10 Tips for Designing a Bathroom with Trendy yet Timeless Appeal
Nobody wants to experience the dust, stress, and chaos of a major remodel in the home every few years! This post gives 10 tips for designing a bathroom with trendy yet timeless appeal… How to design a classic space that will stay in style for years to come!
Want to know something funny?
I think I’m becoming a bathroom expert.
Every girl’s dream, right?!?!
But really, my 10 tips for designing small bathrooms is one of my all-time most popular posts, and readers are loving the recent master bath retreat that I did with a few blogger friends. And ya’ll were SO kind about my recent bathroom remodel! So first of all, thank you. 🙂
Secondly, I wanted to offer you all something more helpful and substantial than just pretty pictures (though we all know how much we love those, too 😉 ). Bathrooms and kitchens are by far the hardest spaces to remodel because they usually involve tile, cabinets, and plumbing in addition to the paint and carpentry that other spaces call for. Having just completed our kitchen remodel and this bathroom within the past 8 months or so, I have been thinking a lot about how to design a space that will last us for YEARS, not something that we will want to change again in 2018.
So how do you design a bathroom that will have classic, timeless appeal?
Here are my best tips for designing your dream bathroom to last:
This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Go neutral with the tile.
Replacing tile is not necessarily a big deal, but it often involves removing fixtures (toilets and shower heads, for example) around it… Not to mention the dust of removal. While I LOVE some of the beautiful patterned tile, the reality is that someday we will find it dated. And when that comes, I would rather not have to rip it out. Neutral tile is generally a safer bet for longer style life.
Go bold with paint.
Paint is EASY to change! Choose a bold color for your walls or vanity. Get tired of it? Just repaint it!
Incorporate natural stone.
If you can work it into the budget, natural stone will give a quality level to your remodel that will make it feel elegant for years to come. Short on budget? Consider real stone for a small space: floors (if it’s a small bathroom) or even an accent in the shower.
Stick to traditional fixture colors.
While I am loving all the brass and champagne gold fixtures I’m seeing these days, what about when we change our mind and they go out of style? You can see in our recent kitchen remodel that I made a similar choice. These polished nickel faucets which my friends at Moen were gracious enough to provide are stunning and such a classic finish choice.
Splurge on fixtures.
Speaking of fixtures, if there is any more room to splurge on the remodel, go for fixtures. The better quality your fixtures, the longer they’ll last. And the whole goal here is a beautiful space that you don’t have to rip out in 5 years. 😉 These gorgeous fixtures – while an investment – should last years and years.
Prioritize counter space.
Let’s be honest, a functional bathroom needs some counter space. While wall-hanging or giant trough sinks might be very cool looking, a bathroom that will stand the test of time needs to be functional.
Use trendy textiles.
There is nothing easier to replace than towels and shower curtains! Bring in trendy patterns and colors with textiles rather than more permanent features like tile. Bonus tip: if you really want a patterned wall, consider a stencil like I used in my daughter’s room: it takes time, but it’s affordable and easy to change later.
Provide contrast through texture (rather than color).
Same song, second verse: keep your basics neutral so they won’t feel dated in a few years! But neutral doesn’t have to be boring. Incorporate texture with woods, glossy tiles, polished marble, and more.
Bring in trendy metals with (easily changed) hardware.
This light fixture and these cabinet pulls were incredibly affordable Amazon finds! If brass and gold go out of style in a few years, I can replace them all in a few hours without breaking the bank.
Keep themes to accents.
I’m not much of a “theme” decorator anyway, but even I’ll admit that this space has a subtle nautical feel. If you look carefully, though, you’ll see that the navy vanity (which is easy to repaint) and the towels and shower curtain are really the only contributors to that look. Without any major renovation, I could give the space an entirely new look just by switching out those items.
And that’s it for today’s lesson on longevity in design. 😉 Below is a full source list for this space; I hope you find it helpful!
Sources for this bathroom:
wall tile: Floor & Decor
floor tile: Floor & Decor
grout color: warm gray
wall paint: Behr Cameo White
countertop: Floor & Decor
vanity color: Benjamin Moore Polo Blue (tutorial for how to paint your vanity here)
cabinet pulls: Amazon
light fixture: Amazon
mirrors: World Market
sink faucets: Moen
vase: Bambeco
hand towels: Target
towel rings: (similar)
turkish towel: Target (in store)
towel hooks: Target
shower head: Moen
shower curtain: Kate Spade
terrarium: Target
GET THE LOOK:
I like that you provided some tips on how to remodel your bathroom with style such as considering going for a neutral tile. While it may be more appealing for others to have colorful tiles with different designs, one of the things you probably need to consider is the maintenance of these tiles. There will come a time when you would have to replace them due to wear and tear. Having a neutral tile would not only make it easier for you to clean them, it also gives you almost a guarantee that its style would not be outdated for years to come. If I were to remodel my bathroom, I would make sure to take this into account. Thanks.
I so agree, Bobby! I try to use neutral pieces on expensive or hard to replace items, and then use color or trends in areas that are easy to replace. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh my gosh! Thank you! I love what you’ve done in this bathroom. These are great tips for keeping it timeless. I spend so much time ooo-ing and ahh-ing over the latest trends, but when it is all said and done, switching out inexpensive items is way easier than the full overhaul. Thanks for keeping it real! Love it!
So true! Have fun with accessories, but keep the big ticket items classic!
Do you know what type, color and/or brand of wood floor that is in the pictures?
I do! You can read all the details of our wood floors here: https://www.maisondepax.com/wide-plank-oak-floors/
What color of subway tile would you put around a white tub?
I’ve always used the basic white subway tile. You can see it in our master bath at our last house for reference. I hope this helps!
Can you provide the tutorial for painting vanity? It seems there is no link at present.
The vanity was actually purchased painted! In another post, I detail how I painted my bathroom vanity in another bathroom: https://www.maisondepax.com/paint-cabinets-last-painting-bathroom-vanity/
thanks for the information
Of course!
I like your suggestion when you said that neutral style is generally safer for longer style life as patterns can be outdated and can cost you to ripe them off when you want to stay in style. My mother is planning to remodel our bathroom. I will advise her your tips to use neutral color in the tiles to ensure that it will not get outdated.
http://www.kitchenexpo.com/bathrooms
Yes! And if she’s feeling like she needs some pops of color, she can always choose accessories that have patterns to make the space her own.
I love this bathroom. I ordered the lights from Amazon based on your link, but mine don’t look near as dark golden as yours – more of a champagne bronze (if you know Rustoleum spray paint shades). Did you darken the fixture in the photo at all or maybe the lighting is playing with the color? Thanks much!
Thank you, Traci! And I’m sorry the light looks different. I did not darken mine at all; I guess either the lighting is playing tricks or they’ve changed the fixture some since I purchased it. Sorry it didn’t come out the same!
Hi, I love the tile behind the vanity and plan on doing the same thing in two of my bathrooms! I’m so happy I found your website. What size subway tile is this? And what size subway tile is the gray tile you used in a different bathroom? (The gray tile that has the white grout.) Thanks!
Hi Amy! These are the tiles I used in the bathroom: https://www.flooranddecor.com/porcelain-ceramic-decoratives/artisan-frost-porcelain-tile-100185792.html
If you mean the marble tile I used in my kitchen, you can find that in my affiliate link here: http://rstyle.me/iA-n/b866w5b5bux_
Hope that helps!
PS: Are both in matte finish? If so, do you think matte is ok for the shower area, too?
The white ceramic tile is actually high gloss. Matte finishes are beautiful, but tend to be used more in a modern home setting. The gray marble tile has a honed finish.