85 Gorgeous Bathroom Ideas That Go Beyond Business
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Our most private spaces are the ones we often neglect, and bathrooms are at the very top of that list. Often this is where we relegate the sad old towels we got a decade ago at TJ Maxx, hang the worst of our art over the toilet, and place a nondescript wastebasket in the corner. But if you think about it, bathrooms are actually the rooms we use, without a doubt, every single day of our lives, so why not make sure they are a place you actually want to be?
For inspiration, we’ve looked to the ELLE DECOR archives. Every home we feature brings us bathrooms we never thought we would see, whether it's a graciously sized bathroom in a Renaissance castle or a tiny powder room in a single family home. Sometimes the secret to an extra-special space is paring it back to its bare bones. And sometimes a small bathroom is the perfect opportunity to try that crazy wallpaper you love but don’t have the stomach for anywhere else. Whatever your whimsy, you’re sure to find a jumping-off point in the 85 ideas we’ve outlined below. Enjoy!
Relaxed Modern Bathroom
Tucked away though they often are, a bathroom still needs a vibe. In the powder room of this David Lucido–designed Los Angeles home, brown textured plaster walls provide the perfect base for rich, seductive textures elsewhere.
Prettily Papered Bathroom
Powder rooms are the perfect opportunity for the kind of busy, all-over print that would overwhelm a larger room. In this bathroom, design firm Alton Bechara used wallpaper by Aux Abris with repeating lips and stars. The sink is by Devon & Devon, and the mirror is vintage.
High-Impact Wallpaper Bathroom
To keep things fun and still simple, Bryan Young opted for a straightforward sink and mirror, while covering the walls of this powder room in Flavor Paper’s Camellias wallpaper. “It’s a bit like Alice in Wonderland,” he says.
Minimalist Masterpiece Bathroom
In the bathroom of Pierre Yovanovitch’s 17th-century Provence chateau, things are kept decidedly up to date. The grandness of the bathroom is in its scale, with more space than one would ever need to bathe, allowing for a minimalist masterpiece of a fireplace to command all the attention. The tub is by Agape, the fittings and towel rack are by Dornbracht, and the floor is marble.
Blocked-Out Marble Bathroom
If you have the freedom to start from scratch, consider using only one (maybe two!) materials. In this bathroom by Paradowski Studio, a chunk of Calacatta Viola marble surrounds the shower.
High-Impact Ceiling Bathroom
If you want to provide visual interest in your apartment with a low lift, why not focus on the ceiling? In the bathroom of photographer William Waldron’s Hudson Valley farmhouse, stripes in calming hues were painted on the ceiling and everything else left white. The effect is sharp, relaxing, and modern.
Rustic Mirror Bathroom
Anyone who peers into a mirror is often (and understandably) focused on the reflection it shines back, but this sweet powder room encourages you to stop and enjoy the fixture itself. When she was designing children’s book author Amanda Henke’s lake house, Anne Macdonald sprang for a Scandinavian midcentury mirror that commands attention.
Travertine-Clad Bathroom
In the bathroom of Paolo Castellarin and Didier Bonnin’s northern Italian home, travertine covers the walls like a lush velvet. Complemented by very few furnishings—an antique mirror and sconces primarily—the travertine does all the talking on its own.
Hot Pink Bathroom
Just because your bathroom is on the smaller side doesn’t mean it has to be snoozy. In this Greenwich Village studio, William Cullum made the ultimate statement with electric pink walls and a matching marbled shower curtain, courtesy of Voutsa.
Maximalist Bathroom
In the maximalist Aspen wonderland Patrick Mele created for a special client, color and print reign supreme. The same goes for the primary bathroom, where a French 19th-century bust shares space with a Murano chandelier, a Burmese Bombay blackwood chair, Schumacher curtains, and a Victoria & Albert tub.
Checkered Bathroom
Tiles are a great way to protect your walls from excess moisture—be it a steamy shower or some water droplets on the sink—but they’re also packed with plenty of design inspiration. If you can’t settle on one style, select a few and strategically place them to create an optical illusion. Fabrizio Casiraghi nailed the look in this Paris bathroom.
Timber Tub Bathroom
You can both hit Tudor-revival notes and communicate crisp modernity when you pick the right materials, scale, and finishes. In this California house designed by Lauren Geremia, a freestanding timber tub pairs nicely with vintage-inspired fittings, and minimal cement floor tiles balance out wood wall paneling. A glance out of the diamond-glass-paned window can take you either forward in time or back.
