37 bathroom ideas to inspire your next big project

When it comes to creating a show-stopping focal point, this spectacular slab of multi-hued stone proves that a little goes a long way – the clever use of a single splash of richly patterned, coloured stone is all that’s needed to make a statement. This bespoke console can be viewed from two spaces, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows behind. Bespoke vanity unit, price on application, SJB. For similar, try ‘Blue Beauty’, from £1,200 for a 1.70m x 2.7m slab, Imperial Marble; For a similar tap, try ‘MEM’ three-piece basin mixer by Dornbracht, £1,364, CP Hart

Owing to their practical and clean nature, bathrooms can often be devoid of pattern. While walls are the obvious place to introduce an element of surface design, the floor is more peripheral – which means you can go to town on a brave and striking treatment that might not work on a vertical plane. Bespoke sink and floor ‘Semi I’ in Bianco Perlino marble, Jura limestone and Emperador marble by Joanna Lavén for Vanitas Studio, approx £921 per sq m; Pendants ‘Golden Bell’ by Alvar Aalto for Artek, £434, Finnish Design Shop

Yes, the trend nobody expected to get a second chance is back
– the avocado bathroom is proving that our appetite for all things 70s is at its zenith. Get past the (somewhat undeserved) stigma and you’ll find that, once removed from the context of fluffy toilet-seat covers and chintzy wallpapers, the shade is livable, warm and versatile, which is presumably why it was such a hit the first time around. Tiles ‘Oska Jungle Green’ matt porcelain tiles, £47 per sq m, and ‘Casablanca Mono Décor Hexagon’ porcelain tiles, £48 per sq m, both Mandarin Stone

More than just a clever space-saving device, a screened-off ensuite has the potential to be a striking design feature and a way of incorporating unexpected materials into a scheme. Choosing a translucent material also has the benefit of letting in light from adjoining rooms – industrial-style mesh, coloured perspex or fluted or stained glass would bring instant character to both sides of the divide. Custom vanity unit and metal mesh divider by Marcante-Testa; Basin ‘Bonola’ by Flaminia Ceramica, from approx £533, Davroc; Tap ‘Life’ mixer, price on application, Bellosta Rubinetterie

Rugged textures and versatile shades of grey make concrete and stone the materials of choice for those seeking an edgy, utilitarian feel. Their innate strength and longevity are highly practical, and although concrete is naturally porous, it can be easily sealed and used for everything, from basins to walls and floors. The concrete look in this space has been created with a waterproof Moroccan surface treatment called Tadelakt. From £179 per sq m, Tadelakt

With tiles of every imaginable shape, colour, texture and decorative style on the market, it’s easy to overlook the humble square. But, as these striking bathrooms prove, there’s much creative mileage to be had from the simple shape. Create graphic arrangements with different coloured tiles to build interest and lead the eye around; play with scale using checkerboard mosaics for drama and a classical element; or immerse the space in a single colour. Tiles Interior designer Sandra Benhamou has created a unique design using plain tiles. For similar, try ‘Trasparenze’, available in various colours and sizes, from £50 per sq m, Domus; Vintage stool by Pierre Chapo

Combining practical benefits, such as durability and hygiene, with sculptural flair, it’s easy to see why three-dimensional tiles are booming in bathrooms. Whether there’s a large expanse of wall to fill or just a small stretch, choosing a relief design brings subtle interest to bathroom walls without becoming too overbearing, especially in muted, restful shades. Tiles ‘Soap’, approx £480 per sq m, Sebastian Herkner for Kaufmann Keramik; Sink ‘Shell’, approx £1,950, Nina Mair

The area of the home where we’re at our most vulnerable, it makes sense to create a bathroom in which we feel comfortable and cocooned. Venturing to the moodier end of the spectrum and using tactile surfaces, such as reclaimed timber and plaster walls, is a fail-safe way to foster this feeling, but temper them with streamlined fixtures – such as taps and mirrors – to maintain a contemporary feel. Bespoke vanity units For similar, try Brandler London, starting from around £4,800; Tap spout ‘021-28’, approx £281 and ‘500-28’ table-mounted tap mixer, approx £621, both Vola; Wall and floor treatment For similar, try ‘Slate Grey’ and ‘Bronze Lantern’, both from £179 per sq m, Tadelakt

