34 Calming Bathroom Retreats

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

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

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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.

Give your main suite flow with French doors and glass walls. Instead of a basic doorway between this main bedroom and bath, architects visually opened up this primary 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.

A hand-painted, marble-topped sink base feels like antique furniture rather than a standard built-in bath cabinet.

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 bath look taller.

Floor-to-ceiling linen draperies can create a relaxed atmosphere and add softness, privacy, and light filtration to your main bath.

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.

The homeowner relocated the tub and tucked it into a cozy surround that includes a pair of glass-shelved hanging cabinets and an inset beveled mirror. The mirror adds sparkle and enlarges the space, while the rows of open shelving give the room lots of storage and a vintage-apothecary feel. There's a lot going on in this tiny room, but the classic black-and-white palette with brass accents keeps things from looking chaotic. The millwork's lacquered finish adds depth and polish, and the traditional pattern of the marble hex floor tile is a nod toward the house's 1930s roots.

Keep your 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.

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

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 bath.

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.

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

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.

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

Painted black, the window frame extends the eye outward. The completely enclosed courtyard esures this bath is totally private—no window treatments required!

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

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

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.

Double-louvered doors keep the washer and dryer neatly tucked away in a separate tiny room when they are not in use. Keeping the bath and laundry spaces the same color creates cohesiveness and allows them to function as one room.

If built-ins aren't possible, add storage and style with an antique cabinet. This homeowner stores towels and toiletries in a green vintage dental cabinet.

Don't feel hemmed in by one particular style. Unexpected combinations lend an eclectic sensibility to your bath. Luxurious materials, like marble, are juxtaposed with rough beams and concrete floors in this space.

Don't overlook small ways to incorporate convenient storage. A decorative tiled alcove next to the tub in this bath is a great place for soaps and other toiletries.

Make as many elements adjustable as possible. Mirrors hung on a pivot point are versatile and user-friendly.

Instead of purchasing a standard vanity, repurpose a vintage piece of case furniture with a new top and plumbing fixtures. This black-lacquered sideboard makes a perfect double sink with a few modifications.

For a contemporary look, use furnishings and materials with crisp, straight lines. The clean rectangular shape of this vanity is reflected in the tile.

Instantly bring implied architectural character by using classic structural shapes in your furniture and accessories. The gothic arch in the vanity cabinet doors is repeated in the mirror.

Put a twist on your bedroom color scheme to unify your main suite. This patterned wallpaper coordinates with the color scheme used in the bedroom.

Exaggerate the height of your backsplash for a luxurious look that isn't arbitrary. Lining it up with the window mullions and mirror tops create a clean, unbroken horizontal line around the room.

Don't just allow for plumbing parts in your tub surround. This wood tub surround has enough depth to do double duty as a bench.

"Laid out in a pattern, this Ann Sacks tile gives the same graphic punch as a painted floor but is much more practical for a bath," says designer Phoebe Howard.

Get the look of French doors without losing privacy. Substitute mirrors for clear glass window panels.