How to arrange a bathroom? Overview of styles and tips
February 2023, author: Tomasz Kuc, customer advisor
Given the fact that a bathroom renovation is usually troublesome, long and expensive, it’s not done very often. Thus, the bathroom design must be perfectly thought out, so that the interior is ergonomic and looks good for a long time. What is worth considering?
In a well-thought-out arrangement, there is no room for randomness. Each element, color, and piece of furniture must be carefully selected. In this way, we avoid chaos. This may not seem difficult in theory, but when going to the store or browsing through colorful catalogs, it is easy to find bathroom inspirations that use different approaches. Only by combining them correctly, will it be possible to create something trendy.
Contents
What style to choose for the bathroom?
The answer to this question is not that simple. Everyone has different expectations of what the perfect bathroom design entails. It’s not only the taste of the household members that is important, but also the practicality and size of the room, and often the budget we are willing to allocate for the renovation. A small bathroom requires a different approach than a spacious bathing salon. Likewise, a house with small children is organized differently than one where only adults live. Fortunately, when planning a bathroom renovation, it’s easy to find inspirations that allow us to tailor the decor to a variety of needs.
Loft style bathroom
Among the features that distinguish loft bathrooms are minimalism and a certain austerity. They relate to old factories. Uncovered parts of installations and facades are desirable, which emphasizes their industrial character. Bathroom designs in this atmosphere include such colors as white, beige, black and steel gray. Such a bathroom often features concrete and wood. A must are metal, exposed cables and glass.
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Scandinavian style bathroom
Those interested in a bathroom featuring wood and whites should consider Scandinavian style. Like the loft style, it’s characterized by a certain minimalism and simplicity, but here bright colors are the core. Scandinavian style bathrooms have a pleasant look, are spacious and cozy. Even a very small bathroom decorated in this way will look great. The dominant color is the aforementioned white, and the main material used is wood – preferably light, but it can be also whitewashed. The furniture is simple, so are the light fixtures.
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Rustic style bathroom
Rustic style bathrooms, on the other hand, are characterized by a number of references to the past. This style is associated with nature and idyllic life in the countryside. Primary colors in such a bathroom are those that can be found in nature: beige, various shades of brown, white, shades of green. There are no vivid and strongly contrasting colors here. Bathrooms in this style include such materials as stone and wood, and it’s worth opting for a shower enclosure with black profiles. A free-standing bathtub will look equally impressive. Rustic bathrooms can steal your heart with their warm atmosphere.
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Provence style bathroom
Looking through photos of bathrooms, interiors decorated in the Provence style can amaze you. They are expressive and bright. Most often, a white bathroom is complemented by small and intricate details. It’s supposed to be romantic, subtle and cozy. In addition to white, pastels and earth tones will work well. Among the materials that are used most often, stone, porcelain stoneware or stone-effect tiles are noteworthy. There must also be room for wood, as well as light-colored, preferably white, furniture. Having a larger space available, it’s worth thinking about a stylized free-standing bathtub. A bathroom with a richly decorated bathtub can be the greatest decoration of the interior.
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Boho style bathroom
The bohemian style bathrooms are usually subdued and natural. Beige, white and brown are the colors that are found here most often. The decor relates to bohemia and Buddhism. Colorful decorations, like woven accessories are important. Mosaic goes well with this style, and can be placed by the mirror, shower or next to the bathtub. Flowers, baskets and candles will also be a perfect complement. Colorful ethnic accessories will create a sophisticated colorful bathroom that will amaze you and help you relax.
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Retro style bathroom
A retro design, on the other hand, is a classic bathroom where one can feel the spirit of the past. Retro can refer to the Belle Epoque, the communist period, the 1960s or yet another period in history. Looking through design photos, what can often be found here are a bathroom wallpaper, stylized and carved furniture, and unusual tiles. The accessories will differ depending on what period in history we choose.
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Mediterranean style bathroom
A contemporary bathroom decorated in the Mediterranean style evokes the image of the sea, the beach and the Mediterranean cuisine. A white or turquoise bathroom will fit perfectly into this atmosphere. It can be complemented by white ceramic wall tiles in the shape of arabesques, paintings or wall murals. A glass panel will also work great. It’s elegant and easy to clean. Natural materials, like stone, brick and wood are favored. The character of any interior is emphasized by accessories, and here flowers and baskets are welcome.
