Bathroom Design
Bathroom Makeovers
10 Beautiful White-and-Wood Bathrooms
Designers hit the mark with this popular pairing in makeovers of bathrooms in many sizes and styles
A white bathroom looks clean, crisp and bright. Add some natural wood elements into the design, and suddenly the space feels warmer and more inviting. While there are many ways to approach the popular white-and-wood combination in the bathroom, the following 10 bathrooms from 38 to 700 square feet do so with distinct style. Tell us in the Comments which one is your favorite!
Tile. Black marble in a small-scale herringbone pattern grounds the bathroom floor. “This scale was just right for the small room,” Bula says. “You get to see the right amount of the repeat.” The bathroom’s small footprint meant that splurging on the expensive material didn’t cost a fortune. The shower tile is 4-by-4-inch white tile in a running bond pattern surrounded by dark grout.
Shower and tub. Gold faucets brighten the room, and a patterned curtain gives the shower some bold design and a pattern.
Read more about this bathroom makeover
Shower and tub. Gold faucets brighten the room, and a patterned curtain gives the shower some bold design and a pattern.
Read more about this bathroom makeover
2. Industrial Style With a Nod to the Railroad
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Size: 49 square feet (4.5 square meters)
Designer: Schmauder Group
Designer Michelle Schmauder enlarged the bathroom of a couple’s 1940s row house by 16 square feet by expanding into a linen closet in the hallway. A pocket door and fixed shower partition make the most of the long, narrow space. “And now one of [the clients] can walk past when the other is brushing their teeth,” Schmauder says.
The couple requested the white, wood and black accent color scheme. “My clients were drawn to industrial style,” Schmauder says. “And their row house is right next to the railroad tracks — you can feel the train in the house when it goes by.” The train tracks also inspired the bathroom’s design.
Vanity and countertop. Schmauder repurposed a reclaimed-fir TV console into a double vanity. “This piece was easier to convert into a vanity in terms of plumbing, because we didn’t have to cut around drawers like we would have had to with a dresser,” she says. “And the storage it offers makes up for the loss of the linen closet.” The homeowners opted to forgo having a tub in order to have the double vanity.
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; faucets: Brooklyn collection, Watermark Designs; lights: Vista 2, Cedar & Moss
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Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Size: 49 square feet (4.5 square meters)
Designer: Schmauder Group
Designer Michelle Schmauder enlarged the bathroom of a couple’s 1940s row house by 16 square feet by expanding into a linen closet in the hallway. A pocket door and fixed shower partition make the most of the long, narrow space. “And now one of [the clients] can walk past when the other is brushing their teeth,” Schmauder says.
The couple requested the white, wood and black accent color scheme. “My clients were drawn to industrial style,” Schmauder says. “And their row house is right next to the railroad tracks — you can feel the train in the house when it goes by.” The train tracks also inspired the bathroom’s design.
Vanity and countertop. Schmauder repurposed a reclaimed-fir TV console into a double vanity. “This piece was easier to convert into a vanity in terms of plumbing, because we didn’t have to cut around drawers like we would have had to with a dresser,” she says. “And the storage it offers makes up for the loss of the linen closet.” The homeowners opted to forgo having a tub in order to have the double vanity.
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; faucets: Brooklyn collection, Watermark Designs; lights: Vista 2, Cedar & Moss
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
Shower. The new shower stall is 30 by 60 inches. It features a fixed glass partition that looks like divided panes. (The partition sits on the outside of the shower so it’s easier to clean.)
Tile. Black and white dominate the tile color palette. In the shower, the designer used double hexagonal ceramic tile for the floor and subway tile with a dark grout for the wall. She used an encaustic cement tile in a more ornate graphic pattern for the rest of the bathroom floor. Because she stuck to the same color palette and paired similar shapes and patterns, the two floor tiles can play off each other cohesively.
