Clever Bathroom Ideas to Transform your Bathroom
Photo credit: Annie Sloan
Bathrooms have come a long way from being purely functional - simply a place to clean your teeth and take a quick shower. Today, they are somewhere you can linger, unwind and enjoy a little everyday luxury. If your house is beautifully designed, why stop at the bathroom? Whether you are keen to refresh your existing bathroom or planning a full renovation, there are so many features that can help elevate your space. With some thoughtful choices and a little creativity, you can transform your bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary - another room you’ll want to spend time in. If you are looking for bathroom ideas and inspiration, even one or two of the elements featured in this article can turn a standard bathroom into something swoon-worthy. It might be plants displayed in hanging pots, a stylish bath rug underfoot, a striking piece of artwork or a small vignette arranged on a rustic stool featuring scented candles and attractive product bottles.
If you are considering a full renovation, the possibilities are endless. For most of us, the tiles are the starting point, setting the tone and style of the space. I suggest picking your standout feature next, such as a freestanding bath, a shower or a chandelier, then working the rest of the room around that. If you're not planning a complete overhaul, you can simply breathe new life into your bathroom with a burst of colour on the bath or walls. Take the image above, where Annie Sloan’s Aubusson Blue paint has been used to dramatic effect on the walls and bath. And, even if your walls are tiled, you can also use paint. With the right primer, even the shiniest tiles can be painted in the colour of your choice. I have done this in my own bathroom using a primer followed by a fresh green matt Benjamin Moore paint. Best of all, nobody can guess they’ve been painted!
A few bathroom accessories can do the trick if you don’t want to get the paintbrush out, such as a striking pendant light or unusual-shaped mirror. Then there’s the styling. If you don’t have a countertop or shelves to style, adding a rustic wooden stool or modern side table can provide the perfect spot to display soap, plants and candles. Take the bathroom pictured below from stone specialists Ca’ Pietra. The floor is made up of beautiful irregular limestone mosaic tiles which bring an organic texture to the room, while the walls are clad in elegant rectangular marble tiles that add a luxurious feel. The warm-toned shower fittings, hourglass wooden stool and built-in bench, styled with ceramics, soaps and textural towels, all work together to create a bathroom that feels stylish and inviting.
Although I’ll touch on tiles, baths and basins, this article is mainly focused on ways you can refresh your bathroom and bring in the wow factor. From plants, lighting, mirrors and bath fillers to decorative styling, I will be exploring elements that can transform your bathroom into a beautiful sanctuary.
Photo credit: Ca’ Pietra
Ideas for your bathroom refresh
Here you can see at a glance the ideas you will find in this article that can help transform your space - whether you want a simple bathroom refresh or a full renovation.
Embrace colour
Add wallpaper
Introduce a statement light
Add something vintage
Make a statement with a freestanding bath
Consider feature tiles
Choose a more unusual basin
Opt for a distinctive vanity
Incorporate plants
Add a small side table or stool for styling
Introduce natural materials
Hang curtains instead of a door
Upgrade your tapware
Swap your bathmat for a rug
Add a small cabinet
Use a ladder as a towel rack
Photo credit: Katie Fischer
Styling your bathroom
The stunning bathroom pictured above belongs to interior designer, online store owner and Instagram sensation Katie Fischer. When she recently renovated her bathroom, she kept the existing bones of the room - the bath, shower and tiling - but elevated the space by adding carefully chosen accessories such as the pouffe, rustic reclaimed wooden stool, an indoor tree in a rustic terracotta pot, wooden bath tray and geometric rug, bringing texture and personality to the bathroom. Katie also added smaller decorative touches with candle holders, scented candles and a vase of fresh flowers, all which helped create a beautifully styled bathroom. You can visit the rest of Katie’s stunning home in one of my features by clicking here.
If you want to make a bathroom more stylish without undertaking a major renovation, all you need is a couple of surfaces to display plants, attractive bottle dispensers, candles and home decor. This could be beside your basin, on a shelf, next to a built-in bath, on a windowsill, or displayed on a stool or side table. The size of the surface will naturally influence what you can place on it and how you style it. For a much deeper dive on styling pieces, check out my article Home Decor Essentials to Style Your Home and Make a Room Feel Finished.check out my article Home Decor Essentials to Style Your Home and Make a Room Feel Finished.
