Bring Modern Mediterranean Style to Your Bathroom in 7 Ways
Use colour, lighting and accessories to bathe a bathroom in warmth and rich detail
Influenced by the warm, saturated colours of captivating landscapes, the sun and misty sea air, Mediterranean style brings an unbeatable combination of cultural flavour and low-key luxury into a home. On my travels through European and Mediterranean countries, I have noted key concepts that consistently define this style. Here’s how you can embrace an eclectic mix of elements that have been developed over the centuries.
Or completely tile one wall, leaving the other walls and the floor white. Here a feature wall in oceanic tiles makes a statement, but simplicity is present in the sleek lines of the stand-alone tub.
When choosing Mediterranean-inspired paint colours, I opt for orange-reds, bright yellows, aqua and crisp whites.
But if you’re hesitant to go bold with colour, focus on shapes and lines instead. Try a Moroccan-influenced tile shape and pair the tile with a border in a contrasting colour for definition or a contrasting grout. Add accents of rich earth tones for a lively atmosphere, such as the one here.
But if you’re hesitant to go bold with colour, focus on shapes and lines instead. Try a Moroccan-influenced tile shape and pair the tile with a border in a contrasting colour for definition or a contrasting grout. Add accents of rich earth tones for a lively atmosphere, such as the one here.
3. Mirrors
Mirrors are flexible accessories that are staple design elements for a Mediterranean-inspired space. They can include many elements of design, such as colour, texture, pattern and shape, all in one piece. Curved mirrors, such as the ones here, nod to dramatic archway elements without a permanent commitment. A mirror with or without ornate carvings can bring a taste of history into a space when a full renovation is not an option.
Mirrors are flexible accessories that are staple design elements for a Mediterranean-inspired space. They can include many elements of design, such as colour, texture, pattern and shape, all in one piece. Curved mirrors, such as the ones here, nod to dramatic archway elements without a permanent commitment. A mirror with or without ornate carvings can bring a taste of history into a space when a full renovation is not an option.
4. Lighting
Try tumbled ceramic lanterns or a pierced vase in white for a soft glow. The pattern of the light holes creates a unique flow of light and a cosy atmosphere, while the lantern speaks to a delicate design.
Try tumbled ceramic lanterns or a pierced vase in white for a soft glow. The pattern of the light holes creates a unique flow of light and a cosy atmosphere, while the lantern speaks to a delicate design.
Ornate lanterns, sconces and vase lamps can bring unique ambient lighting into a small space. The delicate piercing of the pendant here creates beautifully detailed patterns for light to shine through, touching on rustic ornamental inspiration without feeling too country.
Notice how the timber in this space balances the darkness of the iron and adds a relaxed feeling with its weathered look.
Notice how the timber in this space balances the darkness of the iron and adds a relaxed feeling with its weathered look.
5. Timber accents
Whether you bring them in through a rich wooden door, seating or window frames, warm wood tones are distinctive of Mediterranean culture. Usually intricate in this style, they create a relaxed, rustic feeling. Try choosing timber accents with a visible grain or an organic carved shape to strengthen the connection to nature.
Whether you bring them in through a rich wooden door, seating or window frames, warm wood tones are distinctive of Mediterranean culture. Usually intricate in this style, they create a relaxed, rustic feeling. Try choosing timber accents with a visible grain or an organic carved shape to strengthen the connection to nature.
7. Rugs
Because bathrooms are filled with hard finishes, rugs are a great way to add a touch of plushness. The one pictured here elevates the Mediterranean concept with its pattern, draws on the colour of the wood and the warm tone of the tile, and unifies the look. Area rugs can also be easily changed as your taste for the Mediterranean culture becomes seasoned.
YOUR SAY
Do you love Mediterranean style or is it just not for you? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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Because bathrooms are filled with hard finishes, rugs are a great way to add a touch of plushness. The one pictured here elevates the Mediterranean concept with its pattern, draws on the colour of the wood and the warm tone of the tile, and unifies the look. Area rugs can also be easily changed as your taste for the Mediterranean culture becomes seasoned.
YOUR SAY
Do you love Mediterranean style or is it just not for you? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE
How to Bring Balinese Style Home From Your Holiday
How to be Bold (and Beautiful!) in the Bathroom
Vanity Flair: 13 Gorgeous Looks for Bathroom Vanities
15 Inspiring Spaces for Bathtubs (That Aren’t Bathrooms)
Earthy tones of terracotta, turquoise, ocean blue, yellow and rusty red are hallmarks of the Mediterranean concept because they draw on the heavily saturated hues of surrounding landscapes. Jewel tones work well in tile applications, where mixing many colours is visually pleasing. These hues bring that distinctive Spanish-inspired element into a space.
Handmade tiles are a great way to bring pattern into a Mediterranean-style bathroom, but they can be costly. To save money, look to the wall in this photo for guidance and create a focal point by installing just a strip of tile while keeping the surrounding areas in simple white ceramic.