Read more about this bathroom
Floor tile: Bristol, Cement Tile Shop
Shop for cement floor tile on Houzz
Tile. Black and white dominate the tile color palette. In the shower, the designer used double hexagonal ceramic tile for the floor and subway tile with a dark grout for the wall. She used an encaustic cement tile in a more ornate graphic pattern for the rest of the bathroom floor. Because she stuck to the same color palette and paired similar shapes and patterns, the two floor tiles can play off each other cohesively.
Read more about this bathroom
Floor tile: Bristol, Cement Tile Shop
Shop for cement floor tile on Houzz
3. Fresh Updates on Traditional Design
Location: Hockessin, Delaware
Size: 69 square feet (6.4 square meters)
Designer: Liza Nicole Interiors
To more than double their master bathroom’s 30-square-foot size, these homeowners were willing to sacrifice their walk-in closet. Working with designer Liza Nicole, they incorporated elements that feel classic and traditional but also made sure to give their bathroom a fresh feeling, due to both their style preferences and potential future buyers. (The homeowners may relocate in the coming years.)
Vanity and countertop. The double vanity balances the two styles the homeowners were after, with its clean lines but antique-looking finish and hardware. While the team had considered a custom piece, this off-the-shelf vanity matched the style they wanted and also saved on the budget. A Caesarstone countertop in Pure White tops the vanity. The vanity is 72 inches wide by 34 inches high by 24 inches deep.
Shower. A new spacious shower sits at the end of the bathroom, featuring amenities like a custom niche, grab bar, handheld shower and multifunctional shower head. Nicole used a clear frameless glass for the shower surround, choosing a glass with a coating that protects against water spots.
Tile. Hexagonal Carrara marble tile was used for the bathroom’s floor (with radiant heating). In the shower, the team went with a classic white subway tile.
Sconces: Visual Comfort; faucets: California Faucets
Location: Hockessin, Delaware
Size: 69 square feet (6.4 square meters)
Designer: Liza Nicole Interiors
To more than double their master bathroom’s 30-square-foot size, these homeowners were willing to sacrifice their walk-in closet. Working with designer Liza Nicole, they incorporated elements that feel classic and traditional but also made sure to give their bathroom a fresh feeling, due to both their style preferences and potential future buyers. (The homeowners may relocate in the coming years.)
Vanity and countertop. The double vanity balances the two styles the homeowners were after, with its clean lines but antique-looking finish and hardware. While the team had considered a custom piece, this off-the-shelf vanity matched the style they wanted and also saved on the budget. A Caesarstone countertop in Pure White tops the vanity. The vanity is 72 inches wide by 34 inches high by 24 inches deep.
Shower. A new spacious shower sits at the end of the bathroom, featuring amenities like a custom niche, grab bar, handheld shower and multifunctional shower head. Nicole used a clear frameless glass for the shower surround, choosing a glass with a coating that protects against water spots.
Tile. Hexagonal Carrara marble tile was used for the bathroom’s floor (with radiant heating). In the shower, the team went with a classic white subway tile.
Sconces: Visual Comfort; faucets: California Faucets
A new storage cabinet sits where the sink used to be. Clear glass doors open up the space, while the furniture feeling of the piece adds more of the classic but fresh feeling the homeowners were after. Hanging wall art can be easily swapped out.
See more of this bathroom transformation
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
See more of this bathroom transformation
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray, Sherwin-Williams
4. Clean Lines Softened With Light and Bright Touches
Location: Toronto
Size: 72 square feet (6.7 square meters)
Designer: Alison Strickland of Narratif
What had started as a bathroom refresh ultimately became a down-to-the-studs renovation. Designer and homeowner Alison Strickland swapped out dark, heavy fixtures for lighter, cleaner bathroom pieces to complement her renovated bedroom.
New V-groove wood paneling adds texture and depth to the walls.
Vanity and countertop. A light wood vanity with open storage on the bottom brightens the bathroom. Strickland customized the vanity with mother-of-pearl knobs. The fixtures are polished chrome.
