Best of the Week: 32 Fine, Functional Bathroom Set-Ups
Planning a bathroom revamp? Check out these 32 bathrooms from around the globe that combine functionality and good looks
Insufficient storage, no room for a bath, the need to squeeze in a laundry – whatever the shape and size of your bathroom, it’s bound to come with its own design challenges. But with a little imagination, a practical and stylish bathroom is still well within reach – check out these 32 stunning designs to see how it’s done.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
2. Location: Toronto, Canada
Designer: Wanda Ely Architect
Features: Slender recessed pull-outs in the bath surround are perfect for storing slippers and deck shoes in this family home.
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Designer: Wanda Ely Architect
Features: Slender recessed pull-outs in the bath surround are perfect for storing slippers and deck shoes in this family home.
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
4. Location: Toronto, Canada
Designer: post Architecture
Features: Need to incorporate a laundry into your bathroom but don’t want to lose the serene vibe? Position it inside a custom-designed timber box, as the owners have done here. When it’s time to relax in the tub, simply close the laundry’s folding doors…
Designer: post Architecture
Features: Need to incorporate a laundry into your bathroom but don’t want to lose the serene vibe? Position it inside a custom-designed timber box, as the owners have done here. When it’s time to relax in the tub, simply close the laundry’s folding doors…
…here’s the view from the bathroom side.
5. Location: London, UK
Designer: Studio 30 Architects
Features: A tricky, angled roofline is no problem for the designers of this loft ensuite – they’ve simply shaped the mirror to match it. Other clever touches include using the same tiles on the basin as the wall and floor; this creates visual cohesion and makes the bathroom appear larger.
Designer: Studio 30 Architects
Features: A tricky, angled roofline is no problem for the designers of this loft ensuite – they’ve simply shaped the mirror to match it. Other clever touches include using the same tiles on the basin as the wall and floor; this creates visual cohesion and makes the bathroom appear larger.
6. Location: Melbourne, Australia
Designer: Studio Ezra
Features: Sometimes it’s the unexpected touches that bring magic to a space; here, exposed pipework adds a dash of bling to a low-key scheme of grey, timber and white.
Designer: Studio Ezra
Features: Sometimes it’s the unexpected touches that bring magic to a space; here, exposed pipework adds a dash of bling to a low-key scheme of grey, timber and white.
7. Location: London, UK
Features: A backsplash created from pages in a book. The ultimate in upcycling.
Browse Singapore bathroom designs
Features: A backsplash created from pages in a book. The ultimate in upcycling.
Browse Singapore bathroom designs
8. Location: Melourne, Australia
Designer: GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Features: A narrow bathroom can present a host of design challenges. Here, the designer has dispensed with a bath and opted for a space-savvy shower instead. Specifying a glass shower screen allows the eye to flow all the way through the space, while a narrow wall-hung vanity maximises floor space.
Designer: GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Features: A narrow bathroom can present a host of design challenges. Here, the designer has dispensed with a bath and opted for a space-savvy shower instead. Specifying a glass shower screen allows the eye to flow all the way through the space, while a narrow wall-hung vanity maximises floor space.
9. Location: Melbourne, Australia
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: Short on bathroom storage? Add an overhead cabinet, as the owners have done here. To prevent it looking too heavy, they’ve kept one section open for display.
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: Short on bathroom storage? Add an overhead cabinet, as the owners have done here. To prevent it looking too heavy, they’ve kept one section open for display.
10. Location: Washington, USA
Designer: Bath Plus Kitchen Design Remodel
Features: A LED vanity mirror is great for shaving or applying make-up as it casts no shadows on your face. Plus, most LED mirrors feature an anti-fog function so you can use the mirror straight after a bath or shower.
Designer: Bath Plus Kitchen Design Remodel
Features: A LED vanity mirror is great for shaving or applying make-up as it casts no shadows on your face. Plus, most LED mirrors feature an anti-fog function so you can use the mirror straight after a bath or shower.