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Bathroom in modern glam style
The glam design is the quintessence of chic and elegance, which is emphasized by both colors and finishing materials. This bathroom features marble, plenty of gilt, glass and crystal. A good idea to finish the floor or any of the walls is domino ceramic tiles. With glam look, a black bathroom is the most common choice, but navy blue and bottle green are also trendy. Dark colors optically reduce space, but does this mean that the glam design should be discarded in a block of flats? Not necessarily. An elegant space will also be obtained with the use of white. Gold fittings and shiny accessories should be used as finishing elements.
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Japanese style bathroom
When thinking about a decor that promotes tranquility and relaxation, we can consider the Japanese arrangements. They are contemporary, minimalist and simple. Such a bathroom features elements made of wood and other natural materials. The Japanese atmosphere is often emphasized by the bathtub. In this case, it’s not free-standing, but recessed into the floor, so such a variant won’t be feasible in every building. A bathroom with a shower can also prove to be an attractive option, provided that it’s a simple and minimalist shower unit.
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Small bathroom
Although it might seem that it’s difficult to create a stunning interior in a small space, the arrangement of a small bathroom can actually be interesting and attractive. A 3m2 bathroom requires thorough consideration of the entire space to make the best use of what’s available, while we also need to make sure that the decor looks great, and the amount of ideas can be overwhelming. When considering whether to invest in a bathtub or a shower unit, the latter usually turns out to be the better option as it takes up far less space. It’s worth giving up on massive shower trays, though.
Cabinets and drawers are important. Wherever possible, we can install a floating shelf or a cabinet. If we wish to have a washing machine in our bathroom, the space above can be used to store cleaning products or a laundry basket. In the same way, we can make good use of the space available under the sink. Standing shelves can accommodate baskets and containers, which on one hand will help us organize and tidy up small items, and on the other hand, will be a decoration emphasizing the character of the decor.
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Attic bathroom
Bathrooms with a sloped ceiling, like small interiors, can also be quite a challenge during renovation. Certainly, the furniture will be troublesome, as it’s difficult to find such pieces that will fit with their dimensions to the slope. For this reason, an attic bathroom encourages to focus on customized furniture, which can also be seen in visualizations. A shower enclosure can be customized, too. If a bathroom with a sloped ceiling is to be equipped with a bathtub, a good option would be a free-standing model placed just against the sloped wall. A bathtub in the attic looks interesting and is a convenient solution.
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Bathroom in the bedroom
Combining the bedroom with the bathroom is an innovative suggestion. This is not an idea that will appeal to everyone, but there are couples who are happy with this solution. In this arrangement, a walk-in shower enclosure is most often opted for. If we decide on such a bathroom, we need to think how to effectively separate the sleeping and bathing areas. A glass door, partition, wall or screen will do the job. Such a contemporary bathroom with a shower or a bathtub can be very functional, and at the same time looks splendid.
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Large bathroom
Large bathrooms give us many arrangement solutions. Here, we can even create a bathing salon. For example, a bathtub and a shower against a wall will work, so the household members have a choice which one they wish to use on any given day. A spacious interior will look great when it’s decorated in the aforementioned modern glam design. A marble bathroom with plenty of gilt will look spectacular. With a chaise lounge inviting you to relax, and mirrors in heavy gilded frames you can feel like in a palace. On the other hand, it’s also worth going in the other direction and finish the interior with wood instead of stone, which will make it super cozy and soothe your nerves.
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Bathtub or shower enclosure? Which one to choose?
It all depends on the size of our bathroom and the preference of household members. With large bathrooms, we can go for both. A small or narrow bathroom is a bigger dilemma though, as most often either a bathtub or a shower unit only would fit. If the needs of household members clash, buying a bathtub and complementing it with a bath screen can be an attractive option. This allows us to fully benefit from long baths and quick showers.
