White bathrooms remain a firm favourite in the majority of homes, but just because they are popular doesn’t mean they have to be boring and bland. Whether you want to jazz up a basic bathroom suite or create a spa-style sanctuary to retreat into, here’s how to create a striking scheme using white sanitaryware as your starting point.
Use the white bathroom backdrop like a canvas to showcase a stunning feature tile. These punchy pink hexagon lily pad pattern tiles brighten the eaved corner of this white bathroom with colour, interest and contemporary chic.
Exposed brick isn’t just for warehouse living spaces – it can also add urban appeal to your bathroom. If you don’t like the colour of your bricks, a coat of whitewash will give you a blank canvas to work with. It’s a good idea to seal your bricks if you’re using them in a wet zone.
Even the simplest bathroom suite can be given an opulent overhaul by surrounding the bath panel with marble tiles. Pale, predominantly white stone with striking grey veins work well in a contemporary scheme.
Hexagons are a stylish alternative to the square and rectangular tiles we’re so used to seeing. They are stylish and subtle when used in a small mosaic pattern, but can also create a striking impact when used in a large and contrasting format.
Sash window frames and wall panelling simply painted all-over white creates elegant Edwardian period charm. Continue the theme with a centrally positioned slipper bath and a vintage wicker laundry basket to create a timeless and luxurious look with very little effort.
Darker grout against white tiles is a subtle way of breaking up all-white block tiling with striking results. Picking out the brick pattern creates an industrial edge especially when teamed with Victorian fixtures and fittings – this look is so 'bathhouse' chic.
A white backdrop is the benchmark for Scandi schemes so white tiled bathrooms are the perfect place to create this modern look, especially if there is plenty of light. A stand-alone, curved bath will make a soft feature and matching blonde wood furniture will warm with pared-back style.
Add a smart contrast to your white bathroom by installing a bath with a striking tone. This grey-blue bath with marble splashback gives a white bathroom a bold feel. A gold metallic side table with hanging planter and black framed botanical prints adds lush colour to the sophisticated look.
Watery sea-green bathroom tiles create a soothing backdrop that makes a white bathroom suite look super refreshing. For added sophisticated and contemporary interest team with subtle marble-style white tiles on the adjacent wall.
Bursts of bright and bold colour jump out all the more in white bathroom schemes. Whether it's added with changeable accessories and bath towels or becomes a more permanent feature like a block colour roller blind the contrast will always be striking.
An easy way to give a white bathroom texture is with soft, fluffy towels. Choose white to continue a pure and spa-like atmosphere or soft colour will inject relaxing character.
Nothing makes pure white pop like the most matt, blackest black imaginable. With its charcoal texture this statement tub is the star of the show and the perfect choice to complement the exposed brickwork. Accessorise with a modern black radiator, towel rail and wall shelf.
These diagonal-cut tiles can be used to striking effect when combined with dark grouting to show off their neat-as-a-pin lines and set the tone for a contemporary bathroom. High-end black fixtures like the designer radiator, stand-alone mixer tap and modern circular mirror don't come cheap, but a hairpin legged stool and cluster of metal frame pendant lights are an affordable style trick to steal for your own space.
A plain white bathroom can be updated quickly and easily by adding a few choice accessories. Ornaments and stylish coordinating toiletries give a bathroom an inviting, homely feel, while a bath mat or shower curtain in a well-chosen colour or pattern can lift a scheme. What’s more, the look is easy to refresh by swapping out old accessories for new.
Plants are known for their calming, air-purifying effects, which makes them an ideal choice for a bathroom. They’re also a subtle way to add lush, natural colour to a neutral scheme. We think the more the merrier, do you agree?
An easy and effective way to add interest to a white bathroom suite is to wow with wallpaper. Look for specialist treated papers that make them washable and waterproof. This soothing bathroom has been turned into a spa sanctuary with a gentle trellis print marble-effect wallpaper.
There are definite Mediterranean vibes in this bathroom thanks to the white backdrop and reclaimed bath that evokes vintage charm. Nothing looks more sun-baked than blue and white pattern tiles, so this statement floor adds harmonious detail to create a gorgeous overall effect.
Concrete and cement are functional and stylish choices for a bathroom. Concrete can be used as flooring or cast into units and shelving, while cement can be spread onto walls, including in shower areas and on splashbacks. The textured finish lends even basic white sanitaryware an urban edge.
Tongue-and-groove panelling is a Victorian favourite that has yet to go out of fashion. Practical and versatile, it sits comfortably alongside almost any style of bathroom suite and can be refreshed or revamped with a simple lick of paint.
Give a plain white bathroom plenty of atmosphere with warming candles. It's a budget-friendly accent that can transform the look and feel of a stark white bathroom in an instant. This stylish display of large church candles and small votives are in fact battery-operated LEDs!
Dark-stained wood is something of a rarity in these days of pale, Scandi-style finishes, but it can create a glorious rich base for a contemporary or traditional bathroom. Installing a suite with rich shades and textures of wood creates a coherent scheme that feels organic and modern.
Objects are also an easy way to inject coastal-style into a scheme. Remove the accessories from this space and you'd have an ordinary white bathroom. Adding just a couple of beach-themed ornaments, a storm lantern and some cheerful striped towels lend the room instant seaside charm.
