Large bathrooms and ensuites are a luxury, but if they’re not laid out correctly can be a hindrance. No one wants a cavernous tiled space with zero personality (or echoes that are heard throughout the house).
Planning your bathroom design with care and selecting finishes that add detail and dynamism can transform your wet area into an Insta-worthy space. Not to mention a beautiful place for you to unwind in the bath or chat with your partner while brushing your teeth or doing seven-ish skincare steps.
Freestanding baths and double vanities are often featured in the best bathroom design ideas, while a palatial bathroom can be delineated into zones. A decorative shower screen or nib wall, for example, is the perfect way to elegantly split your bathroom in two. Hello, cosy.
You’re going to need a cold shower after seeing these 10 stunning bathroom ideas.
1. Add detail to your bathroom design and decor — lots of detail
This classic North American-style home, curated by interior designer Kelly Deck, it’s the special touches that make the large ensuite a delightful space to rest and recharge in. A Victorian clawfoot bath, ornate bath filler, antique furniture, sconce light, stone floors and a vase of blooms have been expertly thrown together. “I coveted the gauzy drapes encircling the tub,” says the owner. “They provide privacy and soften the natural light.”
2. Break up the space in a large bathroom with a nib wall
A room divider can offer privacy — important where toilets are concerned — and make a large bathroom seem more intimate. In the home above, built by Stritt Design & Construction, the ensuite bathroom showcases Hamptons-style finishes including VJ-lined walls and marble-look Fori Romani Grigio Tundra tiles in a herringbone pattern on the floor. The toilet and shower have been concealed behind a wall — a clever design trick that lets the Roca ‘Virginia’ freestanding bath take centre stage.
3. Make the most of your bathroom space with a double vanity
Every dream bathroom design entails a double vanity, right? You can spread out during your ablutions, enjoy heaps of set-down space and frankly, two is better than one. A double bathroom vanity just looks balanced, in a Wes Anderson kind-of way. “We wanted to create an ensuite that felt like a total escape,” says owner Ema, of the luxe bathroom above. Floor-to-ceiling travertine tiles from National Tiles make it earthy and touchable. The custom vanity by Cuisine Kitchens in Polytec woodmatt MDF in Tasmanian Oak features ABI Interiors brass tapware and Fienza basins. Bellissimo!
4. Creative joinery can fill the space in your bathroom design
The spectacular Sunshine Coast home, above, features not one but four ensuites. The owners’ daughters also have their own main bathroom, but it doesn’t stop them from using their parents’ grand ensuite. “I’ll usually get in the bath 10 minutes before they jump in with their toys,” says owner Kristy, of the freestanding tub from Schots Home Emporium, raised on Carrara tiles from Marble & Ceramic Corp. Rather than conceal bathroom items in a vanity, Kirsty opted for custom-installed cabinets to display pretty pieces. Less aesthetic accoutrements are kept in the lower cabinets.
5. Black accents or colour add definition to large bathrooms
Make shapes in your large bathroom. In this Edwardian house in Melbourne, the master bathroom was updated to include a graphic black shower frame and mesmerising terrazzo floor tiles from Signorino. An oak veneer vanity and custom timber shelf add warmth to an otherwise monochromatic space. On the walls are Academy Tiles square subway tiles, except on the right side of the bathroom entry. “We retained the original brick wall and painted it white to add texture and pay respect to the existing building,” says designer Robbie Peirce.
6. Add country-style textures to your bathroom design
Fan of Bridgerton? Fantasise about living in the country? This bathroom aesthetic could be your bag. Full of character and country charm with wainscoting, a Victorian-style bath filler, patterned floor tiles and a soft Roman blind, the ensuite in this rural NSW home is nothing short of inspiring. A series of windows takes in the bucolic views. The Scotland-raised owner loves the ‘Revival Celctic’ tiles from National Tiles because they feature a thistle motif. The freestanding bath is from Harvey Norman.
7. Tiles are everything in a large bathroom
In this reimagined Federation home on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, the main ensuite is the epitome of ‘quiet luxury’ — with elegant geometric floor tiles working cohesively with custom timber-look joinery. Rather than repeat this tile on the wall, the interior designer, Leanne Smeallie of Ampersand Interiors, has opted for a glossy Zellige square tile. Mixing up your bathroom tiles is a surefire way to add interest and dimension. Using the same tiles throughout a large bathroom can make the space feel ‘flat’.
8. Bathe in this bathroom idea: a picture window
Let the sunshine in! If you have the space and the right aspect — in other words, no peeping neighbours — why not install a breathtaking picture window in your big bathroom? The floor-to-ceiling window in this Manhattan-inspired Melbourne home presents the treetops as a living artwork and allows its owners to feel connected to nature when taking a soak. The floor tiles by Artistic Tile Design complement the greenery beautifully.
9. A freestanding bath is a must in a large bathroom
“We have a large bathroom so let’s squeeze a built-in bath into the corner,” said no one ever (willingly). A big bathroom design deserves a big freestanding tub! It beefs up the luxury and increases the value of your home. Curves abound in the ensuite of the modern coastal home, above, including the luxurious freestanding ‘Valencia’ bath from Concrete Nation in Nude. Rounding out the look is a custom glass shower screen — sourced from Water Art Glass — arched wall niches and brushed brass fixtures from Abi Interiors. It’s our idea of heaven.
10. Your bathroom design should feel ‘lived in’
The best bathroom ideas are, ultimately, those that offer character and homeliness. There’s no point in adhering to bathroom design trends if the result is a space that feels foreign or stale! You want to walk into your renovated bathroom or ensuite and feel like it’s always been that way. Consider the bathroom inspiration, above. Limestone tiles, which graduate up the wall to create a display ledge, and textural square tiles, cascading plants and a freestanding bath all combine to make this bathroom feel like home. A view over a pretty little courtyard and garden space doesn’t go astray.