Create a bathroom retreat with plants
The simplest way to refresh your bathroom is with lush green plants, which bring the outdoors in, and instantly make the room feel calmer and more like a relaxing retreat. If you have a window in your bathroom, you can choose from a wide variety of plants, like in the bathroom here where they have the Madagascar Dragon Tree and spider plant on the windowsill. If you don’t have natural light, there are a couple of hardy plants that will still thrive in bathroom environments, including the ZZ plant and the snake plant, Devil’s ivy and Lucky bamboo. Even low-light plants like these need some form of light to survive, so leave lights on for a short period each day or consider replacing your standard bulb with an LED grow light bulb.
When it comes to surfaces to style your plants, you can place them on a windowsill, shelf, cabinet, side table or stool, or if surface space is limited, hang them from the ceiling like in the bathroom here where trailing plants have been suspended in macramé-style hangers. This beautiful spa-like bathroom is located at JTH Tucson in the Arizona desert (you can access my full feature here) and is a wonderful example of a simple yet beautiful design with penny mosaic tiles, lime plaster walls and modern brass fittings. Note that they also have dried eucalyptus hanging from the shower head, which releases a subtle fragrance when exposed to steam.
Photo credit: Joshua Tree House
Make a statement with a freestanding bath
A freestanding bath is undoubtedly a focal point in any bathroom. Available in white, black and a variety of colours, like the soft pink one pictured here, it instantly creates a sense of luxury and relaxation. If you are considering a coloured bath, you can introduce varying shades of the same hue elsewhere in the bathroom. The checkerboard marble-effect floor tiles by Porcelain Superstore pictured here pair beautifully with the pink bath and create a cohesive look.
Designs vary too. Traditional slipper and roll-top baths remain timeless options, while streamlined contemporary designs are popular for more modern bathrooms. Whatever your interior style and design of your bathroom, there’s a bath to suit it.
When I moved to my current home, I left most of the bathroom untouched, but felt the need to replace an old awkwardly shaped built-in bath which was uncomfortable to use. I chose a contemporary freestanding design in white to allow the bath to stand out against rich green-toned tiles which were the room's defining feature.
You also have a choice of different bath fillers, which can be wall or floor-mounted. If you opt for a floor-mounted bath filler like the one pictured here, I generally suggest positioning it to one side where you have more space, or slightly behind the bath but off-centre, which is where I have placed mine. Although I have seen fillers installed in front of the bath in compact bathrooms, placing it to one side allows the shape of the bath and bath filler to look their best.
Photo credit: Porcelain Superstore
Incorporate natural materials
I always like something natural in a bathroom, whether it’s a plant, natural stone or reclaimed wood, as these elements help ground the look of the space. For this bathroom, I wanted both the countertop and basin to have a natural feel. The countertop was made from solid wood planks, rather than engineered wood, and painted with a protective varnish so it could withstand splashes of water. I love the contrast between the sleek wall-mounted taps and textured pebble-shaped basin set against the white shiplap wall.
I also like to add my own vintage touches wherever possible. The mirror featured here was gilt-framed; I found it in a thrift shop and transformed it with several coats of high-gloss boat paint for that super shiny finish. To add stylish touches to the countertop and give the room character, I placed a sculptural leaf I picked from the garden in a black fabric pot, using a hidden jar inside to hold the stem in place. I then added an attractive soap dispenser and repurposed an old paper rack for hand towels.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
Add curtains instead of a door
Curtains can transform a bathroom, bringing in a boutique hotel vibe, while adding texture and softness, like the ones featured here in the bathroom at Desert Wild. The architectural feature is the archway and curtains were the perfect solution to keep the room both warm and private. If you have a small en suite or compact bathroom, replacing a door with a curtain is a practical solution, creating more usable space and allowing the room to be dressed with beautiful textural fabrics.
I did exactly this in my own bathroom, installing a rail with a single washed-linen curtain which I simply pull to one side. The soft, relaxed linen and blush tone look much more stylish than a white door and it ties in with my interior scheme. The curtains pictured here add that extra touch of luxury, particularly being tied back to frame the arch. If you would like to see more of this beautiful vacation rental, click here for the full tour.
Another feature in this bathroom that I would love to recreate is a clear window framing a plant outside, which instantly gives you that indoor-outdoor connection and is almost like a vista with a living piece of art. Although there is no actual view, the cactus instantly creates a sense of place, reminding you that the bathroom is located in the desert.
Photo credit: Desert Wild
Choose a striking wallpaper
You can refresh your bathroom simply by redecorating, and there’s nothing quite like wallpaper to take it to a whole new level and give it a completely different vibe. When choosing a wallpaper, don’t feel limited to plain or conservative prints. From tropical palm leaves and botanical prints to delicate florals or bold geometrics, there is a huge variety of designs available.
