The bathroom deserves just as much design attention as any other space in your home. It might be a small space relative to other rooms, and its purpose may be rooted in functionality, but a luxury bathroom can serve as a modern oasis. Employ these six bathroom design principles when creating your dream environment.
Finding the right balance of amenities and open space can be challenging, regardless of the size of your space. One of the most important bathroom design principles to lean on is space planning. Think about how the space will be used and how you want to feel in it to align your priorities.
Do you want to maximize surface storage space for two people? Prioritize the vanity design to get the ideal countertop, consider floating shelves, or opt for a cascading floating vanity with lower open storage. If future accessibility or natural light are must-haves, plan the design around them. No single solution can meet everybody’s needs, but your layout should ensure enough space to maneuver without sacrificing the amenities you desire.
Ample storage in a bathroom is essential and should include various solutions, such as cabinets to accommodate larger items, shelves to display decorative items, drawers for handy access to toiletries, and so on.
In addition to being a necessity, bathroom storage is also a design opportunity. Incorporate shapes that complement each other, materials that add texture, and colors that evoke the desired ambiance. Remember that negative space can be a powerful design tactic. Place cabinets at intervals to play with shadow and light, stagger for a geometric effect, or incorporate open shelves. Your main goal is to contain the clutter, but you don’t have to sacrifice style to get the storage you need.
Ultimately, you need your bathroom to serve the most basic needs. This requires taking stock of what lifestyle elements are must-haves and optimizing the space around those needs. Plan where towels will be stored and hung (and warmed!) for easy access. Consider mundane processes such as brushing your teeth, styling your hair, or putting on makeup, and how those experiences will feel in the space you are designing. What will it be like to clean and maintain the space? Consider all these factors when selecting your furnishings, accessories, and materials.
One often overlooked bathroom design principle is attention to the minute details. How smoothly do the drawers glide open? Are there dividers to optimize the storage of smaller items? Would inner cabinet LED lighting be helpful when navigating your morning routine?
Fixtures and hardware are small details, but they have the potential to transform a space. Imagine the same bathroom with ornate cabinets and drawer handles versus one completely free of visible hardware. A minimal mitered groove handle not only serves as a sleek opening mechanism but also adds visual intrigue. Consider the nuances and your overarching aesthetic to take your bathroom design to the next level—or let our team design it for you.
Design happens in every dimension, so think about horizontal and vertical lines and planes and how they will impact the feeling of the space. Incorporate different shapes and angles to create depth in a minimalist space. Create patterns with personalized storage solutions. Design a feature wall to extend your space and make the room feel larger. The design potential is limitless, especially when you can personalize furnishings to fit your space and vision.
Bathroom lighting is essential. The bathroom is where you spend time in the morning and wind down after a long day, so you need a full spectrum of options to create the optimal environment. Incorporate multiple types of lighting to get bright, direct illumination when you want it, and tone it down when you want a more relaxing atmosphere.
Don’t treat this bathroom design principle as an afterthought. Consider the lighting in every configuration you are exploring—it could influence your design decisions.
Understanding these bathroom design principles is a great step toward crafting the space of your dreams, but you don’t have to do it alone. The Hastings team has employed these concepts for decades to create personalized luxury bathrooms that balance functionality with aesthetics. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can work together.