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Best of the Week: 32 Practical Bathroom Set-Ups
Planning a bathroom revamp? Check out these 32 bathrooms from around the globe that combine functionality and good looks
Insufficient storage, no room for a bath, the need to squeeze in a laundry – whatever the shape and size of your bathroom, it’s bound to come with its own design challenges. But with a little imagination, a practical and stylish bathroom is still well within reach – check out these 32 stunning designs to see how it’s done.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
2. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: Slender recessed pull-outs in the bath surround are perfect for storing slippers and deck shoes in this family home.
Features: Slender recessed pull-outs in the bath surround are perfect for storing slippers and deck shoes in this family home.
4. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: Need to incorporate a laundry into your bathroom but don’t want to lose the serene vibe? Position it inside a custom-designed timber box, as the owners have done here. When it’s time to relax in the tub, simply close the laundry’s folding doors…
Features: Need to incorporate a laundry into your bathroom but don’t want to lose the serene vibe? Position it inside a custom-designed timber box, as the owners have done here. When it’s time to relax in the tub, simply close the laundry’s folding doors…
…here’s the view from the bathroom side.
5. Location: London, UK
Features: A tricky, angled roofline is no problem for the designers of this loft ensuite – they’ve simply shaped the mirror to match it. Other clever touches include using the same tiles on the basin as the wall and floor; this creates visual cohesion and makes the bathroom appear larger.
Features: A tricky, angled roofline is no problem for the designers of this loft ensuite – they’ve simply shaped the mirror to match it. Other clever touches include using the same tiles on the basin as the wall and floor; this creates visual cohesion and makes the bathroom appear larger.
6. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Studio Ezra
Features: Sometimes it’s the unexpected touches that bring magic to a space; here, exposed pipework adds a dash of bling to a low-key scheme of grey, timber and white.
Designer: Studio Ezra
Features: Sometimes it’s the unexpected touches that bring magic to a space; here, exposed pipework adds a dash of bling to a low-key scheme of grey, timber and white.
7. Location: London, UK
Features: A splashback created from pages in a book. The ultimate in upcycling.
Features: A splashback created from pages in a book. The ultimate in upcycling.
8. Location: Melourne, Victoria
Designer: GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Features: A narrow bathroom can present a host of design challenges. Here, the designer has dispensed with a bath and opted for a space-savvy shower instead. Specifying a glass shower screen allows the eye to flow all the way through the space, while a narrow wall-hung vanity maximises floor space.
Designer: GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Features: A narrow bathroom can present a host of design challenges. Here, the designer has dispensed with a bath and opted for a space-savvy shower instead. Specifying a glass shower screen allows the eye to flow all the way through the space, while a narrow wall-hung vanity maximises floor space.
9. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: Short on bathroom storage? Add an overhead cabinet, as the owners have done here. To prevent it looking too heavy, they’ve kept one section open for display.
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: Short on bathroom storage? Add an overhead cabinet, as the owners have done here. To prevent it looking too heavy, they’ve kept one section open for display.
10. Location: Washington, USA
Features: A LED vanity mirror is great for shaving or applying make-up as it casts no shadows on your face. Plus, most LED mirrors feature an anti-fog function so you can use the mirror straight after a bath or shower.
Features: A LED vanity mirror is great for shaving or applying make-up as it casts no shadows on your face. Plus, most LED mirrors feature an anti-fog function so you can use the mirror straight after a bath or shower.
11. Location: Ontario, Canada
Features: A wall of bathroom-storage goodness.
Features: A wall of bathroom-storage goodness.
12. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: BENT Architecture
Features: This unique bathroom unit is suspended from the ceiling and includes everything from a sink and storage shelves to a mirrored cabinet.
Designer: BENT Architecture
Features: This unique bathroom unit is suspended from the ceiling and includes everything from a sink and storage shelves to a mirrored cabinet.
13. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Thomas Archer Homes
Features: Choosing a window covering that filters sunlight makes it easy for the owners of this bathroom to apply make-up in natural light.
Designer: Thomas Archer Homes
Features: Choosing a window covering that filters sunlight makes it easy for the owners of this bathroom to apply make-up in natural light.
14. Location: Austin, USA
Features: Creating a dedicated spot for every member of the household to hang their towel and a basket to pop their lotions and shampoos in helps keep a busy family bathroom tidy.
Features: Creating a dedicated spot for every member of the household to hang their towel and a basket to pop their lotions and shampoos in helps keep a busy family bathroom tidy.
15. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Architected
Features: No space for a vanity bench in your tiny bathroom? Create a recessed storage ledge behind the basin where you can store soap and toiletries.
Designer: Architected
Features: No space for a vanity bench in your tiny bathroom? Create a recessed storage ledge behind the basin where you can store soap and toiletries.
16. Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Designer: Tike Property
Features: A floor-to-ceiling wall of glass louvres lets the breeze flow through this Brisbane bathroom and provides unimpeded bushland views.
Designer: Tike Property
Features: A floor-to-ceiling wall of glass louvres lets the breeze flow through this Brisbane bathroom and provides unimpeded bushland views.
17. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Integrity Kitchen Company
Features: Extending the benchtop beyond the width of the drawers creates a handy spot to store towels and toiletries.
Designer: Integrity Kitchen Company
Features: Extending the benchtop beyond the width of the drawers creates a handy spot to store towels and toiletries.
18. Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Features: Smart zoning makes sense in a large bathroom such as this one: note how the designer has altered the floor levels and specified different colours and materials for the bath and shower areas to give each one a clear sense of purpose.
Features: Smart zoning makes sense in a large bathroom such as this one: note how the designer has altered the floor levels and specified different colours and materials for the bath and shower areas to give each one a clear sense of purpose.
19. Location: London, UK
Features: If bathroom storage is in short supply, look to utilise those often overlooked spaces. Here, the owners have squeezed in a narrow drawer for soap and candles next to the tub.
Features: If bathroom storage is in short supply, look to utilise those often overlooked spaces. Here, the owners have squeezed in a narrow drawer for soap and candles next to the tub.
20. Location: Austin, USA
Features: Recessed storage shelves and a clever, movable mirror – often practicality is delivered in small details.
Features: Recessed storage shelves and a clever, movable mirror – often practicality is delivered in small details.
21. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: Lux Interiors
Features: Positioning the basin off-centre on the vanity captures the eye and provides plenty of uninterrupted bathroom bench space.
Designer: Lux Interiors
Features: Positioning the basin off-centre on the vanity captures the eye and provides plenty of uninterrupted bathroom bench space.
22. Location: Boston, USA
Features: A half-height nib wall between the vanity and toilet creates a sense of privacy here.
Features: A half-height nib wall between the vanity and toilet creates a sense of privacy here.
23. Location: Byron Bay, NSW
Designer: Davis Architects
Features: Make a feature of a mirrored vanity by adding in a few handy display shelves.
Designer: Davis Architects
Features: Make a feature of a mirrored vanity by adding in a few handy display shelves.
24. Location: California, USA
Features: A sliding door such as this one is a great space saver as it tucks neatly into a pocket in the wall when opened, rather than swinging into the compact room.
Features: A sliding door such as this one is a great space saver as it tucks neatly into a pocket in the wall when opened, rather than swinging into the compact room.
25. Location: Paris, France
Features: A slimline floating basin and wall-hung toilet that don’t swallow up floor space, and storage cabinets that reach right up to the ceiling – plenty of clever, small-bathroom design tricks used here.
Features: A slimline floating basin and wall-hung toilet that don’t swallow up floor space, and storage cabinets that reach right up to the ceiling – plenty of clever, small-bathroom design tricks used here.
26. Location: London, UK
Features: A slim drawer tucked into the bath surround is a useful spot to store tall bottles of shampoo and lotion. The drawer is tile-fronted to match the bath surround so it sits flush when it’s closed.
Features: A slim drawer tucked into the bath surround is a useful spot to store tall bottles of shampoo and lotion. The drawer is tile-fronted to match the bath surround so it sits flush when it’s closed.
27. Location: San Diego, USA
Features: Different flooring materials in the shower, vanity and bath areas define each zone of this bathroom, while brass detailing in all three areas creates a sense of cohesion. A beautifully balanced effect.
Features: Different flooring materials in the shower, vanity and bath areas define each zone of this bathroom, while brass detailing in all three areas creates a sense of cohesion. A beautifully balanced effect.
28. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Sheri Haby Architects
Features: Yearning for a freestanding bathtub but worried that you can’t fit one into your small bathroom? Rather than a standard-size tub, choose a compact style such as this one instead.
Designer: Sheri Haby Architects
Features: Yearning for a freestanding bathtub but worried that you can’t fit one into your small bathroom? Rather than a standard-size tub, choose a compact style such as this one instead.
29. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: Proof that bold pattern can be just as effective in a small space as a big one.
Features: Proof that bold pattern can be just as effective in a small space as a big one.
30. Location: Paris, France
Features: You don’t need oodles of space to create a relaxing bathroom retreat; in this small Parisian bathroom, the owners have chosen a compact tub and added in recessed bookshelves. Magnifique!
Features: You don’t need oodles of space to create a relaxing bathroom retreat; in this small Parisian bathroom, the owners have chosen a compact tub and added in recessed bookshelves. Magnifique!
31. Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Features: Love to read while you bathe? Consider adding in a wall rack for magazines.
Features: Love to read while you bathe? Consider adding in a wall rack for magazines.
32. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Adrian Ramsay Design House
Features: A pull-out cupboard isn’t just for the kitchen – in this bathroom, it creates easy-access storage for towels and toiletries.
Tell us
Which of these handy ideas impress you the most? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 34 Hallways, Corridors and Connecting Spaces
Designer: Adrian Ramsay Design House
Features: A pull-out cupboard isn’t just for the kitchen – in this bathroom, it creates easy-access storage for towels and toiletries.
Tell us
Which of these handy ideas impress you the most? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 34 Hallways, Corridors and Connecting Spaces
Features: Specifying an elongated sink with three taps in a family bathroom means there’s room for everyone to brush their teeth in the morning. Genius.