Treat your bathroom like you would any other room in your home. Get creative and be adventurous, just like Mindthegap with their imaginative range of wallcoverings. This particular design is from their Woodstock collection and embraces a carnival spirit with exotic foliage and animals. The playful maximalist look really makes a statement in this bathroom.
From a practical perspective, look at ranges of vinyl wallpaper and other waterproof materials, so they are less likely to be affected by humidity. Good ventilation is also important and, where possible, keep wallpaper to areas where it would be less exposed directly to water. If, like me, you love the idea of wallpaper in your shower, there are now specialist wallcoverings made from fibreglass fabric that can be installed in showers, allowing you to introduce pattern, colour and even murals to an area where traditionally there would only be tiles.
Photo credit: Mindthegap
Opt for an interesting-shaped basin
If you want to swap your standard white basin for something a little more impactful, there are countless options available in different colours, shapes and materials. The slimline countertop basin featured here, in a soft blush tone and elegant rectangular shape, instantly adds a more stylish, contemporary feel to the bathroom.
There are now so many designs to choose from. Over the years, I have had pebble-shaped basins, and even one that resembled a cloud. Alongside natural stone basins, you can also find decorative Moroccan-style bowls, traditional-style console basins and freestanding basin structures, all of which bring their own charm and design style to a bathroom.
Basins can be wall-mounted, wall-hung, recessed into a vanity unit or positioned on top. Countertop basins, like the design featured here, have become extremely popular as they allow the basin to become a design feature and not just a place to wash off your make-up.
In this bathroom, the basin has been paired with an elegant deck-mounted basin mixer by Coalbrook, which works perfectly for high-set basins. Alternatively, you can choose wall-mounted taps to free up space on the countertop and allow for room to style with attractive soap dispensers, plants or other home decor.
Photo credit: Coalbrook
Place a side table or rustic stool next to the bath
For a beautifully styled bathroom, you need surfaces to display decorative items and a side table or stool is the ideal solution. As you can see from the reclaimed wooden side table pictured here, it provides a charming spot to arrange a vignette of decorative soap dispensers, bath salts, scented candles or other accessories of your choice.
A rustic wooden stool, like the one here by Nkuku, works beautifully in both a modern and more organic-style bathrooms adding warmth and texture. If you have a freestanding bath, as I do, a stool or side table is also practical. I find it useful for when I am soaking in the bath as a handy spot where my soap and book are within easy reach.
If your bathroom has a more contemporary feel, consider a stool or side table in metal, stone or marble. Sculptural and conical designs, like the one featured in the shower room at the beginning of this post, are on-trend and will update any bathroom. Vintage side tables also look lovely and are way to bring character to a bathroom.
When it comes to styling your stool or table, there are many different items you can use to create a spa-like bathroom. A glass jar filled with bath salts, decorative bottles with essential oils or bubble bath, a small potted plant such as a succulent, a soap bar in an attractive stone dish, a natural sponge or body brush, candle holders or scented candles, will all work beautifully, but don’t forget to leave space for your book!
Photo credit: Nkuku
Consider feature tiles
Tiles provide the backdrop for your basin, bath and shower and come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, colours and finishes. White tiles have been popular since the late 19th century and remain a timeless choice today. However, as bathrooms have evolved from being a practical, utilitarian room to more of a place where we want to relax and unwind, many of us now give as much, if not more, thought to choosing tiles as we would when selecting tiles for the kitchen.
We now have so much choice, from classic metro tiles, rectangles, squares, mosaics and hexagons to larger varieties for a more seamless look. You can also bring pattern into your bathroom with tiles and find a finish you prefer, which could be satin, matt, glossy or textured.
Colour choices are also varied. You might opt for calming neutrals, monochrome, soft pastels, earthy tones or richer, dramatic shades. Choosing one single colour doesn't have to mean flat or uninspiring. These rose-coloured glazed tiles pictured here by Porcelain Superstore are a modern reinvention of traditional handmade Moroccan-style zellige tiles, with each tile varying in shade, creating depth and visual interest across the surface for a far more dynamic look.
Photo credit: Porcelain Superstore
Use a ladder as a towel rail
Even a simple ladder can be repurposed as a towel rack leant against a wall, like the vintage ladder pictured here. It adds character as well as being functional. Ladders are available in many different designs in various materials, from natural bamboo to sleek metal.
