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Bathroom Decor: The Ultimate Guide to Pull You Out of Misery

Over time, bathrooms have evolved in their elements and accessories, hence harrowing to decorate. However, to preserve their functionality and comfort, this guide picks every essential and helps to tie them together for a desired decor.

Bathroom Decor

The settlement of Sundays and the movements of Mondays are never proportional, if not the opposites of each other. As with many others, I don’t do well with Mondays, at least if we take the mornings into account, but knowing how we have to categorize ourselves into our schedule to get things moving and survive the headaches after prolonged rest and the lack of financial funds that can meet the Ambanis, letting you take seven months straight-off from work, I follow a rule. Before Monday Morning, I plan my entire week, including the essentials, work, and leisure I desire to enjoy. By assigning times, I think I do satisfactorily better, and I might reserve my time-table for days when I am successful, but one of the tips that I will share with you to do better every working morning is by thanking the spiritual powers you believe in for the new day and then take a soulful bath so to invite a positive energy. Only then take your coffee or tea and continue with work on your calendar. I know it might sound like a lot, but believe me- try it, and you will see the change after a week. It is not a trick I initially adopted or preferred, but after I noted how a bath in itself is far more refreshing than probably the best coffee in the entire world, I was convinced to decrease my caffeine intake in the morning and commit to this routine entirely. Forming this ladder of routine, I needed a few changes, one of which was a bathroom that welcomes me with soft lighting (not harsh on my eyes), sweet fragrance, bath essentials, and lastly, a space that never lets me down. This article is a perception of the practices I followed, and after reading it, I promise that you will have an understanding of your bathroom decor.

Why Is Bathroom Decor Needed?

If you are a keen reader of SimplyKalaa or have at least visited us before to refer to a decor article, you must be well aware of how much we value functionalism in decor rather than just looks. We collectively believe that planning decorative elements can help you have a lasting impression, but it is a short-lived pleasure. Contrary to this, if there is a home with sophisticated decor and utmost comfort through the specific room’s essentials, it will never be a disappointment and is a zone that you, at the end of the day, will choose over luxurious or fancy objects.

Following this pursuit of functionalism in decor, we will be editing your bathroom decor, and instead of only bringing art or fancier objects, we are going to add essentials and work to spruce up the space, no matter how it currently looks or what your budget allows. Through this, we will not only refine it for a better bath experience, but even if you have had a long day and your bathtub and wine glass are all you need, this is the kind of decor that will help you.

Functional Bathroom Decor
A master bathroom that abides by the rules of bathroom decor and maintains balance to create a charming look | Source: Studio McGee

Steps to a Refreshing Bathroom Decor.

1. Understand Your Bathroom Space and Purpose.

One of the most common mistakes I note about bathrooms and their planning is the lack of understanding of the space and requirements, affecting the decision-making for the fixtures and even the most basic thing, the color palette. For instance, you might have seen a bathroom that attracts the most traffic and is purposed to serve as a half bath but has too many necessities in a small area without any layout planning, causing clutter. At the same time, the colors are off, knowing there is no balance between the natural light that the space has, the primary and the accent colors. Further, there are many examples of master bathrooms that cannot keep up with their larger footprint. Either there will be a large vanity with double mirrors and no balance, the floor and other surfaces will have no harmony, or there will be too much visual emptiness, pushing you into the dilemma of what is wrong.

To pull you from making these mistakes, I will elaborate on a few of the most reliable and worthy tips in this section. For better understanding, I am dividing bathroom decor by the size of the space it acquires.

