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107 bathroom ideas to inspire a refresh
Our bathrooms need to feel both nurturing and joyful, energising us in the morning and helping us decompress in the evening. As the place you start and end each day, the bathroom is at least as important as any other room in your house. Yet too often, it can feel out of step with the rest of a home, invested with less love and personality. What’s more, the demands we put upon them, including water-friendly surfaces and bright, IP-rated lighting, can translate into a cold, unflattering atmosphere. Lighting, texture and colour are the key points to consider when designing a bathroom, and don’t forget to punctuate the space with something that piques your imagination and lifts your mood.
With bathroom lighting, careful planning is key. I always suggest having more than one circuit, fitting dimmers and using warm-white bulbs throughout. It is also fun to experiment with different heights of lighting: keep spotlights to a minimum and think about adding low-level fittings that wash the floor with light. ‘Mast Lights’, by Davey Lighting from Original BTC, fitted above skirting level will cast light downwards, instantly creating atmosphere. Hastings-based homeware store Dyke & Dean offers a great range of affordable bathroom lighting.
It is all too easy to end up with lots of hard, shiny surfaces. To avoid this, introduce a variety of textures. You can do this with a hand-finished bathroom tile that has an uneven glaze or shape, such as Emery & Cie’s ‘Zelliges’ range. Rather than tiling the floor, consider a waterproof, woven vinyl – I love the mustard colourway by The Unnatural Floor Company. Instead of painting the walls in flat emulsion, try using matchboard panelling or a patterned bathroom wallpaper, or an uneven limewash effect, such as ‘Fresco’ finish from Pure & Original. Where possible, I try to squeeze in some aged wood for texture – a wall-hung bathroom cabinet or a stool next to the bath, or the frame of a mirror or artwork. Adding fabric is another way to introduce texture: it also affects the acoustics, softening how sound bounces round the room, which makes the space feel cosier.
Colour is a powerful tool for injecting personality, and different colour combinations will create different moods. For a bathroom that you use every day, pink is hard to beat, because it is a nurturing colour that feels cosy at night and fresh in the morning. A soft pink combined with a muted green will have a calming effect. To create a more vibrant space, consider colour combinations that have a greater degree of contrast or slightly clash: think pink and mustard, or apple green and chocolate. In my own small shower room, I have ‘Eldblomman’ wallpaper by Josef Frank from Svenskt Tenn, bright yellow tiles, a ceiling in yellow gloss, and a red and white check curtain below the sink. In any other room it would be overwhelming, but in a small space, you can be a bit braver. For heating, consider having an electric mat under the flooring. These are straightforward for a builder to install and not wildly expensive. There is something very comforting about a warm bathroom floor underfoot. Don’t be tempted by expensive towel rails – they are rarely big enough. Instead, I prefer a chunky radiator with hooks above it; it will give off more heat and your towels dry faster if they aren’t folded up. Cologne & Cotton sells excellent towels, some with interesting detailing.
Any room will be endlessly frustrating if it is not user friendly and, in the case of a bathroom, that means provision for storage. This could be a vintage wall cabinet for medicines and sun creams, a chest of drawers for clean towels, or colourful baskets for corralling bath toys – such as those from The Basket Room, a female co-operative of African weavers. Tinsmiths in Ledbury is my first port of call for quality loo-roll holders, toilet brushes, hooks and ceramic shelves.
Lastly, think about how you can make your bathroom personal to you – perhaps with art, books or a riotous mix of family photos. In my own bathroom, I have a framed poem by an anonymous 17th-century nun. It’s about the art of ageing gracefully and was given to me by my parents when they moved house, so has a double meaning for me. Find something that makes you smile and points your mind in the direction you want it to travel.
Bathroom design ideas
Michael Sinclair1/108The main bathroom of Rita Konig's newly renovated London home perfectly balances luxury and homeliness. The 'Olive' wallpaper is from Rita's Schumacher range and the panelling is painted in Sanderson's 'Cameo White, while a bath surround in Arabescato marble give a timeless, elegant look.
Astrid Templier2/108Pandora Taylor's scheme for this house in Herne Hill was to make it feel like the countryside, and nowhere is that more successful than in this elegant bathroom. Pinkish tones in Farrow & Ball's ‘Dimity’ create continuity into the main bathroom from the bedroom, whilst the green doors are made more elegant with a high gloss finish. The freestanding ‘Orford Bath’ is from Heritage.
Astrid Templier3/108“The master bathroom was really fun to design because I’ve always wanted to do an antique chest restyled as a vanity unit” says Pandora, “and this was the perfect space for it. The piece adds to the old country house feel, as do the valance curtains and traditional sanitaryware." The wall lights are ‘Seaton Storm’ lights from Vaughan.