Glamorous Bathroom
This house might be in Aspen, but there’s no moose taxidermy in sight! Designer Charlotte Moss turned her bathroom into a room appropriate for conversation as much as a rinse off. A Lee Jofa fabric covers the walls and curtains, and a John Rosselli chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
Farmhouse Chic Bathroom
For a bathroom that’s packed with timeless appeal, juxtapose different sources of inspiration. For her project in Bedford, New York, Heidi Caillier paired a bold and blooming wallcovering from Pierre Frey with a bamboo-inspired mirror and Urban Electric Company’s contemporary sconces. The final product: A powder room that gleefully beats to its own drum.
Palm-Printed Bathroom
If you want to spruce up an older bathroom—without undergoing a full renovation—take a cue from designer Mary Celeste Beall’s Knoxville, Tenn., home. In this bathroom, she pairs a glamorous wallpaper repeat by Florence Broadhurst with the opulent sink and vanity, both of which are original to the space.
Divided Bathroom
For some much-needed and appreciated privacy, add a dividing wall to a larger bathroom. The key, however, is to make sure neither side skimps on style. Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis perfected the balance in this California Bay Area home with the help of bright tiles from Ipax, a custom vanity decked out with Nest hardware, and thoughtful wall sculptures, courtesy of Katie Gong.
Couple’s Bathroom
Decorating a bathroom for two? No problem. In this Austin, Texas, home, Paul Lamb created a dynamic duo of matching showers, vanities, and sinks. A lone soaking tub anchors the space, offering symmetry with a twist.
Picture-Perfect Bathroom
If you’re blessed with a spectacular sight, why not cherish it? In designer Tamsin Johnson’s Sydney home, she placed the standalone tub right next to the windows, which just so happen to feature a private vista of the city's Double Beach Bay.
Psychedelic Bathroom
Hypnotic patterns take center stage in this Palm Beach bathroom, which is swathed in Voutsa’s Judy Stripe Blue and Purple wallpaper. Create the same visual impact in your space by adding your favorite feisty repeat to your area’s often-neglected fifth wall.
Le Corbusier-Inspired Bathroom
If you want to show off your good taste and your encyclopedic knowledge of interiors, look to the past for inspiration. Design darling Home Studios decked out this Fort Greene, Brooklyn, home's bathroom with Le Corbusier–inspired wall murals by artist Kimmy Quillin, a Giallo Siena marble sink base, and high-contrast tiles from Clé.
Statement-Making Sink Bathroom
If you want to make a statement in a small bathroom, invest in one standout piece. In this apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, designer Michael K. Chen made a Cassiopeia marble vanity the focal point. Rounding out the powder room is a custom mirror from Kin & Company and two Lindsey Adelman sconces.
Oceanic Bathroom
Designer Shannon McLaren Wilkins went through 15 design iterations before perfecting this Newport Beach, Calif., guest bathroom. With glossy green tiles and artwork by Anna Ullman, it combines California cool and a Mediterranean flair within the same four walls.
Art Gallery Bathroom
Want to show off your art collection? Take a cue from late author Julia Reed, who incorporated a meticulous gallery wall into her New Orleans bathroom.
Blue-Trimmed Bathroom
For a pop of color that strikes a balance between subtle and statement, consider coating your trimmings in a vibrant hue. Designer Lorenzo Castillo employed Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue in this Menorca villa’s bathroom. When paired with crisp white walls, the blue accent pays homage to the property’s seaside location.
Moody Lighting Bathroom
Not only can lighting make or break a space, but the specific fixtures used can also influence a small bathroom’s ambience. For a moody look, add some sconces. The sleek, vintage Maison Arlus lighting used in this Martha Mulholland–designed space adds the right touch of romance.
Colorful Bathroom
When it comes to design, a guest bathroom doesn’t have to play second fiddle. In this Hudson Valley, N.Y., home, designer Sheila Bridges covered this space with artwork from Earl Swanigan, Waterworks’ finishings, and walls covered in a custom design by Bridges herself.
Textural Bathroom
As Antonio Martins’s San Francisco bathroom proves, an all-white space doesn’t have to be boring. Between the subway-tiled shower, Imperial Marble trim, and Phillip Jeffries wallpaper, this space offers plenty of visual interest.
Multipurpose Bathroom
Why decide between a shower or bathtub when you can have the best of both worlds? In his Miami Beach home, hotelier Barry Sternlicht deftly placed a standalone soaking tub next to his walk-in shower, complete with custom steel-and-glass doors.