To treat a bathroom as merely a functional room is to miss out on the opportunity of creating a spa-like space for relaxation. Consider it as an extra living area with homely additions like fabric window dressings and an inviting lounge chair. This bathroom by Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus for Lisbon hotel Santa Clara 1728 features a bespoke bath carved from Lioz stone. Bath For similar, try Cocoon’s special-edition bath in ‘Beige Limestone’, £14,000, CP Hart; ‘CH25’ chair by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn; Tiles For similar, try ‘Hoxton White Gloss Porcelain’, from £46.67 per sq m, Mandarin Stone

The Italian home of architect and designer Patrizio Fradiani is rich in period details, from the hand-painted frescoes to original stone floors, but he refuses to be tied to the past. This highlighter-bright yellow glass cubicle is an inspired and unexpected addition. Cubicle Ion Glass can create bespoke, laminated coloured or tinted glass shower and toilet cubicles Ionglass

Designing in greyscale doesn’t need to be dull. In this small bathroom by Consuelo Pierrepont of American practice Sway Studio, the Toile de Jouy-style wallpaper creates points of interest across the wall, the interruption of the chunky, solid concrete basin lending a contemporary edge. Wallpaper ‘Pampa’, £166 per linear metre, Pierre Frey; Basin Custom design by Consuelo Pierrepont, for similar try Kast Concrete Basins; Tap ‘Purist’ wall-mounted tap, from £1,260, Kohler; Mirror ‘Hang 1’ round mirror, from £245, Blu Dot

Interior designer Iya Turabelidze has used bright colour – in the form of the Klein Blue cabinetry – to ensure this bathroom in a private home in Russia leaves a lasting impression. Tiles Bespoke design made from Ukrainian stone – for a similar look, try ‘Marini Base’ terrazzo tiles from Fired Earth, £124.80 per square metre; Fired Earth Cabinetry The sink unit and mirror are bespoke designs made of stainless steel, which have been painted Klein Blue – ‘Ultra Blue’ by Little Greene is similar, £49 for 2.5 litres Little Greene; Tap ‘Tara’ by Dornbracht, from £903, CPhart

Interior designer Beata Heuman utilised every inch when creating this bathroom under the stairs in her home, originally a Victorian coal store. ‘The colour scheme was inspired by a space I saw in Forte dei Marmi, Tuscany, which had a large Carrara marble sink sitting against soft pink walls,’ she tells us. ‘The pleated curtain serves a useful storage function’. Lights Adjustable brass and bone china shell wall light, £384, Felix Lighting Specialists; Curtain ‘Marbleized’ velvet £125 per metre, Beata Heuman

Apply a real-life Instagram filter to your bathroom with a coloured glass shower screen. This yellow panel has a brilliantly mood-lifting tint that casts a permanently sunny glow over the otherwise pared-back palette of natural materials. Screen Glass specialist Float GlassDesign can create a bespoke tinted pane of glass Float Glass Design; Basin ‘Sonar’ by Patricia Urquiola, from £792, Laufen; Tap ‘Kartell’ mixer, from £636, Laufen; Cabinetry ‘Boutique’ double vanity unit, from £3,332 and tall cabinet, from £1,964, both Laufen

Use standard square tiles to great effect by arranging them in a bold, chequerboard pattern. When used as a backdrop for an architectural-style washstand, the result is fantastically graphic. ‘I Catini’ basin and stand by Cielo, from £1,580, cphart

Why stop tiling when you’ve covered the splash-zone? Interior designer Jacques Erasmus extended this glossy cobalt pattern to surround the door frame and upper expanses of wall, creating an all-encompassing surface that’s fully committed to its waterproof function, as well an adventurous look. Tiles For similar, try ‘San Diego’ in ‘Ink’, £400 per square metre, Fired Earth; Shower ‘Traditional’ rose, fixed riser and mixer in satin brass, £1,422, Perrin & Rowe

