12 Ways to Update Your Bathroom Decor
Ideas for all-sized bathrooms.
Thinking about redecorating your bathroom but not sure where to start? We've got a gallery stacked with creative bathroom decorating ideas just for you. Before you buy, get inspired with the help of our 12 bathroom decor ideas.
1. Think About Theme
Adopting a theme for your bathroom decor is the number one way to ensure your bathroom looks and feels like a cohesive, polished space. If your style is beachy or coastal, try a palette of blues, greens and sandy neutrals, and choose elements with marine or nautical inspiration, like the rope towel hanger and nautical mirror in the bathroom decor idea above. If you like a little more glamour, install brilliant metallic accents around pops of jewel tones. Modern spaces are characterised by sleek lines and colour blocking. To take on the cottagecore trend, build nature-inspired elements and quaint accents on an off-white base.
2. Add Patterned Wallpaper
Wallpapered bathroom walls don't have to look old-fashioned. Instead, the right wallpaper can help modernise your space. If you're sticking to a more modern theme, consider colour-blocked wallpaper or wallpaper with geometric patterns. Floral wallpaper flows beautifully with cottage-style bathrooms, while striped wallpaper is a classic choice for coastal bathrooms. If you're concerned bold wallpaper will overwhelm your space, install it halfway up your wall, similar to wainscoting.
Real or artificial plants can transform even the plainest of bathrooms from basic to beautiful. Plants – including floor planters, hanging planters or vases on the vanity – can immediately freshen up a space. In addition, plants pair perfectly with almost every bathroom decor idea, so they're an excellent choice if you're struggling to fill the space.
When decorating your bathroom, almost every element can provide an opportunity to add extra flair – including the shower curtain. Before you opt for a traditional white shower curtain, think about whether your space could benefit from a little extra colour or pattern. Shower curtains have large vertical surfaces that are amazing for displaying punchy patterns in a unique way.
Freestanding towel ladders are straight, decorative ladders lean against the wall and hold linens on their rungs. Not only can they hold more towels and linens than the traditional wall-mounted towel rack, but because they don't require installation, they won't do any damage to your walls. And since towel ladders are available in a wide range of colours and designs, they can double as bathroom decor.
Vertical space is some of the most valuable space in a bathroom, especially in a small bathroom. Rather than crowd your space by installing hefty cabinets or linen closets, think about furnishing your space with tall bathroom cabinets or ladder bookcases. These sleek, stylish units can hold all of your bathroom essentials without overwhelming your space.
If you have an eye for all things modern, consider adopting a monochromatic colour scheme with a full spectrum from white to black. Implement it on the wall art, the towels, the floor tiles, even the light fixtures. Monochromatic colour schemes don't just look good in black, white, and gray – pick your favourite colour and decorate your bathroom with elements in different shades of that tone.
8. Embellish with Bold Colours
When used sparingly, vibrant colours can make a huge impact on the overall look of your bathroom. Rather than paint a whole wall or tile a whole floor with brilliant colours, consider painting one section of one wall or using a tile pattern with one or two sporadic shades. Tie the room together by placing splashes of your chosen colour (or colours) in different places around the room. For example, try accenting your bathroom with bright towels and wall art while leaving the rest of the room neutral.
9. Embrace Minimalism
A minimal theme is a superb choice for a bathroom. Minimal decor can make any space look larger, sleeker and cleaner, which is especially impactful in smaller bathrooms. Consider hanging a simple, round vanity mirror, installing an unconventional countertop sink and highlighting your space with other ultramodern fixtures and features.
Redecorating your bathroom is the perfect opportunity to replace the ordinary with the extraordinary. Your bathroom light fixtures are a great place to start. Instead of installing plain light fixtures, think about installing eye-catching fixtures that will make your bathroom stand out.
Like a shower curtain, a bath mat is an indispensable bathroom essential that you might be overlooking when thinking about decor. Bath mats can be the perfect vessels for bright colours and fantastic patterns, especially if your floors are plain in colour or design.
Subway tiling with contrasting grout is a tile trend that can complement almost any bathroom theme. This bathroom decor idea marries retro inspiration with modern shapes and can work just as well on the floor or the walls. The dark grout adds compelling depth, while the white tiles provide a beautiful canvas for any colour scheme, especially if you have a preference for pops of colour.
