Finding good bathroom design ideas isn't difficult, but selecting the right choices for your own bathroom design takes a little more care and attention.
The reality is that what looks great in an image, might not always provide you with a practical solution in the space you're renovating or creating from scratch. However, every good bathroom design idea has to start somewhere, which is where we can help.
From layouts to lighting, baths to basins, we've collated 17 bathroom design ideas that will guarantee your bathroom becomes one of the best rooms in your house.
1. Elevate your bath to centre stage
If you've included an allowance for a generous bathroom in your self build plans, including a freestanding bath idea is a must. And, nothing says luxury more than a space dedicated to this one item alone.
For extra status, elevate it on a tiled platform, and add a floor mounted bath filler in the brassware finish of your choice. But, take care when choosing these items, says Keeley Sutcliffe, design manager at BC Designs.
"In more generous spaces, a centrally placed freestanding bath creates presence, but only if the plumbing allows for tidy connections. Plus, when it comes to bath fillers, consider how quickly the bath will fill and whether the chosen spout or overflow filler can handle the flow without splashing or noise.
"A deep, freestanding bath with a large capacity will also require brassware that can deliver water at a higher rate," she notes," otherwise you will be waiting far longer than necessary for a comfortable soak."
Keeley Sutcliffe is Brand Manager for award-winning British bathroom designers, BC Designs. Since 1999 the award winning company has been leading the way with its thoughtful, innovative and considered bathroom designs.
2. Include a conservatory style shower – the latest shower trend
Space for a shower and a bath? Turn to one of the newest bathroom design ideas for the year ahead and consider a conservatory style shower.
Not sure what this is? It's down to the design of your shower enclosure say the experts at West One Bathrooms. Featuring a half-height wall and glazing above, much like traditional conservatory design, it turns your shower into a shower room within a room.
For added comfort, you could even build a seat inside and speak to your plumber about installing an extra feature such as this Insignia HomeFit 3kW Steam System from Victorian Plumbing.
3. Use rooflights for added bathroom ventilation
Good bathroom ventilation is essential in your bathroom design ideas. Using a combination of the best bathroom extractor fans and natural ventilation from openable windows is the best combination to prevent issues with mould in bathrooms and the like.
However, in loft conversion bathrooms, you may need to consider adding rooflights or velux windows instead of windows positioned in walls. When choosing their height and location, make sure they are easy to open and close too, so that they can be used as and when humidity in your bathroom has risen.
4. Include wellness into your bathroom design ideas brief
When rounding up next year's bathroom trends, being asked to create bathrooms that included wellness features, was something several of our experts noted.
And while it's not uncommon for us to turn to spas as inspiration for bathroom design ideas, it's no longer just about space and soft towels. Instead, we're looking for spaces to include larger features such as home saunas and steam rooms.
When space permits, they can bring a real wow-factor to your bathroom design ideas, but if you don't have the room inside, why not consider an outdoor sauna cabin when planning your garden design instead. Combine with an outdoor shower and ice-bath and you'll never feel stressed again.
Try B&Q for a range of home sauna options.
5. Design a wet zone, rather than a wet room
Whilst wet room ideas and walk-in showers are nothing new in the world of bathroom design ideas, this bathroom design idea takes the concept in a slightly different direction by creating a 'wet zone'.
Eliminating the chance of any water entering into the 'dry zone' (the area containing the bathroom sink and toilet), a walk-in shower is positioned in front of the bath and then the entire space separated with glass shower screens and doors.
If this bathroom layout appeals to you, make sure you choose your tiles carefully, says Grazzie Wilson, creative director at Ca' Pietra, and treat it in much the same way as you would a standard wet room.
"Wet rooms introduce additional variables when selecting tiles," she explains. "Here, it is not just about the rating but about how the tile interacts with falls, drainage and cleaning. A tile with an R11 rating can perform exceptionally well when the gradient is correct and the water drains freely. Conversely, even a high-rated tile may feel unsafe if water pools or the grout is poorly maintained. Understanding how these elements work together is key to choosing the right finish."
