Winter Warmers: 14 Tricks to Cosy Up Your Bathroom
Raise the temperature on those chilly early mornings with these toasty tips
Oh, that dread – you wake up in the middle of the night to take a trip to the bathroom, but you know those cold tiles will chill all the toastiness right out of your feet. Or you come in from the chilly, windswept outdoors longing to take a luxurious soak in the tub, but the thought of shedding your layers stops you in your tracks. It’s that time of year when you want your bathroom to raise your body temperature. Here are 15 suggestions that range from something you can do in minutes for a few bucks to dream-space renovation ideas.
2. Blend beautiful natural materials
Soapstone sinks atop wooden counters add so much warmth to this bathroom. The look reminds me of the natural beauty of a rocky outcrop in the bush.
Soapstone sinks atop wooden counters add so much warmth to this bathroom. The look reminds me of the natural beauty of a rocky outcrop in the bush.
3. Take a different approach to lighting
We tend to think there is a certain type of characterless light we need to choose for bathrooms, like those flush-mount ‘boob lights’. This is not true; open your mind and browse the type of lighting you would usually associate with a foyer or dining room.
If you are installing a hanging chandelier or pendant light in a bathroom, work with a licensed electrician who knows the codes inside and out.
See more show-stopping bathroom lighting ideas
We tend to think there is a certain type of characterless light we need to choose for bathrooms, like those flush-mount ‘boob lights’. This is not true; open your mind and browse the type of lighting you would usually associate with a foyer or dining room.
If you are installing a hanging chandelier or pendant light in a bathroom, work with a licensed electrician who knows the codes inside and out.
See more show-stopping bathroom lighting ideas
4. Consider heated floors
One of the most luxurious things you can do to make your bathroom toasty in chilly weather is invest in radiant-heat flooring. If you are planning any renovations, learn more about what this entails and what the payoffs are.
If you don’t have room in the budget for such an investment, talk to your electrician about installing a bathroom-safe heater you can turn on before your bath or shower. Again, I stress, working with licensed pros is a must; you don’t want to scrimp on safety with electrics in the bathroom.
One of the most luxurious things you can do to make your bathroom toasty in chilly weather is invest in radiant-heat flooring. If you are planning any renovations, learn more about what this entails and what the payoffs are.
If you don’t have room in the budget for such an investment, talk to your electrician about installing a bathroom-safe heater you can turn on before your bath or shower. Again, I stress, working with licensed pros is a must; you don’t want to scrimp on safety with electrics in the bathroom.
5. Get your towels toasty
Heated towel bars add luxury to the bathroom, giving you a wonderful way to wrap up when you step out of a steamy shower.
Heated towel bars add luxury to the bathroom, giving you a wonderful way to wrap up when you step out of a steamy shower.
6. Rev up the wall colour
So many of today’s most beautiful bathrooms are crisp and white, but that’s certainly not a requirement. Whether working with wall coverings, paint or tiles, think outside the usual bathroom colour palettes if the thought of white marble leaves you cold.
So many of today’s most beautiful bathrooms are crisp and white, but that’s certainly not a requirement. Whether working with wall coverings, paint or tiles, think outside the usual bathroom colour palettes if the thought of white marble leaves you cold.
7. Incorporate antiques
The well-worn patina of this table-turned-vanity and the eclectic miners’ oil lanterns add warmth and personality to a white bathroom. There are even votive candles in the lanterns for cosy light to evoke a relaxing ambience.
More: Style Update: How to Give Your Home a Vintage Flair
The well-worn patina of this table-turned-vanity and the eclectic miners’ oil lanterns add warmth and personality to a white bathroom. There are even votive candles in the lanterns for cosy light to evoke a relaxing ambience.
More: Style Update: How to Give Your Home a Vintage Flair
8. Invest in a bathtub that helps retain heat
Materials such as copper, brass, volcanic limestone and soapstone retain heat and will help to keep that bathwater warm while you enjoy the entire new issue of your favourite magazine.
Am I the only one who gets a magazine in the mail and thinks, “Sweet! It’s my mag and bath time for me tonight”? Just wondering.
Materials such as copper, brass, volcanic limestone and soapstone retain heat and will help to keep that bathwater warm while you enjoy the entire new issue of your favourite magazine.
Am I the only one who gets a magazine in the mail and thinks, “Sweet! It’s my mag and bath time for me tonight”? Just wondering.
9. Install a steam shower
This is a big-ticket dream-space item, but everyone I know who has one seems to think they can no longer live without it. I did get a chance to test one out at a vacation rental once and I can report that it was heavenly.
This is a big-ticket dream-space item, but everyone I know who has one seems to think they can no longer live without it. I did get a chance to test one out at a vacation rental once and I can report that it was heavenly.
10. Consider a home sauna
Historically much more common in countries such as Sweden, saunas are becoming more popular in the cooler climate zones of Australia, too.
Historically much more common in countries such as Sweden, saunas are becoming more popular in the cooler climate zones of Australia, too.
11. Think steampunk
Winter brings dark, moody days. Instead of fighting the moodiness, this designer celebrated it, stunning us with copper pipes and that old-fashioned high toilet tank.
Winter brings dark, moody days. Instead of fighting the moodiness, this designer celebrated it, stunning us with copper pipes and that old-fashioned high toilet tank.
12. Let in the light
Windows, skylights and a clear glass shower surround make the most of natural light. If your concern is privacy, explore using transoms, acid-etched glass and clerestory windows.
Windows, skylights and a clear glass shower surround make the most of natural light. If your concern is privacy, explore using transoms, acid-etched glass and clerestory windows.
13. Add a sunny shower curtain
Yellow will perk up a dark winter’s evening or early morning.
Yellow will perk up a dark winter’s evening or early morning.
14. Add a fireplace
This is one of the most luxurious bathroom features I can imagine. If I win the lottery, this is the first bathroom design move I’m going to make.
MORE
10 Five-Star Luxuries to Enhance Your Master Bathroom
10 Showers You’d Want to Spend Hours In
Bath Lovers Unite: 18 Deluxe Tubs You’ll Love
TELL US
If you won lotto, would you use one of the more luxurious ideas listed here to warm up your bathroom? Let us know in the comments section below.
This is one of the most luxurious bathroom features I can imagine. If I win the lottery, this is the first bathroom design move I’m going to make.
MORE
10 Five-Star Luxuries to Enhance Your Master Bathroom
10 Showers You’d Want to Spend Hours In
Bath Lovers Unite: 18 Deluxe Tubs You’ll Love
TELL US
If you won lotto, would you use one of the more luxurious ideas listed here to warm up your bathroom? Let us know in the comments section below.
A bath mat does not have to be a shaggy little rectangle. Add an Oriental rug to enjoy underfoot. The rich colours will warm up the look of the room as well.
Be sure to add a rug pad or rug tape that will grip the floor underneath any bathroom rug to prevent slips.