The bathroom is the perfect space for me-time. We take showers and do our skincare routines in them. We get rid of our bodily impurities in our bathrooms, then come out of them looking and feeling fresh.
But a messy, poorly lit, and old-looking bathroom is no livable space. An unsightly bathroom sets the wrong tone and mood for everyday living. Because you use it daily, it’s important to prioritize neatness and style in your bathroom.
Aside from cleanliness and aesthetics, a beautifully renovated bathroom means optimized functionality and bespoke features that cater to your needs. Below are simple and useful ideas to get started on building the bathroom of your dreams.
Backlit Mirrors
Subtle and sleek, backlit mirrors enhance your powder room experience. They don’t just add a modern touch to your bathroom. Backlit mirrors also save you energy and give you better lighting when doing your makeup or skincare routine.
Compared to other light sources, backlit mirrors produce no shadow and give you direct light. This way, you can skip buying ring lights or lamps for your skincare regimen or for when you’re retouching. You can also choose from warm, neutral, or cool undertones for your mirror light according to your skin tone.
Backlit mirrors are versatile. Whether you’re going for a minimalist look with neutrals and earth tones, an extravagant gold-and-marble-only bathroom, or a feminine bathroom with pastels and florals, backlit mirrors are still a great visual feast.
Sleek Faucets
It’s simple and subtle adjustments that make the biggest difference. Choose modern and sophisticated hardware that looks light and thin. Consider the shape and material of your faucet. Sprinkle or single handle faucets are ideal choices, no matter what size your bathroom is.
Unlike regular faucet spouts, sprinkle faucets release water in a rectangular shape. This gives your bathroom a unique and futuristic look. As for single handle faucets, choose spouts with defined edges instead of curved spouts. This geometric and "moderne" style instantly catches people’s eyes.
There are plenty of inexpensive options when choosing a faucet. If you want to prioritize aesthetics, then avoid faucets with plastic knobs. Depending on your source, zinc faucets can be as cheap as plastic. Zinc is also more aesthetically appealing, especially with a chrome finish. If you want non-corrosive faucets then choose brass or stainless steel.
Futuristic Shower Heads
If you want a sleeker look, avoid single spray showers. Instead, opt for a circular rain shower head. If you have more budget, install a rectangular shower panel. This is the best looking shower head there is in terms of design.
Adjustable features must also be taken into account. Purchase a shower set that comes with a handheld shower head if you want specific parts of your body washed. If you don’t, then a regular rain shower head or panel is fine.
If you’re particular with water temperature, make sure to buy a shower set with hot and cold settings. If you hate freezing cold water in the morning, this is a good investment.
Larger Tiles With Subtle Linings
As much as possible, choose large tiles. This gives an illusion of a bigger bathroom. The prices of tiles depend on size: the bigger, the pricier. If you’re on a budget, you can still get small or medium sized tiles, but you have to mind the linings.
If you want to maintain the bigger bathroom effect, make sure that your tiles have subtle linings. Overly defined linings are reminiscent of older bathroom designs and make your bathroom feel cramped. Tell your workers to put the tiles together with linings to look the least obvious.
As for texture, don’t get polished tiles especially on wet areas, like the shower area. The bathroom in itself is already mostly slippery. Polished shower tiles are a recipe for disaster. Instead, use matte and non-slip tiles: those that feel like a smooth stone.
Mounted Shelves
Instead of putting your shampoo, soaps, and creams on the bathroom sink, you can have a few shelves mounted on the walls. This gives more space for your products when the sink area gets a little too crowded.
To make the bathroom theme even more consistent, you can match your shelves with the tiles. The materials don’t have to be exactly the same. Similar colors and textures can be used for your bathroom shelves.
Make sure that the materials are waterproof. In time, the shelf will lose its glow if not taken care of. If the material is sensitive like wood, then make it resistant to water exposure by coating it with tung oil or linseed oil, then seal it with lacquer, varnish, or polyurethane. Finish it with a stain-sealant for extra protection.
What Does Your Dream Bathroom Look Like?
Do you prefer all white? What shape should your mirror be? Do you want a shower curtain or a sliding glass door? Pro tip: if your bathroom is small, it’s better to use a sliding door.
If you don’t want a sliding door, then choose a light-colored shower curtain, as seen below. On the right, you can also use vertical pouches you can slip a few things in.
Not your type? Don’t worry, there’s more. How about a masculine looking bathroom: picture black walls, a black shower head, and wooden flooring.
Recommended for today’s bachelors, this color scheme is very neutral and simple. Notice the large and light colored tiles with non-obvious linings. This blends well with the rest of the bathroom design.
Is your dream bathroom sweet and feminine? Would you use baby pink tiles and gold highlights? Do you want flowers in your bathroom? Should it smell like strawberries and oranges?
If this is your dream bathroom, then invest in ceramic pots for your fresh flowers, pastel colored soap dispensers, shampoo bottles, and a gold-coated faucet or shower head.
The possibilities are endless! Remember to trust your own taste and source your materials wisely. For tips on planning a renovation, click here. If you want to know more on renovating specific parts of your home, check out these articles on living room renovations and kitchen renovations. Hope this inspired you!
Sources:
45 mistakes to avoid when designing a bathroom | loveproperty.com. (2021, June 24). Love Property. https://www.loveproperty.com/gallerylist/71172/45-mistakes-to-avoid-when-designing-a-bathroom
Anderson, T. (2017, November 21). How to Tile Shelves. Home Guides | SF Gate. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/tile-shelves-53876.html
Ball, J. (2020, April 28). Different Types Of Shower Heads: What To Know Before You Buy. The Shower Head Store. https://www.theshowerheadstore.com/blogs/news/types-of-shower-heads
Bright, M. (2020, February 25). 30 of the Best Stainless Steel Kitchen Faucets. Architectural Digest. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/best-stainless-steel-kitchen-faucets
Flexner, B. (2016, June 27). Comparing Linseed Oil & Tung Oil. Popular Woodworking Magazine. https://www.popularwoodworking.com/flexner-on-finishing-blog/comparing-linseed-oil-and-tung-oil/