Transform Your Bathroom into a Luxurious Haven with Expert Design Tips
The humble bathroom, often dominated by practical necessities, can be transformed into a serene sanctuary that delights both residents and guests. As one of the most frequently used areas in any home, where daily routines unfold from morning to night, thoughtful organisation and design are crucial for creating a harmonious living environment.
Jordana Ashkenazi, a London-based interior designer and founder of Element One House, reveals how to elevate your bathroom to exude luxury, maintain organisation, and impress visitors. She emphasises that you don't need to choose between form and function when refreshing your bathroom, ensuite, or guest toilet for spring. Whether working with a modest or generous budget, both minor adjustments and major renovations can make a significant impact.
Bathroom Organisation Hacks for a Clutter-Free Space
Jordana advocates for clever, hidden storage to achieve a luxury bathroom aesthetic. She recommends keeping surfaces calm and uncluttered. For those renovating or with larger budgets, installing drawers, built-in cabinetry, and mirrored cabinets can effectively conceal toiletries and bathroom essentials.
If built-ins aren't feasible, freestanding shelving paired with matching baskets offers a beautiful and intentional alternative. Upgrading your mirror can also pack a punch; many contemporary designs feature integrated lighting, back-lighting, or perimeter lighting with internal shelving, providing storage without the bulky appearance of traditional sliding cabinets.
Another simple upgrade is adding floating shelves above a toilet or along an empty wall to create extra storage without heaviness. Subtle LED strip lighting beneath shelves or within niches introduces a soft, elevated glow. Jordana also emphasises compartmentalising bathroom drawers using simple dividers or repurposed packaging boxes to separate hair tools, skincare, and everyday items, preventing chaos in deep drawers.
Achieving the Luxe Look with Thoughtful Touches
Small touches can transform a cold bathroom into a warm, inviting space. Jordana suggests emulating boutique hotel stylings rather than showroom aesthetics. Layering a simple tray with a candle, reed diffuser, and beautiful tissue box holder creates a styled moment. Adding greenery, whether faux or real plants where light permits, instantly softens the space.
Art isn't just for living rooms and bedrooms; it can inject personality into empty bathroom walls, making the space feel designed rather than purely functional. Refillable pumps for soaps and body wash paired with porcelain, stone, or marble accessories look elevated, though Jordana admits a fondness for well-styled Aesop bottles too.
Lighting makes a huge difference, with numerous gorgeous bathroom lights available that add instant elegance. When renovating, Jordana likes to make the vanity the focal point, using a beautiful mirror with wall lights on either side or a single light above to create a polished, designer look.
Balancing Function and Form in Bathroom Design
Design should solve storage, Jordana asserts. She is a big fan of bathroom niches, though these depend on budget and layout, typically requiring retiling during renovations. Niches in showers or walls for toilet rolls or baskets can completely elevate the space. Where space allows, they can be styled decoratively with small ornaments, planters, or sculptural pieces to add personality.
Subtle lighting in niches or shelving, using strip lights or rechargeable lamps, adds drama and depth. Jordana also shares common bathroom design mistakes to avoid, such as overcrowding surfaces, leaving functional items exposed, and using plastic accessories where possible. She prefers bamboo, stone, marble, porcelain, or glass accessories, with heavier stone pieces being safer in family bathrooms.
However, she approves of plastic for toilet brush systems, favouring simple, replaceable options over wall-hung holders that can become unhygienic. Another mistake is ignoring tile grout and silicone; discoloured or mouldy grout can make a beautiful bathroom feel tired, so regrouting or changing grout colour can refresh the space without replacing tiles.
Clearing Clutter and Making Impactful Changes
Removing unused, unwanted, or expired items is essential to prevent a cluttered, chaotic feel. Expired skincare, half-used travel minis, bulky plastic organisers, and too many cleaning products on display are major offenders. For families, it's worth assessing whether old bath toys are still needed, cleaning or discarding mouldy or broken ones.
Reassessing bins, toilet roll holders, and toilet brush systems that no longer match or feel unhygienic can also update the space. For those without the budget for a full refresh, small upgrades can exude luxury: upgrading towels, adding a textured bathmat, swapping soap dispensers for refillable bottles, and changing the toilet seat can surprisingly refresh the water closet.
Colour is another great way to liven up the space; painting walls, adding wallpaper, or bringing in coloured accessories can transform the feel without major renovation. Wallpaper offers playful, bold, or soft, sophisticated options at various price points. Even switching out a chrome pedal bin for something more considered that matches accessories can make all the difference.
Strategic Investments and Budget-Friendly Buys
Jordana advises balancing your budget around elements you interact with most. Tapware is worth investing in because it's both decorative and functional plumbing used daily. Well-made taps in finishes like warm metallic tones or brushed textures can change the feel of a vanity or shower, and cheaper options often need replacing sooner.
Investing in a well-designed vanity instantly elevates the overall look, as it can reveal the price point or age of a bathroom. Electric towel rails independent from the boiler bring warmth, comfort, and a luxury hotel feel while tying in with tapware finishes. For budget-friendly upgrades, Jordana recommends lovely toothbrush holders, soap trays, refillable dispensers, well-designed bins, replaceable toilet brush systems, and structured baskets.
She also highly recommends a considered reed diffuser or beautiful candle, as scent is an underrated part of bathroom design that can completely change how a space feels. Designer laundry baskets and slim drawer organisers keep the look cohesive while avoiding unsightly plastic. With these expert tips, any bathroom can become a luxurious, organised haven that balances function and form beautifully.
