Are you in need of some bathroom inspiration for your next redesign? KBB journo Charlotte Luxford shares just what’s possible with these on-trend looks…
Playful tile and wallpaper patterns, rich paint shades and tactile finishes are great tools for injecting your bathroom with plenty of personality. So, if you’ve been on the lookout for daring ideas to elevate your bathing or showering space, read on for 16 fun ways with your walls and floors…
Ride the wave
The design world has gone crazy for the retro revival of ric rac patterns, and we love this playful take on the trend from renowned interior design studio Samantha Todhunter. Created in collaboration with Bert & May, this stunning range of tiles features two versatile graphic designs in popular colour pairings – red-and-pink, and green-and-blue.
Bathroom wall art
Hanging large-scale artwork on the wall is a great way to add personality to your bathroom and can help inspire the colour palette of your space. Here, the blue bath and touch of greenery pick up on the tones of the painting, while the muted backdrop elsewhere in the room allows the art to sing and become the focal point.
Pave the way
For those on a quest to recreate that rustic, country feel, the humble brick is having its moment in the limelight, especially in kitchen and bathroom spaces. Baked clay tones and their tumbled texture add instant warmth and patina to a space, with just the right balance between rugged and refined. This honey-coloured limestone tile brings in a dynamic element, with its herringbone pattern creating a soft flowing movement across the floor.
Check it out
Checkerboard flooring is a classic – this simple yet effective laying pattern has rightfully made a comeback. However, this time around, it’s all about checks in vibrant colourways, like in this bathroom designed by Katherine Clare Interiors, to add drama and interest to your space.
Wonder bathroom wall
Like the look of wallpaper in the bathroom but worried about the practicalities? Wallpaper-style tiles such as Ca’ Pietra’s silk screen-printed collection can recreate the same decorative effect but without the limitations – meaning you can tile directly behind a splash zone such as a vanity or bath to create a striking yet faff-free feature wall that’s easy to maintain.
Scale up
To create contrast and interest, consider mixing large-format and small-scale tiles on the same wall, like this mashup of marble-effect tiles and kit-kat mosaics. Use larger tiles up to dado rail height as they’re likely to need more cleaning, which will be easier with fewer grout lines, and reserve the harder-to-clean tiles for higher up the wall.
Paper trail
Wallpaper in the bathroom is a trend we’re not going to see dissipate any time soon; we love this scheme created by Olivine Design, where top-to-toe floral wallpaper adds cosy, country-house charm. Papering up and over the ceiling draws the eye upwards, embracing the height of the space.
Diamonds are forever
Hexagons are out and harlequin patterns are in – we love the way Project Home has taken the tiles from the floor halfway up the wall to add a dynamic border edge that adds extra interest to the scheme.
Colour-drench your bathroom
There’s no better way to get that cosy and cocooning feeling in a bathroom than by saturating the walls and floors in a deep, rich colour. Going top-to-toe in one hue will create a calm and relaxing environment, yet adding different finishes such as gloss tiles paired with matt walls will mean it’s not one note.
Go for all-out pattern
Don’t be afraid to mix it up and go for a multitude of different shapes and patterns to add wow factor to your bathroom scheme. The trick is to pick tiles that still ‘speak’ to each other and have something in common so they don’t overwhelm the space visually. Here, the jade green marble is the common thread that creates a cohesive look.
Get into the groove
We love this contemporary take on traditional bead and butt panelling from interior design studio Otta Design. Go for wide boards and take it all the way up the wall rather than up to dado rail height, for a fresh, modern look.
Run tiles up your bathroom walls
When you’ve only got a small bathroom to work with, running the same floor tiles up the wall can help create the illusion of space and make the footprint seem larger than it really is. Not only that, but it also creates a decorative backdrop to a shower wall, ideal for wetrooms.
Border control
Borders are back in a big way and we love how easily they can jazz up a bathroom space, adding another decorative dimension without the need for full-on wallpaper. Use them to highlight architraves and skirting for a bold pop of colour and pattern.
Play with pattern
One of the biggest trends for tiling this year is mixing and matching glazed subway tiles to create a striking visual effect. Take your bathroom out of the ordinary by pairing your stylish stripes with terrazzo flooring and unexpected wallpaper prints.
Put the stone centre stage
You’ve heard of colour drenching – now, it’s all about stone drenching the bathroom to create a super-luxe, spa-style look. Homeowners are increasingly specifying one stone or stone-effect finish that’s suitable for walls, floors and countertops to evoke relaxation, as well as dial up the drama. Neolith offers huge five-square-metre slabs that are available in ultra-thin thicknesses, making them perfect for cladding large areas seamlessly, with minimal joints. Not only does it create a slick appearance but the sintered stone is also a doddle to clean, and stain- and scratch-resistant.
Material mashup
Not only is this a creative way to blend materials, but it’s a smart solution, too, if you want the warmth of wood underfoot in your bathroom, but also prefer the practical benefits of stone in wet areas. House Nine Design ran the oak flooring from the master bedroom through to the ensuite bathroom to create a seamless transition and to link the two spaces.
Ready to kick-start your project?
Enjoyed this post? Click here for 20 ways to create a colourful bathroom
About Post Author
