designing your bathroom in 5 steps
The design planning should be the most fun and exciting part when remodeling a bathroom. Who doesn’t enjoy picking new tile and light fixtures that will fill a once drab space? Lot’s of people, that’s who! I myself love the design part of a remodel. I am the type of person who can spend hours poring over pictures and daydreaming about wall colors and vanities. But the reality is, everyone is different, and there are quite a few people who don’t even know where to start with their bathroom design. Don’t worry! I’m here to help.
Let’s take some time to break down the design process for you. It CAN be simplified, and you can follow this formula to help you during the process. My goal is to help you get started picking your pieces to finish your new bathroom. Let’s get started.
Step 1: Find your style
WHAT IS THE EXTERIOR STYLE OF YOUR HOME?
What is the architectural style of your house? According to Erica Gellerman, there are approximately 20 different styles of homes in America: Cape Cod, Colonial, Contemporary, Cottage, Craftsman, Greek revival, Farmhouse, French Country, Mediterranean, Midcentury Modern, Ranch, Split Level, Tudor, and Victorian. {Read Erica’s article here and check out the corresponding pictures to find your style of house}.
Take note of your home’s interior structural design: The doorways & entryways— are they arched or squared? The crown moldings & trim—are they ornate or minimal? Then, take note of your home’s exterior structural design: Are the windows arched, squared, bay? Does your house have special moldings, like gingerbread trim or brackets? Once you take the structural design into consideration, you will be able to hone in on your design choices for your bathroom. For example, a Victorian home typically has ornate moldings inside and outside of the house. You could replicate some of those features in the fixtures in your bathroom (check out the pictures below!). Once you find some fixtures for your new bathroom, the rest of the pieces (i.e. wall color and tile) will fall into place much more easily.
Taking the architectural style of your home into consideration helps narrow the field when choosing the items for your new bathroom. You can directly go on Google Images and type in the style of your home + bathrooms (i.e. Cape Cod bathrooms). It’s a great starting point in giving you ideas.
An example of a Victorian style entryway. Bold moldings on the walls, ceiling, and staircase make quite the statement, and also help you grab onto some design ideas for your bathroom!
Image: houzz.com
An example of a Victorian style half bathroom. A strong wall paper and interesting sink make this bathroom look the part of the Victorian home.
Image: hgtv.com
A similar (and very affordable!) style sink I found on Wayfair. I think it’s a great option if you are going for this style. Building a bathroom around this statement piece makes the design job easier.
Image: wayfair.com
WHAT IS THE INTERIOR STYLE OF YOUR HOME?
You must take the current interior style of your home into consideration when choosing the style and design of your new bathroom. Look at the style of your furniture, the wall color(s), and types of accessories you have in your home. Are they predominantly cool toned or warm toned?
Ideally, you want to stay in the same style vein of the rest of your home when you are choosing the wall color, vanity, fixtures, and tile for your bathroom. Why? So your home can have a natural flow. If you have rooms with different themes and colors, it tends to make you feel as though you are in multiple homes under one roof. It feels disjointed and scattered. Most of us want our homes to feel harmonious and comfortable. It makes sense because for many people, their homes are their sanctuaries.
I like to stick with this formula to make it easy on myself when decorating: If you have a lot of cool tones throughout your house (such as grey walls with white trim, chrome/silver fixtures, industrial/modern furniture), then you would want to opt for a bathroom that replicates those cool tone features. If you have a lot of warm tones throughout your house (such as beige walls, warm toned wood flooring or furniture, gold/bronze fixtures), then you would want to opt for a bathroom that replicates those warm tone features. It’s as easy as that.
Neutral tones, such as greige (gray & beige together) can go with either cool or warm toned items. You can get a neutral toned cabinet or vanity and easily fit it in your cool toned bathroom.
FUN FACT: You CAN combine both warm and cool styles in a space—in small doses. If you have a mostly cool-toned bathroom, you can add splashes of warmth with warm toned accessories, such as towels and rugs. Just remember, the primary style of the bathroom should match the primary overall style of your home.
This bright & fresh bathroom would fit in perfectly with a cool-toned interior home, just like the example above.
Image: Bathroom remodel completed by Steve
An example of a warm-toned interior.
Image: trulia.com
This earthy yet sharp bathroom would fit in perfectly with a warm-toned interior home, just like the example above.
Image: Bathroom remodel completed by Steve
STEP 2: ASK YOURSELF THE HARD QUESTIONS
IS THIS HOUSE YOUR TEMPORARY HOME OR FOREVER HOME?
Are you done with moving and plan to stay in your current home for a very long time? Or is your home a temporary situation and you plan on moving in 5/10/15 years?
For those who plan on staying, the style of your bathroom can be {for the most part} wide open. It is safe to throw the rules out the window if you choose to do so. Design the bathroom exactly how you would like it and enjoy it.
Very taste specific, but the owners more than likely love it.
Image: houzz.com
For those who plan on moving, your best bet is to stay within the style guidelines of your home and to keep it somewhat neutral. That doesn’t mean it has to be boring, but it does mean that what you pick should appeal to others, not just yourself.
This may be a beach themed bathroom, but it can easily be neutralized by removing accessories. This bathroom has universal appeal.
Image: Bathroom remodel completed by Steve
WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
Before we begin this section, I must confess: this is the hardest part for me. Budgets are the worst, but they are a reality.
