Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

The bathroom is the perfect place to relax after a long day. It should be a space where you can let go and enjoy your surroundings as you unwind in a luxurious bath or hot shower. It’s important to have a highly functional bathroom design, but this should be combined with high-end features and a style to suit your aesthetic. You should reflect your personality through color and adding favorite items to avoid a stark, utilitarian design. To create your ultimate haven, plan your bath design with relaxation in mind. Here’s our ultimate guide to designing a relaxing bath.

Plan to Relax

Prioritizing function at the design stage ensures your bathroom remodel will perform effortlessly and be low maintenance, which is essential to a relaxing bathroom design. Layout is important, as it makes it easy to move between each space without obstruction or difficulty. If your current layout is ideal, then you can maintain this set up and focus on upgrading your bathroom fixtures. Moving plumbing or wiring adds to your budget so assess if it’s really necessary and fits within your budget before proceeding.

A bath design expert can work with you to maximize the potential of your space along with informing you of building regulations. They will help you think of every design possibility and prepare for all the details you want to include in a relaxing bathroom design, like underfloor heating, integrated lighting, or niche storage. Planning for these elements from the start of the remodeling process is essential to achieve the design you want.

If you have a lot to store, then custom storage is the best solution for a clutter-free bath design where you can relax. Decide whether you want a tub, shower, or a combination. Maybe you’re remodeling with selling in mind, which means you’re designing a relaxing sanctuary that needs a broad appeal. In this case, look at local listings or talk to local real estate agents to see what items are most popular in top selling homes.

Choose a Style

What style embodies your taste? If you’d like a rustic look, then keep original features such as wooden beams or incorporate some reclaimed wood into your design. You could plan a craftsman style remodel around a stained-glass window or handmade tiles. Modern, contemporary, and transitional styles all favor clean lines and are relatively pared back, paving the way for high-end components that create a calming environment. Of course, you can also combine different design elements for an eclectic style without too much embellishment. Don’t overdo it or it will veer into chaotic, and make sure everything is of the same high quality. For example, put natural wood with industrial cement or add vintage touches to white, glossy cabinetry. 

Customize Storage

If you find it hard to store all your bathroom essentials such as makeup, toiletries, hair products and styling tools, then you need a tailor-made storage solution. Take everything out and prioritize what you use daily and decide what you’d like to store in either closed or open storage. The trend toward floor-to-ceiling cabinets can also be applied to a bathroom design and their streamlined look keeps your design completely clutter-free. If this look does not fit your style, then go for the largest vanity that fits your space without overpowering it or consider including two vanity cabinets in a large master bath design.

Internal storage solutions provide specialized compartments to keep different items organized. Pull-out racks and drawer dividers maximize the space available and keep everything organized to maintain a relaxing atmosphere. Outlets can be included inside drawers so you can easily use electrical items where they are stored or safely charge your phone or tablets while getting ready. Niche shelving, floating vanities, corner wall units and recessed medicine cabinets all provide essential storage and open up floorspace in your bathroom remodel for a feeling of calmness. For displayed toiletries, take inspiration from spa retreats and store items in glass jars and ceramic containers. Keep extra towels and toilet paper in baskets and place liquid soap dispensers on trays for a simple, yet polished look.

Choose a Calm Palette

Set the tone for your relaxing retreat by choosing the neutral colors popular in spas. Go for white, beige, or brown to create a soothing environment. Blue and pastel shades of pink, yellow or green are also restful tones for a soothing bath remodel and can be used in any combination and even paired in patterns.

If you want to evoke feelings of the sea, try a coastal theme with floral and vintage accessories, painted paneling, or light wood.  A more minimalist approach would be to go with white, soft gray, natural wood, and creamy tones, for an upmarket feel that opens up any bathroom design. A minimalist design lets you focus on materials such as natural wood or stone or reflective elements like glass or ceramics. Textures are important if you’re keeping your color palette to a minimum so include organic elements in your relaxing bath design. River rocks are an ideal choice for a spa-style remodel and can be included in a feature or a shower floor.