If you have space, you can opt for ladder shelves which provide additional space. As well as storing folded towels, the shelves allow you to display attractive bottles, plants and other home decor pieces.
In this bathroom, which I photographed for Modern Rustic magazine, homeowner Armi Maddison has incorporated other clever features. Alongside the ladder, she has hung a vintage Moroccan cabinet mirror and chosen exposed plumbers' taps instead of conventional tapware. Together, these elements create a bathroom that feels unique and full of interest.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
Find your ideal vanity
An attractive vanity unit, with enough space to display a few stylish accessories beside the basin, can really make a difference to both the design and feel of your bathroom. Combining style with practicality, most units have storage space, like the floating vanity pictured here designed by La Mamba Studio for Butó and exclusive to C.P. Hart. With its sleek lines and modern design, a vanity like this one will add that high-end, luxurious touch to any bathroom.
Choose your vanity to suit your interior style, such as a Shaker or bow-fronted Regency style for a period home, or crafted from reclaimed wood for more rustic interiors. You can also get creative and upcycle a vintage chest of drawers, a sideboard or a Victorian washstand and turn it into a vanity. Even old sewing tables can be transformed. I repurposed a vintage sewing table myself, although I used it as a console in the bathroom which gave me an additional surface for hand towels, soaps, plants and other bathroom accessories.
A vanity provides the perfect surface for styling, like the one pictured here where items including a soap dispenser, candle and a vase with dried eucalyptus leaves create an effective display. In a guest bathroom, for that boutique hotel feel, you could also add a stack of small, neatly folded hand towels on the vanity.
Photo credit C.P.Hart
Introduce vintage pieces
Adding something vintage and ornate can really elevate your bathroom, as old pieces bring charm, character and a sense of history to any space. The aged patinas that develop over time add texture and create visual interest.
This Victorian-inspired bathroom pictured here has several vintage pieces. The slipper bath is a classic piece that is a focal point in the room, while the black chandelier really gives the bathroom that glamorous feel. Then there’s a rather ornate table which has been repurposed as a vanity. The colour palette of the room has been kept neutral, giving the room a fresh, modern touch while allowing the vintage pieces to take centre stage.
When hunting for vintage items in thrift stores or vintage shops or sourcing online, be creative and think of an item's potential and how you can upgrade it. A lick of paint, changing shades and bulbs or updating hardware can transform a piece. The homeowner has done just this by painting the exterior of the slipper bath in black to add depth and contrast to the neutral room while beautifully tying in with the black chandelier.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
Upgrade your tapware
Although chrome and silver-toned tapware will always be a classic choice, and some would say it’s making a comeback, there are now so many more finishes to choose from. As bathroom design increasingly embraces natural materials and earthy tones, warm-toned metals are very popular.
The silver-toned spectrum includes chrome and stainless steel, which are available in either polished or brushed finishes. There are also slightly darker silver shades, including gunmetal and pewter, which bring depth and a more distinctive look.
Nickel is a popular metal which I have used in my own bathrooms and, with its more yellowy tone, it’s one I particularly like as it sits somewhere between the coolness of chrome and the warmth of bronze and brass, making it very versatile. The bath filler pictured here by Samuel Heath, which I photographed at WOW!house, is actually brushed nickel in an anthracite tone, which gives it a unique finish.
Warmer-toned metals also come in brass, gold and bronze. Brass remains one of the most popular choices and is available in an antique finish as well as polished and brushed. Gold tapware ranges from warmer rose tones to champagne hues, while bronze tends to be slightly darker than brass with a deep richness to it.
Let’s not forget black tapware, which creates real definition and looks slick, working well in monochrome, contemporary and more minimalist bathrooms.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
Swap your bath mat for a bath rug
You can really elevate your bathroom with something as simple as a bath rug, like the kilim-inspired rugs featured here by Weaver Green. Their faded tones, accented with a touch of yellow, beautifully echo the shades of the walls and pull the bathroom’s interior scheme together.
So, ditch your plain white bath mat for something that introduces either colour and pattern or, ideally, both. Whether you prefer vintage faded styles, kilim-style, stripes or bold geometric patterns, there are now many attractive options available to complement your interior style.
Many of these modern bath rugs are larger than traditional bath mats and are typically made from durable, washable materials, similar to outdoor rugs, making them able to withstand the odd splash of water. The rugs pictured here have impressive sustainable qualities, being made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, adding pattern, colour and texture to a bathroom while still being environmentally friendly.
