1. Use neutral tiles and explore painted walls and wallpaper
The bathroom is one room in the house where you must commit a bit more permanently. As tiles and taps can’t be easily changed. Therefore, a good way to work with this trend yet still use tiles that will be versatile as times goes by, is to use tiles inspired by natural stone. Use colour for non-tiled walls, as this is easy to update; opt for colours such as a deep rich navy blue like the one from Little Green called “Hick’s Blue”.
Another alternative to painted walls is to use wallpaper in a dark navy colour such as the Ferm living’s “Lines Wallpaper” in Dark Blue (see image below). This is the perfect wallpaper to use in a cloakroom or a small en-suite to embrace the navy and metallic trend but still have the flexibility to change it anytime your tastes change.
2. All the metallic finishes are beautiful now, but which are the best finishes for bathrooms?
A misconception about metallic finishes in a bathroom is that they will date quickly and the investment you are making in beautiful taps will go to waste as soon as the trends fade. If you want to play it a bit safe but still want to have fun with this trend, my recommendation is to stick to brassware in brushed steel or brushed nickel finishes. These finishes have been used for bathroom taps since the 80’s and to this date, they have never stopped looking amazing. See below for an example of contemporary Brushed Nickel Taps from Axor Montreux.
On the other hand, if you have the same passion I have about brass and bronze finishes, don’t hold back! The trick is finding a tap that follows very simple lines in design so even though it has a different finish, the design and shape remain simple so it endures the test of time. Here is an example of this with the Vado Individual Range in brushed gold.
3. You can mix metallic finishes in a bathroom
For this trend to work in a bathroom, you need to show flexibility when allowing different metallic finishes in the same room. Many people are petrified of the idea of mismatching metallic finishes and don’t get me wrong, in a minimalist and symmetrical design the beauty of matching small details really pays off. However, that is not what this trend is about, here you have the freedom to do things differently.
We are not proposing complete chaos here! If you apply a certain order and thoughtfulness, mixing metallic finishes can add more character to a room. I’d recommend consistency so the brassware (bath, shower and basin mixers) match. However, accessories, light fittings and shower door details could belong to a different metal. See the image below where the designer has made this work in an effective way.
4. Every accessory is an opportunity reinforce the style of your bathroom
How to decorate a bathroom is a whole new post entirely. For this post, what is important is to keep in mind the space you are working with. If you are working with a small space there won’t be room in the bathroom where you can use a rug, chair or a cushion to enhance the style. Therefore, when choosing which decorative items to display in your bathroom, it is extremely important for this trend to embrace the metallic finish. Be it a plant pot, colour towels or a dynamic fabric pattern for a blind. Maybe a large picture or poster that adds to the design and perhaps big bulky candles in navy with a metallic candle holder and boom! You have completed your look!
We always encourage our clients to inject some of their personality into a space that used to be regarded as a utilitarian space in the house, but which is now taking the same importance in interiors as other rooms of the house. So hopefully this post has inspired you to diversify your new bathroom project and give you courage to follow this beautiful trend!
Thank you for reading our blog. Let us know what you think about it, maybe you have some useful notes to share too? Let’s start a discussion and inspire each other!
Stay tuned for next month’s post. We are expanding our advice and case studies on wetrooms, as they are proving more and more popular, with a greater demand from consumers wanting to know more about them!
In case you missed it, check out our blog from last month
Case Study: Marble Master Bathroom in Esher
