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How to Design Your Dream Bathroom

What does it take to build a dream bathroom? To me, 12 things and a little imagination. These are what I think would make the ideal bathroom escape, and I included some tips on how to bring some of them into your real-life bathroom right now. Read about them and then be sure to share your ideas in the Comments below so we can all dream together.

1. Bring in an elegant tile
One of the best parts of designing a dream bathroom is the chance to use lots of luxurious tiles. Whether you love a bold pattern, sumptuous stone or just crisp classic white, floor-to-ceiling tile gives a bathroom a sense of polish and luxury.

My personal dream bathroom would have large-format stone tiles (50 by 75 centimetres or bigger) to create a virtually seamless effect, as shown in the previous photo, in a space I designed for a client. However, you can get a lot of impact by applying a coveted tile to just the floor (generally the smallest ‘wall’ in the space) and using plain subway tile elsewhere, as shown here. It’s a beautiful look on a balanced budget.

2. Insist on quality essentials
Let me be clear: My dream bathroom doesn’t just look pretty – it works well and is built to last too. While plumbing essentials like the toilet may not be exciting items to invest in, using good-quality pieces will reduce the risk of messy leaks and will save you the task of having to buy again in a few years’ time.

For me, over-the-top, high-tech gadgets are unnecessary. I don’t need a toilet that can talk! Simple gleaming white porcelain fixtures with elegant clean lines suit nearly any bathroom and stand the test of time.

3. Have a statement pendant
Call it a pendant; call it a mini chandelier, a hanging light fixture in a commanding (but not overbearing) size makes a bathroom feel incredibly grand. The scale of such a light always feels so much greater in a relatively small space, such as a bathroom, than in an open-concept dining or living room. This factor makes a statement pendant one of the best ideas to steal on this list, as you can get a lot of impact for just a little splurge.

For a light that feels like a mini chandelier rather than a more modest pedant, go in for a diameter of 45 centimetres or more. For a sizeable bathroom, 3 x 3 metres and beyond or start at 60 or even 90 centimetres to suit the scale.

4. Bring in a character-rich vanity 
This one was definitely a tough choice. I love the simplicity of a streamlined modern vanity (like in the first photo), and I use such styles in many projects. But there’s also something transformative about a furniture-style vanity, especially one with shapely legs or curvy feet in a beautiful wood. It packs a heap of personality and gives a bathroom an unexpected twist – skipping a typical vanity for a vintage furniture piece can be a total design and recycling win-win.

Whichever way you go, the vanity is a very important piece for defining the style of a dream bathroom, so you should put some thought into yours.

5. Have layered lighting 
Even in my dream bathroom, my statement pendant can’t be expected to do all the heavy lifting – or should I say light lifting? To make your space, and particularly your mirrors well-lit, you need a good layered lighting scheme. Using lights that glow from beside, above or behind the mirror will light your face properly so you don’t miss a spot during your morning routine.

Don’t forget to add a small, water-safe recessed light or two in the shower to brighten the area and make it feel bigger. Every centimetre of your dream bathroom deserves to be well-lit and photo-ready.

6. Install a custom shower stall
Think shower stalls are only for minimalist homes with no space for a bathtub? An elegant shower, sans tub, can be a beautiful, luxurious part of a more traditional or transitional home as well – it all depends on how you style it. You can stick to minimalist lines, or use moulding, rich tile and elaborate hardware to bring some traditional grace and strike the right balance for you.

For my dream bathroom, a glass shower door is a must. Sparkling glass keeps sight lines open so the room feels clean, breezy and extra expansive.

7. Must have a luxurious tub 
Having a standalone shower in my dream bathroom doesn’t mean I can’t have a tub too. Few things say ‘luxury’ more in a bathroom than having a freestanding tub.

Whether you have the floor space for a separate tub and shower or not, you can make your bath feel extra luxurious by adding a small stool to act as a resting place for a book, candle or glass of wine. A perfectly fitted tub tray will keep essentials even closer.

8. Choose elegant storage 
No matter how big your dream bathroom may be, you’ll probably want to squeeze in as much storage as possible. Walls in a bathroom often can be partially opened to work in useful storage niches and medicine cabinets. (Consult a contractor if you’re looking to add one to a finished space before you go breaking open walls.)

Use open shelves to add some storage without closing in a room. Where you do need a closed storage closet, try a mirrored door front to create the illusion of a bigger space while providing a useful full-length mirror.

9. Install a slab-stone feature wall
Feature walls aren’t made just in living rooms and bedrooms with paint or wallpaper. In a bathroom, a slab-stone wall treatment dramatically calls attention to a tub, vanity or other key detail. The statement of rich mirror-matched stone is absolutely breathtaking, and it contrasts nicely with sleek porcelain. 

To make sure all eyes are on your beautiful feature wall (whether it be slab stone, tile or another interesting material), wash the wall with light from a discreet LED strip tucked directly into the ceiling or hidden in a cove, cascading out.

10. Bring in a touch of nature
Bathrooms tend to have lots of hard surfaces and shiny finishes, which can sometimes lead to a cold and impersonal feeling — but not my dream bathroom! My perfect bathroom would have an element of natural plant life to maintain a sense of warmth and welcome. 

Whether it’s a bouquet of freshly cut flowers, a hardy potted plant (such as a moisture-loving orchid) or a floral motif, the touch of nature helps make the bathroom feel like a truly welcoming part of a home.

11. Make most of the view 
Lastly, for my perfect dream bathroom, I really think I need one last thing: A beautiful view to reflect upon while I take a relaxing soak. 

After all, my dream home would have views of a lush forest or stunning beaches; it would be beautifully secluded so no one else could peek inside. From my dream bath I could gaze out towards nature and dream about … well, my next dream room, of course.