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Get inspired with these fresh bathroom design ideas
Optimise your bathroom with clever storage, contemporary colours, and natural textures for a modern stylish space.
As we know, when you’re renovating your home, the two big ‘ticket items’ are the kitchen and bathroom — especially if you’re planning on selling. Even if you’re simply looking to contemporise your bathroom, without the intention of selling, there are a few key design cues you can follow to bring your space up to date.
Making the most of space
Every good design, no matter the room, begins with well-conceived space planning. Most bathrooms tend to err towards being on the small side, making proper space planning invaluable.
One of the key considerations is having as open a circulation route in and around your bathroom as you can; also known as maintaining clearances between your major fixtures and fittings.
Not only will having adequate clearances make your bathroom feel more spacious it will also make it a lot easier to clean — a win-win situation. If your bathroom has limited floor area, look at utilising other space, such as within the wall cavity, for additional storage, as this will allow you to keep the floor space relatively uncluttered.
Other storage design ideas include open shelving, particularly good for powder rooms but equally pertinent in any bathroom, and concealed cabinets. Modern storage designs are as innovative as they are functional and you can never have too many in your bathroom oasis.
Similarly, utilising wall-hung fixtures — vanities and toilets — will also help create the illusion of space. Likewise, in a smaller bathroom, going with a corner shower unit with sliding doors will allow you to maximise the available space. If you’re set on having an integrated shower, look at one of the level-entry shower systems — like those available from Warmup — which are ideal for maintaining a seamless floor plane, as well as being a great way of future-proofing your home.
Modern innovation and design are key elements in this bathroom, which features a level-entry shower system from Warmup.
Colours and textures for a modern bathroom
White will always be a ‘go-to’ colour when it comes to bathrooms, but that doesn’t mean you should be afraid to ‘embrace the hue’. Darker tones, your navy blues and even black, are good for creating a sense of drama, especially when teamed with brushed metallics — brass and nickel — while softer, earthier tones will create a light and bright space.
Coloured vanities and bathtubs are once again on trend, especially those sporting a matte finish. Bubble gum pastels, such as baby blue and blush pink, are particularly popular as they give a hint of colour but are still very much neutral.
When it comes to texture, nature is a great source of inspiration — woodgrains add visual interest to any bathroom design scheme — and raw materials, such as concrete, stone and terrazzo, are always high on the list of tactile finishes. Don’t be afraid to go large-scale either, as both stone and timber panelling are proving to be design winners in modern bathrooms, much like this one by Rarebirds Interiors.
This ensuite bathroom by Rarebirds Interiors was designed around the existing window placement and features several nods to the natural world including timber elements and stone tiles. Image: Kelsie Barley
For those looking to create a polished design, with little visual distraction, there are large-format porcelain tiles. Lauded for their ability to be used on floors and walls, along with their durability and ease of maintenance, large-format tiles — 3200mm x 1600mm — produce fewer grout lines and give a greater sense of continuity, and are available in a wide range of styles, giving you unprecedented design freedom.
The Devil's in the details...
Any bathroom is only as good as its hardware and this design detail has the power to elevate your bathroom to the next level or leave it in the dust of ‘what might have been’. When it comes to choosing your hardware, remember that cohesion will leave a pleasing and long-lasting impression.
As previously mentioned, brushed metallics such as brass and nickel are popular choices for their matte appearance, which teams well with any design scheme. If you’re feeling particularly emboldened, matte black is also a popular finish for hardware and makes for a modern twist on a black and white bathroom scheme, expertly utilised here in the 2024 Bathroom of the Year by Sticks+Stones Design.
The matte black wall linings in this renovated bathroom by Sticks+Stones Design are a contemporary take on the traditional black and white design. Image: John Williams
Choosing taps, shower fittings and cabinet handles or pulls from the same range will impart your overall bathroom design with a harmonious feeling. You can further enhance that feeling by adding an integrated vanity — as seen in this ensuite bathroom by Andrew Meiring.
The integrated vanity in this ensuite by Andrew Meiring of Andrew Meiring Architects helps create a sense of spaciousness while also providing ample bench space. Image: Jackie Meiring
An elegant blend of form and function, an integrated vanity provides bench space, storage and basin in one and lends an air of ‘custom furniture’ design to your bathroom, effectively elevating its design appeal, while also allowing you to streamline the overall functionality of your bathroom.
Your bathroom design/renovation journey is going to be unique to your wants and needs with each decision ultimately leading you to the desired result. Using some or all of the above design cues will, hopefully, make that journey a little less bumpy and a wholly enjoyable experience.
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