Location: Toronto
Size: 72 square feet (6.7 square meters)
Designer: Alison Strickland of Narratif
What had started as a bathroom refresh ultimately became a down-to-the-studs renovation. Designer and homeowner Alison Strickland swapped out dark, heavy fixtures for lighter, cleaner bathroom pieces to complement her renovated bedroom.
New V-groove wood paneling adds texture and depth to the walls.
Vanity and countertop. A light wood vanity with open storage on the bottom brightens the bathroom. Strickland customized the vanity with mother-of-pearl knobs. The fixtures are polished chrome.
Tile. The flooring is a large-format porcelain tile made to resemble marble.
Tub. “I knew I wanted a petite one-piece tub in this racetrack shape,” Strickland says. “This one is monolithic and minimalistic.” The tub features a wall-mounted polished-chrome faucet.
See more of this master suite
Faucet: Ginger’s
Tub. “I knew I wanted a petite one-piece tub in this racetrack shape,” Strickland says. “This one is monolithic and minimalistic.” The tub features a wall-mounted polished-chrome faucet.
See more of this master suite
Faucet: Ginger’s
5. Neutral Tones With a Vintage Touch
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 84 square feet (7.8 square meters)
Designers: Andrea Bauer and Lana Lounsbury of Lana Lounsbury Interiors
As part of a couple’s downstairs bathroom remodel, designers Andrea Bauer and Lana Lounsbury updated the layout and look, adding a floating wood vanity as a focal point and clean, neutral finishes that nod to vintage.
Vanity and countertop. The floating vanity, made of walnut, sits just inside the door to the bathroom, so the team designed it to be the bathroom’s focal point. It was made by Splinters Millworks and is 42 inches long. It features matte black hardware and a Cambria countertop in Waverton.
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 84 square feet (7.8 square meters)
Designers: Andrea Bauer and Lana Lounsbury of Lana Lounsbury Interiors
As part of a couple’s downstairs bathroom remodel, designers Andrea Bauer and Lana Lounsbury updated the layout and look, adding a floating wood vanity as a focal point and clean, neutral finishes that nod to vintage.
Vanity and countertop. The floating vanity, made of walnut, sits just inside the door to the bathroom, so the team designed it to be the bathroom’s focal point. It was made by Splinters Millworks and is 42 inches long. It features matte black hardware and a Cambria countertop in Waverton.
Tile. Black porcelain tile with a natural look covers the floor. The designers chose the tile because it is easier to clean and was easier to install than other materials, including stone, but still adds a natural look. Beveled subway tile flows across all walls in the bathroom, including in the shower.
Shower. “We did frameless glass to give an infinity look to the tile,” Lounsbury says. The shower is 17 square feet and features a sliding glass door on the side next to the toilet. Vintage-looking fixtures in a matte black finish pop against the white tile and tie in with those on the vanity.
See more of this bathroom makeover
Shop for shower heads and body sprays
Shower. “We did frameless glass to give an infinity look to the tile,” Lounsbury says. The shower is 17 square feet and features a sliding glass door on the side next to the toilet. Vintage-looking fixtures in a matte black finish pop against the white tile and tie in with those on the vanity.
See more of this bathroom makeover
Shop for shower heads and body sprays
6. Hotel Style for a Master Suite
Location: Toronto
Size: 91 square feet (8.5 square meters)
Designer: Veronica Martin of Two Fold Interiors (formerly of Veronica Martin Design Studio)
For their en suite master bathroom, the owners of this home tasked designer Veronica Martin with creating something that you might see at a five-star resort. “They wanted it to feel almost like a hotel guest suite,” the designer says.
To create the feeling of luxury and elegance associated with high-end resorts, Martin limited the material and color palette, sticking to white, wood and black outlines. “We believe that creating the biggest impact is about editing,” Martin says.
Vanity and countertop. The floating white oak vanity stands out in the mostly white bathroom. A Caesarstone countertop in White Quartz tops the cabinets, tying in with the rest of the bathroom’s color scheme. Brushed-bronze fixtures, along with amber-tone pendant lamps, warm up the vignette.