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Choosing colors for the bathroom
When choosing colors for the bathroom, what we look at first is its prevailing design style. The industrial style – meaning a loft-style bathroom – encourages us to reach for black or shades of gray. To avoid a gray bathroom looking too boring, the color should be complemented with accessories in distinct colors. The Scandinavian bathroom favors white and light neutral colors, whereas dark bathrooms are often used in modern glam design. With nautical or Mediterranean designs, shades of blue are ideal. With contemporary style, both bright colors as well as vivid and energetic ones are the right choice.
We should also remember that the colors we choose affect the way we perceive the size of the bathroom. Light colors make the space appear larger, dark colors have the opposite effect. This means that for a small bathroom in a block of flats, using black as the dominant color might not necessarily be the perfect solution.
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Lighting in the bathroom
Lighting plays an important role in every room. It’s no different in the bathroom. Arrangements in which the lighting is well thought out look spectacular, and the bathroom is ergonomic and comfortable to use. The ceiling light is the core. This can be a single lamp or several units. Also, an additional light source by the mirror is a must, as this is where we do our beauty treatments and put on makeup. A sconce will be perfect for this.
In addition, it’s good if the design also includes decorative lighting. Although it’s not as indispensable as the previous one, it’s responsible for the atmosphere in the interior. Interior design photos showing lighting for the bathroom encourage us to use subtle LED light, for example, around the bathtub. Some choose to illuminate spaces between tiles. There are plenty of ideas, but the most important thing is that the light emphasizes the charm of decorative places, such as a niche or a shelf with ornaments.
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Ceramic tiles, terracotta, porcelain stoneware or mosaic?
The bathroom has high humidity levels, so not all finishing materials are suitable here. Ceramic tiles have been popular for years since they are long-lasting, durable, and above all, water-resistant. Classic tiles are still the most common, but mosaic is their strong competitor. These are made from elements in various shapes. The choice includes for example arabesques, hexagons, leaves and fish scales. An interesting option is terracotta. It looks fantastic as well, and if we search a little more carefully, we can find anti-slip terracotta, which is amazing for the floor. There’s also porcelain stoneware. It can resemble stone, wood or yet another material. Which of these options to choose? Actually, any of them can be used in the bathroom. A lot depends on what effect we wish to achieve, whether the surface is to be made of small or large tiles, whether we would like it to imitate another material and what kind of decor dominates in the bathroom.
Wood, marble or concrete?
This is another dilemma you will have to face. Wood is a material that suits almost any arrangement, especially because it’s available in a variety of shades. The color can be easily tailored to the style and size of the interior.
Marble is perfect for elegant and refined interiors, and such are modern glam bathrooms. Marble is also the right choice if we opt for contemporary style. It’s an easy way to add chic to the bathroom.
On the other hand, an industrial bathroom will look splendid with concrete in it, which will give the whole decor a sense of austerity.
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Furniture inspirations for the bathroom
Sanitary ware is the basic equipment in the bathroom, but there should also be place for the lots of beauty products, accessories, towels, dirty clothes prepared for washing and many other items we have in the bathroom. Thus, we should consider the furniture. It must be well finished, preferably waterproof, which will ensure their durability despite the specific microclimate in the bathroom.
Whether it’s a spacious bathroom or a small one in a block of flats, interior design images always include cabinets, drawers under the sink, and the arrangement of space around the washing machine. If there is room for it, it’s worth thinking about a tall vertical cabinet with doors. If the cabinet is doorless, decorative items can be placed on its shelves. A wall niche can also have shelves. It’s good to think about them especially on larger walls. This gives more storage space, and the wall won’t look empty.
What accessories should we think about in the bathroom?
Once we have our basic bathroom design, it’s time to think about accessories. They will make the decor look polished and give it a unique character. Decorations should go well with the style and the color of the whole arrangement – they should complement it, and not overwhelm it. Every bathroom has dispensers and organizers. Such sets of accessories can be easily matched to the character of the decor. For example, in Scandinavian style, they are simple and made from bamboo or white ceramic, and in glam design, they are gold or black with a glossy finish.
Next on the list are baskets, towels, rugs and small stand-up decorations, like candles. They, too, come in many versions, so matching them to the color and the style of the interior shouldn’t be a big challenge. It’s also good to think about plants in interesting pots, especially if the bathroom has a window.
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