SOFT touch

Cocooning and calm, the most soothing spaces tend to rely on a few simple but effective tricks. Colder shades of white can feel clinical rather than clean – more dentist waiting room than spa-like retreat – so swap the very brightest shades for a gentle palette of eggshell, ivory and oatmeal. Handmade or hand-finished tiles can lend welcome texture, while incorporating textiles will soften the bathroom’s obligatory hard lines as well as filtering light.

Above left Portland-based practice Kaemingk Design created this calm wet room (kaemingkdesign.com). For similar wall tiles, try ‘Dorset Ivory’ ceramic subway wall tiles in a ‘Beige Satin’ finish from Porcelain Superstore, £34.50 per sq m (porcelainsuperstore.co.uk). To create a similar floor, try ‘Shapes Hexagon’ matt mosaic tiles from Topps Tiles, £109 (toppstiles.co.uk). For a similar shower curtain, try Balineum’s ‘Elinor’ design, £97 (balineum.co.uk)

Above right This restful space is part of an Australian guesthouse designed by Taliah Lowry (byronbeachabodes.com.au). ‘Barcelona’ bath, from £3,840, Victoria + Albert Baths (vandabaths.com)

Right This bathroom was designed by owners Christian Klinge and Sarah Fitzgerald for their Copenhagen home. ‘Taraxacum 88 Suspension Light’ by Achille Castiglioni for Flos, from £2,695, Nest (nest.co.uk). For similar tiles, try the ‘Cristalli’ lava stone range by Made a Mano, £560 per sq m (madeamano.com). For a similar bath, try ‘Celine’ by Devon & Devon, £6,631 (devon-devon.com)