Bathrooms

Ditch the Tub Forgoing the bathtub isn’t for everyone, but if you tend not to take long soaks, it could be a money-saving option.

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Tile With Restraint, you don’t need to cover every inch with tile, Ghaly says. Not only is tiling just part of the room cheaper, both in terms of labor and materials, but also it’s often more practical.

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Try Not to Move the Plumbing

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They didn’t have the time, interest or cash to focus on ornament or details in the wood or construction, so they just kept it simple. Make sure your farmhouse bathroom champions function and repurposing, rather than ornament.

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when farmhouse owners switched from an outhouse to an indoor bathroom: Most people ran their new plumbing into a spare bedroom or an attic space.

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14 Design Tips to Know Before Remodeling Your Bathroom

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A Sandy, Watery, Woody Color Palette

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Teakwood salvaged from an old boat was used to cover the walls and tub surround in the master bathroom. The cap of the tub surround is made from precast concrete.

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every centimetre of floor is easy to mop when wet and vacuum when dry, by virtue of the wall-hung vanity and the freestanding claw-foot bath.

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Take a cue from this bathroom: Line the mural up with a vantage point that implies that the bathroom goes on and on for a playful, realistic touch.

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Water fountain–style sink. With a smaller scale than most sinks out there, a single-basin, single-handle, gooseneck faucet sink can fit into even the tightest spots.

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And since it’s sky blue, why not use it overhead? Colored ceilings are a tempting trend that some are wary of trying, but nature has already trained our eyes to expect this color overhead. It feels so natural, in fact, that you might not even immediately notice a blue ceiling when you walk into a room.

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The whitening effect of sky blue is especially noticeable in a bathroom with a classic white sink and tub. The porcelain will pop, as will other accents like baseboards, trim and frosty glass lamp shades.

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The shower has a teak floor. “This floor is also linear and reinforces the warmth of the wood,”

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The new cherry vanity with a rich java finish has a roomy rectangular sink and six drawers for bathroom essentials, with chrome knobs and pulls. The vanity’s thick top has a marble-like pattern for a soft feel.

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Bathrooms There’s an idea that plywood can’t be used around water but, of course, plywood can even be used to make boats. You don’t even need to use marine-grade for high-moisture areas; you just need to specify to the supplier that the plywood be appropriate for high-moisture areas and then ensure it’s finished with the right product.

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Fast-clean flooring Light-coloured tiles with light grout may look lovely and fresh, but they’ll show up hair, dirt and mould most quickly (not so fresh!). Believe me, I’m living with them. Choosing a darker, groutless surface, such as polished concrete, makes mopping a cinch.

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Choose simple tapware Try to track down simple tapware, like this streamlined mixer tap, for a quick wipe clean. Having the taps wall-mounted also makes cleaning easier. When attached to the basin, you often get a small awkward space between the taps, basin and wall, making it trickier to swipe that sponge around them.

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f you don’t want to wall-mount, at the very least opt for a skirted toilet – this streamlined design gathers less dirt and is much easier to clean.

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Opting for a streamlined wall-mounted toilet, as pictured, makes it easier to mop under and wipe quickly (with less awkward curves and corners to gather dust and dirt).

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Go groutless There’s no need to stick to traditional tiles (and grout) when there are so many excitingly easy-to-clean alternatives on the market. Rendered concrete is a low-maintenance alternative to tiles, and it looks fantastic

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Shower bench and handheld shower. Mmdugaw made a great suggestion: “Another consideration for as you age is having showers with built-in bench seating.” A bench can also multitask as a place to perch a foot while shaving legs. Another shower feature mentioned often is a handheld shower; rebecca1950 pointed out that it’s “the easiest way to clean.”

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universal design — a bathroom that is designed to be accessible to all people, regardless of mobility issues. Romeoslover agreed, suggesting an “open shower in an area large enough for an attendant to assist someone if needed.” “Really like the curbless shower idea,” wrote mrsstem. This makes the shower easier to get in and out of for those with limited mobility. And Fl!p Breskin called for “grab bars everywhere” as well as “heated wet-room floors, and a channel drain for the shower.”

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Concrete floor tiles in a graphic geometric pattern work well in this minimalist contemporary bathroom.

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An old barn door from the South of France is an unexpected focal point, its soft patina and character needing no enhancement. The handle is from Italy, and the hardware at the top is from the U.S.

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a rich wood door, seating or window frames, warm wood tones are distinctive of Mediterranean culture. Usually intricate in this style, they create a relaxed, rustic feeling. Try choosing wood accents with a visible grain or an organic carved shape to strengthen the connection to nature

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For a luxe look at a fraction of the price, Crowe sourced marble-look tiles. “Often imitation marble tiles look really rubbish,” she says, “but these are beautiful

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This compact, glorified cupboard is the ideal solution: Stacked machines and a retractable ironing board save space, while bifold doors hide everything

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Von Stockhausen wanted to create a cozy feel in the master bathroom, which she achieved by decorating it with antique furniture and oil paintings. “I like bathrooms to look like rooms and not just a utility space,” she says. I wanted it to feel comfortable.”

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This bathroom incorporates a recycled wood vanity and wood-style wall tiles, giving the effect of bringing the mountains inside.

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