With the dark evenings drawing in, it’s that time of year where we look to our homes to bring us a little comfort. That’s why this week’s style guide focuses on achieving a beautiful bathroom that looks both lavish and luxurious.
Recently, we’ve seen a shift in interior design trends towards a more high-end, designer look and feel that can work in any type of household. The trend has been influenced by hotel bathrooms, especially those found in boutique hotels, with the aim of producing a glamorous space that will wow anyone as they walk through the door.
A designer bathroom needn’t mean paying designer prices. With our hints and tips, you can create a luxurious and indulgent bathroom that doesn’t break the bank—a major consideration with Christmas just around the corner!
What is the look?
We’ve named this look Boutique Blush, as it is all about creating the type of bathroom that you’d expect to find in a beautiful boutique hotel. The major difference being that this bathroom will reflect your own personal tastes and requirements, providing you with your very own palace of pampering in which to unwind, relax and take an hour or two out of your busy lifestyle.
Boutique Blush is a very feminine style, much like the French Floral look we wrote about a few months back, with pinks and blushes providing the main colour accents, contrasting with strong, confident black lines or borders. Everything in your bathroom should be designed to deliver maximum opulence with deluxe materials and textures. Individual elements in your bathroom should also stand out, turning heads at every opportunity.
Let’s take a look at some further inspiration…
Boutique Blush inspiration
Of course, the first place to start when gathering inspiration for any Boutique Blush bathroom would be designer hotels. It may be that you recently stayed in such a hotel and you have a firm idea of the type of décor you’d want, or you could simply look through a range of travel blogs and inspirational imagery online. Take a look at the world’s best hotel bathrooms for some great ideas.
If this sounds like hard work, don't worry. I've saved you a little time and effort by creating a mood board, with ideas for colours, patterns, textures, products, fixtures and accessories.
Planning your Boutique Blush bathroom
Of course, what you want in your bathroom doesn’t always fit the size of your bathroom. The first thing you'll need to do is get a tape measure out and work out the exact dimensions of your room. Don't forget, bathrooms, especially those in older properties, aren't always exactly square or rectangular. Make sure you measure each wall individually.
Sketch your bathroom out to scale on a piece of paper and work out which elements will fit, taking into consideration doors, windows and bathroom clearance guidelines.
Work out which elements you really want and which may need to be consigned to the scrap heap. Budget is another major consideration. Are you looking at ways of cutting costs, or would you be prepared to add a little extra on top for a high-end finish?
Unless you're a qualified bathroom fitter or plumber yourself, you'll need to call a tradesperson in to quote for the installation job. Handy hint: Find out which questions you should ask when hiring a bathroom fitter.
Creating your Boutique Blush bathroom
To illustrate the look, I worked with our in-house team of product experts to create this fabulous room set.
Key elements for your Boutique Blush bathroom:
- A feminine look and feel
- Contemporary style products with clean lines and simple shapes
- Opulent materials and surfaces like marble—providing a luxurious finish
- A minimalist design that feels spacious and uncluttered
- Pinks or blushes as accent colours—light and relaxing
- Designer elements—e.g. taps with special finishes, designer heating
Choosing the right products for your Boutique Blush bathroom
Walls & Floors
Get the colours, materials and textures right and you’re already halfway to achieving your Boutique Blush bathroom. Tiles on both your walls and floors should reflect opulence, with marble effect designs recreating the look of the real thing, at a fraction of the cost. Painting your walls instead? Opt for pinks and blushes to create a feminine feel.
Suite
To create something truly contemporary, we’d highly recommend a countertop basin and basin shelf combination. If you share with a partner, why not add a second basin, so both of you can get ready at the same time?
A back to wall toilet, where the cistern is neatly concealed in either a unit or behind a stud partition wall, will promote sleek design in your bathroom.
Shower
If you have the room to spare, a walk in shower or wet room is ideal to create a spa-like feel. Choose a thermostatic shower set that gives you a consistent and thoroughly indulgent experience, with a choice of overhead shower and handset.
Storage
To help maintain a minimalist style, storage should be low key, with a single white cabinet neatly providing a place for all your essentials. A shelf or washstand could also be used to store towels or other objects, but remember, with this style, less is more.
Bath
An opulent surrounding demands a luxurious bathtub, making a freestanding bath the ideal choice. We've selected a contemporary bath for our room set, but you could just as easily incorporate a more traditional and ornate design into your bathroom. If you simply don't have space for a full freestanding bath, you could choose a back to wall bath, the perfect compromise between form and function.
Taps and Heating
Two elements where you can really go to town with a designer style, taps and heating allow for some true personalisation of your space. Wall mounted taps are very on-trend at the moment, and you’ll find some great alternatives to traditional chrome when it comes to finishes. Look out for brushed nickel, gold, rose gold and even black when choosing your fixtures.
The same can be said of heating. With modern materials and manufacturing techniques, there really should be no limit to your imagination when choosing a radiator or heated towel rail. Seek out designer styles that look like pieces of art in their own right.
Lighting and Accessories
Choose something stylish and glamorous when it comes to lighting. Hanging light fixtures look great, whilst a chandelier could add a touch of elegance to proceedings.
Accessories should be kept to a minimum. A side table, stool or ottoman will make a great addition, not to mention handy storage space.
Shop for your Boutique Blush bathroom
I hope I've inspired you to create your very own Boutique Blush bathroom. Why not embark upon your bathroom buying journey today by visiting our bathroom collections? You'll find a great range of coordinated styles to suit bathrooms of all sizes.