1. Powder Rooms and Half Baths.

Powder rooms or half bathrooms, as mentioned, attract more traffic than master or guest bathrooms and are purposed to be used for smaller durations. Therefore, these bathrooms must be planned for utility and visual space rather than focusing on storage. A few of the tips that you should keep in consideration while working on these types of bathroom decor are:

  • Keep them free of storage solutions and accommodate them with wall fixtures, no more than two, that come in handy in holding hand towels or other essentials.
  • Hardwares, such as the faucets, must be picked cleverly and flaunt your choices. Make sure they blend nicely with your color palette, a subject you will read more about through a separate section.
  • A straight line arrangement, positioning the toilet and the sink on the same wall, can work for most spaces and gives enough room for accessibility. Additionally, choosing console sinks of classic styles, such as nickel-plated, is always a vibrant choice, as it shows naked walls and creates an illusion that there is more room than reality.
  • Design an accent wall and experiment with colors or materials like wood to give an enhanced appeal to your half bathroom.
  • Do not create distractions through artworks and let these be boring, fulfilling their purpose and letting the guest or you not enjoy it for longer durations. These must be treated like formal toilets with a personalized touch for essentials. This step ensures that you remain strict with the budget and do not overspend while designing it.

2. Guest Bath.

Guest or detached bathrooms have a larger footprint than powder rooms and are usually the second bathroom that family members or guests use. While still smaller than the master bath (at least according to the design perspective follows, not essentially), you should ingrain their beauty while ensuring that comfort is the priority. As per your bathroom state and the renovation budget, consider the following tips and tailor them for ultimate results.

  • A shower is better than a traditional bath, knowing it interrupts the intimacy of the guest bathroom and invites luxury with comfort. Create partitions through decorative tiles and glass dividers to make the perfect bath area.
  • Work on the soft furnishings of your guest bathroom, and ensure you avoid the blandness it has with bathmats, curtains, and towels. Flowers are a way to spice up the space while bringing freshness to it.
  • Smaller shelves with bath essentials and a picture frame of your favorite still life is also a way to go and flaunt your tastes.
  • If the bathroom architecture allows fewer solutions for storage or a vanity, use a one-column cabinet for housing essentials and backup supplies. You can also use wall fixtures for similar purposes.
  • Use tiles for alcoves and house your vanity in or around it so that you leave those awkward corners behind.
  • Use accent furniture like end tables (as an extension of your bathtub or shower area) and decorate it with flowers and aromatic candles alongside a magazine.
  • Consider oval shapes but with a luxurious touch of accents and colors, as well as interesting surfaces and patterns of tiles to effectively design your room.

One of the tricks to make sure that these bathrooms are well-designed or decorated is to balance between the utilities, fixtures, and decor objects. You do not want to flood up the entire room and set yourself on the route to lessen the clutter, but ensure that the bathroom is neat, cozy, and functional. Lastly, ensure there is enough room and that decor and design to empty floor ratio is 1:3 and slightly more if the space is tighter.

3. Master Bath.

Though the largest and most intimate, master bathrooms are difficult to lay out, mostly because we do not do well with larger spaces in general. In case you have a completely new room that needs to be converted into a bathroom, one of my favorite tricks is to arrange everything around my whirlpool bathtub so that I have authority as a sitter. Knowing most of you had a brilliant architect and are only looking to convert this space as if it was always designed for you to start your day with the freshness of lavender and be able to dissolve your stress at the end of the day, here are a few detailed tips to help.

  • No matter how large or small your master bath is, your bathroom decor philosophy must include the selection of the types of bath you prefer. Once you do that, I recommend a whirlpool bathtub, suitable for two-person bathing, and a steam shower so that you have the complete luxury figured out.
  • Follow this with a vanity design that follows the rules of balance. You might have seen luxurious vanities with mirrors and sinks for him and her, but because of the emptiness on the surface and the walls, the complete look switches you off. A way to improve it is by installing a vase of flowers or anything that you find extravagantly beautiful in between the two sinks by the wall. At the same time, ensure that the lighting is decorative but also not harsh on the face. I will explain more about lighting in the coming sections.
  • Taking a tip from our detached bath, add an end table with candles, flowers, and a magazine with a paperweight near your bathtub. This will further cozy up your bathroom.
  • Once you have decided on the partitions, types of bath, vanity design, and accent furniture, consider your present bathroom condition, specifically the color scheme. Plan everything new according to this, and once you have a color palette, use the balancing color through shiny objects or plants and the accent colors to give a mood to the bathroom through furniture and soft furnishing. Refer to my recent guide about interior color palette for help with this.
  • To further maximize comfort, add an ottoman, preferably near your vanity.
  • Install open shelves and decorate them with bath essentials like towels, napkins, containers of bath salt and other accessories, and empty ceramics for a luxurious look. You can also cover the emptiness with a towel tree (but for the bathroom), that carries your supplies or intriguing furniture to have that interrogative style.
  • Lastly, weigh your toilet area with a dedicated corner where you should install odor-repellant, wall-mounted lamps, and if you find visual emptiness, wall decor, such as still life art, can bring massive change. You can also accent the corner of this corner with either decorative tiles (on the back wall or floor) or wood textures (on the walls around) to distinguish it from other areas in the master bathroom.

