14 Bathroom Ideas for makeovers & remodels
“I Grew up with six Brothers. That's how I learned to dance... Waiting in line for the Bathroom”
~ Bob Hope
Looking for bathroom ideas to makeover your decor and design your bathroom remodel?
Bathrooms are more than just functional places in our homes. They are a place for us to relax, rejuvenate, and relieve ourselves from everyday burdens. Most of us start and end our day in the bathroom with a routine that is almost clockwork. Since Kitchens and Bathrooms are where we spend the majority of our time when we are not asleep, so it makes perfect sense that they are the two areas of the house that we remodel the most.
We get asked by many Seattle homeowners to design and build new powder rooms and master bathrooms, so we thought it might be handy to write about some of the top bathroom trends for 2020. We hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration when it comes to updating your bathroom design and decor.
If you’re looking for ideas to update the rest of your house for an upcoming sale, you can check out our guide to the best home improvements that will help you sell your home.
What ideas Can I Use to Give my Bathroom A Makeover?
No two bathrooms are the same and what works for a spacious master bath, isn’t going to translate to a powder room, guest bath, or even a modest sized condo in Downtown Seattle. With this in mind we plan to write a separate article to tackle the topic of making a small bathroom feel bigger and function better without remodeling to create a larger floor plan. That said, these bathroom ideas to makeover your decor and design presented here will apply more to a master bath or medium sized bathroom.
Top 14 Ideas for amazing Bathrooms
Here’s our list of 14 bathroom ideas to consider when designing a makeover, updating your decor, or planning a bathroom remodel. Truth be told there are actually more than 14 bathroom ideas here, but we have grouped a few of them together. As you scroll down, feel free to click on some of the images to enlarge them. If you see something you like, share it with others!
#1 The Floating Vanity
#1 The Floating Vanity
Clean lines with a touch of simple elegance
While pedestal vanity sinks became fashionable for a while due to their minimal design, they lack counter space we have come to expect in a master bathroom. The pedestal sink may still work for a guest bath or powder room, but we usually want a bit more surface area for our lotions and potions or accessories. While some may like the clean look and open space created by a floating vanity, the downside can be a reduced amount of storage. This is easily remedied with wicker baskets or a towel rack to hold extra linens. Floating vanities can accommodate a variety of sink styles such as the very popular bowl sink, undermount sink, or partially recessed sink.
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#2 Wall Mounted Faucets
#2 Wall Mounted Faucets
This feature is visually appealing, but can also save you some space if you’re looking for ideas to make a small bathroom feel larger.
By mounting the vanity faucet on the wall, the sink itself can be moved closer to the wall and reduce the overall distance the vanity protrudes. Wall mounted faucets work extremely well for unique vessel sinks (also called bowl sinks) as they often do not come with premade holes for the faucet and can sit quite high off the vanity top.
Another trend in bathroom design has been to incorporate industrial features into the bathroom decor. Many wall mounted fixtures will work towards creating this look.
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#3 The Freestanding bathtub
#3 The Freestanding bathtub
For a long time now, the built-in Jacuzzi tub has been all the rage.
While a large tub with jets is still popular for practical reasons, freestanding soaking tubs have seen an increase in popularity over the last few years.
Depending on your taste and choice of bathroom decor you have a huge variety of options available. For those who prefer the more traditional look, a classic Clawfoot tub can be paired with antique style fixtures. If you’re seeking a modern design with clean lines, then a solid base tub with a minimalistic faucet will complement the rest of your bathroom makeover. Depending on where the tub will sit within the room, you have the option of using a wall mounted faucet or free standing faucet plumbed up through the floor.
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#4 Fifty Shades of Black
#4 Fifty Shades of Black
Black is the new Grey according to some interior designers
There has been a shift in recent years moving from solid white surfaces to more greys and darker tones. Now more than ever, black finishes in the bathroom are no longer associated with a strictly masculine space. While some homeowners may choose to create a solid black decor, it’s more common to pair black with warm tones or even create a balanced contrast with black and white.
When choosing to use black and other dark colors in your bath, it’s generally recommended that you use a matte finish when possible.This reduces the glare and can help to hide water spots that appear on high gloss surfaces. Other colors like dark brown, blue, and grey can beautifully complement your use of black bathroom tiles and fixtures.
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#5 Pops of color
#5 Pops of color
Regardless of the base tones throughout your bathroom design, try adding in some splashes of color.
This can create visual focal points that draw you in with touches of warmth and cheer to an otherwise neutral color scheme or stark monotone space. As mentioned in the previous point, even black can be used as a visual accent within your overall color palette.
Your options for how and where to add color are virtually limitless, but some of the common choices are creating an accent wall, fixtures, or the vanity. Tile is another perfect place to introduce added pops of color. Tile accent strips in the shower or behind the vanity can also be matched to shelves and mirror frames to name just a couple of options.
The point is to play with color as you look at different bathroom decor ideas. See where you can incorporate these colorfully visual elements to complement your overall bathroom makeover.