Layer Lighting

Lighting can transform your bathroom design from a highly functional space into a peaceful sanctuary. Ensure that the materials you’re choosing appear just as good in both artificial and natural light to keep your bath remodel’s look consistent.

Include task lighting around mirrors to enable you to get ready with adequate light. Backlighting mirrors then provides a sophisticated glow when you want a relaxed atmosphere. Large windows and skylights also help to flood a room with natural light for a bright, welcoming space where you can position a bathtub, especially if there’s a scenic view to enhance your soak in the tub.

An on-trend oversized pendant light is perfect to hang over a tub for an evening soak. Recessed lighting with voice-controlled dimmer switches let you change lighting levels with ease as you relax. Sensor lights come on and off as you enter and leave a room, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.

Cleanse in Style

Why not intensify your showering experience? Increase the size of your shower enclosure and make it thresholdless for ease of entry. Upgrade your showerhead with a deluxe massage, high pressure, or rainfall model. Include another hand-held shower head as an indulgence but also to clean down your enclosure afterwards, maintaining its high-end look.

Freestanding tubs never go out of style and whether you want a traditional clawfoot or sleek flat-bottomed tub, a stunning freestanding style transforms into a centerpiece and makes an occasion out of bath time. Go one step further and choose a tub in a different material like hardwood, concrete or copper. No matter how small your tub, you can include extra features such as massage jets to let you truly relax beside a chic table or shelf with scented candles.

Focus on Quality

If you want a fuss-free bath design, then it’s important to invest in quality materials. Less is more, especially if you use luxe, sustainable items that are low maintenance. Natural materials evoke a high-end spa, especially including stunning features such as a waterfall countertop, bringing stone or wood down into a matching floor material.

Tiles are becoming larger in size and can be taken a step further with seamless slabs in natural stone or concrete. This option is easy to maintain and brings a calm, uninterrupted flow to any bathroom remodel. Accessorize selectively with rugs or drapes, to introduce textures that bring warmth and softness to your room. Invest in a towel warmer so you can envelop yourself in heated towels for that luxury spa feeling.

Houseplants and flowers introduce lushness and tranquility to your bath design. You can use vases for cut foliage and hanging planters or large floor pots filled with humidity-loving plants. Essential oils, scented products and candles all add to a relaxing atmosphere in your bathroom remodel.

Be Smart

Technology is present in every aspect of our lives, including when we wish to relax. Your zen bath design can incorporate smart choices that work hard behind the scenes to enhance your personal spa retreat. One such hidden gem is heated flooring. While natural stone is beautiful and hardwearing, it needs a little help to warm up and radiant underfloor heating is the ideal solution to keep your toes toasty and help to warm up your room.

A subtle solution for steamed-up mirrors is to invest in de-misting technology. Why not go further with a mirror that transforms into a touch screen entertainment system to let you catch up on the morning news or entertain you in the tub? Voice-activated controls for lighting and speakers are also ideal while bathing, allowing you to adjust light levels without leaving the shower.

Voice controls in the shower mean you can adjust water temperature and pressure without opening your eyes. Stylish toilets are available that range from having heated seats to being self-cleaning, while faucets may be entirely sensor activated. Any devices requiring cables can be charged and concealed in custom cabinetry as you enjoy the benefit of a clutter-free bathroom, designed with all the latest technology to enhance relaxation.

How do you ensure your bathroom remodel is a place where you love to unwind, while at the same time being hard-wearing and stylish? Think about all your requirements at the start, whether it’s a bathroom for just you or a busy family. Talk to a bath design expert to be sure you are getting the best layout and products for your budget and lifestyle. Maximize storage to keep clutter to a minimum and include strong, clean lines for a calming, yet functional, aesthetic.

Layered lighting means you can amp up brightness but enjoy a soft, serene atmosphere when you want to relax.  Luxe materials in calming tones make for a durable bath remodel where the focus is on indulgence. Extra touches like natural or organic accessories and aromas evoke happy memories and awake the senses. Incorporating technology in a subtle way lets you reap rewards in terms of relaxation. 

Why not check out our bathroom remodeling gallery for more inspiration? Contact us today at Lang’s where we’d be delighted to discuss ideas for your new relaxing bath design.