Christopher Horwood4/108In the main bathroom of this playful and crafty London house by the artist Natasha Mann, Milagros tiles and a mirrored porcelain sink are juxtaposed with a mural hand-painted ceiling in gold leaf and egg tempera by Natasha. The stained glass window is a particularly exciting feature, which could feasibly be added into most bathrooms for both privacy and to create a colourful dappled effect around the room.
Christopher Horwood5/108Rather than a shower cubicle, you might try configuring a room to make space for a miniature shower room or enclave, as Studio Squire have done in this house in the South Downs. The large shower cubicle was formed by reconfiguring the previous bathroom's layout. The various shades of pink wall tiles are from Mosaic Factory and the porthole window (which allows for some light to travel through) was sourced via eBay and painted in Farrow & Ball Tanner’s Brown.
Dean Hearne6/108Marin Montagut clever concealed the water damage in the bathroom of his quaint 19th-century live-work cottage in the Normandy countryside by hanging large, sturdy tapestries on the wall. The bath is elegantly raised, with one neat step leading up to it that gives it another level of luxury.
Paul Massey7/108There's no reason why you shouldn't go super bold in the bathroom, after all; it's so often an intimate space that you enjoy yourself. In this graphic designer's London home ‘Columbidae’ wallpaper by Adam’s studio is matched with Stone & Ceramic Warehouse’s dark metro tiles.
Owen Gale8/108The starting point for this ensuite bathroom in a London house by Honor Devereux was a tasselled throw, which was turned into a blind. The walls are in green tadelakt and the arched shower cubicle was inspired by Moroccan architecture.
Dean Hearne9/108A whole wall was covered in mirrored panels to expand the feeling of space and add some glamour to the family bathroom of this Victorian farmhouse by Bodil Blain. The mosaic tiles are from Bert and May and the bathroom fixtures are from Lefroy Brooks.
Lucas Allen10/108We adore this bathroom in the home of interior designer Joanne Burgess of The Curious House. Blending contemporary elements such as the Water Monopoly bath with antique finds, it strikes the perfect decorative balance. The walls are painted in Cromarty by Farrow & Ball, and Joanne created a bright stripe on the floor using its ‘Mizzle’ and ‘India Yellow’.
Boz Gagovski11/108Adding a pelmet to your curtains is an easy win in terms of maximising drama. In Max Hurd's bathroom, the theatrical curtains in a vibrant red (Red Ivy Trellis, a custom print from Daniel Slowik Limited) elevate the blue-washed room (Pitch Blue from Farrow & Ball) and artfully draw your eye to the trees beyond. The window treatment was inspired by early John Fowler designs.
Boz Gagovski12/108Brandon Schubert has deployed a classic configuration for the bathroom of this Wiltshire cottage, using tongue and groove panelling around the bath, a pretty wallpaper (Scrolling Acanthus from Soane Britain), and a set of botanical prints from Pentreath & Hall.
Christopher Horwood13/108Though relatively new to interior design, John Tanner has long had an eye for the beautiful and eye-catching. In this Provençal house, he has mixed carefully chosen vernacular antiques with a neutral colour palette and natural materials for a quiet, considered look.
In the bathroom, an antique gilt-wood girandole and a vintage Charlotte Perriand ‘Méribel’ stool contrast with Bianco Perlino limestone mosaic tiles and Devon&Devon’s ‘Celine’ bathtub.
Christopher Horwood14/108Stripey tiles are all the rage these days, and this bathroom in a 1960s flat in west London by Natalie Tredgett is the perfect example. European Heritage ‘Metronome’ tiles set off brass Crosswater fittings and wall lights from Alfies Antique Market.
Paul Massey15/108Cath Kidston has mastered the art of the decorated bathroom in her west London house. Walls in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Plaster II’ showcase artwork collected by Cath over the years. A rug from Caroline Marcq Interiors tones with the holland linen blind from The Blinds Company.
Mark Roper16/108An unmodernised house in Sussex, dating back in parts to the 15th century, has been given a fresh, vibrant look by interior designer Phoebe Hollond, with playful elements creating a distinctive yet comfortable family home.
In the children's bathroom, the blind in a Pierre Frey check and woodwork in Farrow & Ball's ‘Yellow Ground’ create a sunny feel. The walls have been painted with a mural depicting the owners’ two boys, inspired by the work of The New Yorker cartoonist Saul Steinberg.