Globe-Trotting Bathroom
When decorating her Upper East Side home, Patricia Greene Isen wanted to pay tribute to her jet-setting lifestyle. The guest bedroom features a global edge, thanks to a sink and fittings by Waterworks as well as a backsplash of Mosaic House tiles.
Clawfoot Tub Bathroom
Does it get more luxurious than a clawfoot tub? In Amaro Sánchez de Moya's new Seville, Spain, apartment, the main bathroom features a tub and fittings by Cifial. Plus, the antique chandelier and sconces are sourced from Spain and France, respectively.
Oceanic Bathroom
When designing this Bay Area–based home, Nicole Hollis looked to the surrounding property for inspiration. With glossy teal tiles and neutral finishings, this bathroom pays tribute to the lagoon near the property.
Penny Tile Bathroom
Augusta Hoffman strikes the perfect balance between old and new in her East Village bathroom. The vintage dresser she placed in the powder room deftly offsets the blue penny tiles that adorn the walls.
Desert Bathroom
With a freestanding tub, Jason Wu for Brizo tub filler, and warm color palette, Sophia Bush’s Hollywood bathroom is soothing and sensational in equal measure.
High-Contrast Bathroom
What’s black, white, and chic all over? Jessie Schuster’s luxe bathroom in her SoHo loft. The Jean Cocteau pencil drawing, Matisse-inspired print, and bud vase warm up the slate and marble-clad walls.
Blue Tub Bathroom
For this Belgium manor, Jean-Philippe Demeyer selected a blue bathtub, offering an unconventional twist to the bathroom staple. Rounding out the room is a vintage Scandinavian rug and walls covered in Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue.
Stone-Clad Bathroom
Located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Carlos Couturier’s bathroom celebrates Mother Nature in all her glory. The sink is carved from local stone, while the copper plumbing comes courtesy of a local artisan.
Neutral Bathroom
Heidi Caillier warms up this neutral bathroom with a custom vanity, vintage runner, and Cie Tile-clad floor. The final product is a happy medium between timeless and trendy.
Glamorous Bathroom
Designer Lorenzo Castillo transports this Parisian bathroom into the Roaring ’20s with Art Deco sconces, Calacatta marble moldings, and sink fittings by Devon & Devon.
Lounge Bathroom
Want to kick back and relax? Add some seating options to your bathroom. In Mario Connio’s former seaside retreat, a custom daybed flanks one side of the bathtub.
Cement Counter Bathroom
As Anita Calero’s bathroom in Colombia proves, less is more. Here, an all-white space is peppered with natural details such as a concrete counter, Thai sink, and an Agape mirror from Moss.
Terrazzo Bathroom
This East Hampton, N.Y., bathroom packs a punch with floor-to-ceiling terrazzo. Here, architect Javier Robles pairs Max Lamb’s engineered marble with fittings from Boffi.
Mural Bathroom
Steven Gambrel breathes new life into this Chicago powder room with a lively hand-painted wallpaper from Gracie. The Onyx Fantastico marble sink and floor complement the lush landscape depicted in the repeat.
High-Contrast Bathroom
Ernest de la Torre brings an unexpected color combination to this Bel Air (L.A.) bathroom. Here, he pairs Schumacher’s yellow grass cloth wall covering with a custom—and undeniably striking— Brazilian quartzite sink.
Artful Bathroom
Alex Meitlis and Ivo Bisignano’s bathroom receives a museum-worthy upgrade with a standalone tub from Efraim Kastiel & Sons and abstract sculpture, courtesy of Bisignano. The result? A bathroom that bridges the gap between form and function.
Limestone Bathroom
Designer Steven Gambrel gave this walk-in shower a rustic edge with a limestone fitting by Zucchetti and a powder coated–steel enclosure.
Soak-Friendly Bathroom
Located inside a 16th-century Tuscan villa, this bathroom was designed with relaxation in mind. Designer Hubert Zandberg paired a travertine bathtub with a custom screen and vintage brass trolley, which was found at a Parisian flea market.
Onyx Bathroom
Designer Bradley Stephens infused an Art Deco spirit into this Manhattan-based powder room with vintage Murano sconces and a custom onyx-patterned wallcovering.
Cool-Toned Bathroom
In this Mumbai apartment, Srila Chatterjee and Mahesh Mathai embraced their roots with a sink made from an Indian brass wok, storage from Jodhpur, and custom wall tiles, which were made in Jaipur.
