These Gorgeous Guest Bathroom Ideas Will Inspire Your Next Home Project
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Guest bathrooms often get overlooked when designing a home, as most attention goes directly to the master suite. While this makes sense to a certain degree—you spend more time within your own home than anyone else, after all—we're here to remind you that guest bathrooms can be gorgeous, too. Whether you live in an apartment or small home and only have a powder room dedicated to your guests, or you reside in a sprawling estate with half and full baths alike, there are so many ways to spruce up your space. If you're a fan of color, you can outfit your walls in a bold wallcovering or chic paint color (may we suggest Electric Amber, Veranda's 2024 Color of the Year?). If you prefer a more minimalist approach to bathroom design, a crisp white palette or one that showcases nature may be more appealing. In addition to the colors you choose to accentuate the room, you'll want to consider key characteristics that guests will enjoy. Think: large mirrors, easily-accessible linens, heated towel racks, vanities, and/or somewhere to place a pair of fresh clothes. While it may seem like a lot, these elements can actually come effortlessly together in well-designed guest bathrooms. To prove it, we've rounded up nearly two dozen designer guest bathroom ideas, ranging from powder rooms to second suites. Check them out, below.
Bold Wallpaper
The cool-toned Schumacher wallpaper in this powder room transformed the small space into a work of art. The ikat print is one of many patterns showcased in a colorful Salt Lake City home designed by Designer Hillary Taylor, principal of Hillary Taylor Interiors.
Oversized Greenery
If you have the space, why not add an extra-large tree or plant to bring some freshness to your guest bathroom? We love the oversized fiddle leaf fig that designer Margaret Naeve Parker put on a pedestal in her Houston, Texas home.
Subtle Luxury
Not one for bold colors in a bathroom? Take a more subtle approach with a variety of neutral tiles. Here, designer Noel Pittman relied on a fresh color palette infused with luxury by incorporating a tasseled Serena & Lily shower curtain and fluffy bath linens from Matouk.
Tiny Collections
In this Cape Cod guest bathroom designed by Liz Caan, you can spot a collection of miniature ship reproductions and nautical plates. Why not add your own pint-sized collection to proudly display in your guest bath? It could be as simple as a glass bowl of matchbooks or a grouping of vintage perfume bottles.
Tub With a View
If you prefer a more minimalist palette but still love a pop of color, consider taking a nature-centric approach. Here, the
father-and-son team of Al and Parker Platt outfitted a Lake Toxaway lodge with tub-to-ceiling views of the North Carolina wilderness beyond. The best part? The window actually slides open.
Something Blue
We love the simplicity of this fresh white powder room outfitted in Albert Hadley’s Beaton Rose wallpaper (Zina Studios, Inc.). The mismatched frames, tiny wall-mounted sink, and uniquely shaped brass mirror add even more charm to the space, which is located in a summer house in Maine.
The Red Room
One way to ensure guests never have trouble finding the washroom is by placing it behind a ruby-red door, like the one in this London apartment designed by the one and only Alidad. The gold trim just makes it pop even more.
Smart Storage
If you regularly have weekend guests or folks who stay long-term, opting for a guest bathroom with a beautiful vanity and plenty of storage is ideal. For example, here, there's not only a clothes rack but a built-in storage cabinet with drawers, too.
Earthy Escape
For a cozy, earthy feel, outfit your guest powder room in shades of brown, green, and marigold yellow. Here, sage wainscot paneling (Pigeon by Farrow & Ball) butts up to a cinnamon-toned, seemingly-textured abaca wallcovering (Phillip Jeffries), outfitted with a marigold floral Roman shade. The result is warm and welcoming.
Pineapple Powder Room
This small powder room is outfitted from floor to ceiling in an Adelphi Paper Hangings pineapple wallcovering. Where the walls are bold, the rest of the features within this space are classically coastal with subtle yet noticeable flare. Just look at the legs on that vanity.