There are a lot more areas that you can decorate when speaking of a master bathroom. For instance, even the largest or smallest painting of your house can look great here as long as the lighting is cozy, there is balance between the decor accessories, and the surface does not look flooded.

2. Design the Color Scheme of Your Bathroom.

We still have to talk more, as these were just the basics that can help you brainstorm and implement your bathroom decor or design the space perfectly. If you immersed yourself a little more in these ideas than I expected, I am sure you already have the starting shades in mind, but we all have second thoughts, don’t we? So, to help, let’s discuss the basics of the color palette for your bathroom decor.

For starters, you must always take natural light and its presence into consideration. A quick trick is to use darker shades with dramatic and soft lighting for darker rooms and lighter shades, such as pastels, for naturally lit environments. Again, a deeper insight into the color palette can be taken from the guide I published recently, solely about interior colors and their combinations, and how you should design them from scratch.

Speaking of the bathroom, one of the most common questions about bathroom color is how they must be paired with the adjacent room. While you should always prefer your favorites when picking a color for any room, one of the ways to be flexible with it is to either harmonize or complement the wall color of the adjacent room through the bathroom wall’s color.

For instance, if you like blues and the adjacent room adores a shade of brown, you should pick a shade of yellow for the bathroom that harmonizes with the brown and then add the blue through soft furnishings or surfaces (such as tiles), also helping in partitions of your bath area or adding contrast to your bathroom interiors. This is how you formulate a harmonious palette between the bathroom and the adjacent room and create a bold design for the bathroom colors, even when the colors are far related to each other.

Bathroom color palette
#231906 (Adjacent room’s wall color), #EFEBA9 (Bathroom wall color), #0C476E (Soft furnishing)

Let’s now suppose that the adjacent room has either a shade of blue or red, and your favorite remains to be blue. In either case, the wall color of your bathroom can be tailored for a convenient look. Make sure you always take natural lighting into account before selecting between a lighter or a darker shade of color. For instance, in the first case (blue color wall for adjacent room), a lighter shade or a darker shade of blue (depending on the lighting) can easily harmonize with the blue; don’t let the walls of the bathroom and the adjacent room be similar. In the second case (red color wall for adjacent room), it can still harmonize well with the blue; as per what I explained in my color guide, these are adjacent to each other on a color wheel, so they create a nicer palette.

Color Wheel for Choosing Color for Bathroom Decor
Adjacent and opposite colors on the color wheel; adjacent colors help in creating a harmonizing palette and the latter helps in a complementing look

If you desire a contrasting look between the bathroom and the adjacent room, you need to pick colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel. While doing this, ensure that your choice and lighting conditions are always considered. The following combination shows an example of complementary colors.

Too much to digest? You still have to learn about the other elements that need to be paired for a color palette. But first, take a look at the color wheel so that you understand what my jibber-jabber was all about.

Once you have decided on the wall color and the color of your bath area, it is time you start picking shades that will act as accent shades. There is no masterclass to picking accent shades as long as you know what kind of look you are going for; cozy, bold, or cold. According to this, you can use either warmer shades, complementary shades, or cooler tones. Here are three color palettes that will help you understand better.

