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Bathrooms are a utilitarian room in the house: Much like the kitchen, a bathroom serves a clear purpose, and usually isn’t the room you spend the most time in, so it can fall by the wayside in favor of more exciting projects, like the living room or backyard. But take it from these renters and homeowners: bathrooms are the perfect place to go bold, embrace original details, and even create a lounge space. Their small square footage is the perfect opportunity to think out of the box when it comes to design, as evidenced by these incredible favorite bathrooms from house tours this year.
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1. A Lounge-y Brownstone Bathroom
Of her Upper West Side apartment, Jessica Rachel Williams says that the “entire brownstone is immaculately maintained. You can feel the landlord’s love and care for her property, even from the outside,” and in particular, the bathroom includes some stunning original elements. Jessica says the bathroom was likely a former kitchen due to the presence of a dumbwaiter and a fireplace. “Having a studio apartment, where practically everything takes place in one room. I overcame it by making my kitchen welcoming as a room and creating a lounge feel in my bathroom.”
2. A Spa-Like Retreat in a Big City
What was once a dated, run-down bathroom in Erin and Ben Hung’s Hong Kong apartment is now a spa-like retreat thanks to careful planning and coordination. “We found inspiration in the surroundings of our property,” Erin says, “where it is low density, quiet, and natural. We used lots of earthy colors like sage green and terracotta, working in pops of more jewel tones for interest as well as materials like reclaimed wood, rattan, linens, and bamboos for soft furnishing mixed with brass. We also loved the old world, relaxed vibe of the Spanish villa tiles, and used Zellige and vintage patterned tiles as well as slabs of terrazzo in the kitchen and bathrooms.”
3. A Playful, Geometric Shower
All of Simon and Emma’s London home is swathed in bright, bold color, but the bathroom is particularly cheeky, featuring pops of geometric tile in the shower. “We also lost one small box room to create a good size double bedroom and two bathrooms,” Emma says, so “one is en suite so the house has been considerably reconfigured up as well.” The playful tiles are by Tom Pigeon, and are hand decorated with lithographic prints.
4. A Mix of Classic and Modern
Stephen and Christina’s main goal for their Detroit, Michigan, home was to blend both their styles into a storied space, which is quite evident in the layered, earthy bathroom. “Using unique materials that told a story were very important to us when designing throughout the house,” writes Stephen. “We wanted a mix of classic and modern. Italian with Scandinavian. And Christina’s maximalism to my minimalism. Ultimately it ended in a home that reflects both of our individual styles together.” Their best advice? “Definitely find contractors you trust. Make sure you get good recommendations or pay a little extra and work with a general contractor.”
5. Luxe Wallpaper and Original Features
Hilary Schwartz says her biggest embarrassment is “the amount of times I changed my mind on bathroom designs,” in her Detroit, Michigan, home, but judging by the fact that not one but two of her bathrooms made this list, we’d say the indecision paid off in the end. This powder room features show-stopping Gucci wallpaper and olive green square tiles that coordinate perfectly with the original vintage sink.
6. Striking Marble and Simple Fixtures
Now, the primary bathroom in this Detroit, Michigan, home might be even more stunning (though we’re definitely on the fence between the two), with high contrast Calcutta marble, a vintage-inspired light fixture, and simple, clean ceramic.
7. Shimmering Zellige Shower
“I’m obsessed with the bathrooms,” says Kit Williamson of the home he shares with husband John Halbach in Yucca Valley, California, “which is amazing because they started out as the worst rooms in the house. I’ve never had a windowless bathroom before, so I was a little unsure of how to design them, but we took a big swing with bold cement floor tiles and Moroccan Zellige showers from Villa Lagoon Tile and it feels like stepping into a magical stone cave. And I’m in love with the bronze exposed pipe showers from Signature Hardware.”
Given that the name of her brand is “Three Boys and a Pink Bath,” it’s no surprise that Sofie Hepworth has a pink bathtub in her Kent, UK home. But the location is a bit unusual. “The outdoor pink bath was a snap decision that everyone thought was crazy at the time,” Sofie admits, “but not only is it beautiful it gets used ALL the time (no killer spiders in this country, guys).”