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#6 Radiant floor heating
#6 Radiant floor heating
There’s nothing quite like stepping out of the shower or bath on a rainy Seattle day, and placing your feet upon a warm tile floor.
If you are planning a new build or a complete bathroom renovation, consider this option as part of your new bathroom design. However, this requires a level of retrofitting or remodeling that may significantly expand your budget if you were only looking to update the finishes. For this reason, radiant flooring may be beyond the scope of lighter bathroom makeovers.
Radiant heating has become more common in recent years with many contractors getting requests for this when doing a bathroom remodel. Prices to install and operate radiant floor heating have considerably reduced since it was first introduced in the 1970’s. This is due in large part to increased efficiency and the number of manufacturers. If you are exploring this option you may wish to look into heated towel bars as well. It might sound a bit excessive, but a warm towel, is like getting a hug and eating a bowl of tomato soup at the same time.
With the use of timers your warm bathroom floor will be calling for you to get out of bed and start your day even on the coldest Seattle winter morning.
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#7 The Walk-In shower
#7 The Walk-In shower
If you’ve been to a spa or upscale hotel, you have probably experienced this before. Imagine an inviting shower absent of curtains or shower doors. In many cases there isn’t even a curb to step over either.
The Walk-In shower is often associated with elite luxury establishments, but has grown more popular in everyday private homes. If you’re considering this feature as part of your new bathroom layout, here’s a few ideas and things to keep in mind.
- Choose a floor tile with non-slip textures to extend beyond the immediate wet area or placing a bathmat to reduce potential accidents.
- Visually differentiate the shower area with an accent border of tile if you like the look of a distinct shower separate from the other areas.
- Consider a shower head that mounts in the ceiling or other types of ‘rain showers’ that don’t direct a high pressure stream of water outside of your shower area. If you prefer, you can also combine this with more than one shower head and variable controls.
- Add one or two additional floor drains to your bathroom floor to carry any extra water away. This reduces wet floors and makes cleaning the bathroom easier as well.
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#8 Open Concept Master Bathroom
#8 Open Concept Master Bathroom
Expanding on the idea of removing the door from your shower, this design removes the bathroom door or even the walls of the bathroom itself!
This trend of combining the sleeping area and bathroom is not really that new. While it’s not as common, an integrated master bath and suite can create a feeling of staying at a luxury spa resort. It makes both areas feel even more large and spacious as well.
While some may feel like the bathroom should be a private place, others enjoy the option of relaxing in the bath while watching a movie with their partner in bed. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, there are many different configurations to create a partial, or fully integrated master suite. For example, placing the toilet in a separate water closet or adding partitions can create varying levels of modesty, while still enjoying the space of an open concept design.
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#9 The Floating Toilet
#9 The Floating Toilet
In keeping with the look of modern clean lines created by floating vanities and wall mounted faucets, the wall mounted toilet has become more popular than ever before.
Visually different for the lack of a tank and easy to clean space under them, these toilets also create more space by sitting closer to the wall. This is especially helpful if you are looking for bathroom ideas to make a small space feel bigger, or you just prefer less visual clutter.
Wall mounted toilets come in many varieties and not all of them are “floating”.
Some models also rest on the floor as well, which adds additional support to handle more weight. While it’s not common, we have seen at least one floating toilet crack at the mounting point where it met the wall. This shouldn’t happen with every day use though, so just check the manufacturers specifications when considering different models.
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#10 The Smart Bathroom
#10 The Smart Bathroom
We all love our technology and most of us enjoy watching videos or listening to music while conducting various activities in the bathroom. If you’re considering taking that one step further then the smart bathroom might be just the thing for you!
Now you might be thinking, “I don’t need Alexa talking to me while I’m on the toilet” but don’t worry. There are different levels of integration when it comes to introducing technology into your bathroom makeover.
Here’s a few examples:
- Smart toilets became hugely popular in Japan, but now they are growing in popularity world wide. While some of the high end models come with more bells and whistles than the space shuttle, even the most basic ‘techno toilet’ comes with standard features like a seat warmer, built in wash sprayers, air dryer, automatic flush, and self cleaning features.
- The Smart Mirror is a somewhat recent addition to our lives, but it’s one that we think will quickly become commonplace. Imagine a mirror that doesn’t fog up, lights your face as you apply makeup, can play a movie, and give you traffic, news updates, or even show you emails while you get ready for work! It might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie but the future is here. These ‘Cyber mirrors’ are still a bit pricey depending on what features they include, but we expect them to become more affordable for the masses as suppliers continue to meet the growing demand. We are guessing some models can even help you take bathroom selfies as well…
The shower is probably the most popular area for added technology. You can easily integrate waterproof bluetooth speakers, or a video display to transform getting ready for work or a night out into a multimedia experience. Additionally, there are a variety of digital controls for your shower to set the water temperature and pressure to each user’s personal preference. LED lighting is another great way to use technology to set the mood.
Consider these high tech options and more as you start to plan your new bathroom makeover or renovation.
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#11 Mirror Mirror on the Wall
#11 Mirror Mirror on the Wall
If you’re looking for bathroom ideas to create a unique look and feel without going high tech, try getting creative with different types of mirrors.