Last but not least, your color palette is almost ready but not complete until you add a balancing shade that takes excessive attention away from the primary or accent shades. Just pick plants or flowers if you have natural light, and they can grow well without burden. If not, go for an attractive but colorful furniture article or a ceramic. Here’s what a palette with balancing shade looks like.

Bathroom Color Palette for decor
Similar to the last palette from the examples before, if we add the last shade (#4B663D), it acts as a balancing shade and completes the palette

Note: For rented spaces or a lesser budget, you can bring impacting changes through accent and balancing shades, and there is no need to redo the tiles or the wall color.

3. Experimenting With the Surfaces.

Creating a focal point in a bathroom is necessary for a scintillating decor. This can be done through walls, floors, or vanity counters by using different types of surfacing materials. These materials not only create a story in your bathroom but often have a dominating look in your color palette. While you know how you can balance any odd nature from the previous point, I will elaborate on how you can add a personality by not arranging your tiles or surface materials in a regular or continuous pattern.

1. Keeping Your Current Bathroom Surface.

Starting with the most minute changes through accents and making your current surfaces can be a suitable option in case you do not want to out-budget your time and resources. This can be done appropriately with new bathroom fixtures that give a bold look and create a singular style. For instance, if you have a formal arrangement of beige or white, a gold accent mirror frame, together with similar style fixtures, can make a tad of a Rococo look in your bathroom and may beat every trend you might come across on the web. It is not necessary to limit this trick to only golden accents. You can obviously use black fixtures, but keep in mind that they contrast with the color of the surfaces.

White color bathroom with golden fixtures
You can enhance the presence of the current accents by using other accessories, such as picture frames or furniture, to keep your decor strict to budget | Source: @palomacontrerasdesign / via Instagram

2. Creating Patterns.

Tiles are some of the most preferred options for bathroom surfaces, and there are numerous ways to create a pattern and a singular look by not tearing the current ones apart. Sure, a new surfacing can allow more flexibility and control over how you can fix your color palette. However, if you want something within your budget, I suggest, starting with your vanity area and using mirrors and tiles together as a puzzle. Believe me, with appropriate wall color, this can give you the expensive look you have always dreamed about.

Mirror Tiles for Bathroom Decor
Using a collage and tiles is a unique procedure that can achieve a distinguished look but something that corresponds with the same style is these mirror-like tiles. Add flowers and other elements to the room to maintain the luxury | Source: Amy Weave Design, via Tilebar

In case, you want to change your flooring, use a complementing color and create a boundary-like pattern for a dedicated area, such as a shower or toilet.

Bathroom decor for a shower area
Use thin strips to separate your shower region and ensure you repeat the same design through another element | Source: Sarah Catherine Design

You can also play around with 3D wall panels that are easy to clean and mimic the appearance of wooden boards and can be in either thin strips, acting as a rectangular boundary, to create an attractive block on the wall or altogether be joined to form a wall that is of classic taste.

A shower niche can create a charming look and something most people prefer having. You should make sure that you use soft furnishings in addition to the niche’s own color, as they act to complete the look of your bathroom and not leave it empty.

Shower Niche for Bathroom Decoration
Use your favorite colors, ones that you are planning to repeat through other surfaces or accessories in moderation, and design a shower niche for comfort and identity to the shower region | Source: @johnmartinestudio / via Instagram

One of the more affordable ways to harmonize or complement a small patch of colorful tiles, suitably above your vanity or a singular wall of your shower, is to pick its color and use a rug to increase its presence but at the same time turn your boring bathroom interesting.

Vanity and Bathroom Rug of SImilar Color
Use a similar style or color for the backsplash of your vanity and rug to avoid extensive changes in your bathroom | Source: A1000xBetter

As I previously exemplified, 3D wall panels are unique enough to give you the independence of bringing more surface styles, but if you want to stick to the tiles, I advise you to refer to your local hardware store where you can find the different types of styles. Among them, tiles resembling brick surfaces can be used to cover a particular wall and its significant portion, while the rest of the wall can adore either tiled surfaces or color.

