How to Create a Sanctuary: 7 Steps to a Warm and Functional Bathroom
If you are planning a bathroom refresh, here are my 7 non-negotiables for a space that looks high-end but works hard for real life.
We ask a lot of our bathrooms. We want them to be practical, hygienic, and easy to clean for the morning school rush, but we also expect them to transform into a serene, candle-lit spa at 8 PM on a Friday.
Achieving this balance isn't just about picking a pretty tile. It is about understanding how materials wear, how light affects mood, and most importantly where you are going to put the shampoo bottles.
If you are planning a bathroom refresh, here are my 7 non-negotiables for a space that looks high-end but works hard for real life.
1. Trick the Eye (and Hide the Dirt) with Pattern
In smaller bathrooms or cloakrooms, people often default to plain tiles thinking it makes the room look "clean." I prefer the opposite. A patterned floor tile is a master of deception. It draws the eye across the surface, blurring the edges of the room to make it feel larger. Bonus? It is excellent at hiding dust, hair, and footprints between cleans.
2. The Golden Rule of Grout
If you take only one piece of advice from this post, let it be this: Never put white grout on a bathroom floor. It looks pristine for exactly three days. After that, it becomes a maintenance nightmare that slowly discolours. always opt for a soft grey, taupe, or dark grout for floor tiles. It grounds the scheme and keeps the floor looking fresh for years, not weeks.
3. Warm Up the "Cold" Surfaces
Bathrooms are naturally full of "cold" materials; porcelain, glass, chrome, and stone. If you aren't careful, the room can feel clinical rather than relaxing. The easiest way to fix this is with a wooden vanity. The natural timber texture adds instant warmth and softness, balancing out the hard surfaces and making the room feel like a sanctuary, not a laboratory.
4. Don't Neglect the Niche
A shower niche is not a "nice to have"—it is essential engineering. There is nothing luxurious about tripping over shampoo bottles on the shower floor or balancing soap on a chrome wire rack that rusts. Plan for a recessed niche (or even better, a full-width wall shelf) to house your products. It keeps the shower visually calm and perfectly organised.
5. Light It Like a Living Room
One single bright ceiling light is great for cleaning the toilet, but terrible for relaxing in the bath. Just like the kitchen, you need layers.
Task: Sconces either side of the mirror are the most flattering for makeup and shaving (avoid downlights directly above your head—they cast shadows).
Ambient: Dimmable overheads or LED strips in the niche create that soft, hotel-style glow for the evening.
6. Storage is the Secret to "Zen"
The reason hotel bathrooms feel so relaxing is because you can’t see the toothpaste tube, the spare toilet rolls, or the kids' bath toys. "Visual noise" creates stress. Prioritise closed storage—deep drawers in your vanity or a recessed mirrored cabinet—so that everything has a home. When the surfaces are clear, your mind is clear.
7. Inject Personality (It’s Not a Laboratory)
Just because a bathroom needs to be functional doesn't mean it has to be boring. Don't be afraid to treat it like any other room in the house by adding real character. Whether it’s a stunning mural, a pop of or a playful striped tile, these elements stop the space from feeling clinical. As you can see in these examples, a bold wall covering can turn a standard bathroom into a genuine design statement.
Does your bathroom need a better layout? Bathrooms are often the hardest working rooms in the house, which makes the planning even more critical. If you are struggling to plan the space or need help choosing finishes that will stand the test of time, I can help.
If you’re based in Kent or London and looking for a family-focused interior designer who gets how real homes work, I’d love to chat. Send me a message here to discuss your project.