Owen Gale17/108Clever colour combinations form a thread that runs throughout the suites at 8 Holland Street Townhouse in Bath, where wall tiles by Balineum set off an antique cast iron bath, a Vico Magistretti ceiling light and an artwork by Man Ray.
James McDonald18/108When it came to restoring his Bruton house, the antique dealer Jack Laver Brister was careful to remove incongruous additions and source exquisite historic pieces to create an inviting home. Jack’s collection of seashells and coral is displayed in an Edwardian case on walls in ‘Euphorbia’ by Paint & Paper Library. A Victorian pot cupboard stands beside the salvaged bath.
Owen Gale19/108Returning to the UK from New York, trend forecaster Samantha Palmer bought her perfect home on the south coast, a flint-fronted cottage where she has installed quiet, contemporary interiors informed by her time designing accessories for Ralph Lauren.
Bespoke panelling, a free-standing bath from Devon & Devon and an elegant arched shower set with ‘Paint Box’ gloss tiles in ‘Bone’ from Mandarin Stone make this bathroom a quietly opulent space.
Boz Gagovski20/108This glamorous bathroom in Verbier is designed by Vanessa McDonald. In it, a blind and lampshade in Soane’s ‘Coquelicots’ linen tone with the frame of a Vaughan ‘Belvedere’ mirror in bronze. The shower is lined in Calacatta Borghini marble.
Paul Massey21/108A 1940s gilded rope-framed mirror, which came originally from a Cannes hotel, and a woven lampshade and rustic baskets add characterful touches to this pared-back space, in an Arts and Crafts-style cottage, which has its original door.
Mark Fox22/108In Rixo co-founder Orlagh McCloskey's house, wooden frame doors conceal built in shelves on either side of the sink. These are decorated with ‘Marbleised Feather Scroll Wallpaper’ from Lee Jofa Kravet.
Michael Sinclair23/108Decorative details have been cleverly combined with practical elements by interior designer Lucy Hammond Giles, of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, to transform this classic Victorian house in west London into a pleasingly distinctive but eminently comfortable family home. CFA Voysey’s ‘Lioness & Palms’ wallpaper from CommonRoom was the starting point for the scheme in the family bathroom, its colours echoed in the Fired Earth tiles, custom paint on the vanity unit and Verde Jade marble from Vitruvius.
Mark Anthony Fox24/108From the predominantly pale palette of natural hues to the layering of antique textiles, Anna Haines' choices have brought harmonious charm to the interiors of this 19th-century former rectory on the outskirts of Bath. In the main bathroom, a ‘Soho’ basin on ceramic legs from The Water Monopoly is paired with ‘Zellige’ tiles from Mosaic Factory. The flatweave rug is from Francesca Gentilli.
Mark Anthony Fox25/108In the Gloucestershire farmhouse of Thomas Dane, a striped wool rug, picked up by Thomas in Transylvania, is set off by natural sisal flooring and introduces an element of colour and pattern to the mainly monochrome scheme. The photographic portrait of Samuel Beckett above the bath is by John Haynes.
DAVIDE LOVATTI26/108The rolltop bath stands opposite a shower area with a back wall in Lumachella marble in this Umbrian country house by Retrouvius. Curtains made from Lithuanian sheets and an armchair re-covered in hand-dyed Hungarian sheets soften the look.
Daniel Schafer27/108In her basque house, Cristina Lorenzo covered the walls and blinds in Gastón y Daniela’s ‘Calobra’ stripe in agua, paired with a chandelier from an antique shop in the Cotswolds, a rolltop bath and bespoke basin stands and mirrors. It has an elegant country-house feel.
Milo Brown28/108The family bathroom in this Lonika Chande project is a bright, large space with encaustic cement floor tiles from Marrakech Design and a vintage Swedish rag rug used as a bath mat. From a practical point of view, Lonika added a wide marble surround to the bath as the bathroom is used by three children and so needs to function well.
Paul Massey29/108Botanical prints from Odyssey Fine Arts tone with ‘Jaisalmer’ wallpaper by John Stefanidis in this bathroom by Rita Konig.
Eric Piasecki/Otto30/108In this elegant Atlanta home, the bathroom is pure luxury. A marble tub takes centre stage in the ceiling-height windows, offering unparalleled views of the foliage beyond. Sheer curtains soften the look.
Owen Gale31/108Taking inspiration from grand American bathrooms, though with Italian materials mixed in, the main bathroom in Sara and Will Fuller's house in Bath is a deeply calming space. The bathtub is from Porters, and the floor is covered in Carrara marble basketweave tiles from Ca’Pietra.