Brick Wall Bathroom Decoration
When you incorporate bricks into your bathroom decor, one of the essentials is to balance it correctly with other surface solutions | Source: Addison’s Wonderland

The limitations to designing patterns are never present, and I suggest you explore more trending and your favorite ideas. The key is to use them in moderation or according to your color palette and I’m sure that it will end up looking stunning.

3. Picking From the Different Flooring Styles.

Flooring plays an important role in interior design and for vivid bathroom decor, you should decide between the types of flooring that closely follow your style. It is not necessary to change the complete flooring unless needed and to ease your search for the perfect flooring, I will use the following examples.

For a precisely attained look, start by complementing your walls or vanity. For instance, if you have a presence of orange in your bathroom, you can add a suitable shade of blue, and it can bring a lot of changes. One of the ideas to balance this look is to use whites through the ceiling, an empty surface of the wall, and other accessories.

Use oppositely arranged colors of the color scale to create a complementing look in your bathroom. This trick can be used for flooring to make the layout exciting | Source: Houzz.com – Credit |© Диана Брежнева, Александр Брежнев

If confused, wooden flooring can always create an unexpected yet elegant look. The only thing you need to make sure before its installation is that the wood is hardwood type and is finished to avoid any damage because of moisture and sunlight.

Wooden Flooring Bathroom Decor
Use neutral shades and characterize the bathroom space through wooden flooring and vanity. Use soft furnishing to add softness and accessorize it with an end table or stool as well as blinds | Source: Photo by Fernando Guerra, via Archello

Add an earthen touch by using terracotta tiles or hand-cut stone for flooring. This style not only replicates the beauty of some of the classic interior designs like French country but will help you through ease of maintenance and functionality, as long as you add the right accessories and storage to harmonize with it.

Terracotta Flooring for Bathroom Decoration
Accessorize terracotta with distressed rug and wooden elements and use classical elements, such as cafe curtains and golden accents to make the most out of the natural finish of these tiles or stones | Source: Kartwheel Studios, via Austin Home Mag

Similar to these three, you should take time to explore different styles of tiling suitable for your bathroom surfaces and pick ones that meet your budget and design expectations. Some of the more tiling solutions can offer you unique borders, metallic finishes, pebble stone floors, and a marble-like finish, pushing you into a variety of designs and textures to select from.

4. Plan Your Bathroom Storage.

Bathroom decor is incomplete without a well-planned storage. From your soft furnishings to your bathroom supplies to the smallest utility of your bathroom, like toothbrush and soap, must all remain in an easy-to-reach and suitable area. To assist with this and make your bathroom even more wondrous by incorporating storage solutions as well as beautifying them through decor, I will divide this section into more elaborate yet concise points.

1. Planning Your Vanity.

It is crucial to know your requirements, whether you need a vanity for a smaller guest bath or an exquisite master bath. Following this, you should consider the space and the things you want at your vanity. As per our suitability, we fill the large empty walls with open shelves, artwork, hangups, a curiously planned library, and cabinets. Make a list of things you are going to have from these options, and then draw a rough map to understand the available space. One of the things you need to be completely sure of is the floor space- the vanity should not interfere with or occupy it, especially when you are renovating or decorating a guest bath.

Now, you are ready to list your bathroom essentials and the supplies you want to arrange in the vanity and other storage systems.

For you to make the most out of your vanity, I will now divide this section into guest bath and master bath vanity. It will not only help you design the bathroom in a specific manner but also ensure that there is space management in case you have tight corners to deal with.

(A) Guest Bathroom.

Giving the lead to the most common bathroom, area-wise, add a floating vanity that suits your style, whether a completely private storage solution, open storage, or a mixture of the two. Knowing we have limited space to deal with, use the empty space under the sink through a drawer that can be stuffed with bottles, sponges, bath toys, or even toilet paper, making them easy to reach.

