It’s time to get creative with your rural renovation. In part 3 of this style guide, I’ll be demonstrating the colours, materials, walls, floors and accessories you should choose for your Refined Rustic bathroom.
To recap, in part 1 I introduced the Refined Rustic look, explaining why this style is so popular, whilst providing some more general design tips. And, in part 2, we discovered how to replicate the look in a cloakroom or small bathroom space.
Why not head back to part 1 (if you haven’t done so already) and read through?
Choosing your Refined Rustic colours
If you’re seeking a style that incorporates bright, bold colours and fancy patterns… well, this isn’t it. Maintaining the rural charm of your property and being sympathetic to its original features are key elements of the Refined Rustic look, which calls for a more conservative approach.
To achieve a clean, refined look that sits perfectly alongside the rustic surfaces and textures of your property, your base colour will need to be white. However, you can be slightly more creative and opt for a shade that contains a hint of beige, brown or grey, depending on your own personal preference.
A neutral palette can be used to add accent shades to your colour scheme (as seen within the mosaic tiles), however, the natural wood and stone finishes within your room should do much of the job for you.
Selecting Refined Rustic materials
One of the main reasons why this look is perfect for a renovated property is the fact that it makes a feature of all the original and rustic elements within your room.
Wood
Exposed wooden beams are one of the most charming features of any cottage, farmhouse or barn renovation, adding real character to the overall feel of your decor. Therefore, it is wise to choose furniture and accessories that complement the original wood in your home. Weathered wood finishes, like oak, pine or walnut, are great for flooring and countertops, whilst wicker, bamboo or faux wood materials like rattan, look superb when picking out accessories.
Stone
Another natural material that is a common feature of rustic properties is stone. Whether you're lucky enough to have gorgeous rough stone walls or simple a few stone embellishments here and there, it's a good idea to pick out some products which complement these in terms of colouring and shade. Stone effect tiles are a great example, as you'll discover below.
Refined Rustic walls and floors
Depending on the composition of your room, stone and wood finishes will complement the original features in your property. However, natural stone can be expensive and difficult to use, whilst wood isn’t always suitable for the damp and humid environment that a bathroom presents, so we would recommend looking for alternatives that are more suited to bathroom use.
Floor
Your choice of flooring is incredibly important, as it will set the tone for the rest of your decor. In our room set, we’ve gone for a mixture of tiles and vinyl flooring. We selected grey stone effect tiles that complement our walls, whilst the vinyl flooring really does give the appearance of wood, with a surface that won’t warp, crack or require regular maintenance.
Walls
Where the walls don’t contain stone (for example, internal or stud partition walls), we’ve either simply painted a warm shade of white or, in the case of the shower enclosure, used shower wall panels in a similar shade. To provide added protection around the basin area, we have created a splashback using a neutral mosaic tile.
Refined Rustic accessories
With the Refined Rustic look, less is certainly more when it comes to accessorising your space. Here are my 7 top tips for choosing your bathroom accessories:
- Seek out natural materials—for example, wicker baskets for additional storage
- De-clutter your basin area—choose some simple accessories, like a soap dish and tumbler, to keep everything in order
- Add houseplants—still an incredibly popular choice, a couple of well-chosen plants, which thrive in a hot and humid atmosphere, will add some much-needed greenery
- Keep things close to hand—of course, your bathroom will need to be a functional space, so why not add a shower caddy, for neat and understated storage
- Matching metallic—your choice of heating should also be understated and compact. Choose a slimline heated towel rail which complements the finish of your taps and shower
- Soft underfoot—keep your floor dry and your feet warm with a welcoming bath mat in a neutral colour
- Add task lighting—modern wall lamps are in-keeping with the look, whilst providing extra illumination where you need it most
Shop your Refined Rustic bathroom
In part 4, I’ll be showing you exactly which products to choose to achieve the Refined Rustic look. Click on the image below for your final inspirational instalment.