Lizzie Darden is living the original mid-century tiled dream, with two bathrooms in her Florida home that have original tile. “When we toured this home in person one of our favorite parts was the bathrooms — two mid-century original pastel tiled bathrooms with matching monochromatic fixtures,” she says, “like, complete with sky blue toilet and towel bars and everything. In the 1970s condo we had just moved from there was a similar style set of bathrooms, one pink and one blue just the same, but they were in rougher shape and couldn’t really be restored, so we saw this as the perfect opportunity to do it right this time and really lean into the kitschiness of the style.”
This Barcelona apartment is graced with an archway in every room (how lucky?!) and that includes the bathroom. “They bring an aesthetic harmony and it is the first characteristic that always strikes our guests,” says Amina Camilleri, and in the bathroom, creates a natural vanity.
11. A Very 1980s-Style Kids’ Bathroom
Have you ever seen a more exciting kids’ bathroom? This bold, bright, and made-for-kids bathroom in Emily Wassall’s Los Angeles home is a perfect example of designing for kids without sacrificing on really cool finishes. The bright yellow vanity and tiles, combined with the custom rain shower curtain, blue shower, and pink accent wall create a decidedly ’80s, Nickelodeon vibe that’s still elevated enough for adults to enjoy.
12. A Riad-Inspired London Bathroom
Believe it or not, when Hannah Drakeford moved into her London home, it was a bland, beige box with all beige everything: walls, carpet, kitchen, and bathroom. But now the bathroom — which once had beige tiles, a chrome towel rail, and faux wood laminate — is her favorite DIY. “The inspiration for this room came from a trip I took to Marrakech a few years ago. The riad we stayed in had the most amazing circle motif tiles in the bathroom and I always knew I had to try and recreate this in some form.”
13. Terrazzo Instead of Tile
Terrazzo shows no sign of slowing down, especially not when it’s used to such great effect, like in Dylan and Jess Odbert‘s guest bathroom in their San Clemente, California, home. The irregular floor and countertop perfectly coordinate with the clean lines of the vertical tile, and the final pop of a translucent shower curtain and sink basin pull the whole space together.
Kelly Dawson is a media consultant based in Los Angeles. She is a prolific writer for notable publications including Cup of Jo, Vox, AFAR, Dwell, Martha Stewart Living, McSweeney’s and Architectural Digest. Kelly is the three-time guest editor for Refinery29’s “Voices of Disability” series, two-time guest host of “Call Your Girlfriend,” and deputy editor at Apartment Therapy.
Arielle Tschinkel is a freelance pop culture and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared on Shape.com, WomansWorld.com, FirstforWomen.com, Insider, HelloGiggles, and more. She loves all things Disney and is making her way to every park around the world, and is a die-hard Britney Spears fan for life. She’s also obsessed with her Bernedoodle, Bruce Wayne.
Who doesn’t dream of an updated bathroom? From lack of storage to a bathtub you’re hesitant to step into without sandals, renovations that bring bathrooms into the 21st century are high on the list of homeowner wants. If you’re curious what the most popular bathroom renovations were in the last year, the 2022 Houzz Bathroom Trends Study was just released, and it’s an interesting look at both the trends and the rising price points that took over American bathrooms in 2022.
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Sure, everything old is new again. But when it comes to bathrooms, homeowners are looking to ditch features that are outdated. In a survey of more than 2,500 respondents, Houzz determined that outdated style was the top trigger for bathroom renovations in 2022, with 48 percent of those surveyed saying it was their main motivation. More than three-quarters of homeowners (76 percent) upgraded their vanity cabinets during primary bathroom renovations. While 30 percent favored wood for their vanity, 14 percent went with a pop of gray, 7 percent chose blue, and 5 percent went with black.