Daylit Bathroom
When designing this home for a Silicon Valley couple, Studio Schicketanz wanted to play up the elements from the Big Sur coastline outside. Here, the bathroom is punctuated with a tub from Concreteworks and a round skylight, courtesy of Royalite Manufacturing.
Eccentric Bathroom
Power couple Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler’s Greenwich Village master bath is an eccentric and meticulously designed space, with a custom tub by Apaiser, vintage table by Aldo Tura, medallion from an Hermès boutique, and wall and floor tiles by Artistic Tile.
Roman-Inspired Bathroom
In fashion stylist-turned-decorator Estee Stanley’s guest bathroom, the warm-veined marble floors and vanity are inspired by a Roman spa.
Grotto Bathroom
In this coastal Malibu home designed by Oliver M. Furth, the guest bathroom benefits from an exciting combination of great lighting and ocean blue paint.
Refined Chicago Bathroom
In an unconventionally glam Chicago family home, the spacious master bathroom feels bright with an all-white palette, accented with a crystal chandelier and checkerboard bordered floors.
Royal Bathroom
A spacious master bath in hotelier Alan Faena’s Miami Beach home is covered in floor-to-ceiling marble, with a Louis XV mirror, Philippe Starck chair, and candelabra sculpture by Peter Tunney, making major impact in the luxurious space.
Floor-Focused Bathroom
The master bathroom in this charming Greenwich Village apartment maintains a monochromatic palette, with eclectic flooring and large subway tile walls that create movement in the space. Gold sink fittings, sconces, and knobs take on a metallic elegance.
Rustic Poppy Bathroom
In a laid-back Lake Tahoe retreat, a bright and vintage-inspired powder room features a poppy wallcovering by Trustworth Studios; a reproduction of a 19th-century C.F.A. Voysey Arts and Crafts design. Moody blue trim provides a rich contrast against the pink, while the rustic industrial vanity by Bradley brings an old-world twist.
Sunny Children's Bathroom
Sunny shades and geometric tiles animate the children’s bathroom in interior designer Carolyn Kressley’s Tribeca apartment.
Boho Bathroom
A summery boho bathroom is clad in a pretty paisley pattern, while a unique stand holds a bold marble sink. A mirror by Arteriors lends a vintage feel.
Dark and Sultry Bathroom
A black marble vanity and smoked black mirror create a sultry bathroom vibe in this modernized Lower East Side condo.
Revamped 1940s Bathroom
A 1940s bathroom in Wilhelmina Models CEO Bill Wackerman’s Beekman Place apartment is modernized with marble tile and pale gray wallpaper, while original tub and sink fixtures were preserved.
Romantic Floral Bathroom
A blossoming powder room in a New Orleans manse lets the walls do the talking. Floral wallpaper by Ellie Cashman is paired with a washstand and fittings by RH, Restoration Hardware, a mirror from Design Within Reach, and sconces by Jonathan Adler.
Zen Bathroom
Natural materials make a statement in this sanctuary of a master bathroom. A ceiling and walls clad in utilitarian manila rope are use to shield the bathroom from the outdoors. The soft and velvety walls envelop the space and also offer a tactile element to the room, which opens to the master bedroom.
Mirror-Lined Bathroom
Mirrors make a narrow bathroom in this Tuxedo Park, New York, home look more spacious. The sink fittings are by Kallista, and the hamper is from HomeGoods.
Cerulean Blue Bathroom
Tiles by Original Style give a white and cerulean scheme a sleek twist in this Bordeaux, France, bathroom designed by Michael Coorengel and Jean-Pierre Calvagra. The room also features candle lighting fixtures, and a 19th-century painted wrought-iron washbasin.
Beachy White Bathroom
The dark window frame and flooring made of local brown stone give contrast to the all-over white of French designer Christian Liaigre’s St. Barts beach home. The white sink and its fittings are by Volevatch, and the shelves and steel-frame mirror were made by local craftsmen.
Violet Marble Bathroom
The walls and floor, sheathed in Calacatta Viola marble, give drama to the bathroom of this laid-back New York City apartment. The vanity and tub are by Waterworks, the fittings are by Lefroy Brooks and the sconces are by Ozone.
Aqua Floral Bathroom
Bold wallpaper from Secondhand Rosein adds a splashy pop of color to a New York City home decorated by interior designer Katie Ridder. The sconces are from Liza Sherman Antiques and the sink is custom-made.