Mix Style Vanity Design for Bathroom Decor
A vanity with drawers and an open shelf to make the best out of the space. Use jute baskets to store soft furnishings and add the right accent organizers for accessibility | Source: Milo Brown, House and Garden

By now, you know that we are using the tiniest nook of our vanity as storage. To continue doing this, I want you to look for a vanity design that has a mixture of drawers and shelves, allowing you to store different items as needed and have better planning when doing that.

Dark wood vanity decor for guest bathroom
Dark wood with golden accent knobs and a mixture of drawers, doors, and open shelves for adding functionality with cleanliness | Source: Jean Stoffer Design, via Pinterest

Further, a retractable shelf and a built-in hangup for your towels can also look nicer and more suitable.

Wayfair vanity with retractable shelf for bathroom decor
A vanity with a retractable shelf can ease up the reachability of smaller bathroom essentials or products | Source: Wayfair

Lastly, for a better arrangement and to avoid issues with objects kept at the end of the shelf, use a lazy susan that rotates and eases up in locating any item inside the storage. You can further classify important bottles and bathroom supplies and arrange them on the shelves that you have customized on the doors of the vanity storage.

Lazy Susan Bathroom Organization
Use lazy susans, jute baskets, and other organizers instead of laying essentials independently. This way you will avoid any clutter or confusion and ensure accessibility | Source:

To make sure your vanity is fully functional and that the storage does not lack any role, such as the medicine cabinet, I advise you to use the wall area above your vanity and sink for a mirror-surfaced cabinet. This cabinet should be further sectioned into a small but functional linen closet.

Integrated cabinet mirrors for better space management in bathroom
Use integrated cabinet mirrors for storing fresh linens, prescribed medicines, and also some rare supplies | Source: Courtney’s World

Once everything is arranged, touch up your vanity with the correct lighting (a section I will explain soon enough) and organizers for your soaps, toothbrush, containers for your appliances or essential accessories (if the space is clean and empty, use the surface, otherwise mount it or store it in the suitable section of your vanity). Decorate the vanity with a vase of flowers and use its open shelves to be accommodated by jute baskets carrying your essentials. This will arrange everything together and avoid visual clutter interfering with your bathroom decor.

(B) Master Bathroom.

Working on a master bath can have different requirements. For some, there is a clove, and for others, they do not want to limit themselves to a single vanity. Therefore, it is crucial to determine if you need a singular or vanity for him and her.

After establishing this, explore the different ways that you can use to arrange your vanity.

One of the most preferred styles for a master bath in my circle of known is to design roomy but sleek cabinets with an off-centered vanity. The cabinets not only assure a particular style but can have elaborate functionality, such as closets, hangups, hampers, multi-functional cabinets, and a vanity extension for dressing your baby.

Master Bath Off Centered Vanity Design
Design an off-centered vanity space with storage around it and a baby island or a section of your preference to the side reaching the end of the wall. These units must comply with your interior color palette and using exquisite choices can help you immensely (it is a rough layout, but with the right measurements and by using the tips I have shared so far, it can be useful)

I understand if the cabinet idea is not suitable for all and you like those wall textures and the accents. To collaborate with this preference, I advise a vanity as per your interiors and then use a mixed style (both drawers and doors) vanity. It can either be a stretched but singular unit for him and her or be two singular units accompanied by similar-style mirrors and cabinets. Correctly arrange your cabinets and storage units for optimum space management (take reference from the guest bath vanity section. Moving on, the foremost thing you should work on is a set of aromatic candles, a vase of flowers, organizers, and suitable lighting so that nothing in her seems off or empty.

A vanity with divided mirror arrangement for master bathroom decor
Design a vanity with divided mirrors and balance the central mirror by filling the space on the island with a vase of flowers. You should then add organizer trays near the sink, distinguishing the purpose of each region on the vanity | Source: Ashley Montgomery Design

The vanities of the master bath allow a higher possibility of a chair or an ottoman, and it is the one element you should make space for while working on the bathroom decor for your master bath.

Quick Tip: Use your bedroom’s furniture finish and reserve it for your master bath. It depicts a unique taste and helps make a bathroom cozy.

