Bathroom Design Ideas And Inspiration
Updated: 2 days ago
Looking for some bathroom decor inspiration?
Here at First Choice Bathrooms & Kitchens we highlight some beautiful bathrooms to get your decoration gears going. Maybe you'll glean an idea or two for your own home.
01 : Modern Bathroom Decor
Bathrooms decorated in the modern style are easy to identify. They're sleek, minimal, usually white, and with a focus on lighting. Although it may appear cold to those who prefer more traditional or eclectic styles, there's no denying that the modern bathroom has a simple, minimalist appeal.
Today's modern style is inspired by the architectural and decor trends of the middle of the 20th century, from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s. However, this style has evolved with today's tastes to include materials and accessories only possible with today's technology.
Let's have a look at the materials, colours and shapes that make up a modern bathroom.
Modern bathroom materials
The modern bathroom uses natural materials. Wood and stone are typical of this type of bathroom, especially nowadays with effective sealants that protect more fragile materials against humidity.
It's not unusual to see a modern bathroom with marble, stone or wood countertops. Darker, luxury woods like teak are a popular choice as well. If budget allows, even the tub might be made of polished stone instead of the usual ceramic or porcelain.
The modern bathroom uses materials in their most natural state--not painted or stained. Let's have a look at what kinds of colours we find in this bathroom.
Modern bathroom colours
When it comes to colours, the modern bathroom is probably the simplest. White, neutrals and black are typical.
The modern bathroom avoids bright colours in favour of a harmonious style based on a neutral, natural palette. You might find shades of brown that come from natural stone or tile, but these are the most colourful options for this kind of style.
The only option for colours in the modern bathroom exists in the form of green plants--only one or two are necessary to complete the look.
Modern bathroom shapes
The shapes in the modern bathroom are straight and geometric. Sharp angles are more typical than curves, but sometimes the sharpness is softened with smooth angles. What you need to remember is that the shapes are harmonious and used throughout the space.
You'll find rectangular, rather than round, sinks and baths. They will harmonise with the rectangular floor and wall tiles, and often will harmonise in colour as well.
Modern bathroom items and accessories
The modern bathroom shower stall has fully transparent doors and a stone, rather than plastic, finish. Plastic, while practical, doesn't really appear as a natural material, so it's best to avoid it. Many modern bathrooms avoid doors altogether and adopt the stepless, stall-style shower.
For bathtubs, the modern bathroom usually features a rectangular, free-standing tub. Although they take more space, free-standing tubs add a luxurious, spa-like quality to your bathroom that's difficult to achieve with the typical alcove bath. And, as a bonus, you can totally just hang your legs from both sides, instead of just one.
Modern bathrooms also sometimes use free-standing sinks, as in sinks that stand out from the countertop instead of being installed within it. These sinks are usually made of stone, but sometimes also wood. They are a luxury rather than typical option, and they come in many different shapes and materials. Usually, a shape that recalls that of the bath will work best to maintain the harmony of the room.
Towel hangers are usually out of sight and minimal, either installed in the wall or standing besides the tub. Wood is preferable to metal in this kind of bathroom, but sometimes metal is inevitable, so choose a brushed, satin-style metal instead of polished and shiny.
Don't forget to match your bathroom accessories to the materials and colors of the room overall. Natural wood or stone soap dishes and toothbrush holders will make a harmonious addition to your modern bathroom.
Simple and neutral
The rule of thumb for modern bathrooms is to keep it all simple and natural. Everything must seem harmonious and thoughtful--nothing appears out of place. Neutral colour palettes and natural materials are the basic components of a well-made modern bathroom.
Example 1 : Modern Simplicity
This bathroom by Stephani Buchman, via Houzz has all the hallmarks of a modern design: simple geometric shapes (dominated by squares and rectangles), the predominance of white with a little neutral grey, a natural stone backsplash, and little in the way of decoration.
The fresh flowers definitely make the room here. Not only do they add a touch of colour (which you can change according to your mood), but they also make the bathroom less sterile, and more homey and welcoming.
Example 2 : Open Plan
Another feature of a lot of modern-style bathrooms is an open plan, usually involving transparent glass walls around showers. This is especially good in smaller spaces. This bathroom uses a "wet-room" style and distinctly modern elements: geometrical shapes in basic squares, a monochrome colour scheme, and minimal decorative elements (again, a few flowers seem to do the trick). Example 3 : Warm Modern
Not all bathrooms have to be cold and sterile to be modern. Take this example, a contemporary master bathroom by Rusal Construction, via Zillow: The space is warm, inviting, welcoming. We still have the focus on geometrical shapes (in this case, egg-like shapes via the sink and tub), a simple colour scheme (warm neutrals), and minimal decorative elements. Wood and stone (or convincing look-alikes) are typical modern features.
This one definitely has more decoration than most modern bathrooms, but the decorative items are simple, with basic shapes: empty frames, paddles, and candles. Example 4 : Ultra Modern
This bathroom, found on Homestratosphere may be the epitome of modern. A floating vanity makes the space look bigger, wall-sized windows make the bathroom seem like part of the landscape, and the transparent freestanding tub has almost no visual presence in the room.
This bathroom definitely has "minimal footprint" in mind. Every element is chosen to occupy as little space as possible—both physically and aesthetically. The transparent tub definitely makes this space!
Check out our next blog coming soon for a look at more modern bathroom design ideas from First Choice Bathrooms & Kitchens...