BEAUTEOUS BATHROOMS
From simple and streamlined to dramatic and decorative
Bathrooms can be tricky spaces. They’re often small with a lot of hard, white fixtures to offset, so clever planning and decoration is key. Don’t keep everything at floor level, as this will make a tight space feel more cramped. Use the verticals, too, with shelves, pictures and judiciously placed wallpaper to draw the eye up. Opt for a fresh, clean look with focused task lighting (meeting safety standards) or create a richer, more enveloping ambience with darker walls.
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CUPBOARD LOVE Where space won’t allow, you can still introduce some style and character with wall-mounted cabinets and interesting vintage pieces for quirky appeal
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PANEL APPEAL Bathrooms can often feel cold or sterile, so warm them up by panelling the walls and sealing with eggshell paint to make them wipeable and more durable. Panelling is sold in sheets as solid wood or particle board, which is more stable
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BESPOKE SOLUTION Create something individual. Merry Albright, the owner of this house in Herefordshire, commissioned a craftsman to make a counter-top sink with a hefty piece of burr oak and a forged frame. A collection of old mirrors, some minus their frames, adds an individual decorative touch
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COLOUR SPLASH Unorthodox decoration can work. Here, a narrow reclaimed utility butler’s sink is teamed with an old freestanding bath, painted a vivid red, which makes a strong statement in a small space
WAYS WITH WAINSCOT At The Craftsman’s Cottage (thecraftsmans cottage.com) in Dorset, tongue-and-groove panelling in a sea green enlivens a darkish room. Louvred shutters make a stylish alternative to glass and are more practical than curtains
REPURPOSE & REUSE At The Stack (unique homestays.com), reclaimed pieces give a room an opulent feel. A gilt overmantel mirror shines out against navy walls, while an old Edwardian marble washstand has been converted for twin sinks
SPACE SAVER A tiny cloakroom has been turned into a walk-in wet room with encaustic floor tiles that drain water away in one corner. It affords enough space for a small, wall-hung sink and loo on the other side
FLOOR SHOW Linoleum is ideal for bathrooms: it’s hardwearing, warm underfoot, moisture-resistant and easy to clean. Modern lino comes in many patterns and shades, like this pretty blue and cream
HANG IT ALL A sleek stainless-steel, luggage-style wooden or metal shelf with hooks is ideal for hanging and storing towels. Place it above a radiator or heated towel rail for optimum drying after use
CLOAKROOM IDEAS Wall-mounted corner sinks are ideal for cloakrooms. Add impact with strong wall colours or distinctive patterns, like these lustred grey tiles from Mandarin Stone (mandarinstone.com)
BUILT-IN SOLUTIONS In a compact area, this counter-top sink unit can incorporate valuable storage space with a cupboard or handy shelves beneath. Small-scale mosaic tiles work well in this tight alcove
WORK PLACEMENT Decide where bath taps will be put before you buy. In this room, a centrally positioned shower mixer works beneath a window. Just ensure taps won’t be in the way of easy access to the bath
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PAPERED PATTERN Wallpaper is a great way to bring warmth and pattern into a bathroom, but hang it where it won’t get splashed too much. If space is tight, seal it with decorator’s varnish or a clear plastic or glass panel
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INVENTIVE ACCESSORIES The details in a bathroom count, so keep the most attractive ones on display and factor in enough storage. Here, an old floorboard has been cut down to make an impactful bath rack
PATTERN PLAY Confine busy patterns to one surface or area to keep the room relatively calm and relaxing. In this recessed shower, the walls have been tiled with a decorative green geometric design
FLOOR SHOW Patterned flooring can work well in a small bathroom, provided you keep all the other elements plain and neutral. A black and white chequerboard floor lends drama to this narrow room
TOP TO BOTTOM Positioning a paper above dado height helps to protect it from scuffs and scrapes, plus ensures it is protected from water splashes. Bathroom by Heritage Bathrooms (heritage bathrooms.com)
HOLD IT THERE Hooks are an essential for hanging towels and robes, so opt for more than you think you might need. This brass swivel model is an ingenious design. You can also find ones that fold away when not in use
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HIGH & DRY Siting an airer above a bath is an unorthodox idea but is actually surprisingly practical and utilises dead space above a tub
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SEASIDE SIMPLICITY Nautical themes are a perennial favourite in any room associated with water. This Cornish bathroom (gunwalloecottages.co.uk) has been decorated with planked wainscot panelling painted in a warm blue teamed with buttery yellow walls
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ASCENDING SCALES A subtle way to add interest to a bathroom is by playing with scale. These tumbled stone tiles are, in fact, in three sizes of the same style and material. A column of very fine ‘bricks’ demarks the vertical area of the shower and floor beneath
HIDDEN AGENDA The simple addition of a door turns a tiny understairs area into a useful extra washroom. Wall-hung sanitaryware takes up no floorspace and makes mopping quicker and easier
FLOOR SHOW Warm, durable and slip-resistant, vinyl and rubber floors come in a wide range of styles and patterns – from geometric to plains. They’re easy to clean and maintain and work well with underfloor heating
SHELF LIFE Incorporating a small shelf into a tongueand-groove bath surround gives you a place to put sundries and display a few well-chosen decorative objects that stylishly suit the environment
TILE STYLE
As an alternative to classic panelling up to dado height, tiles are robust and waterresistant. These, by The Winchester Tile Company (winchester tiles.com), are effective laid in a horizontally staggered pattern