How to design a timeless bathroom
Time is the element by which all design is judged. Trends can go in and out of fashion in the blink of an eye, with only the finest of fashions managing to bridge the gap between generations.
While ever-changing trends are exciting for those who work in interior design, they’re less so for homeowners (and their bank managers). Changing the style of your home – especially the bathroom with all its fittings – to follow trends is expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, the onus with any bathroom design should be on making it timeless.
Ironically, when most people think of timeless design, they immediately think of sepia-tinged vintage designs. Although a lot of designs from the 40s and 50s have experienced a recent revival, a truly timeless design is one that cannot be defined by an era.
Here are some of ways you can achieve a timeless look in your own bathroom.
Old and new
Unfortunately, a great deal of bathroom designs and accessories have some kind of time connotation; for example, one might associate an oak mirror with rustic design whereas an LED mirror would be considered quite modern.
There’s no getting away from that, but there is a way to use otherwise ‘of their time’ accessories to create something timeless; combine them. Use dark woods with vessel sinks; combine a classic marble vanity top with a waterfall faucet; counteract your gold taps with a classic white bathtub. It’s really quite simple and can have some stunning results, as shown in the image below:
Design like Switzerland
Neutrality is timeless design’s best friend. Luckily, neutral tones and shades lend themselves naturally to bathroom design, with whites and aqua tones some of the most popular bathroom shades.
But hang on a minute; aren’t neutral shades a bit boring? Well, yes, they can be – if you don’t use them correctly. By layering white walls, boards and accessories, you can add texture to your design to make it more appealing to the eye. Flashes of light blue and light colour can also act as an eye catcher in an otherwise plain-looking room.
Easily changeable areas
The great thing about bathroom design is that you don’t necessarily have to commit to anything beyond the absolute essentials. An easy way to make sure your bathroom stands the test of time is to have some easily changeable areas; this could be painted walls, art hung on the wall or movable storage. Try to avoid committing to difficult-to-change decorations like fully-tiled walls.
Quality materials
It’s all well and good for a bathroom to look timeless, but it also needs to be able to physically stand the test of time. It’s no use investing in low-cost accessories and fixtures if you’re not planning to update your bathroom for a long time as most of these accessories have a short operational life. Instead, commit to buying quality products, ideally with guarantees for refunds or replacements should something go wrong.
A strong focal point
A timeless bathroom doesn’t necessarily have to be timeless all around; in fact, if you can change things around simply, then you only need one timeless accessory in your bathroom, a constant fixture around which you can design your bathroom. For a lot of people, this will be the bathtub or the shower, but the choice is yours. The best way to establish a strong focal point is to invest in an opulent bathroom accessory: a waterfall shower, an illuminated mirror or a freestanding bathtub, for example.
Creating a timeless bathroom requires a lot of planning and careful design choices, but is well worth the effort. Why not share your timeless bathrooms and design tips with us on Facebook or Twitter?