Gone are the days of grandma’s medicine cabinet or simple makeup mirror mounted over the sink. These days we are seeing bathroom designs that have taken a new look at the bathroom mirror.
- The hanging mirror. In keeping with a “floating” theme, these mirrors are suspended rather than permanently mounted on or in the wall. Depending on how you do this they can even be made easily adjustable for people of different heights. Of course if you find a new mirror or frame a few years later that you like more, swapping them out is much easier than with a fixed mirror.
- Multi mirrors. This eclectic look will complement some bathroom designs perfectly. This is perfect for treasure hunters that enjoy finding gems in antique stores and household rehab shops.
- Large over-sized frameless mirrors are also seeing a bit of a return. While they have always been around, combining them with new elements have really updated how we see… ourselves.
- Framed Mirrors are nothing new, but now we are seeing large, chunky frames often with rustic reclaimed wood or industrial elements. This can be combined with a variety of bathroom decors or blend in or stand out in an otherwise minimal bathroom design.
- Backlit mirrors are another recent trend that fits perfectly with a modern decor. Combined with some of the ‘floating’ features we have discussed here, the backlit mirror can help your bathroom makeover transform into a ‘bathroom of the future’ look.
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#12 The Warmth of Wood
#12 The Warmth of Wood
Many designers and homeowners enjoy the sleek look of black slate and metallic surfaces, but some outstanding bathroom decor utilizes the timeless appeal of wood.
If you are tackling a bathroom remodel or looking to design the bathroom of your dreams, consider the different types of wood available to you.
Wood is extremely easy to work with and can complement both a modern minimal design as well as the classic country bathroom decor. While a wood floor isn’t always ideal in wet areas there are ceramic tiles that appear very similar to hardwood, but with a waterproof finish.
Bamboo is another good option for use in the bathroom. Besides being more sustainable than traditional hardwoods, it is more water resistant as well. That said though, we don’t recommend using it in areas of high moisture such as around a shower because it is not 100% waterproof. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s warranty if you are considering using it as flooring in your bathroom.
Counter tops, vanities, and accents are all great places to incorporate wood into your new bathroom design. Even elements you might expect to find in the kitchen, such as a butcher block countertop, makes a great bathroom counter too. Just be sure that the grains of the wood are well sealed if they will be used near water.
As a bonus idea, consider using wooden accessories like a vintage ladder leaning at an angle for a towel rack. The rustic charm of these old pieces can become a great contrast to a sparse minimal design found in modern bathrooms. They also create a visual attraction while providing a sense of warmth and comfort.
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#13 The Industrial Look
#13 The Industrial Look
Going in what could be the arguably opposite direction that warm wood tones bring, is industrial bathroom design.
This isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste but if done correctly it has a stunning effect that appeals to many people. When the term “industrial” is applied to a bathroom setting you might be picturing a urinal on the wall, or the bathroom of a car mechanics shop. However when done correctly, soft textures can be balanced with the rustic charm of exposed copper pipes, concrete sinks, and unique lighting fixtures. Add a centerpiece such as a hammered copper tub and you will have a bespoke bathroom decor.
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#14 This bathroom is Lit!
#14 This bathroom is Lit!
We couldn’t complete this article without shedding some light on lighting.
Lighting is essential in the bathroom for several reasons. We need light to perform many of the functions we would expect, but it also can create a mood or atmosphere that relaxes and rejuvenates us.
At a minimum, we think the average bathroom should have 3 sources of light (besides daylight).
Overhead lights: This can be as simple as standard recessed ‘can’ lights, or as elaborate as a chandelier hanging over your freestanding bathtub.
Vanity lights: These can be functional as well as beautiful. We tend to appreciate seeing our face as we are shaving or applying makeup so lighting near the vanity is a must. Often more than one source or style of light can be applied to this important area. You can combine hanging or wall mounted light fixtures with a backlit mirror as we mentioned earlier.
Mood lighting: While this may not be seen as essential by everyone, there are times when you will appreciate different levels or colors of light in your bathroom. This can be achieved with colored LED lights as we discussed in the high tech showers or even dimmer switches on your existing light fixtures. If you’re looking to create mood lighting in your bathroom but not doing a remodel that will address additional electrical work, you can still create a similar effect with the use of carefully placed fairy lights or a small table top lamp.
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In Conclusion
In Conclusion
We started off this article to give you 14 bathroom ideas for your makeover, remodel, or newly designed bathroom, but we snuck a few extras in there along the way. Regardless if you are looking to do more with a small space or create the master bathroom of your dreams we hope these ideas give you some inspiration to go forward and be bold with your bathroom design decor.
Have some ideas you think we missed?
Have you recently completed a bathroom makeover and have some photos or a story to share?
Drop us a comment or send a message and we will consider adding them in.
If you are in the greater Seattle area and looking for a contractor near you to help design and build a bathroom, give Talon Enterprise a call. We will be happy to discuss the options and provide you with a quote for your bathroom remodel or makeover.
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Thank you for reading!
