork in your bathroom - it’s one of the elements that can really personalize a utilitarian space. Framing or shadowboxing mementos or artifacts from your travels is easy and unique, or group a collection of vintage landscape paintings. Etsy is a great source for original art at accessible prices as well.