2. Storage Other Than the Vanity.

Bathroom storage is never finished without incorporating open shelves and other essential spots for luxury and functionality. By this, I don’t mean to clutter your walls, but add the required accent or load that will help you play with colors (through soft furnishings or accessories).

(A) Open Shelves.

Install open shelves in your bathroom after taking an account of the area. What do I mean by that? It is a simple trick I use- you do not want to burden one or another side of a bathroom too much, and it must always preserve the identity of a wall. To do this, visualize your sides as if they are the sides of a see-saw and measure visual balance.

After doing this, you need to see if they are accomodating your vanity, toilet, shower, or bathtub. Classify the decor accordingly; for instance, use the area near your vanity for storing the bathroom supplies, design a library and keep extra rolls of toilet paper or artwork in the toilet region, use towels and bath essentials for the shower area, and lastly add artwork, linens, and toys to the shelves near your bathtub.

There is a good chance that your bathroom has an awkward clove, and while most people fear it, I suggest using glass shelves and accommodating them with towels, artwork, plants, magazines, or a jute basket to hide some bath essentials and bottles.

(B) Cabinet.

A cabinet of a similar style to your bathroom vanity is a nicer addition to your master or significantly larger guest bath. It not only provides storage but adds a careful touch to your area while ensuring that there is enough storage for every necessity. If you are a fan of long mirrors, you can use them alongside metal accents to glorify these storage units.

Vanity and Cabinet for Bathroom Decor
Use a similar style cabinet and vanity for your bathroom. Accessorize the cabinet with towels, candles, a ceramic bowl, and more personalized options to complete the look | Source: @the.old.mango / via Instagram
(C) Medicine Cabinets.

Somehow, in the urgency of beautifying our bathroom, the trend of functionality is left behind. To revive it, I humbly ask you to add a medicine cabinet to your bathroom. It is a nice way to accommodate your prescribed medicines and sometimes can woo away your worries of covering a small clove by adding a popup door that seems sleek and a part of the wall.

Quick Tip: Paint the door with your wall color, and do not invest too much in the wood; it’s between me and you.

(D) Hampers.

You should keep hampers or jute baskets in your bathroom to avoid cluttering your beautiful decor and catch clothes that are meant to go in the washing machine.

Add bathroom hampers that look like regular cabinet doors when closed, prioritizing a cleaner look and adding functionality at the same time | Source: Mark Williams Design Associates; Erica George Dines, via HGTV

Bathroom storage is a nook that can take a lot of effort to be arranged correctly, and all you need to do to be unique is be creative, bring the right colors, prioritize your comfort, and then find ways to experiment. Even the oldest cabinet or table of your home can be useful here and be turned into a vanity.

5. Lighting Your Bathroom.

The most awaited section of this article, and while the easiest, most people complicate it by adding unnecessary elements such as lighting, thus overdoing its functionality and creating a harsh interior.

To summarize the lighting of your bathroom, I will distribute it in a simple formula: Task Lighting + Accent Lighting + Mood or Decorative Lighting.

1. Task Lighting.

These types of lights are added to illuminate surfaces near the sink and of the vanity and to give the subject (you and other necessities) enough exposure to leave minimum to no shadows. These lights are often confused for their required brightness and knowing it is a very subjective element, I advise a dimmer switch for adjusting them as per your suitability and even exposure on the mirror.

Following up on the examples and instances I have explained before, I will share a few tips on how to light different types of bathroom areas through these types of lighting.

Starting with the undivided mirror, you can always ensure a balanced look with muted light fixtures. If the mirror is small, in the case of a single vanity for a guest bath, it needs no more additions. On the contrary, if the vanity is larger, has an undivided large mirror, and you are using muted lights for balance, it is necessary to add task lights on the sides mirror where they are tilted for a better reflection through the mirror and exposure of surfaces. Note that a dimmer switch is helpful in this case as you have the independence to adjust its brightness.

