Bathrooms are often the smallest room within a home yet we require them to do so much. They have to withstand daily washing for numerous occupants and contain a toilet, basin, bath or shower at the very least. This is a tall order but, as I discovered, it is possible to turn a functional bathroom into a sanctuary style space with a bit of careful planning and research.
We recently moved into a house with a small bathroom. The freestanding slipper bath that looked lovely turned out to be a small sit up bath, not long enough for either my tall husband or myself to lie in. We also wanted a shower to be put in but the ceiling was too low. With these large issues to tackle, a complete bathroom renovation was necessary.
Brief
The inspiration was was modern Scandinavian design mixed with serene spa experience, quite a challenge as this was to be our family bathroom for us and our two young boys. I wanted to keep the room light and bright, have natural wood elements for contrasts in colour and texture whilst maintaining style and interest within the room.
Room dimensions
The bathroom measures 160cm x 246cm and we wanted to include a shower and a 170cm bath. This meant altering the existing layout and raising the ceiling height by 30cm to allow for the shower to be at a comfortable height for us tall folk. Luckily we had a builder who we were able to consult and check that these options were viable before going ahead with the changes.
Furniture
I chose a wall hung oak effect vanity basin unit and matching back to wall toilet that had rounded corners, creating a look of simple Scandinavian design and paired these with a classic white bathroom suite. As the basin unit is off the floor it creates the feeling that the floor space is bigger than it actually is, an added bonus in a small space.
Tiles
Being a pattern geek I wanted to include a subtle pattern that fit with the feel of spa and added some interest to the room. Eventually I chose geometric floor tiles in white and light grey from Laura Ashley. We chose matt mini metro tiles in off white with grey grout to echo the colours in the floor tiles whilst creating a classic bathroom look.
Storage. An important one as in order to achieve the spa like experience that I wanted, we needed adequate storage for the kids toys and toiletries. The under sink storage unit has two deep drawers perfect for hiding away all the functional bathroom items.The various shelving spaces can then be used solely for candles to create the relaxing atmosphere once the kids are in bed.
Through the careful consideration of all the above we have managed to achieve a family bathroom inspired by simple Scandinavian design that can transform into a little sanctuary. Small but perfectly formed.
Get the Look
- Bathroom furniture by Soak.com
- Mirror by John Lewis
- Wicker Dove Grey floor tiles by Laura Ashley
© 2018 THE IDEALIST
Show Comments