Until recently, the vast majority of homeowners around the world commissioned designers to design bathrooms in a neutral color palette with traditional furnishings. Practicality took the place of pomp and excess of decor; the rationality and minimalism of small rooms replaced the brightness and pomp of large bathrooms. But among those who plan to order a bathroom renovation or renovation, there will always be creative individuals for whom it is not enough just to have a perfectly tiled space for taking water procedures. Recently, trends have begun to change; much more individuality has appeared in bathroom interiors, personalized to the lifestyle, preferences and even character of the residents.
For everyone who is not afraid to bring bright and rich colors into their home, use designer decorative elements even in utilitarian rooms, abandon traditional finishing materials and accept the fancy forms of modern plumbing, our publication. Many interesting bathroom design projects in a modern style, harmoniously incorporating elements of modernism, minimalism, country and industrialization, can inspire you to make bold decisions within your city apartments or country houses.
Let's take a closer look at what it is like - a modern bathroom interior for brave homeowners. And let's start our excursion with ways to finish the surfaces of the room.
Floor finishing options
Most often, the bathroom floor is finished with linoleum, floor tiles, laminate or natural stone. Linoleum is the cheapest material of all listed. It is also the easiest to install, i.e. Even a non-professional can handle the installation of linoleum. But fungus and mold easily form under this material. Floor tiles are the most popular way to decorate a bathroom. It is moisture resistant, relatively easy to install and durable. But this material has poor thermal insulation, so you have to lay mats on the tile floor to avoid stepping on the icy floor after a shower. If you are laying laminate flooring, you need to choose varieties with high moisture resistance. But it is easy to use, durable, wear-resistant and has good thermal insulation. Natural stone flooring is expensive and looks stylish.
This material is wear-resistant and safe due to its porous surface structure.
Ceramic tile
There are several types of tiles for the bathroom floor. Ceramic tiles are the most chosen ones as they are affordable, durable and look good. It is distinguished by many shapes and colors. It is better to focus on the manufacturer and brand when choosing this material. Buyers also choose durable clinker. It is even and smooth. Cotto are tiles with increased porosity characteristics. This makes them extremely safe and suitable for homes with small children and elderly people. It is almost impossible to slip on such tiles. Porcelain tiles are an extremely durable material that perfectly withstands temperature changes typical of bathrooms. All these tiles come in matte and glossy. It is better to finish the floor with matte products, as they are easy to clean.
Linoleum
There is no special type of linoleum that can only be used for bathroom floors. Manufacturers do not strive to produce this material with increased moisture resistance and wear resistance characteristics. Due to the improvement, linoleum will cost more, and therefore the main advantage of linoleum – its low cost – will disappear. There are many varieties of linoleum, but for bathrooms it is better to take PVC or marmoleum material. PVC linoleum is the simplest material, but marmoleum is an innovative material created entirely from natural ingredients. Ordinary linoleum is slippery, and therefore for the bathroom you should choose special models, the top layer of which contains corundum chips. It is also better to choose models for the bathroom that contain antibacterial substances.
A natural stone
Natural stone is not often used for finishing bathrooms, because it is quite expensive. Its use is justified only if the rest of the apartment is also decorated pompously and flashily chic. There are many types of natural stones you can use for bathrooms, but unpolished porous marble is most often used. This material perfectly withstands thermal and mechanical loads, and also does not become slippery when water gets on it. It is strong and durable; in fact, such floors are installed for centuries. But natural stone should be chosen by a professional, since not every material of this type is suitable for use in the bathroom. If there are small inclusions of iron in the stone, over time they can lead to the formation of rust.
Self-leveling floor
Self-leveling flooring is one of the most stylish solutions for bathroom flooring. It is a monolithic structure with some image. It is thanks to this material that you can turn the floor in the bathroom into a 3D picture. Those. the image on the floor will look as realistic as possible even without special 3D glasses. This material is strong and durable. It is highly resistant to abrasion. The self-leveling floor is resistant to moisture. It can be washed with any chemicals, and at the same time it will not lose its original qualities. This material withstands temperature changes well and has high thermal conductivity. But the cost of installing self-leveling floors is quite high, and preparation for installation of this material can take about a month. In this case, you need to properly prepare the concrete slab - the base.