Bathroom budgets can get out of control quickly. You are not just purchasing the tile, toilet, vanity, and accessories. You are also responsible for all the components that lie underneath all the finished products, such as thin-sets, waterproofing, grout, electrical elements, plumbing, drywall, etc. Steve’s checklist and guides include all the items you will need to complete a total bathroom renovation, which will help you when estimating your cost and coming up with your tile design budget.
If you are doing the renovation yourself, you will be saving money in labor costs. Steve’s courses are designed to help you along the renovation, keeping you cool, calm, and confident. If you choose to hire a bathroom remodeler, then you will have to include his/her labor costs in your budget.
I’ve gathered a list of the aesthetic pieces you will need in order to finish your bathroom. This list does not include any of the “behind the scenes fundamentals” of the bathroom (such as thinset, grout, waterproofing, etc.). You will definitely want to include those costs if you plan on remodeling the bathroom yourself, as they can become very expensive, too.
Tile: wall tile, border tile, edging pieces, floor tile
Vanity with countertop and sink
Bathtub
Faucets: sink and tub/shower
Tub/shower enclosure: glass or shower curtain with rod
Toilet
Trim: crown molding/trim
Paint/wallpaper
Light fixture(s)
Accessories: toilet paper holder, hand towel holder, towel hook, towel bar, cabinet knobs, mirror, window treatment(s)
Get online and start pricing all the things out. With everything available on the Internet, you can easily begin to list the products you want along with their prices and see where that leads you.
To be on the safest side, pad your budget by 10%. I know it sounds crazy, but when Steve and I have gone over our spending after we completed a project, we were consistently over between 8-10%. You end up spending more because you grow tired of compromising and searching for the lowest prices.
Step 3: Gather images & colors you love
FIND PICTURES OF YOUR DREAM BATHROOM.
This suggestion piggybacks the question from step 1— what is your home’s interior and exterior style? Once you have figured out your home’s style, then Google Images is there for the searching! You can spend some time searching your home’s interior/exterior style plus examples of bathrooms corresponding with the style.
Another great option to find images of bathrooms is to jump on Instagram and use your keywords (such as “blue bathrooms”) to search for images. Most designers have an Instagram account, and they are constantly sharing their work.
Once you find images that spark your interest, be sure to save them. Then you can go over those images and figure out what it was that appealed you to them. From there, you can pinpoint what design elements you would like to include in your bathroom remodel.
A Cape Code style bathroom. Honestly, this bathroom would fit in multiple home styles. It’s very adaptable.
Image: pinterest.com
A mid-century modern style bathroom.
Image: onekindesign.com
A Craftsman style bathroom. My personal favorite!
Image: thewowdecor.com
IF PICTURES ARE TOO MUCH, FIND COLORS YOU LOVE.
If pictures are too much, then go for a color palette. Walk through your home and find the colors that are repeated. Everyone is drawn to certain colors, so if you can narrow it down to that, then you can always find a tile or a vanity that may come in that color and keep the rest of the bathroom neutral.
Also, you visit your local paint store or a Sherwin Williams. Pick out some paint samples that pique your interest, bring them home with you, and see if they would work in the space.
Step 4: Go shopping
VISIT TILE STORES.
My go-to tile stores for inspiration are The Tile Shop and Best Tile. The Tile Shop has amazing displays to check out. Be sure to have an idea of what you want before heading there, because it can become VERY overwhelming.
I’ve known individuals who had an idea of what they wanted for their bathroom, then go to a tile store, and come out with something completely different in mind. If that happens, that is okay. However, you want to be sure there is cohesiveness with the style you have fallen in love with and the current style of your home.
Most people I know who have visited a tile store for inspiration end up finding the perfect style for their bathroom remodel. Seeing displays in person really does make a big difference.
Step 5: If all else fails, keep it basic or hire a designer
KEEP IT BASIC.
If you want to keep things classic, simple, yet versatile, I always recommend going with a white subway tile for the tub/shower walls and a black & white mosaic tile (particularly in a basket weave style) for the floors. Steve and I fight over this quite often (he is SO SICK of installing white subway tile), but I stand strong by my choice.
The thing is those two tiles can be molded into whatever style you want your bathroom to be.
Want it to look modern? Check this out…
Modern style shower with beveled white subway tile and black and white mosaic flooring.
Image: pinterest.com
Want it to look more traditional? How about this?!
Want it to look a little quirky? Here you go!
A colorful border quickly adds some personality and personal style!
Image: Bathroom remodel completed by Steve.
How about craftsman style? Done!
A gorgeous gold heavy framed mirror and interesting vanity with a vessel sink would easily make this bathroom fit into a craftsman style home.
Image: pinterest.com
Subway tile with black & white mosaics will keep your bathroom looking sophisticated, classic, and stylish for years to come.
HIRE A DESIGNER
If you have gone through all the steps and are still coming up empty, you may want to bite the bullet and hire a designer. It may cost extra, but remodeling a new bathroom is a serious investment. You have to live with it and use it everyday. You definitely want to be happy in the space, so the cost would be completely justified.
A great place to search for a designer is Houzz. I love using Houzz because the designers have look-books and reviews for you to read over so you can easily find a good match for yourself.
best of luck to you and your project!
I hope you found these steps helpful in your search for the perfect design for your bathroom remodel. Our goal at Bathroom Remodeling Teacher is to simplify bathroom remodeling for you— and that includes the design portion! Let us know if this has help you in your remodeling adventure! We love to hear the stories!