Guest post- How to wow your guests with unconventional bathroom design!

The bathroom is arguably the room upon which almost every homeowner is judged by guests. Although most of our bathroom judgement worries centre on cleanliness, hygiene is not the only thing upon which a bathroom will be judged. The design and look of a bathroom is equally important as well.

Fortunately, unless you have a truly horrific bathroom with a 70s-style lime-green tub and matching decor, most bathrooms will pass the style test. There is a strong emphasis on pass there, however – a bathroom would not truly astound your guests unless it offers something different to the norm.

How do you go about offering something different to the norm? Here are some ideas...

Subvert layout conventions

The most famous and most successful of bathroom layout subversions is the ‘bathtub in the centre of the room’ layout; this eschews the tradition of placing a tub next to a wall and places it (‘it’ usually being a round tub) slap bang in the centre of the room. The effects can be stunning, although you will need ample space to pull it off.

You do not need to be so bold when subverting your own layout conventions, however. You might choose to install two sinks, instead of one. The sink could be placed next to the end of the bath instead of its more standard location adjacent to the toilet.

The only rules when it come to designing a layout is that the layout does not hamper your use of the bathroom, and that it does not require too much plumbing or electrical work to facilitate.

Play around with shapes

It is not something a lot of people realise, but shape plays a big part in our expectations of a bathroom. Generally, people expect a rectangular tub, a round shower head and a round sink. Any rugs should be rectangular too.

This provides the budding bathroom subversion specialist with ample opportunity to wow their guests in a simple yet effective way. Instead of opting for a rectangular tub, why not try a round, Jacuzzi style tub? Square sinks (especially vessel sinks) can have an equally attention-grabbing effect, too.

Even something as simple as picking an oddly-shaped rug (you could potentially have one cut into a custom shape) can have a big effect on a guest’s overall perception of your bathroom.

Unusual materials

The average bathroom is a haven of tiling, plastic and ceramics. An unusual bathroom should use much more, drawing on inspiration from a range of design trends to draw the eye and dazzle.

Wood is one such material; commonly used in Scandinavian-style design to create a ‘log cabin’ kind of effect. However, the trend has not quite caught on elsewhere. Wood can be expensive, but adding some water-proof paneling to your tub or even just adding wood-effect wall paper is relatively cheap and produces a great effect.

Stone is another lesser-used material, usually reserved for relaxing, Buddhist-inspired spas. Stone tops look amazing and produce a chilled out vibe; they may be expensive, but if it is within your budget, it is well worth it.

Changing colors

The bathroom color palette is limited to say the least: whites, creams, pastel shades and...well, little else, really. This adherence to a limited color set limits the potential of most bathrooms and taking a more open approach, one based on your personal style and color preferences, can lead to some gorgeous results. So, if you feel like painting your bathroom a deep red – do it! It might not be to everyone’s taste, but it will grab plenty of attention.

Those are just some of the ways you can create your own unusual bathroom. 

Chris Smith is a writer currently working with Illuminated Mirrors, a leading supplier of mirrored bathroom cabinets.