Wooden floor
It is difficult to make a floor from ordinary wood in a bathroom, but with the right approach and careful selection of a certain material, you can try. The best wood for bathrooms is teak, which was previously used to build ships. This material is wear-resistant and does not deteriorate under the influence of chemical reagents. This wood is rough to the touch, making the floor non-slip. You can also use thermowood for the floors in the toilet. This material is wood that has been carefully steamed at very high temperatures. This makes the wood moisture resistant. Fungus or mold does not form on such material. But it is better to treat any wooden floor with moisture-resistant substances and cover it with a special yacht varnish.
Moisture-resistant laminate
In most cases, moisture-resistant laminate is made from compressed wood sawdust. To glue these sawdust, special epoxy resins and sometimes paraffin are used. The thicker the material, the greater the load it can withstand. The maximum service life of the laminate also depends on this. This material is not designed for prolonged direct contact with liquid. If you accidentally spill water on it, it will not foam instantly, but it is better to wipe the floor dry to reduce the risk of deformation of the moisture-resistant laminate. Also, moisture-resistant laminate can be made entirely from plastic, which is why it is called completely waterproof. When installing such material, you should adhere to the technology and achieve complete sealing of the joints to prevent the possibility of liquid getting there.
Vinyl floor
Standard vinyl flooring may consist of multiple tiles or be sold in rolls. It is better to use the tiled installation method. If one of the tiles becomes damaged during use, it can be replaced later. It is durable and reliable, and also looks stylish. Vinyl flooring is made up of multiple layers of different components. Moreover, the decorative (most beautiful) layer is always at the top. This material is extremely durable and waterproof. It does not absorb water and does not deteriorate from hot water vapor. Vinyl flooring is quite warm and non-slip. This material is highly antistatic. Vinyl flooring is not environmentally friendly because it is made from synthetic substances. When burned, it can release dangerous and harmful substances.
Curtains in the bathroom - a practical necessity or a decorative element
In a ready-made bathroom design project, you can change the appearance and mood with the help of accessories and textiles. This is a fairly economical way to add brightness to a room or create a bridge between color and texture solutions in the design of a bathroom.
Just one inexpensive detail with an active color increases the level of optimism and positivity in the room.
Curtains in the shower or on the windows can become a key element of your interior, attracting the eye and creating a unique atmosphere.
In this bathroom, designed in the spirit of French Provence, mat roller blinds look just right, combined with wooden decorative elements and furnishings.
Light and transparent linen curtains have become an excellent accessory for a small bathroom, setting off the gray color in the design of the space near the mirrors
Roman blinds made of cotton fabric are a worthy option for a bath in a strict minimalist style with a snow-white finish.
Bright colored curtains are also an accessory to the bathroom area, which is located right in the bedroom. This is an excellent option for spring, bright furnishings of an unusual room.
In small spaces, shower curtains are a necessary item that can also act as an interesting decorative item.
And finally, we bring to your attention several interesting, non-trivial images of bathroom design with modern finishes. We hope that they can inspire you to achieve achievements as part of your own renovation or reconstruction of the premises.
Bathroom interior without ceramic tiles - current reality
The latest trend in bathroom design has become the alternative replacement of ceramic tiles with moisture-resistant modern materials for surface finishing. Porcelain tiles can still be seen on the floor of a modern bathroom, but they are often replaced with raw materials from the natural group of eco-materials.
As a rule, such bathroom designs are simple and laconic, made with a predominance of a neutral color palette, often in snow-white tones.
Often the bathroom continues the color scheme and finishing history of the bedroom next to which it is located. In this case, only colorful flooring allows you to zone the room.
For a minimalist style in a modern bathroom there is no place for ceramic tiles; the walls are treated with moisture-resistant emulsions in neutral tones. There is nothing superfluous in the interior, practicality and rationalism, nothing distracts from the key object.