Chris Horwood32/108Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador for Farrow & Ball has warmed up the bathroom in his Worcestershire house with the discontinued Farrow & Ball wallpaper pattern ‘Orleans Stripe,’ with a ‘Pearl’ border from Adelphi Paper Hangings running round the top. The side table and the Spanish lebrillo plates are from Brownrigg Interiors in Tetbury.
Paul Massey33/108The entrance to the loo of this Sussex rectory designed by Emma Milne Watson is clad in brass. It makes for a glamorous and contemporary feature.
Chris Horwood34/108The bathroom of this architect's house in Shoreditch is tiled in Domus ’Seta’ mosaic tiles with ‘illustrations’ created from colour samples. Taps and fixtures are by Zazzeri. Recycled plastic sconce lamp is by James Shaw and the hand towel is from Missoni.
Dean Hearne35/108In the ensuite bathroom of a London penthouse designed by Nina Litchfield, fixtures from Lefroy Brooks and lights from Original BTC provide notes of glamour against black and white marble.
Paul Massey36/108In the bathroom of this 17th century cottage in Oxfordshire, Fee Greening’s ‘Climbing Curios’ wallpaper from CommonRoom and her mural around the ‘Coral’ wall light from Balineum provide a unique backdrop.
Photos: Owen Gale, Styling: Rachel Moreve37/108There are no doors between the primary bedroom, the wardrobe and the bathroom in this West London family home given a new lease of life by Polly Ashman. The space is open, serene and, for Polly, 'full of joy'. ‘I wanted to keep it really calm here, so the wall colour is the same throughout.’ In this setting, Edward Bulmer's ‘Clover’, is almost a neutral, and it acts as a canvas for the display of artwork and ceramics on the walls.
What might have been a third bedroom was transformed into a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. 'Wherever I can I will always try to make the master bathroom as big and light as possible' says Polly. ‘Even if that means borrowing a little space from a bedroom.’ In keeping with the light, airy feel of its neighbouring rooms, the bathroom is clad in large slabs of marble, and a huge mirror fills one of the walls.
Christopher Horwood38/108The bathroom of this charming thatched country house is equally sweet, including floral paintings and even bookshelves. The primary bathroom has woodwork painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Lulworth Blue’. The blind is Bennison's ‘Liliana Light Blue'.
Owen Gale39/108Alix Reynis designed the bathroom in her Paris family house based on the ‘New York loft’ style of interiors, though she was also heavily inspired by the bathroom at the Ned, in London, designed by French interior designer Marianne Evennou.
40/108While not originally in the design plans for this colourful Toronto house, Ashley Montgomery recommended adding an arched architectural detail over the Victoria + Albert tub in the primary bath to make the tub “feel more special” under such high ceilings. The wallpaper is Michael Smith, the plumbing fixtures are Perrin & Rowe, the chandelier is vintage, the drapery is Pierre Frey, and the tile is Saltillo.
Mark Anthony Fox41/108In the bathroom of a former groom's cottage in the Cotswolds with deeply personal interiors, walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Parma Gray’ set off a ‘Hanley’ bath from The Water Monopoly.
Christopher Horwood42/108In the bathroom of this former tannery transformed by Howark Design, the panelling is painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Arsenic’. Bert & May's 'Maison Decor' tiles line the floor.
Owen Gale43/108In Joanna Plant's west London house she used a now-discontinued vintage wallpaper by Laura Ashley, which Joanna collected roll by roll from Ebay. The wallpaper stretches around her bedroom and bathroom, and continues up onto the ceilings for a cocooning effect.
The roll-top bath is from Fired Earth. The chair is one made in the Plants’ workshop, upholstered in Bennison’s ‘Rosevine’.
Simon Brown44/108The washstands in this bathroom by Beata Heuman are from Drummonds, with matching nickel taps, with hidden cupboards behind the mirrors above. A Dodo Egg pendant takes centre stage.
Alexander James45/108In the more playful bathroom in the same flat, the brief was to offer a French country feel, to contrast with the marble ‘jewel-like bathroom.' The bathroom is entered through the joinery in the corridor, so it ‘almost feels like a secret bathroom!' laughs Sarah. The Floor Tiles are Series S Ibiza Variato by Balineum and the wall tiles are Zellige by Mosaic Factory.
Paul Massey46/108The owners of this Thirties Georgian-style house were keen to give it an established look while avoiding any stuffiness. So they asked designer Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay to conjure distinctive interiors full of idiosyncratic details. In the main bathroom, woodwork in ‘Copper Beech’ by Paint & Paper Library tones with the Habibi wall tiles and the Breccia Pontificia marble surrounds for the bath and the basin from Romagno Marmi. Mirrored walls help to make the space feel larger.
