What do stylish bathroom ideas look like to you? Elegance, as a concept, is something that is difficult to define in words, not to mention interior design schemes, but bathrooms often match the elegant quality.
Is it the culmination of luxury materials? Carefully designed design? Correct colors? Or is it just a touch of grandeur that takes bathroom ideas to the next level? Elegance, after all, is not the same as ostentation.
To try and identify the elements that come together to create an upscale bathroom, we spoke to designers who have a touch of magic for sophisticated and sophisticated interiors. From fancy paint colors to graceful tiles, here are the little touches they think can bring elegance to your scheme.
Stylish bathroom ideas from top designers
To design a stylish bathroom, keep in mind that wall cladding materials such as tile or marble with fewer horizontal cut-outs and grooves look better. Alternatively, smaller mosaic patterns can be used for a sophistication, says interior designer Kiran Gala, director of Kiran Gala & Associates. Also, select neutral tones or reflective materials to create that elegant space. Let in as much light as possible or use large mirrors to make it appear spacious.
1. Decorative lighting
(Image credit: Suzie McAdam)
Bathroom lighting ideas tend to err on the side of utilitarianism, so choosing more expressive fixtures is an obvious way to signal that your bathroom design should have its aesthetics, not just as a workspace for the home. For an elegant bathroom, rich copper and darker bronze are the order of the day.
“I love using pairs of decorative gold sconces on either side of the mirror,” says architect Cormac Lynch. I think these types of lights add character to any bathroom. And I like to pair it with some decorative additions, like hand-painted metallic shades, glass hurricane shades, or even patterned fabric shades.
The same can be said about pendant lighting. For a more sophisticated touch, you can consider adding a chandelier if the ceiling height allows, highlighting the larger proportions of the space.
Elegant lighting can be used for ambient lighting, while more practical lighting can be added separately.
“In large-scale luxury bathrooms, we generally use a lot of indirect, hidden lighting,” says Matt Baran, lead designer at Baran Studio Architecture. “Lamps built into mirrors for reflected light generally give the best view in the mirror, and avoid long shadows that are generally created by underlighting.”
2. Dark walls
(Image credit: Barbara Corisco. Styling: Kingston Lafferty)
Deep and dark tones are elegant by nature; They not only create a moody interior but also give depth to the space. To create a luxurious bathroom that deserves a lot of attention, a mesmerizing dark color can work wonders.
Dark blue, gray, or black can look especially elegant when applied to the classic style of paneling, as in the dark blue bathroom idea created by interior designers Kingston Lafferty. Here, classic fixtures from Drummonds lend originality to the design’s grand style, while a modern chandelier avoids the design becoming a staple.
(Photo credit: Mary Patton)
Dark colors can also be used to give small bathrooms a touch of elegance, like those with larger proportions, as in this small design by Mary Patton Design.
“Despite the subtle touch details in this bathroom, we brought in a moody black like this one from Farrow & Ball to create a clean, crisp feel; it works just as well as a shade of white or neutral,” says lead designer Mary Patton.
3. Detailed patterned tiles
(Image credit: Future)
While there has been a trend for bold tiles and graphics in the bathroom in recent years, intricately patterned bathroom tile ideas offer a classic quality that can look charming and refined. Use these little beauties to inject soft colors into your bathroom, too.
“Tiles are beautiful pieces of art on their own that have the power to completely transform a room,” says Andrew Bendall of Craven Dunnill Jackfield. If you’re looking to experiment with bold colors and inspired designs and patterns, a bathroom is the perfect space to make an individually unique distinctive design statement. Bringing texture to the walls through tiles adds flair and allows light to reflect beautifully off the glass, bringing the space to life.
While patterned tiles are a good way to add beauty to the interior, you can also choose different types of tiles in complementary colors, creating a two-tone scheme. A narrow strip of tile on a wall can double as an accent element and provide great texture and a touch of color for your bathroom.
You can also lay tiles around the built-in bathtub to make it the hallmark of the room.
4. Terrazzo Flooring
(Image credit: Seth Smoot)
Terrazzo has been revived in recent years in a more contemporary look than before. However, traditional terrazzo still provide a sense of elegance.
Alice Arterberry and Barrett Cooke, principal designers at Arterberry Cooke, suggest, “Terrazzo against the richness of oak cabinets and furniture looks great.”
The material first appeared in Venice in the 15th century, where workers mixed cement, stone, marble, and glass to create terrazzo floors. Later in the 20th century, terrazzo became a material used in the floors of industrial spaces and office buildings. Although it was always considered a simple and unpretentious flooring material, it is now a design look forward and has found importance in homes, used on walls, countertops, backsplashes, and more.
Although molded terrazzo flooring is unlikely these days, terrazzo is still a popular idea for bathroom floor tiles for an elegant look.
5. veined marble
(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth. Design: Elicyon Design.)
There is no denying the beauty of marble, but there is an additional success that comes into play when you choose a real stone with a distinctive vein.
Marble is cool and restrained, but also very versatile, thanks to the different tones it has. This makes it a great choice for bathroom sink ideas, which are the most frequently used and one of the biggest items that instantly grab eyeballs. By adding warm-toned metallic faucets in copper or antique gold, you can add a little glow to cool the marble. Besides wood, marble can appear warm and cuddly.
For those with truly plush pillows, take full advantage of this tall, two-tub marble vanity for a little extra flair.
“A Arabescato Corchia marble floating vanity, groove paneled walls, an antique mirror, custom-designed wall sconce, and antique gallery wall can create a soaring and timeless look in a powder bathroom,” says Trish Lane, principal designer of Collette Interiors.
What are the elements that make up an upscale bathroom?
When it comes to high-end design, whether it is bathroom sinks, floors, fixtures or lights, the prerequisite is always luxurious and rich materials. Because of their quality, marble, travertine, and travertine are popular choices in luxury bathrooms.
Cast iron, copper or brass bathtubs, heated floors, cast stone bathtubs, power showers, marble floors, crystal chandeliers, body jets, and rain shower heads all contribute to a luxurious space.
Other than these accessories, the accessories also make a difference in the bathroom. Soaps, candles, essential oils and other hygiene items with excellent smell can elevate the environment.
Sitting in the shower makes a big difference and reminds one of the beautiful properties of the resort. A comfortable upholstered seat, ottoman or armchair can contribute to the element of luxury.