11. Location: Ontario, Canada
Features: A wall of bathroom-storage goodness.
Features: A wall of bathroom-storage goodness.
12. Location: Melbourne, Australia
Designer: BENT Architecture
Features: This unique bathroom unit is suspended from the ceiling and includes everything from a sink and storage shelves to a mirrored cabinet.
Designer: BENT Architecture
Features: This unique bathroom unit is suspended from the ceiling and includes everything from a sink and storage shelves to a mirrored cabinet.
13. Location: Sydney, Australia
Designer: Thomas Archer Homes
Features: Choosing a window covering that filters sunlight makes it easy for the owners of this bathroom to apply make-up in natural light.
Designer: Thomas Archer Homes
Features: Choosing a window covering that filters sunlight makes it easy for the owners of this bathroom to apply make-up in natural light.
14. Location: Austin, USA
Designer: CG&S Design-Build
Features: Creating a dedicated spot for every member of the household to hang their towel and a basket to pop their lotions and shampoos in helps keep a busy family bathroom tidy.
Designer: CG&S Design-Build
Features: Creating a dedicated spot for every member of the household to hang their towel and a basket to pop their lotions and shampoos in helps keep a busy family bathroom tidy.
15. Location: Melbourne, Australia
Designer: Architected
Features: No space for a vanity bench in your tiny bathroom? Create a recessed storage ledge behind the basin where you can store soap and toiletries.
Designer: Architected
Features: No space for a vanity bench in your tiny bathroom? Create a recessed storage ledge behind the basin where you can store soap and toiletries.
16. Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Designer: Tike Property
Features: A floor-to-ceiling wall of glass louvres lets the breeze flow through this Brisbane bathroom and provides unimpeded bushland views.
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Designer: Tike Property
Features: A floor-to-ceiling wall of glass louvres lets the breeze flow through this Brisbane bathroom and provides unimpeded bushland views.
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
17. Location: Brisbane, Australia
Designer: Integrity Kitchen Company
Features: Extending the benchtop beyond the width of the drawers creates a handy spot to store towels and toiletries.
Designer: Integrity Kitchen Company
Features: Extending the benchtop beyond the width of the drawers creates a handy spot to store towels and toiletries.
18. Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Designer: Dibujo.design Interiors
Features: Smart zoning makes sense in a large bathroom such as this one: note how the designer has altered the floor levels and specified different colours and materials for the bath and shower areas to give each one a clear sense of purpose.
Designer: Dibujo.design Interiors
Features: Smart zoning makes sense in a large bathroom such as this one: note how the designer has altered the floor levels and specified different colours and materials for the bath and shower areas to give each one a clear sense of purpose.
19. Location: London, UK
Designer: Cue & Co of London
Features: If bathroom storage is in short supply, look to utilise those often overlooked spaces. Here, the owners have squeezed in a narrow drawer for soap and candles next to the tub.
Designer: Cue & Co of London
Features: If bathroom storage is in short supply, look to utilise those often overlooked spaces. Here, the owners have squeezed in a narrow drawer for soap and candles next to the tub.
20. Location: Austin, USA
Designer: Rick & Cindy Black Architects
Features: Recessed storage shelves and a clever, movable mirror – often practicality is delivered in small details.
Designer: Rick & Cindy Black Architects
Features: Recessed storage shelves and a clever, movable mirror – often practicality is delivered in small details.
21. Location: Perth, Australia
Designer: Lux Interiors
Features: Positioning the basin off-centre on the vanity captures the eye and provides plenty of uninterrupted bathroom bench space.
Designer: Lux Interiors
Features: Positioning the basin off-centre on the vanity captures the eye and provides plenty of uninterrupted bathroom bench space.
22. Location: Boston, USA
Designer: iD8 Design Studio
Features: A half-height nib wall between the vanity and toilet creates a sense of privacy here.