Draped in Blue
How dreamy is this blue and white masterpiece of a guest bathroom? The late legendary designer Mario Buatta was known for his use of dramatic curtains—even in bathrooms. In this 1930s South Carolina farmhouse, he opted for tracing stripes in shades of blue. Another characteristic we love about this bathroom? A cozy chair layered with plenty of towels—something all guests will be grateful for.
Side-by-Side Wash Closets
If you love to entertain—and if you have the space—consider not one but two washrooms in your home. These garnet, latrine-esque fittings are part of the grandeur picture of a stunning Georgian Estate in Ireland.
Gilded in Gold
With shades of ivory and cream colliding across the vanity, walls, and floor, this bathroom in Ceara Donnelley's Charleston home has a minimalist air to it. However, thanks to the inclusion of a brass trim, custom mirror, and loads of natural light, it takes on a luxury appeal.
Metro Moment
Subway tiles are a classic choice. Here, designer Amy Morris used them in unison with brass hardware to give a 100-year-old Atlanta home an English countryside appeal.
Purple Powder Room
Royal purple is one of the most popular colors of 2023, so it's no wonder this powder room in a modern home in the Hamptons pops out to us. What really sets this space apart is the lacquered finish, which gives the guest bathroom an ultra-chic appeal.
Apothecary Inspired
This classic white bathroom is infused with apothecary-inspired charm, with its antique oak cabinet, complete with glass doors. In fact, this cabinet is one of our favorite things about this bathroom, as it emphasizes the importance of always having enough bath linens and shower goods on hand for your household, as well as guests. Designer Michael DePerno and his partner Andrew Fry brought this 1910 Connecticut cottage bathroom to life.
Cute and Colorful
How cheerful is this colorful powder room? While the blue, white, and yellow palette is in high contrast, it looks seamless thanks to designer Katie Rosenfeld's layered approach, mixing textures and finishes alike.
Bahamian Hideaway
Hoping to create a powder room where guests won't be able to stop themselves from snapping a picture? Take a page out of designer Miles Redd's book and go with a bold wallcovering to really make it pop.
Storybook Wallpaper
This minty green bathroom in Todd Romano’s San Antonio home looks feminine and soothing thanks to its lavender accents and floral decor. If you look closely, you'll even notice purple grosgrain ribbon (Samuel & Sons) along the wallpaper trim.
Black Tie Powder Room
Whether you live in New York City or simply crave that metropolitan je ne sais quoi, opting for a black and white pinstriped guest bathroom will certainly help achieve the ambiance. Here, Designer Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey went with an Art Deco-inspired design to honor the Greenwich, Connecticut home's 1918 construction.
Coastal Maximalist
Have you ever seen a coastal bathroom like this? Neither had we until setting eyes on this Baker’s Bay Bahamas estate designed by Amanda Lindroth. Rather than a fresh coat of paint, statement crown molding, or traditional wainscoting, Lindroth incorporated English artisan Linda Fenwick’s unbelievable shell mosaic to make the space truly stand out.
Pastel Kitsch
Millennial pink is making a comeback, which makes this kitschy pastel Palm Beach guest bathroom even more appealing. Designer Joe Lucas infused a whimsical, laidback flair into the space by prioritizing koi wallpaper, globe sconces, and a speckled walk-in shower.
Cottage Chic
From the arched entryway and dark original flooring to the floating clawfoot tub and cozy seating options, there's so much to love about the bathroom in textile designer Richard Smith's English manor house. The all-encompassing wallpaper creates an overflowing lattice effect, which pairs beautifully with the gardens located just outside the window.
Moody Maximalist
Help your guests lean into feelings of excitement and escape by outfitting your guest bathroom with unexpected prints and pops of colors. We particularly love this pool-themed bathroom from the 2021 Kips Bay Dallas Show House, which was crafted by designer Traci Connell.
Upholstered Delight
Prepare for your jaw to drop. This London Townhouse bathroom isn't merely outfitted in wallpaper. No, it's draped in designer Lorenzo Castillo's blue and white Fruela fabric. The walls, the door, everything. It's iconic.
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