Contrast is key in this Brazilian bathroom, where São Paulo-based design practice Estudio Penha has offset contemporary custom-made basins and industrial-style bulkhead lights with pretty, mint green tiles and mismatched antique mirrors. Basins Bespoke stainless-steel designs set into a custom-made limestone countertop. Hansgrohe has a good selection, from £495 Hansgrohe; Tiles For similar, try ‘Green Hexagonal’, £5.18 per square metre Bert & May; Lighting Try the salvaged British bulkhead wall lights by Revo, £270 each, Skinflint Design; Accessories Try H&M for rattan and seagrass baskets

Swapping small design elements for something excitingcan have a big impact. In this space, neutral ceramic tiles are enlivened by red grouting, adding a twist to the solid stretches of high-gloss finish. Tiles ‘Materia’ in ‘Mastice’, £36 per square metre, Ceramica Vogue; Grout Try ‘Kerapoxy’ epoxy grout in ‘Cherry Red’ by Mapei, £26.34 for 3kg, Pure Adhesion; Light ‘Pendant 02’, from £725, Magic Circus Éditions

Simply cladding a wall can make the world of difference, be it wood, stone, tiles or composite. Australian design studio Biasol wrapped the bathroom of The Budapest Cafe in Chengdu, China, in colourful terrazzo, echoing the curved alcove with the basin and accessories. Walls ‘EM-35-09’ terrazzo by Signorino, try London Terrazzo for similar; Mirror Try the ‘Angui’ mirror by AYTM, £135, Nordic Nest

Embrace the rundown and rustic, and turn unloved spaces into washrooms without the need for refinedment. Johannesburg architecture practice Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens’s rugged concrete wall dramatically juxtaposes the perfect, smooth surfaces within it, both textures exaggerating the other. Mirror Custom-made by Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens. For similar, try the ‘Orta Drop’ mirror, £699, Heal’s; Basin Bespoke piece designed by Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens, made by Boutique Baths

Creating a scheme from a single object can produce unexpected results. Australian design studio Decus Interiors extended the dark red directly from the Calacatta Viola marble, balancing the stone’s white tones with the rest of the space. Mirror Custom designed by Decus Interiors – try the Industrial metal wall mirror, £199, Nordic House; Vanity Bespoke fluting by Decus Interiors – for a similar colour, try ‘Grenache’ architects matt emulsion, £55 for 2.5 litres, Paint & Paper Library; Marble Calacatta Viola from Artedomus

An open-plan layout gives you the luxury of an en-suite without making the space feel boxed in. In this rustic Mexican home, a simple concrete wall provides just enough privacy. Shower For similar, try the ‘La Chapelle’ wall-mounted shower head, £449, Holloways of Ludlow; Furniture ‘Backenzahn’ oak stool by Philipp Mainzer for E15, £860, The Conran Shop

A single, bright tone throughout the bathroom gives an energising boost. Fledgling Spanish architect and interior design studio Basamenta covered this private home in a zingy apricot hue accented with gleaming brass and playful terrazzo – sure to provoke a morning smile. Tiles Try ‘Norse’ ceramic gloss tiles in ‘Terra’, from £46.40 per square metre, Mandarin Stone; Lights Try ‘Kew’ wall light in ‘Polished Brass’, £366, Porter; Basin Custom ‘Sabadell’ terrazzo in ‘NCS S 2030-Y70R’, from £90 per square metre, Huguet; Paint Try ‘Shrimp Pink’, £50 for 2.5 litres, Little Greene

The ‘Pipe’ shower by Marcel Wanders for Boffi is an absolute design classic. Conceived by the Dutch designer 18 years ago, its simple yet functional design still looks as modern as ever, and it’s a perfect statement piece in this smart black and white bathroom. Shower ‘Pipe’ by Marcel Wanders,£4,640, Boffi; Taps ‘Minimal’ wall-mounted,£1,086 each, Boffi; Tiles Bespoke black Corian – for similar try the wide range at Jodari

