Features That Elevate a Bathroom From Meh to Marvellous
It’s often the details – finish, focus, materials – that take a space from basic to brilliant, as these UK schemes show
Adding interest to a standard bathroom doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune. By working in one or two key elements, you can lift the look and feel of the space and make the scheme feel more luxurious and considered. Take a look at these ideas from UK bathrooms to see how you could turn a functional bathroom into a much more stylish room.
Focus on finishes
Texture is key when it comes to adding depth to a basic interior, and it’s easy to introduce in the bathroom. Think about bringing a couple of different materials into the space, as the designers at Amberth have done here.
The minimal white scheme has been complemented by a pale wood vanity unit with a concrete basin above. The two beautiful finishes add some textural interest and character to the room.
Need help reconfiguring your bathroom? Find a bathroom designer near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Texture is key when it comes to adding depth to a basic interior, and it’s easy to introduce in the bathroom. Think about bringing a couple of different materials into the space, as the designers at Amberth have done here.
The minimal white scheme has been complemented by a pale wood vanity unit with a concrete basin above. The two beautiful finishes add some textural interest and character to the room.
Need help reconfiguring your bathroom? Find a bathroom designer near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Give it some metal
Take your bathroom up a notch by adding fittings and fixtures with a metallic finish. Copper and brass are particularly popular for bringing some bling to your bathroom.
Less is more when it comes to getting this look right, though, so stick to the same metal throughout the space and hold back on introducing too much.
This elegant bathroom, created by Emma Merry Styling, has been lifted by just a few key metallic elements. The brass towel rail and tapware complement the white tiling and navy vanity unit for a subtle boost.
Take your bathroom up a notch by adding fittings and fixtures with a metallic finish. Copper and brass are particularly popular for bringing some bling to your bathroom.
Less is more when it comes to getting this look right, though, so stick to the same metal throughout the space and hold back on introducing too much.
This elegant bathroom, created by Emma Merry Styling, has been lifted by just a few key metallic elements. The brass towel rail and tapware complement the white tiling and navy vanity unit for a subtle boost.
Play with pattern
Plain white tiles are a practical and cost-effective choice for a bathroom, but there are ways you can make them more interesting. Consider asking your tiler to lay them in a pattern that’s different to the standard brick-bond tile pattern formation.
In this bathroom, long white tiles have been positioned in a herringbone pattern, which instantly gives the space a designer look. Alternatively, you could stack the tiles vertically or go for a chevron design.
Plain white tiles are a practical and cost-effective choice for a bathroom, but there are ways you can make them more interesting. Consider asking your tiler to lay them in a pattern that’s different to the standard brick-bond tile pattern formation.
In this bathroom, long white tiles have been positioned in a herringbone pattern, which instantly gives the space a designer look. Alternatively, you could stack the tiles vertically or go for a chevron design.
Restore and refine
Make your bathroom feel more considered by forgoing standard storage furniture in favour of repurposed vintage pieces.
Here, the designers at NK Living have chosen a timber sideboard and shelving unit in place of the usual bathroom vanity and wall cabinet. These pieces, together with vintage-style wall lights, wood panelling and artwork, help create a space that feels anything but a basic bathroom.
Browse beautifully designed bathrooms to inspire your own
Make your bathroom feel more considered by forgoing standard storage furniture in favour of repurposed vintage pieces.
Here, the designers at NK Living have chosen a timber sideboard and shelving unit in place of the usual bathroom vanity and wall cabinet. These pieces, together with vintage-style wall lights, wood panelling and artwork, help create a space that feels anything but a basic bathroom.
Browse beautifully designed bathrooms to inspire your own
Showcase your bath
If there’s one thing that can elevate your bathroom, it has to be the tub. Opt for a freestanding number and you’ll instantly add character.
The design you choose will depend on the style of your room, and a contemporary bathroom will lend itself to one of the many modern freestanding designs on the market. In this traditional washspace, a vintage-style, claw-foot design works perfectly and goes with the cottage look created by Border Oak.
If there’s one thing that can elevate your bathroom, it has to be the tub. Opt for a freestanding number and you’ll instantly add character.
The design you choose will depend on the style of your room, and a contemporary bathroom will lend itself to one of the many modern freestanding designs on the market. In this traditional washspace, a vintage-style, claw-foot design works perfectly and goes with the cottage look created by Border Oak.
Smarten storage
While freestanding cabinets and wall shelves are brilliantly useful for bathroom storage, some bespoke joinery will give your room an extra dimension.
Look around your space to find unused areas where you could fit some unique storage to make the room appear beautifully designed. The owners of this bathroom hired a carpenter to make the most of a sloping niche. The recessed shelving is both practical and attractive.
While freestanding cabinets and wall shelves are brilliantly useful for bathroom storage, some bespoke joinery will give your room an extra dimension.
Look around your space to find unused areas where you could fit some unique storage to make the room appear beautifully designed. The owners of this bathroom hired a carpenter to make the most of a sloping niche. The recessed shelving is both practical and attractive.
Get glowing
A carefully considered lighting scheme can turn a basic room into one that’s altogether more special. To plan lighting in a bathroom, consider combining overhead spotlights with more subtle LED lighting in recesses around the space.
A scheme such as this one created by Ashworth Parkes Architects is ideal, as it makes use of a recessed shelf above the basin and a couple of shadow lines on either side of the pitched ceiling. LED strips have been fitted along the gaps to create a gorgeous ambient glow.
Your turn
Which of these ideas might work in your bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Need more practical advice for your home-improvement project? Read this Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
A carefully considered lighting scheme can turn a basic room into one that’s altogether more special. To plan lighting in a bathroom, consider combining overhead spotlights with more subtle LED lighting in recesses around the space.
A scheme such as this one created by Ashworth Parkes Architects is ideal, as it makes use of a recessed shelf above the basin and a couple of shadow lines on either side of the pitched ceiling. LED strips have been fitted along the gaps to create a gorgeous ambient glow.
Your turn
Which of these ideas might work in your bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Need more practical advice for your home-improvement project? Read this Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
A heated towel rail is pretty standard in many people’s bathrooms, but the design you go for can make all the difference. Consider ditching the usual chrome option for something more unusual, such as this black version.
The white bathroom is simple and practical, but the professionals at Hope Lucia Design added touches of black to give it a boost. The matt-black heated towel rail was the perfect choice to make the bathroom feel a little more special.