Out of every room in your home, the bathroom — regardless of its size — is the one place that can benefit from simple decor upgrades. From brilliant storage solutions to statement rugs, a bathroom refresh doesn’t have to consume your schedule. But if you’re ready to tackle a full bathroom remodel to make more of an impact in your space, there are designer tricks you can try to express your style. Bold tile, a free-standing tub, graphic wallpaper, and new cabinet hardware are just a few ways to take your bathroom to the next level.
Ready to craft a cozy bathroom retreat? See our roundup of 55 inspiring bathroom decor ideas, including pointers on creative color palettes, organizing your space, and much more.
A basic bathroom received a boho-inspired makeover, courtesy of designer Mandi Gubler. An oversized map pops against the emerald wall, while new tiles and fixtures pull the look together.
SHOP HANGING MAP
Go for a fresh and vibrant look, thanks to windowpane wallpaper and a botanical sink skirt.
SHOP FLORAL SINK SKIRT
Give a bathroom an old world feel with beadboard, an assortment of curios, including brass picture frames, and vintage light fixtures.
SHOP BRASS FRAME
Go bold with graphic floral wallpaper, which works especially well in a small bathroom. Complement the design with a woven mirror and fresh blooms.
SHOP RATTAN MIRROR
A zebra-print ottoman adds a dose of drama to this all-white bathroom design.
SHOP ZEBRA OTTOMAN
A lush plant, a colorful rug, and unexpected window treatments make the bathroom feel as decorative as the rest of the house. Try a small potted orchid or asparagus fern in a corner (either will thrive in humidity) or reach new heights with a fiddle leaf fig.
SHOP PLANTS
A simple shelf across the tub provides a perch for fresh flowers and a scented candle — plus a glass of wine when it come time to unwind.
SHOP BATH TRAYS
While you’d typically find a china cabinet in the dining room, this one gets a new life in the bathroom as a storage hub for towels and supplies.
SHOP CABINETS
This do-it-all piece of furniture is perfect for holding overflow items from a small shower or as a movable place to perch while bathing kids.
SHOP GARDEN STOOLS
Think pink for an inviting place to get ready each morning. “Perhaps one of my favorite warm paint colors is a hue that dances right between blush and nude,” says Decorist designer Erika Dale. “This color is perfect for a bedroom, dressing room, or bathroom. There is a reason every Hollywood starlet is lit with soft pink light… it is so flattering!”
SHOP PAINT
Try the other side of the color wheel if you want a space more suited for unwinding, like this powder blue cabinetry. “Cool colors bring to mind water and the sky and therefore a create a more calming, focused, relaxed, restful, soothing, and refreshing feeling,” Dale says.
SHOP PAINT
Frame a basic shower stall with a set of matching curtains to turn it into an artful focal point. This cornflower blue pair adds extra color while keeping water off the floor.
SHOP SHOWER CURTAINS
Changing your looking glass also changes the room. If you have a plain mirror now, go for a little glam, or vice versa. Or just add a sleek smart countertop makeup mirror, like Simple-human’s Sensor Mirror, to see yourself in your best light.
SHOP MIRRORS
Dining rooms shouldn’t have a monopoly on chandeliers. Glam overhead lighting can set the mood in the bathroom, too.
SHOP CHANDELIERS
A simple coat in a fresh shade can make the bathroom feel new. Use your existing decor as a color guide, but if resale is important, stick with a crisp white like Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. Always look for a mold- and mildew-resistant formula that stands up to humid conditions.
SHOP PAINT
Here’s your chance to add bold blooms to your bathroom. Pick the peel-and-stick kind for a low-commitment makeover.
SHOP WALLPAPER
Instead of laying them in straight rows, mix up the orientation of your mosaic for a fresh take, like this diagonal herringbone pattern on the wall.
SHOP TILE
Give your vanity personality by dressing up the sink with a new faucet. Stylish options include polished chrome or copper, brushed nickel or bronze, and even brass or matte black. If you don’t want to replace the counter or sink too, make sure to measure the existing holes and match them.
SHOP FAUCETS
It’s hard to beat the inherent beauty of natural stone. GH Lab tip: Since regular bathroom cleaners contain acids that can etch marble, stick with a neutral product, like Granite Gold Shower Cleaner.
SHOP SHOWER CLEANER
Mixed metals – like gold scones and silver cabinet pulls — balance each other out in this luxe bathroom.
SHOP MIRRORS
Save an unexpected pattern — such this honeycomb-like tessellation — for inside the shower. It’s also a less-expensive way to feature a luxe design without splurging on the whole room.
SHOP TILE
Put your favorite bath salts on display by transferring them into clear decorative bottles. It’s instant decor a reminder you should take a nice, relaxing soak.
SHOP BOTTLES
Create a one-of-a-kind sink (with the help of a contractor) by outfitting a vintage piece with a basin. Look for one with a bottom shelf or cabinet for extra storage space.
SHOP CABINETS
Dark paint up above adds an unexpected element to this wallpapered bathroom. Pick a more saturated version of what’s already on your walls for a no-fail pairing.
SHOP PAINT
Purple conjures up associations with luxury and royalty, so what better hue to upgrade your space with?
SHOP PAINT
Mini succulents look cute on the counter, but train pothos or ivy to grow trailing vines for a whole wall of green.
SHOP PLANTS
Let what’s on your walls — whether it’s patterned plates or a pretty print — dictate your color palette, like this room’s assortment of red, blue, and aqua.
SHOP SHOWER CURTAINS
If you’re not ready to invest in a new vanity, swapping out drawer pulls can give your bathroom a brand-new look. Go for a modern, sleek feel with a bar pull, or add some personality with colorful ceramic knobs.
SHOP CABINET PULLS
Hang fresh eucalyptus branches in the shower for a mini aromatherapy treatment each morning. The scented stems let off a relaxing fragrance in the steam.
SHOP EUCALYPTUS
Moving hardware up onto the wall offers a sleeker look — and makes it easier to clean the back of your sink without knobs in the way.