With inventive plumbing, any space can become a bathroom. Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara di Pinto of Milanese firm Studiopepe transformed this space with a burst of colour, protective flooring, seating and storage to form a multipurpose area. Bath ‘Morphing’ bathtub with ‘Pan’ taps by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, from £5,385, Zucchetti. Kos; Chair ‘Zig Zag’ by Gerrit Rietveld, £1,440, Cassina; Table ‘Maru’ by Doshi Levien, from £1,090, B&B Italia; Wall ‘Cherry Bomb’ wallcovering by Gio Pagani for Wall & Decò, £171 per square metre, West One; Light ‘Laurent 05’, £1,343, Lambert & Fils

Juxtapose hard, heavy stone with a soft material to create a comforting, welcoming feel. In this space by Decus Interiors, a wall of pink leather tiles contrasts with the slabs of honed Cipollino marble that form the basin and vanity. Lights ‘Duo Balls’, from £1,700 each, Articolo; Wall Studioart can supply something similar; Vanity Custom design by Decus Interiors – try Contemporary Stone

Bali-based architecture studio Word of Mouth harnessed the endless creative opportunities afforded by the terrazzo trend in this joyful villa. The firm used coloured pigments, stones and glass chips to create different textures and tones, with brass inlays producing a sunburst pattern. Walls and bath Try Diespeker & Co for similar terrazzo

Let the tiles do the talking with a pattern that’s bold, but also chimes with other tones in the space. The soft coral of these encaustic floor tiles is offset by the room’s natural palette, the black accents ensuring the scheme still packs a punch. Tiles Customised ‘Eclipse’ cement tiles by India Mahdavi, from £167 per square metre, Bisazza; Bath The straw marquetry decoration is bespoke. Simon Orrell Designs creates similar pieces; Light ‘Chanpen’ hexagon pendant by Forestier, £263, Made in Design

Beautiful marble is a work of art, so treat it that way by mounting it within a frame, as seen in this bathroom by interior designer Tristan Auer for Wilson Associates, a creative studio in Paris. It’s an effective way of accentuating a smaller area of stone if your budget is limited. Bath A custom-made design, carved from marble – stone specialist Lapicida sells a range of hand-carved marble tubs; Tap For similar, try the ‘Berkeley’ black china lever wall-mounted bath/shower mixer, £894, Aston Matthews; Furniture ‘Palette Desk JH9’ by Jaime Hayón for And Tradition, £1,759, Aram Store

Italian duo Andrea Marcante and Adelaide Testa’s careful mix of textures creates a delicate, unique washing zone. Keep colour to a minimum to highlight the varying surfaces and combine woods, metals and ceramics to emphasise the tactility. Wall ‘Pico’ tiles by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Mutina, £176 per square metre, Domus;Vanity Bespoke piece by Marcante-Testa – try Julian Chichester; Basin ‘BetteBowl’ by Bette, discontinued – try ‘BetteCraft’, from £918; Mirror ‘Randaccio’ by Gio Ponti, from £592, Gubi; Light ‘Alouette’ wall lamp by Atelier Areti, £346, Nest

Large format tiles create a sense of luxury, the seamless finish lending a bespoke feel while actually being simpler to install. Designed by Barber & Osgerby, these tiles are speckled with ceramic flakes, reinforcing the uniqueness as each is one of a kind. Tiles ‘Primavera’ porcelain tiles by Barber & Osgerby for Mutina, from £236 per square metre, Domus

Who says bathrooms belong indoors? Create a private oasis by flanking a freestanding tub with fronds and foliage, and immerse yourself in nature as well as water. For a modern look, match a statement, minimal bath with plants of all varieties – as shown in this tranquil bathing area designed by Jacqueline de la Vega for Villa A-Mar in Bali. Bath For a custom-made bath in Corian, Hi-Macs or Krion, try Solidity

A three-dimensional slatted wall adds depth and is an elegant way to distract from a lack of window. Create atmosphere with the warm glow of low-level lighting, as seen in this space by Nina Maya Interiors. Mirror Custom design by Nina Maya Interiors. Try ‘Abel’ oval mirror, £305, CB2; Basin Designed by Nina Maya Interiors in ‘Aspen Grey Silk’, Neolith; Light ‘Arch’ wall light in ‘Opal White’, from £363, Douglas & Bec

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