Mark Fox47/108The wallpaper in the main bathroom in Katie Glaister's London house is Busted’ by Work & Sea. “I love the art and the depth of this paper and have surprised myself by finding it incredibly peaceful,” says Katie. The vanity was a serendipitous find at Sunbury Antiques market, modified with marble from Mander and Germain by her contractor D3Lux. Lights from Waterworks are fixed on either side of a mirror from Retrouvius. The floor is covered in zellige mosaic tiles.
Paul Massey48/108The panelling round the bath inside the founder of edit58's charming converted Cotswold barn is in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Lichen'.
Mark Anthony Fox49/108The bathroom, set off the studio in artist Haidee Becker's house, is lined with art, as well as plants. The hanging paper mobile was created for Haidee by her daughter, Rachel.
Dean Hearne50/108A small bathroom on the first floor of this charming, colourful seaside house in Deal has been enlivened with Little Greene's ‘Orange Aurora’ paint, while an Ottoline fabric creates a skirt for the vanity. The fabric on the mirror is 'Inaga', and is part of a collaboration between Nicola Mardas Interiors and the Colombian fashion & homeware company Mola Sasa.
Mark Anthony Fox51/108In the bathroom of a contemporary Cornish cottage with spectacular views of the sea, ash panelling, a vintage Hungarian table and a hessian-lined door add texture. The bespoke circular, brass-backed mirror was inspired by the work of Olafur Eliasson.
Ollie Tomlinson52/108At Anahita Rigby's design of a Regency house in Marylebone, the walk-in shower features bespoke taps made from unlacquered brass. The tiles are ‘Paintbox’ from Mandarin Stone.
Lucas Allen53/108A serene bathroom in a 17th-century house designed by Rose Uniacke, with panelled walls, wide wooden floorboards, and elegant sconces - bathroom ideas designed to make it feel less clinical and more comfortable.
Chris Horwood54/108In her rented flat, Sally Wilkinson has added a skirt around the basin, a simple decoration fix to add flair to an ordinary bathroom feature. Wall light and shade by Howe London, custom-made vanity skirt in The Cloth Shop fabric, framed blue and white tiles by Brownrigg and striped hand towel by Zara Home.
Simon Brown55/108With a clear colour palette lifted by occasional pattern and an eclectic mix of furniture, interior designer Victoria Gray has created a Cotswold retreat for her family that marries rustic charm with minimalism, and transcends modern trends. In the bathroom, curtains in ‘Ete Moscovite’ from Décors Barbares draw the eye to the window, with views of the garden, while a CP Hart bath painted in ‘Hague Blue’ from Farrow & Ball nestles under the beams – which look different in this newer part of the house. A rug picked up in Istanbul and a chair from Robert Langford, with a cushion also from Istanbul, complete the scheme.
Owen Gale56/108The bath in the master en-suite of Georgia Cave's house is a bespoke design, with the walls and steps covered in Ruivina marble and offset with Clay Atelier handmade wall tiles from Artisan of Devizes. Riven black slate tiles line the inside of the bath and cover the floor.
Paul Massey57/108The tiles above the basin, sourced from a vintage market in Sicilian capital Palermo, were the starting point for the decoration of Rosi de Ruig's loo, which is lined in Ottoline’s ‘Pillars’ wallpaper with woodwork in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Dutch Orange’. The basin skirt is in Molly Mahon’s ‘Luna’ linen in oyster/pink.
Simon Brown58/108What was once a good sized bedroom was turned in a wonderfully spacious bathroom in this house by Salvesen Graham. The wallpaper ('Floral Trail Delicate') is a Salvesen Graham own. With fixtures from Balineum, Porta Romana and Watermonopoly, the space was finished with antiques to offset the utilitarian feel.
Magnus Mårding59/108A built-in cabinet in elm and elm burl elevates the bathroom storage in this Stockholm apartment.
Owen Gale60/108Curtains are not an obvious choice for a bathroom, but how delightful they look here in Pembroke Lodge. A local curtain maker, Elizabeth Harris at Fine Curtains in Penzance, made the scallop valances. The Delft tiles are from Fired Earth, and the mirror is by Sophie Conran.
Simon Brown61/108A ‘loo to remember’ was the idea with the guest bathroom of this house by Salvesen Graham. DeGournay's ‘Magical Mengagerie’ wallpaper, featuring polar bears and tigers, covers the walls, with the ceiling painted to match in Farrow and Ball's Oval Room Blue. The washstand is from Balineum, the ceiling light from Soane and the wall lights from Hector Finch.
