The sea glass tiles and marble combination creates a serene feel that is perfect for a smaller bath. The various techniques incorporated into the redesign create a sense of depth and space. Meanwhile, the abstract prints and the black pendant lighting add a slight edge to the room. A spa shower system and glass partition elevate the high-end feel of the space. The finished bathroom is polished, functional and timeless. Photo: Virtual 360 NY

Transitional Home Renovation

Next Level Remodeling

Design ideas for a transitional master bathroom in Philadelphia with an open shower, white tile, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, an open shower, white benchtops, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, an alcove tub, subway tile and beige walls.

Shreveport Springlake Modern Bathroom

Jackson Construction, Inc.

Inspiration for a small modern master bathroom in New Orleans with furniture-like cabinets, grey cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, grey walls, ceramic floors, a vessel sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, an open shower and white benchtops.

Contemporáneo Cuarto De Baño

Contemporary bathroom in Barcelona with an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount toilet, grey walls, concrete floors, a vessel sink, wood benchtops, grey floor, brown benchtops and an open shower.

Tempe Bathroom Remodel

User

Design ideas for a small country master bathroom in Phoenix with an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, gray tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, a pedestal sink, grey floor and an open shower.

The Orange Iceberg Apartment

Draisci Studio

Carlo Draisci
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary bathroom in London with a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount toilet, a vessel sink, grey floor, an open shower and an alcove tub.

PNN House

Mauro Soddu

Cédric Dasesson
Design ideas for a small contemporary master bathroom in Cagliari with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a wall-mount toilet, gray tile, ceramic tile, a vessel sink, wood benchtops, an open shower, grey walls, grey floor and beige benchtops.

Council Crest Cape Cod: Whole House Remodel

COOPER Design Build

Even the children's bathroom gets a touch of glamour with this glass chandelier and custom marble tile.
Photo of a small transitional kids bathroom in Portland with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, grey walls, marble floors, an integrated sink, marble benchtops, grey floor and an open shower.

Master Bath Renovation in Houston's Braeburn Valley

Big City Construction Co

Bayside Images
Photo of a large contemporary master bathroom in Houston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, gray tile, white tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor and an open shower.

Driftwood Retreat

Erica Keast Heroy, Architect

Casey Woods
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style 3/4 bathroom in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, concrete floors, an undermount sink, concrete benchtops and an open shower.

Palo Alto Residence

User

Aaron Leitz
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional kids bathroom in San Francisco with white cabinets, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, ceramic tile, multi-coloured walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, solid surface benchtops, flat-panel cabinets, an alcove tub, blue tile and an open shower.

Bathing place

Cura Design

+ wet room constructed with natural lime render walls + natural limestone floor + cantilevered stone shelving + simple affordable fittings + bronze corner drain + concealed lighting and extract + No plastic shower tray, no shower curtain, no tinny fittings + demonstrates that natural materials and craftsmanship can still be achieved on a budget + Photo by: Joakim Boren

Coastal and Bold Bathroom

Chroma Home

White full bath with black accents in coastal pattern
Photo of a contemporary bathroom in Jacksonville with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, white tile, multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, an undermount sink, brown floor, an open shower, white benchtops and ceramic tile.

Maple Grove Townhome

Laurie Westberg, Urban Interior Design

blue and white master bath with patterned tile and accessible shower stall/toilet room, deep soaking tub
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a curbless shower, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a shower seat, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Guest Bath

Lisa & Leroy

Timeless subway tile paired with a geometric, colored mosaic brings this bath to new life.
Photo of a small midcentury kids bathroom in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, green floor, an open shower, grey benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

Bathroom

Sophie Piesse Architect, PA

Design ideas for a small contemporary kids bathroom in Raleigh with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, blue tile, glass tile, white walls, concrete floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, an open shower, black benchtops and a single vanity.

Midtown East Co-op Renovation

Josh Manes Architecture

This is an example of a small transitional 3/4 bathroom in New York with open cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, black floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a single vanity and a freestanding vanity.

Soho, NY

Katie Rosenfeld Design

Transitional bathroom in Boston with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, blue walls, mosaic tile floors, an undermount sink, multi-coloured floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a built-in vanity and wallpaper.

Oakbrook: Powder Room

Dream Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional 3/4 bathroom in Chicago with furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a two-piece toilet, multi-coloured walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, grey floor, an open shower and white benchtops.

Hall Bath Renovation with Marble Tile

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc.

This hall bath has been beautifully renovated with marble tiled flooring and contemporary fixtures.
This is an example of a large transitional master bathroom in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, turquoise cabinets, an alcove tub, a shower/bathtub combo, a one-piece toilet, white tile, porcelain tile, white walls, marble floors, an integrated sink, solid surface benchtops, white floor, an open shower and white benchtops.

Bathroom Design Ideas with an Alcove Tub and an Open Shower

If you’re looking for bathroom ideas, look no further than Houzz. Our image gallery brings you a large range of photos with inspiration for your viewing pleasure, and not only that - you can also save your ideas in ideabooks and find the professional that has done the job. When planning your bathroom design or update, start by collecting images of designs you like and take it from there. 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.