Shower updates were also consistently popular, up two percentage points over the previous year with 84 percent. The survey determined that when removing a bathtub, nearly four in five homeowners enlarge the shower. And of course, the toilet is often a big focus. One interesting (but not so surprising) fact? High-tech toilets proved to be quite the draw for homeowners. Nearly two in five homeowners add high-tech features to their toilets, choosing bidets, self-cleaning elements, heated seats and built-in night lights.
“Bathrooms have always been a top room to renovate and we’re seeing that homeowners driven both by aesthetic desires and functional necessities, are doubling down on their investment in these private sanctuaries,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “While the cost of products and materials has increased due to inflation and supply chain disruptions, renovation activity remains strong, propped up by high home equity and homeowners’ desire to stay put given limited housing supply.”
As you’ve likely discovered while plotting out your home improvements, bathroom renovations are pricey. From buying the materials to finding the necessary labor to complete the work, it can be quite the expensive pursuit. The survey determined that the national median spend for primary bathroom projects increased nearly 13 percent to $9,000. For higher-budget projects, the average spend saw a 19 percent jump to $35,000. People doing “major” bathroom renovations (think full-on shower upgrades) spent a whopping three times more on their renovations than those undergoing minor renovations.
Another interesting point is the rising popularity of adding greenery to bathrooms. 88 percent of respondents said adding greenery “adds to the aesthetics of the room,” while 64 percent said it creates a more calming environment. 34 percent attributed the increase to plants’ air purification powers, while 7 percent like their odor-fighting ability. Another 7 percent went with antibacterial attributes.
When Bobby and Ann got married, they decided to call Ann’s house of 10+ years their home. While the space worked for Ann during her single years, the couple were looking to give the house some practical upgrades that made it better suited for two people. In the latest episode of HGTV’s “No Demo Reno,” the newlyweds called on Jenn Todryk to help them turn their house into a home where they could entertain their friends.
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With a budget of $85,000 and timeline of seven weeks, Jenn got to work with her team. The focus points of the renovation were the kitchen and the main bathroom, which were both in need of several updates.
The kitchen’s biggest issue was a lack of function. The room began as a yellow, slightly outdated cooking space with no table. Bobby and Ann were able to eat at the countertop, but it was hard to find seating for any additional dining guests. The room was crowded by a wine rack and fridge, and two bulky trash bins. Bobby also noted the lack of storage in the space, which kept them from properly storing their smaller appliances.
Jenn and her team began the renovation by removing “pretty much everything except for the walls.” They gutted the old counters and cabinets and replaced them with all new products. The countertops were a simple, clean white and the cabinets came in two colors. The top cabinets were white and the bottom cabinets were navy blue. Both sets of cabinets provided a wealth of additional storage. The team also painted over the yellow walls with a white-gray color. After asking the newlyweds about pattern preferences, Jenn opted for an intricate tile backsplash.
“I went calm on the countertop because I wanted to give you all something fun, funky, and geometric on the backsplash,” she shared during the reveal.
Jenn installed a polished nickel light fixture to give the room some additional brightness (while still matching the gray tones in the room). She also brought in a new dining table and black chairs that matched the black counter stools. The room was finished off with a nook by the table, which allowed for additional seating for extra guests.
Like the kitchen, the bathroom lacked a natural flow. Although there were two sinks in the vanity, Ann’s stuff had slowly overwhelmed the space and made it difficult for her and her husband to get ready at the same time. The beige and tan room was also outdated, with old tiles on both the floor and countertop. The shower was also an issue for both parties, since it was too small to comfortably fit Bobby and didn’t have a convenient place for Ann to shave her legs. The duo requested a bright space that was calming, serene, and easy on the eyes.
Jenn and her team started by painting the walls green-gray and adding new patterned tiling to the floor. “I want something fun and funky, because it’s such a small bathroom floor that we can get away with, like, a really cool marble cut,” Jenn explained. She had her team move the shower to another part of the room altogether, which allowed them to elongate the vanity and install two new cabinet spaces for extra storage. The additional space made the bathroom, and the home as a whole, more functional for the day-to-day lives of two people.
“No Demo Reno” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.