Owen Gale62/108Georgina Cave of Cave Interiors chose these reclaimed patterned tiles to cover the floor and back wall of the bathroom in her London house.
Mark Fox63/108Cobbie Yates transformed the bathroom in his flat into a wetroom, using the bathrooms of boutique hotels they had visited as inspiration. The shade for the micro-cement was determined from the Acne Studios’ signature pink colour.
Owen Gale64/108The cupboards in Joanna Plant's upstairs bathroom are painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Arsenic’. The lamps are by Hector Finch, the tiles are from Bert & May, and the brass-edged mirror is one of Joanna and Nick’s own designs.
Magnus Mårding65/108A floating marble sink makes a striking feature in the guest bathroom of Marie Louise Sjogren's apartment. The fixtures are by Waterworks and the vintage wall sconce is by Josef Frank.
James McDonald66/108A hand-painted checkerboard floor adds a playful touch to a girl's bathroom in this riverside house designed by Kate Guinness. The wallpaper is Robert Kime's ‘Galaxy’ print.
Joachim Wichmann67/108The black and white bathroom tiles in Pernille Lind's bathroom are from Bert and May, and the taps and shower fittings are from Lefroy Brooks. The opaque ceiling light is from Trainspotters.
Michael Sinclair68/108Fonace Brioni tiles create a show-stopping shower space in Pandora Taylor's house.
Michael Sinclair69/108In this dreamy green bathroom in interior designer Thea Speke's country house, an Audoux Minet rope mirror from 1stDibs is set off by walls in Paint & Paper Library’s archive colour ‘Both Barrels’.
Christopher Horwood70/108Tongue and groove panelling painted in Edward Bulmer's ‘Milk White’ covers the walls and ceilings in this house by Emma Ainscough, which features sanitaryware by Burlington Bathrooms. The bath is painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Olive’, with a shower curtain (and sink skirt) by Aleta Fabrics. Antique mirrors hang over the double vanity alongside wall lights by Rose Uniacke. A striped vase from Petersham Nurseries stands on a side table by Zara Home.
Tom Griffiths71/108In this blue and white bathroom in Melinda Stevens' house, the wooden wallpaper serves to ground the tile colours and create a more soothing space.
Michael Sinclair72/108A red painted floor and walls lined in Cole & Son’s ‘Sweet Pea’ create an uplifting space for visitors in the spare bathroom of Natasha James' house.
Owen Gale73/108The roll-top bath in Lucinda Chambers’s colourful west London home is painted in a joyful Little Greene yellow, with contrasting feet in Sanderson’s ‘Bengal Red’. A French macramé lampshade and an eclectic display of plates on the wall above the bath give the city house a particularly charming rustic look.
Martin Morrell74/108Adam Bentley’s Yorkshire cottage dates to the 17th century, and when he discovered Delft tiles dating to the same era incorporated into the top of a 1970s coffee table, he decided to use them over his bathroom washstand (a repurposed Pembroke table). Little Greene’s ‘China Clay’ sets off a copper bath Adam found on Ebay.
Chris Horwood75/108In the bathroom of Francesca Gentilli’s colourful 18th-century farmhouse, Francesca used a deep Farrow & Ball colour on the walls and woodwork: ‘Oval Room Blue’. An antique barley twist wall shelf from eBay adds a decorative touch, as does the nude watercolour by Julianna Byrne.
Owen Gale76/108Angus and Charlotte Buchanan of Buchanan Studio wanted the bathroom of their north-west London home to feel like part of the living space; to achieve this, they opted for wooden floors and put a vintage armchair upholstered in sheepskin in the corner of the room. The Edwardian bath – which matches the house’s Edwardian architecture – was so heavy that it required six men to move it into place. The pendant light is by Mullan.
Owen Gale77/108Angus and Charlotte went for something much more playful for the children's bathroom of the same London home. Candy-coloured tiles from Topps Tiles were arranged in a fun pattern repeats, which is an affordable way of adding real drama to a bathroom. The pastel pink loo, bath and sink were all vintage finds.
Owen Gale78/108The bath and basin legs of the master ensuite in jewellery designer Sandra Barrio von Hurter’s north London home are picked out in Sanderson ‘Rowan Berry’, tempered by the pale yellow tiles and walls.
