65 Calming Bathroom Retreats

June 06, 2011
Photo by Nancy Nolan
Bath décor doesn’t have to be all about function—beautiful form is actually the difference between a ho-hum room and a relaxing retreat. Save space with sliding doors or add light with glass ones; consider heated floors and cool pallets, a soaking tub and a spa shower, historic details and clean, modern lines. Keep a large master bedroom bath fresh and airy with neutrals or ramp up the style in a small one with pattern and color. With a little imagination, you can transform a sideboard into a dual-sink vanity; turn a vintage cabinet into a compact linen closet; or hide plumbing and add storage with well-placed cabinetry. So explore our favorite bathroom decorating ideas, and let us inspire you to dream up a few of your own. Creative bath décor will absolutely change the way you think of this key area of your home, whether you’re building, remodeling, or just dreaming.
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Go for Pattern

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Patterned wallpaper brings style to small spaces. This bath gets its pretty palette from a medallion-print wallpaper.

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Let in Light

Photo  Laurey W. Glenn / Styling Matthew Gleason

This trio of windows, set a little higher than usual, lets in lots of light while still allowing for privacy.

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Open Up the Space

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn and Robbie Caponetto

Give your master suite flow with French doors and glass walls. Instead of a basic doorway between this master bedroom and bath, architects visually opened up this master suite by designing a glass wall as a divider, with grommeted curtain panels that can be pulled for privacy. This look is both beautiful and versatile.

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Hide the Plumbing

Photo Laurey W. Glenn

Required plumbing parts don’t have to ruin your under-sink open shelf look. Open cubbies below these two bowl sinks have removable panels in the back to allow access to pipes.

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Design a Modern Tub Surround

Photo John O’Hagan / Styling Alan Henderson

Need a crisp and sophisticated tub surround? Enclose a bathtub with wood for an innovative, freestanding option. A sturdy, low wooden box was designed for housing this tub.

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Use Local Accents

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn, Robbie Caponetto

Keep your master bath from feeling too generic by including local materials. A shell-encrusted mirror adds softness to the sleek marble bath and clean, white walls of this coastal bath.

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Wrap the Room in Tile

Gray tilework on the floors, along the walls, and as the tub surround unifies the area.

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Choose Calming Colors

Photography Laurey W. Glenn / Styling Leigh Anne Montgomery

Soft blues are good options when you’re aiming for a relaxing atmosphere. Give your master suite a cohesive look by painting the bath walls just one shade lighter than the bedroom walls.

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Save Money with Beaded Board

Laurey W. Glenn

Beaded-board walls cost less than tile. To ease installation, use 4- x 8-foot plywood sheets. The vertical lines of the beaded board make this master bath look taller.

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Include a Linen Closet

It’s unlikely that you’ll ever hear someone complain about having too much storage. Here, plentiful linen and toiletry storage is integrated into a large wall in the master bath.

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Look for International Inspiration

Charles Walton IV

There’s a never-ending wealth of ways to bring your travels home in your decor. Like Japanese shoji screens, these glass doors separate the tub and shower stall from the dressing area.

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Save Space with a Sliding Door

Photo Laurey W. Glenn and Robbie Caponetto / Styling Matthew Gleason

A standard swinging door can take a lot of floor space in your bath, but a sliding door is convenient and compact. A modern barn door slides along a track to close off this bath. The bright saffron color ties in with the saffron-and-gray bedding and updates the look.

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Accent with Color

Bring color into a neutral bath by painting your vanity in an accent hue.

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Add Drama with Contrast

Charles Walton IV

Up the contrast in your master bath by pairing rich, dark wood with lighter neutrals. A dark vanity and tub surround play off the white and gray finishes and fixtures in this master bath.

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Divide and Conquer

Photo Laurey W. Glenn / Styling Lisa Powell Bailey

Two vanities and a divided walk-in closet keep morning and evening routines running smoothly. Here the vanities are split by the tub keeping the plumbing lines grouped together.

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Choose a Signature Color

Charles Walton IV

Be bold in your color choice. The vibrant aqua wall color in this master bath is picked up in the accent tile and accessories.

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Include a Place To Sit

Sure, you can apply your makeup while standing, but it’s always nice to have a place to sit while you get ready. Here, the makeup area is integrated into the his-and-hers vanity unit. Always be sure to include a couple of electrical outlets close by.

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Make Your Escape

Photography Van Chaplin, Charles Walton IV / Styling Buffy Hargett

Bring the relaxation home with a spa-inspired master bath. The master bath mixes crisp, polished pieces with textured grass cloth wall coverings and curtains to give it a warm spa-like feeling.

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Try Texture

Color isn’t the only way to add pizzazz to your space. This bath has a monochromatic color scheme, but the textures of the materials keep it interesting.

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Splurge in the Shower

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The shower is a small and defined space where you can afford a little splurge, whether it’s on amazing shower-heads or sensational tile. The light blue hue of this Carrara marble floor and shower may make you feel as if you are showering in the ocean.

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Keep Toes Toasty

Sometimes it’s the unseen elements that make the biggest difference in your master bath design. An electric heating mat was installed under the travertine tile of this master bath.

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Visually Divide the Space with a Sink

Visual cues and dividers can be used to separate the bathing area from the rest of the master bath. This vanity is centrally located, dividing the different areas of the bath, but the see-through glass countertop and vessel sink bowl help keep the room visually open.

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Give Natural Wood a Starring Role

There’s no need to paint all of your surfaces. Use stain-grade natural wood to give a depth of color and tone to your space. The honey-colored cabinetry, flooring, and trim featured in this room take center stage when paired with a limited color palette.

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Add Historic Character with Classic Materials

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn / Styling: Anne Turner Carroll

There are thousands of amazing tile options available, but some staples will always be classics. Created from unused attic space, this master bath glistens with classic white subway and reproduction hexagonal floor tile.

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Hide Clutter with Baskets

Photo Robbie Caponetto and Charles Walton IV / Styling Buffy Hargett

If you have open shelves, use large baskets to corral small toiletries and accessories. Here, each sink has its own dedicated bin to keep his-and-hers from getting jumbled together.

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Use Art as Inspiration

Sometimes design inspiration is no further away than your favorite painting or print. A beautiful poppy print inspires the rustic green finish found on the vanity and medicine cabinet in this master bath.

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Mix Your Neutrals

Photo John O’Hagan / Styling Lisa Powell

Play with whites, beiges, and grays in the same space. Cut-stone tile covers the floor, and limestone accents the countertops. Hexagonal tiles, in variegated natural hues, act as a border for the tub surround, wrap around the shower, and adorn the sinks’ backsplash.

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Add Character with Architectural Details

Photo Ralph Anderson / Styling Alan Henderson

Interesting architectural elements are a thoughtful way to make your master bath unique. An arch-topped shower adds architectural character to this master bath.

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Multiply Shower Fixtures

Dual overhead showerheads and hand-held sprayer options are the stars of this large and luxurious shower space.

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Decorate with Trim & Molding

Large expanses of wallspace are always hard to decorate. A combination of flat boards and trim enhance this area.

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Add Built-Ins

Photo Tria Giovan, Styling Olga Naiman

Storage always seems to be in short supply. Cabinets under these windows conceal the tub’s plumbing lines, provide storage for towels and bath products, and create a display space for plants and artwork.

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