Having a Design Moment: The Bathroom

Those special designed spots around the home that make you pause and smile are design moments. In this series, we’re looking at these thoughtful areas room by room and at why we love them. The bath is one of the most fun rooms in the house to play around with. Though you often have the least square footage there, you also have the most freedom. This is because it’s normal to keep the door closed, so the room doesn’t need to continue the flow of the rest of your home. Here are 10 ways to create a design moment in the bathroom.

More: Having a Design Moment: The Hallway | Having a Design Moment: The Front Entry

Pay attention to the ceiling. Papering the ceiling with fish over the bathtub is a stroke of design inspiration. It would be wonderful to prop your head back on a rolled-up towel and stare at Fornasetti’s delightful aquatic renderings.

Wallpaper: Fornasetti II Acquatico, Cole & Son


Stock some reading material. This mini bathroom library will definitely get guests talking (and reading!). I keep a stack of funny books in my bathroom just for laughs myself, and my guests act appalled at first, then end up chuckling over a chapter of “What’s Your Poo Telling You?” Just be sure you don’t keep valuable first editions or other special books in a bathroom that gets too steamy from a shower that’s not well ventilated.


Let the floor be the star. White tile and white walls put all of the attention on the lively pattern of these hand-painted floor tiles.


Use tile to create color or pattern blocks. This bathroom is business on top, party on the bottom. A deep pink patterned tile is made more powerful by the plain white backdrop of everything else.


Here’s a green-tile take on the same idea.


Remember that a divider is a design opportunity. Often overlooked and simply outfitted with clear or translucent glass, the shower divider is a chance to bring in silhouettes, metal finishes and pattern.


Create an artful moment. At first glance I thought this was some sort of Photoshop trick used to highlight the bathtub for an ad or something, but it is actually a painted oval that extends down the floor and up the wall. It anchors the bathtub in a sea of wood flooring, giving it a stronger and more interesting presence.


Pay close attention to light fixtures. We often buy bathroom lighting on autopilot, going for the usual suspects. But lighting is a great design opportunity. Metal finishes, colors and silhouettes are just a few of the elements your lighting can add.


Cloud-like Logico lamps add atmosphere to this bathroom. Keep in mind that you’ll have to be careful about building code requirements in the bath, but your electrician can help you with that.

Lighting: Logico by Artemide; mini mosaic tile: Ann Sacks


Harness the power of one plant. This is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to freshen up a bathroom — the vase you choose can also pack a design moment punch. I recently wedged a eucalyptus branch-stuffed Italian glass vase that seemed way too big and colorful into a corner of my bathroom and I swear it transformed the room so much that a friend asked me if I’d installed a new vanity.


Create one statement wall. Ok, so Irish green marble like this may not be within most of our budgets or load-bearing capacities, but the look can be accomplished with tile, wallpaper or simply paint on an accent wall.


A unique ceramic tile wall mitigates the narrowness of this powder room.


Think outside the cabinetry box. This clever composition provides ample storage as well as an artful design. The sunny yellow color makes it stand out.


Check out the way this vanity combines the shape of elegant curved table legs and storage drawers.


Tell us: Is there a great design moment happening in your bathroom? Please share it with us in the Comments.

More:
14 Bathroom Design Ideas Expected to Be Big in 2015
10 Design Moves From Tricked-Out Bathrooms

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