What's not to love about this effortlessly inviting bathroom scheme? We can't find fault with it. From the roll-top bath to the warming and traditional wood floor, this classic bathroom suite has been dressed to look inviting. Extra style points go to the twin sash windows with deep sills and wall-mounted picture ledge with framed artwork. More pictures in bathrooms, please!
Add a touch of character to a white bathroom by mounting vintage-style artwork or eclectic frames on classic white walls. An ornate mirror and traditional bath taps will complete the Victorian feel. Along with the open fire – this welcoming transformation is impressive.
Metallic bathroom fixtures are on-trend and work wonders to break up an all-white bathroom with subtle high-end style. Go for gold to create a luxurious and opulent look that shimmers.
Drawing influences from English stately homes and chic French chateaus, this room turned bathroom has the hallmarks of grandeur. From the honey wood parquet flooring to the huge overmantel mirror, whitewashed to elegant chalky ivory, this bathroom is timeless and luxurious.
Luminescent tiles give what could be a very safe décor scheme an interesting edge. Here light grey and white marble is served up in different effects, from the silver-shot metro tiles behind the sink to the more seamless floor tiles that create a glossy finish. In sticking to a pale palette these also work with a very traditional style of bath and sink without looking too disparate.
If you have countertop basins, an unusual freestanding washstand can make quite the centrepiece in your bathroom. Practically any sideboard or table can be converted into a washstand. You just need to make sure there’s enough space for the plumbing. Closed cupboards are a practical choice as they hide pipes as well as providing storage.
Brass is one of the metals of the moment but it was also a popular finish with the Victorians, which makes it the perfect crossover material for bathrooms that blend traditional and contemporary styling. This huge freestanding tub and beautiful pattern-and-border tile design hark back to a turn of the century boudoir. Keep the look light and fresh with spring flowers (real or faux), framed botanical prints and a sunny, striped antique chair.
Glossy tiles look great in all-white schemes as they add subtle depth and balance to the sometimes bland space. Whether it's a contemporary metro tile or classic square tiles, the effect will bounce light to enhance the sense of space.
A dusting of soft blue is just what a sterile white bathroom needs to turn it into the prettiest of compact powder rooms. Add a pop of colour with artwork to continue the fun.
A white bathroom is a blank canvas to experiment with current paint effects that can be easily changed when you tire of the look. The quirky two-toned green stripes in this eclectic white bathroom add instant energy to the scheme and lifts the room, especially as it continues across the door.
Minimal features and white bathroom schemes go hand in hand. A contemporary suite will look super chic next to glossy metro tiles, especially with a smart grey lower half. The calming tone gives the bathroom a tranquil hit of colour and adds depth to the room.
Bright white bathrooms with lots of space can afford to boast large pieces of furniture as it will give the room instant character. A double sink vanity unit with plenty of storage will look luxurious and beautifully functional. Feeling inspired? See more affordable luxury ideas for your bathroom.
Choose furniture made from Lime or sanded wood to give your white bathroom a cool coastal vibe. The bleached grain surfaces have a driftwood appearance and adds just the right amount of soft contrast.
Additional aqua tiles give this white bathroom a refreshing twist. A vertical central panel highlights the bath and makes the ceilings appear higher. And, by continuing the tiles onto just a section of the floor creates the appearance of a beautiful blue lagoon.
Thought grey was too cold for bathrooms? Wrong! Set against white the shade can create a soothing atmosphere and looks timeless. Smart grey walls and flooring gives this elegant white bathroom a beautiful boutique-like feel. Remodelling? Don't make these common bathroom design mistakes.
An all-white bathroom can be vamped up with pretty iridescent tiles. Let subtle pattern shimmer and shine in the light on the walls and continue the theme with a polished floor. Traditional-style furniture and a roll-top bath give this bathroom an elegant finish that fits the look perfectly.
It's possible to keep to a tight budget with white schemes as furniture and fixtures tend to be more affordable in basic white, plus you can use different styles of furniture in the same neutral white shade and still achieve a look that's 'put together'. If tiling is beyond your means, white painted tongue-and-groove panelling makes a charming alternative for walls.
A bathroom suite is a big investment. So big, in fact, that most of us only change ours every 10 years or so. Play it safe with white sanitaryware, as white goes with everything you can change the décor around it when you are ready for an update.
Coastal style and bathrooms were made for each other. Get the look with cool blues, washed-out wood and nautical stripes. A smattering of seaside accessories, such as the vintage life ring shown here, will provide the perfect oceanic finishing touches.
A modern white bathroom suite with a practical corner bath has been given personality and character with a mix of eclectic elements: Victorian-inspired patterned floor tiles look gorgeous in white with the grey-green wall paint. The star of the show has to be this sink mounted on a slimline console table; teamed with a steel stool, it takes the furnishings in an unexpectedly rough luxe direction.
Of course, privacy is a priority in the bathroom so blinds that work the scheme without compromising on light like day and night blinds are a great choice. The double layer of movable fabric allows you to manipulate your environment and in day mode the vertical white stripes look smart and fresh especially against dramatic grey walls.
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