Tile. The bathroom’s walls and floor are covered in a large-format porcelain tile that resembles marble. It’s an easy-to-clean material. Each piece is 30 by 60 inches, reducing the number of grout lines.
Location: Toronto
Size: 91 square feet (8.5 square meters)
Designer: Veronica Martin of Two Fold Interiors (formerly of Veronica Martin Design Studio)
For their en suite master bathroom, the owners of this home tasked designer Veronica Martin with creating something that you might see at a five-star resort. “They wanted it to feel almost like a hotel guest suite,” the designer says.
To create the feeling of luxury and elegance associated with high-end resorts, Martin limited the material and color palette, sticking to white, wood and black outlines. “We believe that creating the biggest impact is about editing,” Martin says.
Vanity and countertop. The floating white oak vanity stands out in the mostly white bathroom. A Caesarstone countertop in White Quartz tops the cabinets, tying in with the rest of the bathroom’s color scheme. Brushed-bronze fixtures, along with amber-tone pendant lamps, warm up the vignette.
Tile. The bathroom’s walls and floor are covered in a large-format porcelain tile that resembles marble. It’s an easy-to-clean material. Each piece is 30 by 60 inches, reducing the number of grout lines.
Shower. A separate shower with a black frame features a long ledge for stowing bath products.
Read more about this bathroom renovation
Read more about this bathroom renovation
7. Streamlined Luxury in the City
Location: New York City
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Andrew Mikhael
This now expansive bathroom in New York City is the result of the homeowner’s purchasing the apartment downstairs and combining it with the apartment he already had. Architect Andrew Mikhael expanded the previous 40-square-foot bathroom into what you see here, using luxe, streamlined materials and subtle lighting to create a feeling of clean, sophisticated elegance. LED strip lights softly illuminate the space.
Vanity and countertop. The espresso stained floating vanity contrasts the mostly white surfaces. The Corian countertop with integrated sinks is streamlined yet architectural.
Faucets: Axor Citterio, Hansgrohe
Location: New York City
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Andrew Mikhael
This now expansive bathroom in New York City is the result of the homeowner’s purchasing the apartment downstairs and combining it with the apartment he already had. Architect Andrew Mikhael expanded the previous 40-square-foot bathroom into what you see here, using luxe, streamlined materials and subtle lighting to create a feeling of clean, sophisticated elegance. LED strip lights softly illuminate the space.
Vanity and countertop. The espresso stained floating vanity contrasts the mostly white surfaces. The Corian countertop with integrated sinks is streamlined yet architectural.
Faucets: Axor Citterio, Hansgrohe
Tub. A freestanding bathtub adds curves to the mostly linear space.
Tile. A large-format marble tile (12 by 24 inches) wraps around three of the bathroom’s walls. The white stone, with its subtle gold flecks and veining, picks up on the floor color and the teak and ipe used throughout the bathroom.
See more of this master bathroom
Tile. A large-format marble tile (12 by 24 inches) wraps around three of the bathroom’s walls. The white stone, with its subtle gold flecks and veining, picks up on the floor color and the teak and ipe used throughout the bathroom.
See more of this master bathroom
8. Style and Storage in a Family Bathroom
Location: North Haven, Connecticut
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer: Kimberly Horton of KH Home Design and Furnishings
In this master bathroom, clean lines and neutral colors meet reclaimed wood and black-and-white tile for a design style that interior designer (and homeowner) Kimberly Horton calls modern bohemian. As part of a renovation that nearly doubled the size of the existing bathroom (she relocated the powder room and borrowed space from the laundry room), Horton added more storage, style and design solutions to better accommodate her family of six.
Tile. Cement tile with a black-and-white arabesque pattern was used for the floor. In the shower, classic white 3-by-6-inch subway tile lines the wall, while charcoal hexagonal tile covers the floor. “We have so many squares and rectangles in here that I wanted to do something different for the shower floor and niche,” the designer says. “The hexagonal tiles also worked well with the arabesque pattern on the floor.”