Michael Sinclair79/108After sensitively reconfiguring its interior to suit the needs of their family, the owners of this Welsh cottage have furnished it with an appealing mix of homely pieces gathered over the years. Yellow tiles from Mosaic del Sur brighten up the children’s bathroom, which has a salvaged ceramic sink and a glass Crittall-style screen for the wet-room shower.
Owen Gale80/108Interior designer Angelica Squire's Victorian terraced house in London is a youthful, exuberant space that combines smart artworks and fabrics with clever vintage finds and joyful colours. The blind in the bathroom is in a vintage Sanderson pattern Angelica found on Ebay. The Murano glass light was from 1stDibs. The 'Arc' bath taps and the loo are both from C. P. Hart.
Paul Massey81/108A bath from Aston Matthews painted in Little Greene’s ‘Ashes of Roses’ is one of many clever touches of colour in Lonika Chande's house, and contrasts with tongue and groove in ‘Gravel’ eggshell by Dulux. The blind is in ‘Field Poppy’ linen by Robert Kime.
Maree Homer82/108This colourful house in North Sydney has been very cleverly worked, with the en suite bathroom being an excellent example. The bathroom panelling is painted the same pink as the main living space, while the yellow notes of the floor and towel hark at the bedroom and hallway colour. It ties the whole house together. A fabric curtain under the sink adds to the country house effect.
Alexander James83/108The stone floor in this bathroom in a London house by Studio Peake has panelling painted in Edward Bulmer's 'Celadon. Soane's 'Scrolling Frond' wallpaper ties the colours together. The mirror was a £10 find from Kempton.
Paul Massey84/108Woodwork in ‘Leather II’ by Paint & Paper Library balances Le Manach’s ‘Pommes de Pin’ wallpaper in céladon from Pierre Frey, in this bathroom belonging to Rita Konig's County Durham farmhouse. If the compact design appeals to you, we've got plenty more bathroom design ideas for small bathrooms.
Paul Massey85/108Pale Arabescata marble has been used for the elegant bath surround and splashback in the ensuite of a Sussex cottage by Beata Heuman. The distinctive coral-themed hanging light is a design by Vaughan. Lighting a bathroom can be tricky, but we've put together a gallery of reliable choices for affordable bathroom lights chosen by interior designers.
86/108In Gabby Deeming's pretty Bloomsbury flat, the bathroom blind picks up the colours of the ‘Sweet Pea’ wallpaper by Cole & Son. Gabby made the blind from a cotton lungi bought in Sri Lanka for less than £1. It's also a beautiful example of how to use wallpaper in a bathroom; for more ideas see our gallery of bathroom wallpapers.
Simon Upton87/108The vertical lines of the panelling in this Welsh farmhouse by Hackett Holland add height to the small, awkwardly shaped bathroom, while the window gives bathers a view of the sky. A sink curtain emphasises the country feel of the scheme and hides any unsightly pipes. Aiming to replicate this kind of feel? Take a look at our gallery of country bathrooms.
Greg Funnell88/108The bathroom in the home of artist Sarah Graham is furnished with an Italian vellum screen from Rose Uniacke, a side table from James Graham-Stewart and a rug from Shahbaz Afridi.
Lucas Allen89/108A set of botanical prints from James Graham-Stewart adds a touch of life to this bathroom in a Manhattan townhouse designed by Hugh Leslie. Hugh sourced the heavily striated marble in this one from an Italian quarry and designed the drawer unit, which is in cherry wood, cracked lacquer and nickel.
90/108Ashlar Mason supplied the dramatically striated marble for this bathroom, which leads off the vivid cobalt main bedroom in Audrey Carden's London house.
Paul Massey91/108A cast-iron Aston Matthews ‘Epoca’ bath, its sides painted in Emente’s ‘Orpiment’, provides a colourful contrast with Robert Kime’s ‘Grille Sage’ wallpaper and muted panelling in this bathroom by Ben Pentreath.
James Fennell92/108The bathroom in this beautiful Sri Lankan house is painted a soft jade green. Eggshell paint is not available locally, so a matting agent was added to Dulux Master Palette ‘Hillside View’ gloss paint for the window frames and doors
Tim Beddow93/108Popham Design supplied the floor tiles in Sarah Vanrenen's home. Sarah topped a walnut commode with marble to create a basin unit.
94/108Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Squid Ink’ paint was used on the Aston Matthews roll-top bath of Robin Muir's Cotswolds house, beside panelling in ‘Salvador’ oil eggshell by the same company. A painting by Doris Hatt from Denys Wilcox stands out against Robert Kime’s ‘Sunburst’ wallpaper in green. The curtains are in ‘Sari’ linen by Raoul Textiles and the stool is from Paul Dunn Antiques.
