Bathroom Design Ideas
Whether you are designing your bathroom from scratch, redesigning, updating or simply decorating, you’ll be sure to find ideas for every possible scenario. And once you're ready, you can find the architect and/or builder to get the job done. But let’s start with the bathroom design basics.
How to Plan Your Bathroom Design
A good bathroom design brings together beauty and functionality. It reflects your personality in its style, colours, fittings and fixtures, but serves your needs to a tee both when you’re getting ready for work in the morning and when you want to wind down in your bathtub after a long day.
1 Collect Bathroom Ideas to Decide on Your Layout
Firstly, consider your space. Is it rectangular or are you working with a long, narrow room? This will determine how many wet walls you can accommodate, and if a bathtub can fit. For example, in a narrow room a freestanding bathtub may not work, and a one-wall layout that lines up shower, toilet and vanity on the same wall will make sense in most cases. (It’s also the most budget-friendly option in terms of plumbing). Maybe separate rooms for toilet and shower make sense? Maybe you want to work with a window above a bathtub or in the shower. You may live in an old house where you can keep some of the original character of the home, or you may be working with a small apartment space. All these considerations are vital in deciding on which layout will work best for you. Have a look at some popular ideas to get started.
2 Consider How You Use Your Bathroom
Once you’ve gathered some inspiration, have a think about who is using the room, and how they will be using it. A single guy needs a lot less storage than a teenage girl, and a family bathroom may need to consider elderly family members. Making your bathroom wheelchair accessible could save you thousands down the line. You may also want to accommodate a washer and dryer in the bathroom, since it’s where clothes are taken off frequently.
Also consider safety and cleaning. Ensure no-one will slip and hurt themselves, and consider that many little tiles will make for many little nooks for grime to accumulate, whereas big surfaces like a sink that is integrated with the vanity counter, or a big mirror will make wiping down the surface much easier than having sinks sitting on top or an intricately designed mirror.
3 Your Style Determines The Colours and Fixtures You Choose
When looking at bathroom photos on Houzz, you’ll probably lean towards a certain style pretty soon. Are you into rustic charm, modern beach house style or a mix of styles? This will determine if you opt for whites, greys and blues or if you go for dark cabinets, black floor tiles or bronze fixtures. Specifically, you want to consider:
Tiling
Are you going to tile floors and walls? There’s so many possibilities, from your choice of tile to how they are laid. If you’re budget conscious, you may want to consider a wallpaper or paint for certain areas. A simple grey tile can make room for other elements to shine, while mosaics or a subway tile can make a great feature wall.
Lighting
Lighting doesn’t only look pretty, but can impact your bathroom experience significantly. The mirror is a special area you want to light well, so that you don’t miss any hair when shaving or can apply that perfect line to your eye.
Furniture & Fixtures
Pay attention to how colours of cabinets and floor can impact a room. You may want to consider a wooden floor for something different and pair it with simple white vanity and cabinets, or you may want to go for the steampunk look with bronze tubes and black walls.
Consider what type of shower, bathtub (if any), toilet, sink and vanity you want. Maybe you have space for a generous spa with walk-in shower, or maybe you want a freestanding bath to be the feature of the room.
Emma Cross
This is an example of a contemporary bathroom in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, gray tile, grey walls, an undermount sink and black floor.
grey tiles on all walls, vanity, storage - mitn197
This is an example of a contemporary master bathroom in Melbourne with marble benchtops.
Brett Boardman Photography
Photo of a modern master bathroom in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, gray tile, grey walls, a vessel sink, wood benchtops and grey floor.
Tap & shower head configuration. Also colour scheme - webuser_605078005
Bathroom as displayed at Woodlea Estate, Rockbank.
Photo of a contemporary bathroom in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, a drop-in tub, white walls and a drop-in sink.
colour of tiles and inset of bath under window and beside basin - webuser_371387734
Photography: Robert Walsh @robertwphoto
Builder: Siltala Constructions, www.siltalaconstructions.com.au
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary master bathroom in Sydney with medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, white walls, concrete floors, a vessel sink, beige floor, furniture-like cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile and engineered quartz benchtops.
Love the stain glass window, wall mirror cabinet, cement floor, fireplace. - rfdutcher
Popular Filters to Try:
The Barefoot Bay Cottage is the first-holiday house to be designed and built for boutique accommodation business, Barefoot Escapes (www.barefootescapes.com.au). Working with many of The Designory’s favourite brands, it has been designed with an overriding luxe Australian coastal style synonymous with Sydney based team. The newly renovated three bedroom cottage is a north facing home which has been designed to capture the sun and the cooling summer breeze. Inside, the home is light-filled, open plan and imbues instant calm with a luxe palette of coastal and hinterland tones. The contemporary styling includes layering of earthy, tribal and natural textures throughout providing a sense of cohesiveness and instant tranquillity allowing guests to prioritise rest and rejuvenation.
Images captured by Jessie Prince
Add some greenery to the bathroom - lmsingle62
Marian Riabic
Design ideas for a large contemporary master bathroom in Sydney with a freestanding tub, porcelain tile, porcelain floors, a vessel sink, wood benchtops, grey floor, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and blue tile.
tiles tub
wall flooor door vanity - simon_michael54
Inspiration for a large contemporary master bathroom in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, a freestanding tub, black floor, light wood cabinets, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, cement tile, cement tiles, an integrated sink and marble benchtops.
Like the tile floor, wood/white colour combinations - denise_axelsen
Tim Shaw - Impress Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary bathroom in Melbourne with white cabinets, mosaic tile, white walls, concrete floors and marble benchtops.
this is the layout I imagined for the vanity bench and toilet. - ailsa_nicholson54
Master En suite Bathroom
Photo Credit: Martina Gemmola
Styling: Bask Interiors and Bea + Co
Design ideas for a large contemporary master bathroom in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white tile, white walls, terrazzo floors, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, mosaic tile and a vessel sink.
Tiles and black cabinetry - buttercupbrandon
Inspiration for a modern master bathroom in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, white walls, a drop-in sink and grey floor.
Simple bathroom interior, sleekly designed bathtub - jonathanyangwo
Greg Gardner Photography
This is an example of a contemporary bathroom in Brisbane.
vanity timber/stone top, glass storage - craig_mundy
This is an example of a contemporary 3/4 bathroom in Sydney with furniture-like cabinets, light wood cabinets, white tile, white walls, a vessel sink, wood benchtops and grey floor.
Silver hardware + gold + black + plants - webuser_442020489
Kat Lucas
This is an example of a contemporary master bathroom in Sydney with a freestanding tub and white walls.
Bath and shower separated by screen. - carolfarnworth
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master bathroom in Adelaide with a freestanding tub, black tile, black walls, a vessel sink, medium wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, cement tile, wood benchtops and black floor.
Floating bathroom basin shelf - no storage - very clean look. I like the wood - janepriestley
Tom Blachford
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary 3/4 bathroom in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, white tile, ceramic tile, ceramic floors, an integrated sink, engineered quartz benchtops and white floor.
Downstairs bathroom shelves over end of bath - susanhooper48
The Palm Co.
Mid-sized contemporary master bathroom in Sydney with medium wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, a corner shower, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, porcelain floors, a wall-mount sink and grey floor.
JC Design Studio. North Perth Dollhouse 2.0
Modern bathroom in Perth with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a drop-in tub, cement tile, grey walls, cement tiles, a vessel sink and grey floor.
best bathroom with wooden rail overbath - webuser_903485665