Bathroom Design
10 Features That Warm Up a Bathroom in Winter
Steam showers, radiant floor heating and window treatments can make a bathroom cozier in cold weather
Whether the temperature outside is merely brisk or downright frigid, having a bathroom with cozy elements can help you stay warm indoors. Consider adding one or more of these 10 features to your bathroom to avoid cold feet and chattering teeth through the winter and beyond.
1. Steam Shower
Jumping in a cold shower might be a quick way to wake up in the morning, but if you’re looking for a more soothing experience, consider installing a steam generator for your walk-in shower.
This large steam shower designed by ID Studio Interiors features an arched tiled ceiling and oil-rubbed bronze fixtures.
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Jumping in a cold shower might be a quick way to wake up in the morning, but if you’re looking for a more soothing experience, consider installing a steam generator for your walk-in shower.
This large steam shower designed by ID Studio Interiors features an arched tiled ceiling and oil-rubbed bronze fixtures.
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
2. Radiant Floor Heating
Walking with bare feet on a cold tile floor is never a pleasant way to start your day in winter. Make your morning routine more comfortable by having radiant floor heating installed.
McNamee Construction added radiant heating elements under the white epoxy resin floor in this San Francisco bathroom.
What to Ask When Considering Heated Floors
Walking with bare feet on a cold tile floor is never a pleasant way to start your day in winter. Make your morning routine more comfortable by having radiant floor heating installed.
McNamee Construction added radiant heating elements under the white epoxy resin floor in this San Francisco bathroom.
What to Ask When Considering Heated Floors
3. Towel Warmer
If you want to keep your bath towels toasty, consider installing a towel warmer. You can go with a plug-in version or a hardwired model, like the one seen in this photo uploaded by Valley Design Center.
Shop for a towel warmer
If you want to keep your bath towels toasty, consider installing a towel warmer. You can go with a plug-in version or a hardwired model, like the one seen in this photo uploaded by Valley Design Center.
Shop for a towel warmer
4. Tubs That Retain Heat
A long soak in a bathtub can help you beat the winter blues. Consider choosing a tub made from a material that retains heat, such as copper, brass, volcanic limestone or soapstone, to keep your bathwater warm.
MG Custom Builders installed a hammered copper tub in this recent bathroom remodel.
A long soak in a bathtub can help you beat the winter blues. Consider choosing a tub made from a material that retains heat, such as copper, brass, volcanic limestone or soapstone, to keep your bathwater warm.
MG Custom Builders installed a hammered copper tub in this recent bathroom remodel.
5. Cozy Rugs
As you step out of your warm bath or shower, having a cozy rug to sink your feet into provides a luxurious spa-like experience.
A fluffy sheepskin rug makes a soft landing for the homeowners in this bathroom remodeled by Raykon Construction.
As you step out of your warm bath or shower, having a cozy rug to sink your feet into provides a luxurious spa-like experience.
A fluffy sheepskin rug makes a soft landing for the homeowners in this bathroom remodeled by Raykon Construction.
6. Anti-Fog Mirrors
If your goal is to keep your bathroom warm and steamy during the winter months, it’s probably a good idea to add an anti-fog mirror or medicine cabinet.
Carnemark Design + Build installed a fog-free heated medicine cabinet with integrated LED lights in this recent bathroom makeover.
If your goal is to keep your bathroom warm and steamy during the winter months, it’s probably a good idea to add an anti-fog mirror or medicine cabinet.
Carnemark Design + Build installed a fog-free heated medicine cabinet with integrated LED lights in this recent bathroom makeover.
7. Window Treatments
Adding shades and curtains to your bathroom windows will not only provide privacy and make the space look more refined, it will also help your bathroom retain heat that might otherwise leak out through the windows.
Laura Roberts Design installed floor-to-ceiling pleated curtains in this master bathroom.
Adding shades and curtains to your bathroom windows will not only provide privacy and make the space look more refined, it will also help your bathroom retain heat that might otherwise leak out through the windows.
Laura Roberts Design installed floor-to-ceiling pleated curtains in this master bathroom.
8. Easy Access to Robes and Towels
When you’re getting out of your warm tub or shower, the last thing you want to do is search around for a towel or robe. Make sure to add plenty of towel hooks and perhaps a leaning ladder, like the one in this bathroom by Rethink Design Studio, to ensure a towel or robe is never out of reach.
When you’re getting out of your warm tub or shower, the last thing you want to do is search around for a towel or robe. Make sure to add plenty of towel hooks and perhaps a leaning ladder, like the one in this bathroom by Rethink Design Studio, to ensure a towel or robe is never out of reach.
9. Fireplace
If you really want to boost the cozy factor in a bathroom, it’s hard to beat the look and feel of a fireplace.
This bathroom by Meadowlark Design+Build features a soaking tub that sits next to a two-sided gas fireplace set in the wall between the master bath and master bedroom.
If you really want to boost the cozy factor in a bathroom, it’s hard to beat the look and feel of a fireplace.
This bathroom by Meadowlark Design+Build features a soaking tub that sits next to a two-sided gas fireplace set in the wall between the master bath and master bedroom.
10. Dry Sauna
If you have the room and the budget for it, consider adding a traditional dry sauna to beat the winter cold.
R|House Design Build installed a walk-in dry sauna as part of this recent bathroom remodel in Minnesota.
More on Houzz
The 10 Most Popular Bathroom Makeovers of 2020
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for freestanding bath tubs
If you have the room and the budget for it, consider adding a traditional dry sauna to beat the winter cold.
R|House Design Build installed a walk-in dry sauna as part of this recent bathroom remodel in Minnesota.
More on Houzz
The 10 Most Popular Bathroom Makeovers of 2020
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for freestanding bath tubs
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Nancy Metzger