Whether it’s a suit that’s perfectly tailored to your dimensions or handmade pottery that matches the color scheme in your kitchen, personalization is the ultimate luxury—you get exactly what you want. Did you know you can get the same level of personalization with luxury bathroom design? As a functional space, finding the right balance between utility and luxury in your bathroom is key, and it all starts with the vanity.
As a cornerstone of the bathroom, the vanity is an opportunity to put your aesthetic on display, but it need not be at the expense of your daily routine. Harmonizing form and function in your space requires a flexible framework; this empowers you to design around your vision.
This process starts with you and your “why.” Imagine yourself in front of the vanity in the morning. What is the first thing you reach for? Where do you want to put your coffee? What’s missing from your current configuration? Do the same exercise with your evening routine and see what else emerges. Once you have a sense of your functional needs, bring it into the design process to realize what personalization looks like for you.
We tend to store a lot of stuff in a relatively small space, which is why personalized storage is crucial in a luxury bathroom, especially if you don’t want the space to feel cluttered. When you look at your space, how effectively are you using your footprint? How much dead space is there? What elements detract from the overall experience?
Now picture a perfectly positioned shelf on the wall, a lower shelf that allows you to clear up counter space, vertical dividers, or cubbies, and a drawer-within-a-drawer with compartments for all your toiletries. With design flexibility, you have the latitude to craft personalized wall-mounted or freestanding solutions that complement your space and enhance your daily routine.
As the most accessible horizontal space, countertops tend to pile up quickly with the items you want easily on hand. This might work for your functional needs, but it could be competing with the luxury aesthetic you’re trying to create.
Custom storage can help with this by creatively positioning shelves above or on the side of the vanity, but what if your countertop had multiple levels? Staggering two or more countertops allows you to have everything you need within arm’s reach but with some items tucked below. The beauty of luxury bathroom design is that you can do this with any material—live-edge wood, thick high-pressure laminate (HPL) that looks like marble, porcelain, and more.
Everyone does their daily ablutions at the vanity sink— brushing your teeth is as routine as it gets, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a moment of luxury. Again, put yourself in front of the vanity. Do you imagine a wide basin with sloping edges, a tone-on-tone cover basin that blends seamlessly into the countertop, or a modern textured vessel elegantly perched atop the countertop?
Your style might be informed by the overall theme of the space, how large or small the vanity is, or simply your personal preference. Remember, this is your luxury bathroom design.
Here we are, back in front of your imaginary vanity. Where are the towels? On a hook to the left or right, on a bar integrated into the vanity, on a wall-mounted heated bar (wouldn’t it be nice if those towels were warm?), or on a nearby freestanding towel rail? What about the essentials like your toothbrush and soap? Maybe they’re tucked away in a handy drawer or on display with chic, modern accessories. Find that balance of form and function in every detail of your luxury bathroom design.
You don’t often think about bathroom fixtures unless you’re entrenched in the design process. Now is your opportunity to craft the experience around your lifestyle. Planning for the future? Mount the faucet handle on the deck so kids can reach it or so it’s accessible from a wheelchair. Go hands-free for the ultimate luxury experience. A touch-free faucet is also more hygienic and helps reduce water consumption.
Take one final look at the vanity in your mind and gaze into the mirror. Is it clean and simple, backlit with a soothing glow, or framed with extra storage space? Maybe you use a magnifying mirror and want one integrated into the one above the vanity to get one more thing off the countertop. Do you get annoyed by a foggy mirror after stepping out of the shower? Look for one with a defogger to make your morning a bit brighter.
Even if you have an idea of what you want, it can be difficult to know where to start, especially if you don’t design bathrooms every day. When you work with Hastings, you get the benefits of dedicated design specialists and exclusive collections that you can personalize to your aesthetic taste and lifestyle preferences.
Start exploring the possibilities in our free guide, The Ultimate Style Guide for Luxury Bathrooms.