Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

A bathroom remodel offers the perfect opportunity to be imaginative with design and decor. Choosing the right style and high-quality materials transforms your bath design into a beautiful and functional retreat. However, the devil is in the detail, so how you accessorize the space is of utmost importance to create a bathroom design that brings to life your design vision and aesthetic.

Don’t panic, we have all the tips and tricks you can use to accessorize your stylish bathroom renovation. Wallpaper, cabinet hardware, exposed bulbs and free-standing tubs are just some ways to take your bathroom on an exciting journey to the next level.

Stay True to Your Style

To feel confident in choosing accessories for your bath remodel, you should embrace your personal style. Fixtures and fittings can be classic or modern but accessorizing to your taste adds an individual look that’s true to you. It also makes for a cohesive bathroom design that ties into the rest of your home. Echo elements from other rooms such as colors, tiles and lighting and repurpose accent pieces such as art, rugs or wastebaskets. Go for things that you connect with and you’ll feel comfortable with in your stylish bathroom renovation.

Make One Investment To Light Up Your Life

Lighting really changes the tone and look of a room with the flick of a switch. In conjunction with color, lighting affects your mood. Outdated lighting can make you look washed-out and feel down, so if all you change is a bulb, make it one with warm tones to boost your serotonin. LED bulbs are another option and the most energy efficient choice. 

There is a huge selection of light fixtures available for your bathroom design. You can go with the latest trends to give your bathroom design the most up to date look, and then changing them in years to come won’t be too difficult if you want to update your style. Your light fixtures let you make a statement for a big impact. Light-diffusing pendants and light bars are big trends in bath design. Chandeliers have also migrated from dining room ceilings to give a glamorous feel to any bath remodel. Sconces in the latest metallic tones like iron or brass also add interest and opulence. Striking light fixtures with exposed bulbs add a fresh, modern feel or an industrial edge to a design.

How To Make Your Walls Stand Out

Once you have planned lighting for your bathroom remodel you can decide on the colors for your walls. The warmth of light bulbs affects the tones in your chosen colors so carefully consider how your lighting and wall colors will work together to create your room’s color palette. The colors you choose also affect the dimensions of your space. Light shades make a room feel larger but dark colors can add drama or coziness to a small space. Horizontal lines also lengthen walls, balancing dimensions. Mildew-resistant bathroom paint comes in an infinite variety of colors to choose from.

Wainscotting provides the horizon-type focus our eyes search for and can be painted in any shade from beachy blues to glossy blacks to suit your style. Why not paint the wall space behind open shelving in a bold color?  Graphic wallpaper can look really impactful in a bath design too, either in one area or everywhere in a small space like a powder room. You can purchase stencils to paint over, mimicking any classic or retro wallpaper design.

Huge, framed prints or treated canvases can really make a statement in your bath design, along with any curios that you can hang for added texture and personality. Finally, don’t forget “the fifth wall” and paint your ceiling in a bold color. A more intense version of a color on your walls will tie in with your design, while providing an element of surprise.

Which Color Should You Go For?

If you go for a classic, all white color scheme, you can still keep it interesting by varying textures and patterns or adding fixtures or accessories that change the look of your bathroom design. You can choose to have vintage-inspired elements such as a clawfoot tub or a glamorous mirror as part of a white look. Or go for a contemporary look with sleek white accessories.

Pink is still on trend this year. Go for a peachy coral or a blush shade to bring warmth and glamor with tones that flatter any reflection. Light blue is always in vogue for a relaxing bathroom. Conjuring up images of coastal places, a refreshing blue never fails to work in a bath design. Bring green into your color scheme with paint color and tiles, as well as the addition of plants. Greenery hanging, climbing and in pots on the floor and on shelves makes for a multi-layered, lush design with the benefits of air purification. Plant motifs on wallpaper or curtains also bring this natural theme further into your bathroom design.

Can You Successfully Accessorize With Tiles?