Rustic Checkerboard Bathroom
This Northern California family home gives structure to a dainty bathroom with checkerboard-painted floorboards in Farrow & Ball’s All White. The tub is by Waterworks, sink and fittings by Lefroy Brooks and a painting by Hugo Guinness. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's White Dove.
Abstract Bathroom
The powder room in this upstate New York ranch house features a black and white mural by Shantell Martin and wainscoting painted in Benjamin Moore’s Midnight.
Floral Ceiling Bathroom
Designer Patrick Punty’s Oakland bungalow skips patterned walls in favor of a dramatic ceiling covered in Cole & Son wallpaper. The bathroom sink is by Stone Forest, the faucet is by Waterworks, and the bust of Napoleon is antique.
White Marble Bathroom
In designer Kevin Dumais midcentury modern Tribeca loft, the walls and floor are sheathed in white dolomite marble. The tub and fittings are by Lefroy Brooks, the stool is from Room & Board, and the artwork in the hallway is by Robert Janitz.
Patterned Tile Bathroom
For the master bath in designer Katie Hackworth’s Medina, Washington home she utilizes clean subway tile with marble trim, a black-and-white clawfoot soaking tub, and industrial steel and glass doors to give a crisp look, adding a balance of color with cement floor tiles.
Wood and Marble Bathroom
An ornate custom-made mirror breaks up the clean lines of the guest bath in this home in Guadalajara, Mexico. The sink is by Alape with fittings by Dornbracht; the counter is Carrara marble.
Smoky Marble Bathroom
Blue Bardiglio marble gives an ocean effect to the master bath of this northern New Jersey home. The tub by Kohler has fittings by Dornbracht.
Playful Wallpaper
California cool rules the day in the guest bathroom of this rustic L.A. home. The chair is upholstered in the California state flag, the sink and fittings are by Waterworks, the custom wallcovering is by Nathalie Lété, and the door is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green.
Elegant Storage Solution
To make up for the limited storage space in Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei’s Manhattan apartment, an Empire cabinet lined with Cole & Son wallpaper was added. The sink and fittings are by Waterworks, the mirror is by Made Goods, the sconces are by Aerin and the wallpaper is by Sister Parish Design.
Mirror-Walled Bathroom
Ann Pyne, head of one of Americas oldest and most distinguished design firms, designed this petite bathroom for a Manhattan client used mirrors to make a small space look larger. A photograph by Luisa Lambri hangs above the bath.
Rich Red Bathroom
The small bathroom of this Greenwich Village penthouse gets an outsized dose of character courtesy of etchings by James Brown. The tile and sink are original, while the ceiling light is by the Federalist.
Art Deco Bathroom
In the master bath of an Art Deco pad in Chicago, the Waterworks tub has fittings by Barber Wilsons & Co., the circa-1905 Viennese stool by Julius and Josef Herrmann is from Bernd Goeckler, and the room is sheathed in Calacatta Capri, Grigio Carnico, and Belgian Black marbles; the abstract plaster sculpture is unsigned and from the 20th century.
Slope-Side Bathroom
In a slope-side home in Big Sky, Montana, the powder room’s sink fittings, mirror, and wall light are by Waterworks, the custom sink is of stone, and the walls are clad in reclaimed whitewashed wood.
Beach House Bathroom
An Ibiza beach house serves as a serene family retreat designed by Cabinet Alberto Pinto. In the bathroom, Almaviva tiles in a blue-and-white stripe amplify the turquoise glow of the subterranean room, where a porthole over the Villeroy & Boc sinks provides an underwater view of the pool.
Jungle-Inspired Bathroom
The walls in the master bath of a Manhattan apartment belonging to PR maven Christina Juarez are sheathed in a Cole & Son wallpaper, available through Lee Jofa. The stool is from Pier 1 Imports, the white vase is from the End of History, and the photograph reflected in the mirror is by Dariusz Klimczak.
Eclectic Bathroom
In the master bath of a French countryside duplex, floor-to-ceiling galvanized-iron bookshelves are accessible by way of a metal library ladder. The sculptures and paintings are by Astuguevieille.
Country Bathroom
Amanda Seyfried’s Catskills, N.Y., country house is filled with rustic decor, which extends into the stunning master bath. Inside, you’ll find a custom vanity with fittings by Waterworks; the sconce is from Design Within Reach, the floor tile is by Heath Ceramics, and the beadboard is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Dimpse.
Vintage Bathroom
In the bathroom of this Swedish farmhouse, the vintage tub features fittings by Mora Armatur, and the floor is tiled with Carrara marble.
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