This small, bright bathroom is made using painted wooden felt, moisture-resistant plaster and laminate for rooms with high humidity. An interesting chandelier and print on film wallpaper add a bohemian feel to the setting.
It’s not often that you see a bathroom design in such dark colors. The game of contrasts in the Art Nouveau style is a key design technique.
This grayish-white kingdom of concrete houses more than just the bathroom. But also a laundry room. Typically, a similar design is chosen for utilitarian rooms in loft-style apartments. These are not always former industrial premises, but the scope of the space and the spaciousness of the premises allow the use of industrial style.
In modern design you can also find brick wall finishing. Sometimes brick is just a stylization of a real material. But real brickwork is also common in the interior of a modern bathroom or shower.
Concrete surfaces are only slightly diluted with the coolness of natural stone. Light marble looks chic against the background of a grayish finish, and interesting decorative elements complement the image of a non-trivial room.
Due to the bright design of the accent wall with a fireplace and a mirror in a carved luxurious frame, it seems that a bathtub was simply brought into the living room. A carved chair with upholstery just adds a finishing touch to this puzzle. The absence of tiles and stone also refers us to residential interiors.
In the interior of this pastel-colored bathroom, stone tiles were used for flooring, which are often used for outdoor work on outdoor surfaces. It matches perfectly with the dark shade of the wooden bench and window shutters.
Shower cabin
The traditional bathing bowl is increasingly being replaced by a practical and functional shower enclosure.
Similar element of plumbing equipment:
- Takes up much less space;
- Requires less cleaning;
- Looks modern and stylish;
- Allows you to save time and water.
Those who like to soak in warm water are recommended to replace standard bathtubs with more compact and stylish corner models, of course, if the layout allows for this option.
Even in large rooms, a free-standing bathing bowl should be abandoned. It looks somehow very archaic in the age of cosmic speeds.
Country elements - a natural touch in modern bathroom design
No matter how modern the finishing materials are, no matter how whimsical and futuristic the sanitary ware and bathroom accessories may seem, bringing a little natural warmth with the help of eco-friendly materials will never go amiss.
Raw wood beams and a bathtub that looks like it was hewn from a block of stone fit harmoniously into the modern bathroom decor. Contrasts in texture and color schemes benefited the interior.
The active use of wood and stone to decorate the surfaces of this room with natural shades made it possible to create an atmosphere of closeness to nature. Huge floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows seem to blur the line between the external surrounding nature and the interior decoration of the bathroom.
Just a couple of wooden elements in the design of a modern bathroom can change not only the appearance, but also the character of the room.
This bath-sauna seemed to have arisen around a pile of large stones, now serving as a screen and zoning elements. Wood and stone are the best choice for country interiors.
Mosaic as a way to implement creative ideas in the bathroom
No matter how many millennia have passed. And humanity will not stop using mosaics to decorate and decorate the surfaces of their homes. Originating in the ancient period, having gone through many transformations, this type of decoration is popular to this day.
Mosaic tiles can be neutral and calm. Especially if the riot of colors outside the bathroom window requires an environment that does not distract from the landscape.
Or maybe bright, stormy, emotional. An entire underwater kingdom, created by the skillful hands of a master who selected each part of the mosaic according to color, size and texture, was created within one room. There is even a periscope and portholes in this bathroom. The mosaics on the walls are so all-consuming and realistic that it is difficult to determine the dimensions of the room, to see the boundaries of the ceiling and walls, for example.
In this bathroom, mosaic tiles were used as flooring. The clarity of shapes, geometricity and contrast of deep color schemes created an individual, laconic image of the bathroom.
Everything about this glamorous bathroom is colorful and luscious. A bright mosaic around an ornate mirror completed the non-trivial image of a room with a red ceiling and a chest of drawers consisting of mirror plates.
The three colors of mosaic tiles created incredible character in this bathroom. Geometric shapes dominate texture and transform space.