Technological innovation has seen an improvement in tile manufacturing. Unusual shapes and larger, more dramatic tiles are very popular at the moment. Also, instead of placing rectangular tiles in rows, try a herringbone pattern. Colored grout is another way of spicing up your look. Try a contrasting shade or a pop of brightness in a tile feature.

Invest in high-quality smooth stone countertops for your bathroom vanity and then spice up the area around it with patterned or unusually positioned tiles. Alternatively, save show-stopping tiles for a smaller shower enclosure or a feature wall as  a less expensive way to make a big bathroom design impact.

Little Things Make a Big Difference

Your new vanity and other cabinetry set the style for your bathroom remodel, but the hardware you choose takes it to another level. If you just want to update an existing bath design, changing your hardware is a good place to start. Choose sleek bar pulls or cheerful ceramic knobs to transform drawers and cabinet doors. If you’re replacing old fixtures, make sure the screw spacing is the same, especially with bar handles, or you’ll have a vanity full of holes.

Toilet paper holders, sconces, towel bars and faucets can all transform a bath design if you choose wisely. Why not choose a wall-mounted faucet for a super-stylish look for your bathroom remodel, especially in copper, brushed nickel, matte black or this year’s hot favorite, brass? You don’t have to match up all hardware materials, especially if your cabinetry is sleek and simple. For a really unique bathroom design, incorporate mixed metals throughout your hardware to balance each other out for a sophisticated eclecticism.

Turn Your Attention To Your Tub

Any tub can be accessorized to become a stylish relaxation zone.  Placing candles, flowers and glass bottles of bubble bath alongside your tub makes it inviting and attractive. If your bath is freestanding, place a bath caddy across the tub in a hardwood such as bamboo or cedar to bring warmth to the look. This gives you room to place a face mask or glass of wine. A gold cocktail table alongside your tub also holds your bath time essentials and brings a touch of glamor to your bath remodel. Or include a recessed niche or shelf if your tub sits along a wall.

Store It In Style

When your bathroom remodel is finished you’ll appreciate the lack of clutter. However, as it’s a busy place, everything will build up again unless you’ve planned decent storage. Custom-built cabinetry is the ideal way to maximize storage. In addition to a stylish vanity, floating shelving, wall-mounted boxes and baskets, niche shelving in walls, medicine cabinets and tower cabinets are all ways to store what you need and what you’d like to display. Place well-packaged cosmetics and supplies on your vanity or shelving and decant the rest into attractive containers such as colored glass bottles or ceramic containers. Group them together on chic trays to avoid a feeling of clutter. Anything else can stay organized in cabinets or drawers. Towels and toilet paper can be stored in baskets on the floor or lower cabinet shelves.

What Can Textiles Do For a Bath Design?

Textiles not only add a pop of color or pattern to a bathroom design, but they also provide texture and can give a feeling of luxury and opulence. Replace old towels with new, fluffy ones in fresh colors that compliment your bath design. Choose a floor mat that is comfortable and safe to stand on when wet. A thick rug can also be used in your bath remodel for interest and uniqueness. Why not go for a vivid print against neutral floor tiles? A bathmat in wood or a section of river rock beside your tub or shower is also a stylish addition to your floor that adds texture and an element of nature. A shower curtain in a bold pattern or color to pick up on an accent in your bathroom design will make a huge impact.

Time For Reflection

Changing your mirror changes the look of your entire bath remodel. Go glam, rustic, simple, or asymmetrical, or include a mirrored medicine cabinet. Try one long mirror instead of two tall ones in front of his-and-hers sinks for a sleeker finish. If you want to hang a mirror but there’s a window behind it, simply suspend it with a rope from the ceiling for an interesting alternative to a wall-mounted mirror.

Backlit mirrors also give the illusion of a mirror floating away from the wall. This lighting is glare-proof and works well as a night light when dimmed. Smart, touchscreen mirrors that won't fog up and include charging stations and voice-control technology mean that the more you invest in a mirror, the more it can work for your bath design.

Tiles and fixtures are important in a bathroom remodel, but accessorizing the right way is what makes it truly stylish and individual. Talk to our bath design experts today and explore the world of possibilities for designing and accessorizing your bathroom renovation.