Think of your bathroom space as a canvas for self-expression and you can create a luxurious retreat that’s uniquely yours

While there’s much to be said for recreating the luxury hotel look at home with floor-to-ceiling marble and perfectly polished chrome fittings, an all-too clinical bathroom can leave us cold. The latest swoon-worthy bathing spaces and shower rooms popping up on Instagram and Pinterest tell a different story, with interior designers and sassy homemakers tearing up the rulebook, injecting personality with colour, pattern, texture, and a playful dose of the unexpected.

Want period with a contemporary twist? Look to a Drummonds bath

They say that fortune favours the brave, and that’s no more evident than in interior design. A new bathroom is a major investment so it’s little wonder homeowners are cautious when it comes to colour, but we’ve seen a rise in bold and beautiful bathrooms lately, and that’s something to celebrate. Whether you style a brightly coloured statement tub in an otherwise neutral bathroom, or you go full on ’70s glamour with matching coloured sanitaryware, a cheery colour pop is never regrettable. Look to brands like Drummonds and Catchpole & Rye for period style roll tops with a bright contemporary twist, and to Burlington’s Colours collection for traditional ceramics in mid-century shades. And for statement basins that bring a welcome dose of both colour and pattern, we love the London Basin Company.

Colour and pattern come thanks to London Basin Company

Equally arresting is a pure white bathroom suite that pops out against a backdrop of colour and pattern. The best bathroom tiles are not only hard-wearing and functional, they can also set the tone for a truly characterful bathing space. Alcera boasts a huge range of products that offer colour and textural interest, from craft-driven zellige tiles that catch the light beautifully, creating the illusion of movement, to Moroccan-inspired mosaics that bring instant bohemian calm.

Introduce a taste of the tropics with these striking ceramic tiles from Alcera

Fired Earth is another brand on our radar for bathroom tiles, with a comprehensive range to choose from, whether you’re going for top-to-toe modern glamour, or something a little more quirky and retro. You’ll find designer gems here too, including bathroom tiles from Kelly Hoppen, Nina Campbell and Bert & May.

Reflect your personality with retro patterned tiles from Fired Earth

Wallpaper in the bathroom is enjoying a renaissance and is a relatively quick and easy way to add style and personality, without investing in a whole new suite. You can go wild with colours, patterns, and even large-scale murals that bring a sense of drama to your bathing space. If you’re short on natural light and your bathroom’s not ideal for trailing houseplants, you can still achieve the biophilic look with wallpaper featuring lush green leaves and bold botanicals. James Mellan- Matulewicz, creative director at wallpaper brand Bobbi Beck says: “Bathroom wallpaper has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Modern advancements in materials and printing technology have made it a viable option for a space often characterised by humidity and temperature fluctuations.” He advises we should look for high quality vinyl, vinyl coated, or non-woven wall coverings, as these can withstand moisture and humidity, but to avoid heavily textured papers that can trap moisture and prove more challenging to clean. For extra durability, finish your bathroom wallpaper with a coat or two of decorator’s varnish.

Bobbi Beck proves wallpaper has its place in the bathroom, just choose carefully

In an effort to make our bathing spaces more akin to living rooms, we’re also seeing a rise in creative window treatments. Soft romantic voiles, heavy velvet drapes, and luxurious Roman blinds are making a welcome comeback in the modern bathroom. The antithesis of clinical, there’s no reason not to incorporate these rich textiles and fabrics, so long as you have decent ventilation. For inspiration, look to singer-songwriter Mads Langer’s quirky-glamorous bathroom created by Unidrain with its print matched floral curtains and wallpaper.

Take inspiration from Mads Langer’s quirky bathroom, designed by Unidrain

In bathroom design as in fashion, when in doubt, accessorise. Carefully chosen art and artisanal ceramic pieces go a long way in bringing character and personality to walls and vanity units, while bathroom-ready houseplants will bring a welcome dose of nature, further countering the clinical. We love Beards & Daisies, where you can shop houseplants by room, ensuring you choose wisely for your bathing space, in which your asparagus fern, fishbone cactus, or tall dracaena is guaranteed to thrive. With the use of colour and pattern, natural elements, luxurious fabrics and quirky designs that truly pack a punch, you can transform your bathroom into a personal haven of comfort and style. Forget cold and clinical and embrace bold and colourful.

DIRECTORY

Baths: Drummonds (drummonds-uk.com); Catchpole & Rye (catchpoleandrye.com)
Sanitary ware: Burlington (burlingtonbathrooms.com)
Countertop basins: London Basin Company (londonbasincompany.com)
Bathroom tiles: Alcera (alcera.co.uk); Fired Earth (firedearth.com)
Wallpaper: Bobbi Beck (bobbibeck.com)
Bathroom design: Unidrain (unidrain.com)
Houseplants: Beards & Daisies (beardsanddaisies.co.uk)