In case you have a double vanity, thus two mirrors, even exposure of lighting becomes vital. We usually add lighting to the sides of a mirror but for a dual mirror arrangement, three lighting fixtures, one on each side and one in between, is a suitable setting for even exposure.

Use a window in your bathroom as a source of natural light, and a combination of task lights on both sides of a singular mirror. Keep one of the lights dimmer than the other. This way, a balanced look, in the absence of natural light, will be achieved.

By now you must have a nice idea of how you should add task lighting in your bathroom. But to repeat, ensure there is no harshness, use a dimmer switch, and a combination of lights at different brightness levels for an even exposure.

You must take your lighting condition and psychology into account as well when working on the lights and choosing their temperature.

2. Accent Lighting.

By definition, accent lighting is any lighting fixture that provides a smooth radiance to a room, enough for a visual perception of a space. These lights are best used when the sources are kept hidden, giving a design stir to the room and lighting unexpected but required corners when turned on. Similar to task lighting, accent lighting requires a selective approach too, making the temperature selection and a dimmer switch essential.

While you can bring creativity to your bathroom decor, if electrical fixtures can be changed, if you are looking to improve the lighting of a bathroom with old fixtures, such as ceiling spotlights, I advise using a halogen bulb for better use.

Quick Tip: You can use chromotherapy for a distinguished and relaxing bathroom decor. This can not only convert even the most bland bathroom into a cozy space but is a budget-friendly option that you can rely on. Use a color palette and link different colored lighting solutions together.

3. Mood Lighting.

One of the best accessories for mood lighting is aromatic candles. Save yourself some bucks by shopping them during the upcoming Black Friday sales and bring your bathroom to life through visual and aromatic appeal.

Mood lighting for Bathroom Decor
Use your bathtub’s end table for candle, bringing both charm and fullness in | Source: Bed Threads

4. Window Dressing.

You might wonder why is it that I am taking window dressing under the lighting solutions. Hear me out. Natural light is an important factor in lighting any room and while doing your bathroom decor, you need to first note the geographic conditions, whether the window or the room is facing south, north, east, or west. Follow this by understanding the seasonal differences, that affect the light perceived, either warm or cool. For clarification, southern and western exposures attract warm light while the other two draw cool lighting.

After making sure of the presence of your natural light, the task that now stands in front of you is picking the right window curtains. Regular curtains might look good elsewhere, but they do not work well in a bathroom, as they may end up attracting dust, and hair, and go limp after absorbing excessive moisture. Therefore, a better idea for him is to go for blinds, ones that can both allow the light to enter and block anyone from prying into your privacy.

A few examples of curtains that can work well for a bathroom are bamboo blinds, vertical blinds, fabric screens, and hessian shades.

To treat glass screens where you have a vanity, install an adhesive screen that is easy to peel out. While this can block most of the daylight, a semi-opaque glass finish can ensure most of the daylight illuminance in the bathroom, ensuring privacy as well.

Final Words.

By now you know more than most people, people whom we do not call interior designers, and arranging these tips might sound like a task in itself unless you make a plan that includes your budget, the things you require to change, things you plan to change, and the final touches that can bring your bathroom decor to life. You may be renting an apartment and using chromotherapy alone can make it wondrous. If you do not like this idea, soft furnishings can be chosen carefully and strictly according to your budget. The foremost tip is, to be your grandfather, who used to note down and then take action, and I am sure this way you will be no less than your interior designer, whom no one can beat.

Still, if there is anything I missed or any point that pushes you into doubt, feel free to use the comment section and I will be there to help you with it.

Resources.

  1. Featured Image by Sterrekopje.
  2. Bathrooms: Creating the Perfect Bathing Experience (Small Book of Home Ideas) by Vinny Lee.
  3. Kitchen and Bath Design: A Guide to Planning Basics by Mary Fisher Knott.
  4. Bathroom Ideas You Can Use: Secrets & Solutions for Freshening Up the Hardest-Working Room in Your House by Chris Peterson.
  5. Complete Home Decorating by Lowe’s.

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