Grazzie Wilson is head of creative at tile company Ca'Pietra and is known for her creative and stylish approach. Offering consistently stylish and innovative solutions to tile and bathroom design has made her one of the most well-known and admired names in the industry.
6. Or, make your walk-in shower the star of the show
Of course, not every bathroom has space for a bath, and not every homeowner wants to deal with the potential energy costs of running a bath. Instead, a walk-in shower is often considered a more contemporary finish in a modern home.
Much like the previous bath platform idea, this one uses height to bring attention to the shower. Flanked by large format tiles and narrow slatted bathroom panelling, it's sleek and simple lines are perfect if modern bathroom ideas are your goal.
If a shower is your main source of washing, make sure you pay attention to the shower valves you select, says Keeley Sutcliffe.
"Shower valves require particular attention. Thermostatic valves maintain temperature and protect against sudden changes in supply, but they must be matched to the pressure and balanced across hot and cold feeds," she explains. "If the boiler is remote from the bathroom or the pipe runs are narrow, the temperature response may lag."
Find out what shower will suit your home by reading up on the dos and don'ts in our guide to choosing a shower.
7. Nothing says elegance like a roll-top bath
There is something about a freestanding bath that shouts luxury and indulgence, particularly when it features decorative feet. If you are worried about the weight of a cast iron rolltop or similar then fear not, there are models available made from acrylic and steel to overcome the issue.
Perfect for a bathroom renovation in a period property, make sure you think carefully about where you place the bath to get your design proportions right.
"We usually start by identifying the strongest sightline in the room – the place your eye lands as you enter," shares Keeley Sutcliffe. "Then, consider whether the bath should anchor that view or sit quietly along a wall."
Pair with a dark bathroom flooring idea and traditional style sanitaryware and your renovation will be perfectly complete.
This white traditional roll top bath comes with a choice of feet including black, chrome and brass finishes
8. Mix and match your bathroom storage solutions
Bathroom storage is vital for the space to work well and feel uncluttered, and, if space is no object, take time to mix and match your bathroom storage ideas.
Vintage style floor mounted vanity units can help space to deal with the question of one sink or two, while recessed storage in stud walls creates extra space both for extra storage, and finishing touches.
"Recessed niches within showers or above baths also provide accessible homes for bottles without encroaching on floor space, and they avoid the temporary look of caddies or hooks," suggests Richard Eaton, design manager at Tissino.
"Vanity units remain the backbone of bathroom storage, but they work best when the internal layout is tailored to the homeowner. Deep drawers provide structured space for larger bottles and appliances, while shallow upper drawers keep everyday items within easy reach and reduce the temptation to leave products on the countertop," he says.
Richard's top design tip when choosing a vanity? "A well-designed vanity should also allow the plumbing to be integrated cleanly so the usable space is not compromised."
9. Experiment with modern bathroom heating
Selecting the best type of heating for your bathroom generally means weighing up the pros and cons of underfloor heating vs radiators. However, while nothing beats the feeling of toasty toes when stepping out of a warm bath or shower, wet towels are equally something that towel rails deal better with.
For an in-between solution that gives you both, these radiator dots from The Radiator Centre combined with underfloor heating are a fun way of injecting an extra layer of heat, and a quirky design feature on your walls. Place them above the bath to warm your towel while you soak.
Head to the Big Bathroom Shop for a great range of towel rails in a variety of styles, sizes, colours and finishes.
10. Use bathroom wallpaper for a feature wall
After alternative wall covering ideas for your new bathroom or downstairs WC? If you fancy something other than plain painted walls or tiles, why not consider using bathroom wallpaper ideas instead? They offer visual interest and are easy to clean.
Just be sure to follow the advice for using wallpaper in a bathroom to make sure you pick the best product and apply it in the right way.
This Contour Antibacterial Grecian Tiled Wallpaper in grey is available from The Range, and as well as being suitable for bathrooms, also offers antibacterial properties.
11. Plan for the future with accessible design features
At some point now or in the future, you may find yourself looking at different ways of building and designing a lifetime home. Bathroom design ideas will play an integral part of the process, with many homeowners choosing to include a ground floor bathroom to prevent any access issues in the future.