Photo credit: Weaver Green
Make every day items attractive
Everyday items can contribute to the appeal of your bathroom and help tie in with your interior scheme. Rather than hiding everything away in a cupboard, look for beautiful, stylish or creative pieces that will enhance your overall aesthetic. Take these apothecary-style green glass dishes and soap dispenser by Rockett St George featured here. Not only do they inject vintage glamour into any bathroom, they also echo the green of the surrounding plants. So, when choosing accessories, consider colours, materials and designs that will work in your bathroom.
Storage can be a styling item too. Attractive baskets and containers can hold essentials like cotton wool, tubes of cream and brushes. In my bathroom, I use a small woven pot which holds everything from face cream to toothpaste. I also have two Moroccan baskets with lids that are ideal for hair products which can otherwise look messy.
Even everyday essentials like toilet rolls can be attractively displayed. I place mine in a basket on the floor close to the toilet. This is very useful if you have limited cupboard space.
Photo credit: Rockett St George
Elevate your bathroom with lighting
A stunning pendant can dramatically transform an ordinary bathroom into a swoon-worthy space. What is normally reserved for a living room is unexpected in a bathroom, so it creates even more of an impact.
This modern pendant light is one of DelightFULL’s popular lights; handmade in brass, it illuminates the room in mid-century style. You can choose a pendant that suits your interior style, such as rattan for coastal bathrooms, while for heritage homes, a vintage chandelier works perfectly.
Lighting should also be layered in a bathroom just like any other room, with spots or other task lights. There’s also the safety of lighting in a bathroom. You can't just place any light above the bath; it needs to have what is called an IP65 rating, while if it’s further away from a shower, bath or basin, an IP44 will cope with the moist atmosphere.
Photo credit: DelightFULL
Choose a stylish mirror
Mirrors reflect light and instantly make a room feel brighter and more spacious. In the bathroom, they are not just a stylish add-on but an everyday necessity. However, choosing an attractive design rather than a simple sheet of mirror glass can really make a huge difference to the overall look of your bathroom.
A framed mirror can introduce colour, texture or a touch of metallic to a room, like the mirror featured here by Boca do Lobo. More than just a mirror, it’s a beautiful piece of wall art and, with its irregular, sculptural shape brings an organic feel to the bathroom.
Mirrors don’t need to be confined to just one above the basin. You can also position them above a bath, for example, to create a focal point. In a previous home, I hung a silver sunburst mirror above my freestanding bath, which echoed the tones of the brushed steel bath and added interest to an otherwise plain wall.
Photo credit: Caffe Latte
Add artwork
Artwork can make a bathroom feel less functional and much more like another beautifully designed room in your home. Whether it’s a group of framed prints arranged as a gallery wall, or a large statement piece like the painting in the image here, it introduces colour and personality to a room. You can use artwork to echo accent colours you have used elsewhere in the bathroom, or, as in the monochrome bathroom here, use it to add a bold splash of colour.
Although the bath, basin and bath filler in this bathroom are all attractive features in their own right, it’s the artwork that captures your attention and that your eye is immediately drawn to. It softens the hard lines of the cabinets while breaking up an otherwise large expanse of empty wall. If wall space is limited, you could lean a piece of artwork on a shelf or countertop alongside decorative accessories to add height and visual interest.
You can be creative with your wall decor and hang other items and look beyond conventional artwork. Grouped together, collections of items such as woven fans, baskets or sun hats can look just as striking. In my own home, I have five antique bronzed divers displayed on my wall. Whatever you choose to hang, it will instantly elevate your bathroom and make it feel more personal and curated.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
LET’S SUM UP
I hope this article has given you plenty of ideas and inspiration to get creative with your bathroom refresh.
Further reading
If you would like to look at home decor essentials to style your space, check out my article Home Decor Essentials to Style Your Home and Make a Room Feel Finished
And if you want to learn more about styling your home beautifully, with plenty of tips and advice, then do head over to Interior Styling: What is it and How to Create a Beautiful, Cohesive Home.
Hi, I'm Sandra van Aalst – interior stylist, writer, photographer and Sunday Times bestselling author.
Having worked freelance for magazines including Elle Decoration and House Beautiful, in my blog posts I share inspiring home tours, practical styling ideas and decorating tips to help you create a home that feels beautiful, personal and pulled together.
I also take you on tours of beautifully styled homes from around the world, offering inspiration and styling ideas to steal for your own space. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level.