Closed storage systems
Rarely do any owners, and especially housewives, get by with just a towel, a brush and toothpaste. Therefore, in the bathroom there is always a huge amount of shampoos, balms, creams, gels, towels and other useful and absolutely necessary things.
And if in the days of the Soviet Union they were proud of such an abundance of bottles, today such a pile-up evokes a strong desire to put it all away. Bedside tables and a narrow closet will serve this purpose.
But the second option is preferable:
- Firstly, it holds much more things,
- Secondly, it is easier to maintain order in it, and thirdly, it practically does not take up any usable space.
If you choose a closed shelving unit that matches the color of the walls, the cabinet will be almost invisible.
What furniture to choose
Small bathrooms look very organic when combined with the right furniture and fittings. We'll talk about plumbing later, but for now let's focus on furniture. As you may have guessed, furniture should under no circumstances be large, dark or clutter up the free space. If possible, install shelves instead of cabinets with doors. Furniture should create the illusion of transparency, “weightlessness” of the room, and not oppress with its quantity and size.
The color of the furniture should be light, preferably matching the walls or having a similar shade. Instead of cabinets, you can use hooks and hangers, or hang a shelf above the toilet.
Cabinets and shelves
To store things in a small bathroom, make the most of the vertical space - install tall cabinets, hanging shelves, and towel racks.
For shampoos, gels, creams and other hygiene products, you can equip the sides of the bath with shelves-doors on brackets that open at an angle of 45-60 degrees, or make narrow horizontal shelves with sliding screens.
Another interesting idea is a pull-out shelf. You can put clean towels in it, which will be well protected from moisture.
Combined walls
If you plan to combine several materials on the bathroom walls, it is important to consider the likelihood of water getting on the surface. If it is high, it is better to lay tiles or other decor that is as resistant to moisture as possible. The farther the surface is from the tap, the less durable materials can be used for finishing.
If we talk about wallpaper, it is important to use moisture-resistant wallpaper on the walls in the bathroom. Otherwise, after some time you will again need to spend money on repairs. For tiles and other finishing materials, it is important to level the surfaces. For this purpose, decorative plaster or drywall is used on the walls, which greatly simplifies and speeds up the process.
Dark colors
How many times have you heard that dark colors should not be used in a small room? Of course, we will agree with this, provided that you really want to visually enlarge the interior. However, if this is not your priority, the dark color palette is open to you. The main factor should be your preference.
In the bathroom below, dark tones predominate, despite its small size. Its atmosphere is created by dark green tiles laid out in a herringbone pattern. In addition to their aesthetic value, they, together with minimalist glazing, separate the wet area. There is terrazzo on the floor. To decorate the bathroom, the designers used a large mirror and white tiles in the toilet and vanity. Black fittings emphasize the loft atmosphere of the interior.
Small bathroom with shower and washing machine
Theoretically, it would seem that the combination of such bright colors as dark blue and red in a small room cannot be successful.
In this small bathroom it was necessary to find not only the main areas (wet area, sink, toilet), but also a place for the washing machine. An interesting solution is a long countertop with not only a washbasin, but also a decorative and working part. A washing machine can easily fit under it, which, with this concept, is unobtrusive and does not interfere with the visual side of the project.
The background is made of delicate tiles imitating concrete. In selected areas, the tiles are arranged vertically: dark blue gloss in the washbasin, white in the shower. Black details unify the design, making it harmonious.
Simplicity as the path to perfection
We know how much you love gray bathrooms , which is why this list is not to be missed. However, to avoid boredom, instead of mass-produced tiles pretending to be concrete, this project uses ceramics with fashionable terrazzo. Thanks to the fact that the designers limited themselves to only this material on the walls and floors, the interior is full of harmony.
Gold hardware adds elegance to the design. Despite the lack of a bathtub, the bathroom provides the opportunity for complete relaxation thanks to the rain shower installed on the ceiling. It is worth paying attention to its interesting design.
The combination of terrazzo, black and gold is stunning.