Along with this, it's also worth investigating accessible design features such as grab rails and shower seats. Developments in design mean you don't have to limit the style of your bathroom either if you do want to add them now, to save drilling into tiles in the future.
Here, modern fittings are matched to a contemporary wet room, with easy access and ease of use front and centre of the bathroom designer's mind.
12. Include luxurious panelling on furniture and walls
Love the idea of including luxury hotel bathroom ideas into your bathroom design but don't have the budget to clad your walls entirely in swathes of marble or stone?
Consider using luxury finishes in small bathroom ideas, or cloakrooms instead, where it can be easier to budget for features such as stone clad bathroom splashbacks that run from countertop to ceiling. Combine with striking pendant lighting, a wall mounted vanity shelf with a modern countertop sink and you'll find your guests giving you five star reviews.
13. Use pendant lighting – even in bathroom design ideas
Unflattering lighting in your bathroom can be extremely unforgiving, which is why getting your bathroom lighting ideas right plays a major part in the success of your bathroom design ideas.
Multiple layers of lighting that can be operated separately, such as wall lights over or around mirrors, under-cabinet LEDs and recessed spots all work well in creating a cohesive scheme. But, that doesn't mean there isn't a place for pendant lighting in any shape or form.
Here, an unusual metalwork pendant light draws your attention to the focal point of this bathroom design – the bath in front of the window. Just be sure to check the bathroom regulations for lighting before you make any changes or additions to your current scheme, and only buy lights that suit the bathroom zone where you plan on using it.
14. Use cladding on your bathroom ceiling
Ceilings are often referred to as the fifth wall by interior designers, and with paint trends such as colour capping and colour drenching, bringing ceilings to the attention of homeowners once again, it makes sense in a bathroom that you equally give them some extra care and attention.
Why? Because soaking in a bath looking at a blank ceiling feels a wasted bathroom design idea. Instead of choosing paint, why not clad your ceiling in wooden slats instead, or look at other ceiling ideas to give your bathroom a boost in an unexpected place.
15. Choose concrete surfaces for a sleek finish
If you love the thought of a seamless surface that can run across the walls, floor and even be used to create fixtures and fittings, but you've not yet come across micro-cement bathrooms, or polished concrete, you need to sit up and take note.
While concrete or cement may not immediately feel like the most luxurious bathroom finish, it is. Smooth, seamless and waterproof it's perfect if you hate the thought of grubby grout lines or misaligned tiles, giving you an all-over finish that's easy to maintain and a joy to behold.
16. Bring the outdoors inside in your bathroom design ideas
If Japanese style bathrooms or botanical havens fill you with delight, why not ask your bathroom designer to include plants in your bathroom design ideas.
Pick the best bathroom plants that can absorb moisture, and design the layout so that the bath and planter appear tucked into an outdoor recess. It's the perfect way of creating a green bathroom idea that's not just about colour, but also about ecology.
17. Use statement tiling or patterns for stand-out surfaces
Bring your bathroom design ideas to life with some stand-out bathroom tiles – whether you opt for a vibrant colour, a zingy pattern or a interesting format, your walls can become works of art in their own right.
“Tiles influence the feel of a bathroom more profoundly than any other surface because they determine how the room responds to light, moisture and everyday use," explains Grazzie Wilson.
"Rather than beginning with colour, it helps to think first about scale. The size of a tile should reflect the proportions of the room and the intent behind each surface.
"Large-format porcelain reduces grout lines and allows the eye to move more easily across the floor or walls, which can give smaller bathrooms a calmer, more open character. More intricate formats, such as mosaics or herringbone shapes, introduce texture and gentle movement, and are most effective when used with purpose," she expands, "such as around a basin, within a shower, or as a measured band of detail that helps anchor the wider scheme."
Clearer now on what you might want to include in your bathroom design ideas? Knowing what not to do is just as important as doing the right things, so make sure you check out these bathroom layout mistakes and bathroom design mistakes before you finalise your bathroom renovation plans.