Shower. Where to put the shower was one of the redesign’s biggest challenges. “We not only had to size the stall for my husband but also use an extra-large custom door,” Horton says. The new shower measures 5 feet, 6 inches by 4 feet, 3 inches, fitting perfectly into the bathroom corner.
Tub. The claw-foot tub was a choice for style as well as practicality. It nods to the antiques Horton has incorporated throughout the rest of the house but also suits the bathroom style. With two young daughters, Horton also wanted a tub that would be easy to bathe them in.
Tile: Safi White, Cement Tile Shop
Shop for subway tile
Location: North Haven, Connecticut
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer: Kimberly Horton of KH Home Design and Furnishings
In this master bathroom, clean lines and neutral colors meet reclaimed wood and black-and-white tile for a design style that interior designer (and homeowner) Kimberly Horton calls modern bohemian. As part of a renovation that nearly doubled the size of the existing bathroom (she relocated the powder room and borrowed space from the laundry room), Horton added more storage, style and design solutions to better accommodate her family of six.
Tile. Cement tile with a black-and-white arabesque pattern was used for the floor. In the shower, classic white 3-by-6-inch subway tile lines the wall, while charcoal hexagonal tile covers the floor. “We have so many squares and rectangles in here that I wanted to do something different for the shower floor and niche,” the designer says. “The hexagonal tiles also worked well with the arabesque pattern on the floor.”
Shower. Where to put the shower was one of the redesign’s biggest challenges. “We not only had to size the stall for my husband but also use an extra-large custom door,” Horton says. The new shower measures 5 feet, 6 inches by 4 feet, 3 inches, fitting perfectly into the bathroom corner.
Tub. The claw-foot tub was a choice for style as well as practicality. It nods to the antiques Horton has incorporated throughout the rest of the house but also suits the bathroom style. With two young daughters, Horton also wanted a tub that would be easy to bathe them in.
Tile: Safi White, Cement Tile Shop
Shop for subway tile
Vanity and countertop. LimitlessWoodworking made the reclaimed-pine vanity, finishing it with a custom stain from Minwax. Horton chose matte black hardware to coordinate with the faucets and light fixtures. The rustic wood is topped with cultured-marble countertops.
Storage was a key part of the renovation, with new upper cabinets adding to what was already gained with the new vanity. The designer worked with the cabinetmaker and electrician to have outlets installed within the cabinets.
Read more about this bathroom’s transformation
Wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; countertops: Custom Marble Design; gooseneck light fixtures: LightingWorld
Storage was a key part of the renovation, with new upper cabinets adding to what was already gained with the new vanity. The designer worked with the cabinetmaker and electrician to have outlets installed within the cabinets.
Read more about this bathroom’s transformation
Wall paint: Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams; countertops: Custom Marble Design; gooseneck light fixtures: LightingWorld
9. Rustic Elegance in a Farmhouse-Style Bathroom
Location: Tomball, Texas
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Designer: Ashley Moore of Moore House Interiors
In Matt and Ashley Moore’s master bathroom, natural wood elements meet warm white and gray for a space that feels relaxing and elegant and also ties in with the rest of their home’s farmhouse style. Floor-to-ceiling painted shiplap walls lighten and brighten the space, and exposed beam ceilings add rustic texture.
Vanity and countertop. A new double vanity painted in a light gray perfectly fills a bathroom niche, adding storage and style to suit the family’s needs.
Wall paint: Dover White, Sherwin-Williams; vanity paint: Colonnade Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Location: Tomball, Texas
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Designer: Ashley Moore of Moore House Interiors
In Matt and Ashley Moore’s master bathroom, natural wood elements meet warm white and gray for a space that feels relaxing and elegant and also ties in with the rest of their home’s farmhouse style. Floor-to-ceiling painted shiplap walls lighten and brighten the space, and exposed beam ceilings add rustic texture.