Designer: iD8 Design Studio
Features: A half-height nib wall between the vanity and toilet creates a sense of privacy here.
23. Location: Byron Bay, Australia
Designer: Davis Architects
Features: Make a feature of a mirrored vanity by adding in a few handy display shelves.
Designer: Davis Architects
Features: Make a feature of a mirrored vanity by adding in a few handy display shelves.
24. Location: California, USA
Designer: Marci Goulart Interior Design
Features: A sliding door such as this one is a great space saver as it tucks neatly into a pocket in the wall when opened, rather than swinging into the compact room.
Designer: Marci Goulart Interior Design
Features: A sliding door such as this one is a great space saver as it tucks neatly into a pocket in the wall when opened, rather than swinging into the compact room.
25. Location: Paris, France
Designer: Marnae
Features: A slimline floating basin and wall-hung toilet that don’t swallow up floor space, and storage cabinets that reach right up to the ceiling – plenty of clever, small-bathroom design tricks used here.
Designer: Marnae
Features: A slimline floating basin and wall-hung toilet that don’t swallow up floor space, and storage cabinets that reach right up to the ceiling – plenty of clever, small-bathroom design tricks used here.
26. Location: London, UK
Designer: Cue & Co of London
Features: A slim drawer tucked into the bath surround is a useful spot to store tall bottles of shampoo and lotion. The drawer is tile-fronted to match the bath surround so it sits flush when it’s closed.
Designer: Cue & Co of London
Features: A slim drawer tucked into the bath surround is a useful spot to store tall bottles of shampoo and lotion. The drawer is tile-fronted to match the bath surround so it sits flush when it’s closed.
27. Location: San Diego, USA
Designer: CM Natural Designs
Features: Different flooring materials in the shower, vanity and bath areas define each zone of this bathroom, while brass detailing in all three areas creates a sense of cohesion. A beautifully balanced effect.
Designer: CM Natural Designs
Features: Different flooring materials in the shower, vanity and bath areas define each zone of this bathroom, while brass detailing in all three areas creates a sense of cohesion. A beautifully balanced effect.
28. Location: Melbourne, Australia
Designer: Sheri Haby Architects
Features: Yearning for a freestanding bathtub but worried that you can’t fit one into your small bathroom? Rather than a standard-size tub, choose a compact style such as this one instead.
Designer: Sheri Haby Architects
Features: Yearning for a freestanding bathtub but worried that you can’t fit one into your small bathroom? Rather than a standard-size tub, choose a compact style such as this one instead.
30. Location: Paris, France
Designer: Decorexpat
Features: You don’t need oodles of space to create a relaxing bathroom retreat; in this small Parisian bathroom, the owners have chosen a compact tub and added in recessed bookshelves. Magnifique!
Designer: Decorexpat
Features: You don’t need oodles of space to create a relaxing bathroom retreat; in this small Parisian bathroom, the owners have chosen a compact tub and added in recessed bookshelves. Magnifique!
31. Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Designer: Holly Marder
Features: Love to read while you bathe? Consider adding in a wall rack for magazines.
Designer: Holly Marder
Features: Love to read while you bathe? Consider adding in a wall rack for magazines.
32. Location: Brisbane, Australia
Designer: Adrian Ramsay Design House
Features: A pull-out cupboard isn’t just for the kitchen – in this bathroom, it creates easy-access storage for towels and toiletries.
Tell us
Which of these handy ideas impress you the most? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
Browse Singapore bathroom designs
Designer: Adrian Ramsay Design House
Features: A pull-out cupboard isn’t just for the kitchen – in this bathroom, it creates easy-access storage for towels and toiletries.
Tell us
Which of these handy ideas impress you the most? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
Browse Singapore bathroom designs
Designer: Cortney Bishop Design
Features: Specifying an elongated sink with three taps in a family bathroom means there’s room for everyone to brush their teeth in the morning. Genius.