Davide Lovatti95/108The en-suite bathroom in Tara Craig's tiny London flat has Balineum wall tiles and brass fittings from Catchpole & Rye. The pink and blue colour scheme runs throughout the flat and so the bathroom is in keeping with the rest of the space. It is accessed via a jib door covered in the same Marialida’s ‘Urbino’ cotton in azzurro/antique white from Tissus d’Hélène as the rest of the bedroom.
Paul Massey96/108In a 19th century house decorated by Nicola Harding, Farrow & Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’ paint picks up on pink tiles by Emery & Cie in the bathroom. Howe’s ‘Mark Chair’ is covered in green towelling fabric.
Richard Powers97/108The bathroom at a divine Provençal house by Andrzej Zarzycki is clad in woods of various warm tones, including oak by the vanity area, fumed oak on the floors and oiled teak on the William Garvey bath. The chair was bought at the Marché aux Puces in Paris.
Paul Massey98/108Annabel Elliot chose Farrow & Ball ‘Cooking Apple Green’ paint for the bathroom of Prince Charles’s sixteenth-century house in Cornwall, which overlooks the Fowey Valley.
Simon Brown99/108A twin washstand designed by Rose Uniacke stands in the main bathroom of an airy Kensington flat. The walls are covered with tadelakt plaster, while the walk-in shower has a projecting marble base.
Paul Massey100/108The bath and sink in this eighteenth-century house in Bath are both vintage and the rag rug is from Sweden. The industrial wall lights are from Felix Lighting Specialists. Nicola chose Paint & Paper Library's ‘Deep Water Green’ in an oil eggshell finish to give the vintage bath a new lease of life (£68 for 2.5 litres).
101/108Maria Speake of Retrouvius has created bright borders of blue and green zellige tiles from Emery & Cie either side of a central Iznik-style panel in this striking bathroom. The symmetrical arrangement of the tiles is visually pleasing and frames the bath, which has a plain, reclaimed iroko-wood surround and simple unpolished brass fittings.
Paul Massey102/108In the bathroom of this classic Manhattan house designed by Rita Konig, walls painted with faux panelling conceal storage and add to the country theme found throughout the house.
Lucas Allen103/108In Edward Bulmer's Herefordshire house, the bathroom features pink 'Cuisse de Nymphe Emue' paint from Edward's range, which provides a backdrop for black and white artworks.
Simon Upton104/108The family bathroom of restaurant owner Keith McNally's Notting Hill home is lined with tongue-and-groove panelling. The delicately tinted areas of the map are subtly echoed by the pastel colour scheme in the main bedroom. Map specialist Jonathan Potter is a treasure trove for antique maps, charts and atlases. A similar example recording the eight routes of the European crusades, measures 48 x 40cm and costs £380.
Paul Massey105/108Textiles dealer Susan Deliss lives in a beautiful eighteenth-century country house deep in the heart of Burgundy. Her bathroom is painted a pretty pale blue. This soothing colour works well in a bathroom - the antique tiles and oriental rug add warmth.
Elsa Young106/108Pink walls the colour of setting plaster, contrast with deep pink curtains in the bathroom of Henrietta Courtauld of The Land Gardeners'. Her London house, redesigned by architect Maria Speake of Retrouvius, features reclaimed marble running up to dado height, and finished with a band of antique bevelled mirror for a touch of sparkle. The clawfoot bath, positioned next to the window is a deep aubergine purple.
Rachel Whiting107/108The owners of this London house called on interior designer Beata Heuman to create a family home full of fun, distinctive design and punchy colours. A highly original space, unapologetically theatrical and oozing energy. 'The owners are both artists. They have quite wild tastes and they love strong colours,' says Beata. The opulent, free-standing bath was copied from a Twenties design that Beata spotted in an old magazine. 'It was quite difficult to work out how to make it. Fortunately, we had a very good joiner and we discovered a specialist timber from the Netherlands that is used in boat building and can be submerged in water for 10 years without any ill effect.'
Simon Upton108/108Shunning our throwaway culture, interior designer Patrick Williams, of Berdoulat Design used salvaged finds and traditional techniques to imaginatively restore his Victorian flat in east London in a sympathetic manner. Around the bathroom walls, above matchboard panelling, runs a narrow shelf made from oak from a table his parents had when he was a child. A bigger piece forms the loo seat. The old bath was bought for £80, and the Victorian taps were reconditioned and de-chromed, as was the shower-curtain rail and waste pipe. The basin is from Labour and Wait - Patrick got a deal on it as it was chipped; for him this is welcome patina.