Vanity and countertop. A new double vanity painted in a light gray perfectly fills a bathroom niche, adding storage and style to suit the family’s needs.
Wall paint: Dover White, Sherwin-Williams; vanity paint: Colonnade Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Tub. The owners also added a new shower, but a freestanding tub acts as a bathroom focal point in a previously closed-off nook. A row of hedges outside the windows provides a layer of privacy (although there are no nearby neighbors).
Tile. The rest of the home has wood floors, but for the bathroom Moore opted for wood-look porcelain floor tiles with the smallest grout line possible. As leaks in the bathroom before the renovation had ruined the floors, the homeowners decided they didn’t want to go through that again with wood.
See more of this bathroom makeover
Bathtub: Rione freestanding slipper tub, Signature Hardware; tub faucet: freestanding telephone faucet, Signature Hardware
Tile. The rest of the home has wood floors, but for the bathroom Moore opted for wood-look porcelain floor tiles with the smallest grout line possible. As leaks in the bathroom before the renovation had ruined the floors, the homeowners decided they didn’t want to go through that again with wood.
See more of this bathroom makeover
Bathtub: Rione freestanding slipper tub, Signature Hardware; tub faucet: freestanding telephone faucet, Signature Hardware
10. Architectural Heritage and Modern Comfort
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Size: 700 square feet (65 square meters)
Designer: Maya Sheehan of Maison Maya
In the renovation of their 113-year-old brownstone in Brooklyn, New York, Maya and Trace Sheehan opened up multiple smaller rooms and closets to create a one-bedroom master suite with a walk-in closet and bathroom. The Sheehans aimed for a design that would feel simple and industrial but would preserve the original wood, brick and detailing of the early-20th-century home.
Vanity and countertop. The bathroom’s original wood floors were too damaged to restore, so the design team had Recycled Brooklyn, a custom furniture shop, sand them down and add a Varathane finish to create the vanity as well as the wood-paneled walls behind the vanity. The vanity has a poured concrete top and metal doors.
Tile. Wide-plank cement tiles cover the floors.
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Size: 700 square feet (65 square meters)
Designer: Maya Sheehan of Maison Maya
In the renovation of their 113-year-old brownstone in Brooklyn, New York, Maya and Trace Sheehan opened up multiple smaller rooms and closets to create a one-bedroom master suite with a walk-in closet and bathroom. The Sheehans aimed for a design that would feel simple and industrial but would preserve the original wood, brick and detailing of the early-20th-century home.
Vanity and countertop. The bathroom’s original wood floors were too damaged to restore, so the design team had Recycled Brooklyn, a custom furniture shop, sand them down and add a Varathane finish to create the vanity as well as the wood-paneled walls behind the vanity. The vanity has a poured concrete top and metal doors.
Tile. Wide-plank cement tiles cover the floors.
Bathtub. A new freestanding tub nestles into the corner in front of one of the home’s original, but now nonworking, fireplaces.
Read more about this bathroom’s transformation
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Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Bathroom
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Read more about this bathroom’s transformation
More on Houzz
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Bathroom
Work with a professional in your area
Shop for more bathroom products
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Loudoun and Fairfax County's Expert in Kitchen and Bath Remodeling
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 38 square feet (3.5 square meters)
Designer: Jena Bula of Delphinium Design
Designer Jena Bula had fun redesigning her guest bathroom, mixing playful elements with classic features. “I wanted to go more modern and take some risks in here,” she says. “But I like to go classic with the permanent things, like tile, and take risks with elements that are easier to swap out, like a shower curtain, mirror and artwork.”
Vanity and countertop. Bula upgraded an off-the-shelf vanity by adding green knobs, hairpin legs and an oil-rubbed-bronze faucet. “I wanted to add some organic touches — in this case, the natural pine wood and green elements. But I didn’t want it to skew too rustic,” she says.
Faucet: Delta; wall paint: Classic Gray, Benjamin Moore
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