Getting bathroom inspiration is all good and well. I could personally pin dream bathroom imagery for days (there’s nothing better than losing four hours of your life in a Pinterest hole; am I right?!). But getting ideas you can then implement yourself at home is another thing altogether.
That’s what this post aims to do for you; give you stunning visual inspiration, but partner it with tips on how to implement the looks. The other thing this post comes with is bonus insider tips on current trends and what to look out for when it comes to the finer design details.
To help out with today’s post, I’ve called in Jacinta Evans from Metricon Homes to share her pearls of wisdom. Jacinta is Metricon’s senior interior designer and is responsible for the fittings, fixtures, decor (and more) you see in the imagery in this post. If you’re keen to watch some of the decorating how-to vids we’ve filmed together, click here.
Otherwise, it’s on with the bathroom inspiration. We’ll start from the outer shell and work our way in.
Bathroom Inspiration: 6 Expert Tips
Bathroom Finishes
It’s a good place to start, considering the materials you use in the bathroom are going to have the biggest impact on how it feels when you walk into the space.
When it comes to the finishes on your bathroom cabinetry, Jacinta tells me that there’s been a recent shift away from real timber, and a move toward veneers.
“Laminate versions such as Laminex Impressions range gives you the look, feel and texture of a natural wood,” Jacinta explains, “but allows more durability and doesn’t fade unlike timber veneers can do”.
The great thing about laminate is that it’s a cheaper option than real timber, so you can save a few bucks without compromising on quality – or the look of your bathroom (which is just as important).
Jacinta goes on to tell me that marble-look bathroom benchtops like Caesar stone Calcutta Nuvo and raw concrete are also quite popular, bringing a classic or textural feel to the space. The selection of bathroom materials is ultimately quite a personal one though.
“All I’d say is do your homework and research benefits of the products and what you may need to consider,” Jactina advises. “Make sure you select appropriate products to your lifestyle, not just because they are on trend”.
Wall and Floor Tiles
Geometric tiles are still big for bathroom walls and floors. Marble tiles in strong hexagonal patterns don’t look to be leaving us anytime soon and do bring with them a sense of timelessness (I personally adore them). Outside of those, a simple one-colour tile can allow other elements in the bathroom to be the hero.
But if you do want the tiles to be the star of the show, there are loads of options on offer.
“All forms of mosaic patterns: herringbone, diamonds, penny round sizes, hexagons and rhomboids are playing the dominate feature tile in any bathroom it to create interesting dynamics to a feature wall,” Jacinta says.
When it comes to floor tiles, a ‘bigger is better’ approach seems to be what most people are going for, with tile formats over one metre long being used to create a more seamless appearance along the bathroom floor.
If you want to explore the latest in feature tile trends, click here.
Lighting the Space
Pendant lights have become such a prominent feature for the bathroom in recent years, and with good reason (they look stunning!). That said, Jacinta explains that there are a lot of requirements and standard for bathrooms that need to be kept in regards to lighting.
“Most lighting in a bathroom needs to either be 12V – low voltage and or IP44 rated (water resistant),” Jacinta says. “You need to be mindful when selecting lights as you need to consider factors such as moisture, water mist and dust”.
You also need to ensure you are mindful that most bathrooms are split into four zones – and there are different regulations for each zone. For example, height restrictions, distance from shower, basins etc. Always speak to your electrician before you go purchasing any lights for bathrooms.
Powder rooms, however, are a much safer area to really create a feature using pendant lighting. Empty corners or space to the side of the bench can create an amazing feature in this space.
“Whether it’s one light as a sculpture piece, or a small cluster of lights, you need to consider the size of the pendant and make sure it will not obscure your view in the mirror or be a standing hazard”.
Mirror Ideas
I love a good statement mirror in a bathroom. So many bathrooms tend to feature a simple, square or rectangular mirror – often all the way along the wall. But for me, I love it when mirrors are a little left-of-centre.
Jacinta tells me that there are loads of options you can bring into the bathroom to create a point of different or feature in the space.
“Allow the shape to be the feature. Opt for a round or hexagon mirror to create an organic feel, or go for a beautiful oval decorative mirror in an ornamental brass or silver metal frame to create a more elegant feel”.
Moving away from the typical mirror a bathroom supplier offers and using a more decorative piece, really helps to make it an eye catching accessory to your bathroom.
Art in Bathrooms
When it comes to bathroom inspiration, I love the idea of dressing the walls. Art can really enhance the look of a simple bathroom that may have standard tiling to required areas only such as shower and bath, leaving your otherwise a standard plaster. It’s a great opportunity to dress up the blank canvas areas of the space, but you need to be careful.
Jacinta warns that it’s best to go with an inexpensive option (not a family heirloom) as you can never guarantee that dampness won’t damage it.
“I find more practical options can create great art or sculpture pieces,” Jacinta advises. “Try adding some unique wall knobs to hang towels or robes. You can introduce a number of different materials such as concrete, timber, marble or geometric shapes in bold colours”.
Raising Fixtures
You’ll notice in a lot of contemporary bathrooms that the basin has been elevated off the ground and looks as if it’s floating in the room. This is a current trend and it’s a great way to add a sense of space in the bathroom.
“This approach will always make your space feel much bigger and less crowded, as it allows your eye to look beyond the solid structure,” Jacinta says.
Freestanding baths have been around forever, and these too can give the idea of more space in the zone, because there’s room to move around it and you can see underneath it in many cases.
This post includes images and/or videos of Metricon display homes and events, reproduced with permission. © Metricon Homes Pty Ltd 2016.
Has this post given you some stylish bathroom inspiration? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below if you have some other ideas on how to make a bathroom striking.
